Morning sunlight spilled across Eloria's rooftops, painting the clay tiles and wooden fences in gold. The quiet murmur of the waking village filled the air—merchants setting up carts, children chasing each other across the fields, and blacksmiths hammering out the first sparks of the day. To everyone else, it was just another morning. But to Kairo Ren, lying sleepless in his bed, it felt like a dawn that had no place in the world he once knew.
His body still hummed faintly with energy, like a storm waiting just beneath his skin. Each time he clenched his fist, tiny sparks of silver light crackled between his knuckles before fading. He stared at his hand, half in awe, half in fear.
The shard had chosen him. And the cloaked figures—whoever they were—now hunted him.
Kairo pulled himself from bed, washed his face in the basin, and slipped the pendant around his neck. He didn't know why, but the little wooden charm seemed heavier than usual, almost pulsing as though it knew what had happened last night.
The village was bustling by the time he stepped outside. Farmers waved, his childhood friends called his name, and yet it all felt… distant. He kept walking until he reached the edge of the forest, the same path he had taken the night before. The crater still smoked faintly, though most villagers avoided it, whispering about bad omens and curses.
Kairo knelt at its edge, tracing the soil with his fingers. "It really happened," he murmured. "I wasn't dreaming."
"You weren't."
The voice startled him. He spun around to see a figure leaning against a tree. A girl—perhaps his age, perhaps a little older. She wore a long green cloak that shimmered faintly in the light, and her pale hair spilled over her shoulders like moonlight. Her eyes were sharp, almost glowing blue, and they fixed on him as though reading every secret in his soul.
"Who are you?" Kairo demanded, rising quickly.
The girl's lips curved faintly. "My name is Ayla Veyra. And I've been searching for you, Starbearer."
"Starbearer?" Kairo echoed, confused.
She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "Last night, the shard of the Starblade chose you. That power is no accident. You've been marked, and now your life will never be safe again. The Eclipse Order will stop at nothing to claim what's inside you."
Kairo's head spun. "Wait—Starblade? Eclipse Order? What are you talking about? I didn't ask for any of this!"
"No one ever asks," Ayla said softly, though her gaze never wavered. "The Starblade is a weapon forged when the heavens themselves bled light. Long ago, it was broken to prevent its misuse, its fragments scattered. You are the vessel of one piece. That makes you chosen."
Kairo shook his head. "Chosen? I can't even swing a sword. I'm just—"
Suddenly, a rustle in the trees cut him off. Three cloaked figures emerged—the same as last night. Their crimson eyes gleamed beneath their hoods, and their voices hissed in unison:
"The shard-bearer. Surrender."
Kairo froze, panic rising in his chest. Ayla, however, stepped calmly in front of him, pulling a slender staff from her cloak. The runes carved along its surface glowed faintly.
"Stay behind me," she ordered.
The figures lunged. Ayla's staff struck the ground, releasing a wave of light that forced two back. But the third slipped through, blade raised. Kairo stumbled, heart racing, sparks flickering at his fingertips.
Not again… I can't…
The figure's sword swung down—
—and suddenly, light surged from Kairo's chest, exploding into the shape of a half-formed blade in his hands. It burned with the brilliance of a star, its edge raw but fierce. Instinct took over. He swung wildly, and the clash of energy shattered the enemy's weapon, sending the cloaked figure flying into the trees.
The blade flickered, then dissolved, leaving Kairo gasping, his arms trembling.
Ayla turned, her eyes wide with recognition. "So it's true. The Starblade answers to you."
"I… I don't even know how I did that!" Kairo stammered, chest heaving.
"You don't have to—yet," Ayla replied firmly. "But understand this: they won't stop coming. From this moment forward, your life belongs to the war between light and shadow. And whether you wish it or not, you are the one meant to bear the Starblade's awakening."
Kairo's knees felt weak. A part of him wanted to run home, crawl back into bed, and pretend nothing had changed. But another part—the same part that had always looked to the stars and whispered of destiny—burned with a new flame.
"I don't know if I'm ready," he admitted. "But if they keep coming… if they hurt anyone else… then I'll fight. Somehow."
Ayla studied him, then gave a small nod. For the first time, her eyes softened.
"Then your journey begins, Kairo Ren. Stay close to me. I will teach you what I can. But remember: every choice you make shapes the path ahead. And the shadows are already moving."
Above them, the morning sky seemed brighter than usual, but far beyond the blue, something darker stirred.
The blade had awakened.
And so had the hunt.