Elder Eilis closed her eyes. The roots of the ancient tree responded to her presence, softly glowing beneath her feet. She moved around Yuehan like a healer examining a rare artifact—slow, deliberate, respectful.
Lira stood between her and the other elves, hands resting close to her knives. Yuehan could feel the tension emanating from her—protected but uncertain.
Eilis finally spoke.
"Yuehan… your name once rang through the halls of Dorotheou. You may not remember it, but the world remembers you."
A chill ran through her. "Please… tell me everything."
Eilis motioned for them to sit around a bowl of sparkling water. The surface undulated, revealing hazy images—broken landscapes, a fallen palace, flickering shadows.
"The kingdom of Dorotheou," Eilis began, "is the most brilliant kingdom of man ever known. Its rulers are blessed by the Guardians—ancient celestial beings created to maintain balance."
Yuehan rose. "Guardians… I've heard that word before."
"Yes," Eilis said softly. "Because there is someone living inside you."
The room fell silent.
Yuehan's heart pounded. "Within me?"
Lira stiffened. "Elder…"
Eilis raised a calming hand. "Fear not. The boy is not possessed. He is… chosen."
He pointed to the sparkling water. The images became clearer:
A city made of white stone.
A palace crowned with gold.
A boy standing beside a throne.
A massive shadow enveloping everything.
Yuehan sighed. "I have seen this... in my dreams."
"That is because these memories are yours." Eilis clasped her hands together. "Dorotheou's downfall was no accident. It was led by shadowy forces seeking the power you now carry."
Lira's eyes widened. "The Abyssal Dominion."
Eilis nodded gravely.
"They do not seek to destroy the kingdom, but to claim its heir. The light of the Guardians, when bound to a vessel of noble blood, becomes a weapon—a weapon capable of changing the balance between life and death."
Yuehan's voice trembled. "They want... me?"
"Yes," Eilis whispered. "But your father—the last king—hid you. He severed your memories and sealed your magic, keeping you from the kingdom's downfall."
"And my family?" Yuehan asked, afraid of the answer.
Eilis lowered her gaze. "Their fates are lost to history."
Silence remained as heavy as a shroud.
Lira placed a steadying hand on Yuehan's shoulder. He hadn't realized how much he was shaking until she touched him.
A Dangerous Gift
Eilis reached out, placing her palm over Yuehan's heart.
Her skin heated, then ignited. Light flickered beneath her ribs—golden, pulsing like a heartbeat.
"That light," Eilis whispered, "is the sleeping echo of your bond as a Guardian. It is awakening… faster than expected."
Yuehan winced. "It's like a fire inside me."
"That fire is your right as a child," Eilis said. "But if you're not used to it, it will tear you apart."
Lira took a quick step forward. "Then, she needs help. Guidance."
"She needs more than that," Eilis replied. "She will need allies. Strength. Understanding of who she was—and who she should be."
Her gaze shifted to the window.
"Because the Abyssal Dominion has begun to move. Their undead have crossed the borders of the Glade. They are seeking what was denied them years ago."
Yuehan was stunned. "I am."
"Yes," Eilis said. "And they will not stop."
Council intervened
Footsteps approached. Three elves entered—their expressions stern, armored, and sad.
"Elder Eilis," one said with barely contained anger, "you reveal too much to the humans."
"He must know the truth to live," Eilis replied.
"He is a danger," another growled. "The dead are after him. The forest is responding to him. Even the Guardians are stirring. We cannot contain him."
Suddenly Lira stepped between them and Yuehan. "You hold him and you will answer me."
"Lira—" Yuehan began.
"No," he said firmly. "Go for help. You will get it."
The eldest of the three stared. "You would gamble the safety of the Glade for a boy?"
"Not for just any boy," Lira said. "For Yuehan."
Eilis raised her staff. The crystals above dimmed.
"Enough," the Elder Seer commanded. "This boy carries a light the world has not seen in generations. If we reject him, we will abandon the very balance we were sworn to protect."
The armored elves hesitated, then reluctantly retreated.
Eilis faced Yuehan.
"Your past is coming back to haunt you—in painful pieces. But you will not face it alone."
Her voice softened.
"You survived the fall of a kingdom. You survived the erasure of your own identity. And now... you must live in the future."
She placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Rest tonight, Prince Yuehan. Tomorrow, your true journey begins."