Thirty thousand years ago
The sky rumbled as lightning tore through it. The heavens raged. Dark clouds swirled over the land, their shadows swallowing the light. Thunder roared as everyone ran to seek shelter.
Suddenly, a massive stone fell from the sky with a sound like the heavens tearing apart—a monolith of burning rock that struck the earth with such force the ground quaked for miles. Dust and fire rose high into the air. Villagers ran to seek shelter, believing it to be the end of the world.
Clashes of lightning hit the rock that stood upright amid the smoking crater like a monument, towering twelve feet high. It struck it consecutively, drawn as if by some divine magnetism. For a full hour it continued, until it finally ceased and the sky cleared.
Cautiously, the villagers crept from their hiding places and approached the monolith. Upon its darkened face, glowing letters had been engraved into it. The people read aloud:
"In the age of man, the world is divided;
Two souls in fate shall be united.
The end of the world, in the hands of one,
The fate of the world, in a heart unborn.
Time repeats and destinies collide
Imbalance return where one must die.
For one must live for peace to bloom—
The other shall defy every tomb.
Eclipse at birth and a hair like gold;
Features of a fate here untold.
From ancient blood and hidden clan,
Will rise the curse of gods and man.
A tale forbidden, yet retold.
Stories of one sealed by the world
When light and dark are bound in pain,
The stars shall fall and rise again.
Two souls entwined by fate's cruel tether—
One bound to ruin, the other—forever.
Destined for destruction,
And thus, salvation."
A hush fell over the crowd. The wind stilled. Murmurs could be heard around everyone present, as they stared at the birth of a new prophecy. They could not name what they had witnessed, but all who stood there that day knew—The world had just changed forever.
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29,500 years later
Unknown pov
It was a cold winter night. The wind blew strongly across what was left of the trees. I clutched my coat stronger, bearing the agonizing pain on my abdomen as I continued to move forward, using my sword as support.
Until my knees gave out and I fell on the snow. I coughed up blood, aware that I can't continue this journey any longer.
"Kai!" I heard a soft female voice tear through the night.
"Elaine?" I weakly called out. She ran through the snow and knelt beside me as I fell in her arms.
"They betrayed us," she breathed.
"Shh, it's okay," I said softly, with a smile.
"N-no, your hurt," she said in tears.
"I know," I whispered, staring at the blood seeping out of the deep gash on my abdomen.
"Promise me one thing," I requested, "that you'll always protect them, despite everything,"
"I can't," she said with vengeance in her eyes, "they will all burn."
"No," I took her warm hand in mine, briefly admiring it, "forgive them. Do it for me,"
She stared at me helplessly in tears, "Why are you so kind-hearted? They don't deserve you. Asteria. . .don't deserve you,"
I smiled, answering her previous question, "Because it feels nice,"
"No it doesn't," she whispered.
I chuckled, which turned into coughing up more blood. She stared at me in panic, then cast a healing spell on me. But it didn't work.
"No no no," she tried again and again in tears, but it didn't work.
I held her hand, stopping her from trying again, "You know it won't work."
She cried, burying her face in my neck. I lifted my hand and weakly comforted her. We stayed like that for what seems to be forever. She had stopped crying and just laid here with me.
"Elaine?" I called softly.
"Yes?" She lifted her head
"I feel. . .cold," I stated the first thing I said when we first met.
She smiled weakly, voice breaking, "Of course you do,"
"I want to hear you sing one last time," I requested, remembering how soothing her voice was, "please,"
She nodded in tears, then began to whistle a song. Our song. I smiled lightly as I listened to her. It was like hearing a bird sing.
The wind was blowing softly now, and the trees were calm. The night was silent and the only thing heard was her beautiful song.
I listened to her whistle through the night in satisfaction, as I finally closed my eyes.
I will always love you Elaine.
Was the last thing I thought before being plunged into the darkness.