The forest fog had grown even denser, so thick that one could barely see their own hand. Walking behind Arin, Kyle and Grommash were moving toward the hidden mountain path from where the outer boundary of the Chronos Guild began. Suddenly, an unnatural stillness filled the air, as if nature itself had paused to hold its breath.
Then, from within the mist, a massive figure emerged. The man stood as steady as a rock. A silver mask covered his face, glinting in the moonlight, and from the hollow eye-slits, two cold, piercing gazes studied them. In his hand was a heavy and strange-looking weapon, something between an axe and a mace.
"Stop right there, strangers," his voice boomed like a boulder crashing to the ground. The sheer force of it made Kyle feel a vibration in his chest. "You have trespassed upon the sacred borders of the Chronos Guild. In this age of shadows, stepping here is an invitation to death."
The man—whom Arin knew as Ravana—stepped forward slowly. Each of his steps struck the ground with a heavy thud. Kyle felt Draken's ring on his finger grow cold, as if shrinking in the presence of an overwhelming power. Ravana appeared even larger than Grommash, and the heavy armor on his shoulders made it clear that he was no ordinary guard.
"Ravana, lower your axe!" Arin called out, gathering her courage. Though her voice carried tension, she tried to remain firm.
Ravana stopped but did not lower his weapon. "Names are meaningless, girl. Intentions matter. In this restricted land, where not even a bird dares to fly, what are you doing with an Orc and a boy radiating such strange energy? Have you forgotten that the hunters of the Umra Conclave hide in every shadow? Give me one reason not to cut you down where you stand."
Kyle noticed there was no emotion in Ravana's eyes—only strict duty. Even the small creatures of the forest had fled from his presence. Kyle knew that against this giant, his current strength was nothing more than a speck of dust.
Arin stepped forward again, lifting her head proudly. "Ravana, look closely. I am Arin, a high-ranking scout of the Chronos Guild. I am not with enemies, but with those we are sworn to protect."
A cold chuckle echoed from behind Ravana's mask. "These days, Umra's spies and shapeshifters can take any form. They can steal your voice, your face—even your memories. How do I know you are the same Arin who left on a mission six months ago? In a world of shadows, even what the eyes see cannot be trusted."
Gritting her teeth, Arin reached into her coat. Ravana's weapon moved instantly, but she calmly pulled out her Chronos Guild badge. It was a deep-blue metallic emblem, engraved with a golden hourglass at its center and two spread hawk wings around it. As moonlight touched it, a faint blue wave radiated outward—the mark of a true guild member .
"This is my symbol, Ravana. Enchanted by the Guild Master himself. It cannot be stolen or replicated. Do you still doubt me?" Authority now filled her voice.
Ravana bent down to examine it carefully. The sharpness in his gaze lessened slightly, though not entirely. "The badge is genuine. You truly are that stubborn elf. But that does not mean I will allow these two inside. The Guild's laws are strict, Arin. Especially for those who carry darkness with them."
He pointed at Kyle. A cold sensation pierced Kyle's soul. "An Orc whose kind betrayed us centuries ago… and a boy whose leaking violet energy reminds me of Umra's filthiest beasts. Are you mad? Taking him inside is like stabbing the Guild in its heart. Whatever resides within this boy is not normal. It is an echo of destruction."
Grommash tightened his grip on his axe and growled, "Watch your words, masked one. I did not come here willingly. We are here to survive—and to lessen the burden this boy carries."
Arin quickly stood beside Kyle. "He is no ordinary boy. His name is Kyle, and he unknowingly formed a Soul Contract with Draken. He is not Umra's spy—he is their greatest target. They hunt him because he is the Vessel of Draken. If he falls into their hands, the war you are trying to prevent will begin in an instant."
At the mention of Draken, a visible shiver ran through Ravana. He slammed his heavy axe into the ground, creating a deep crater. "Draken? The ancient demon the gods chose to forget? And you claim this child contains that apocalypse? I refuse to believe it. Power like Draken's would reduce a human body to ash. Either you lie… or the boy is already dead, and something else wears his body."
Kyle stepped forward shakily. "I… I want to end this. I don't know why this happened to me, but I seek the Guild's help. I'm not a threat."
Ravana loomed over him. "Every threat says the same. Your energy tells me the truth. It is bitter and ancient—painful even to sense. Arin, if you take him inside, you sign a death warrant. If he loses control within the Guild, none will survive."
The tension thickened. Arin realized words alone would not melt Ravana's resolve. She grabbed Kyle's right hand and lifted it into the air. "If not my words, then trust your eyes. Look at his finger."
Ravana leaned closer. The old, worn yet mysteriously radiant ring caught his gaze. As he looked at it, the fine engravings across its surface began to glow red and violet. A deep, heavy hum echoed—audible only to him.
Ravana staggered back. His grip on the axe loosened. "This… this is impossible. The Ring of the Bound Soul? The ring lost to time centuries ago?" His voice now carried awe and fear instead of steel.
He murmured lines recorded in the Guild's oldest scriptures: "When shadows swallow the sun, the bearer of the ancient ring shall knock upon the Guild's gates. He shall be both the key to destruction and the path to salvation."
Ravana slowly secured his axe on his back. "If fate has brought you here, who am I to stand in its way? But remember this, Kyle—the ring is more curse than blessing. Many within the Guild will try to kill you rather than save you, believing that your death will end Draken."
He stepped aside and gestured toward a massive stone wall, which slowly began to shift open. "Go inside. Arin, take them directly to the High Council. Do not stop anywhere. From this moment, their safety is my responsibility as well… because if he dies, this world may follow."
Kyle exhaled in relief and followed Arin and Grommash into the dark tunnel, where the most dangerous chapter of their lives was about to begin.
Cliffhanger:
Even a warrior as powerful as Ravana stepped back upon seeing Draken's ring. But will the other Guild members be as wise? Or will Kyle find new enemies instead of allies within those walls?
Author's Note:
Do you think Ravana might become Kyle's mentor in the future?
And is the ancient prophecy trul
y about Kyle… or is Draken manipulating destiny itself?