The nightmares came again. Night after night, Leo woke drenched in sweat, his chest tight, heart hammering like a war drum. The visions were relentless—blood-soaked battlefields, the cries of the innocent, the dragging of chains in the dark. Sleep had become a stranger, and even in daylight, the horrors lingered like shadows clinging to him.
Desperate for answers, Leo sought someone who could help—his father's most trusted Knight, Gabriel Herald. He found the older man practicing with his sword in the training grounds, the rhythmic clash of steel against steel echoing in the morning air.
"Why am I haunted by the wars of the past?" Leo asked, his voice tense, frustration spilling over.
Gabriel paused, watching Leo without lowering his weapon. "You just need enough sleep," he said matter-of-factly.
Leo groaned. "How am I supposed to sleep when my mind keeps spiraling deeper every night? It's getting worse, Gabriel!"
The Knight finally sheathed his blade, his sharp eyes softening slightly. "You're anxious about tomorrow's Sundane Force test at the Academy. That's all."
Leo shook his head. "No… it's something else… something I can't explain." He trailed off, frustration turning to silence.
Gabriel studied him, fists clenching subtly. He sensed there was more behind the boy's words—something dangerous, something extraordinary—but he said nothing. Not yet.
Leo turned and left the training grounds, his thoughts heavy. The streets of Lucindor stretched out before him, alive with merchants, children, and the clatter of horse hooves on cobblestone. He made his way to the city's grand library, a haven of quiet amidst the chaos. Towering shelves and dusty tomes offered a small measure of peace.
He poured over books about the wars of the past, desperate for answers, but none seemed to match the horrors in his dreams. Hours passed before he stumbled upon a worn, leather-bound tome titled: "The Lightlocks: Life's and Works."
His hands trembled as he opened it. The pages told of a people long thought extinct, wielders of unimaginable power, whose existence had shaped the very Five Great Lands.
"No way… they went extinct after I was born," he whispered. "It can't be a coincidence… they were that powerful?"
He traced the text with his finger. "In Luminous Flame… they lived in the Mountain of Life… and they're using a Div—"
A voice interrupted him.
"What are you reading, Leo?"
He snapped the book shut, shoving it back onto the shelf. "Nothing!"
Ken, his friend and constant companion, grinned at him from behind. "Oh, jeez… calm down. It's just me."
Leo exhaled sharply. "Yeah, you scared me."
"I can't wait to see your skills tomorrow!" Ken said, eyes sparkling with excitement.
Leo smirked. "Yeah… you and me are gonna kick some ass."
Ken laughed. "Then I'm gonna kick your ass."
"Why aren't you training right now?" Ken asked, gesturing toward the open grounds.
"Oh, please," Leo replied, stretching. "After weeks of non-stop training, I need to rest before tomorrow's test."
Ken nodded. "Good. Save your energy. You'll need it."
Leo clenched his fists, determination settling over him. "I may not fully understand how to use my Sundane Force, but I will succeed in that test tomorrow."
The two friends left the library and climbed to a rooftop overlooking the bustling streets. From here, the city seemed alive with motion and sound—the shouts of merchants, the clatter of hooves, the faint smell of bread and smoke drifting from the alleyways.
"I've been having nightmares every night," Leo admitted, leaning on the railing. "I don't know why… or what they mean."
Ken placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Face it, Leo. Sometimes you have to fight your worst nightmares. Treat them like a real challenge, like a Knight facing a battle head-on."
Leo frowned. "Being worried doesn't make it easier."
Ken smirked. "Maybe not. But laughing with a friend helps a little."
They shared a quiet laugh, two young warriors standing on a sunlit rooftop, the noise of the city below a distant murmur. For a moment, the world felt normal.
Night fell, and exhaustion settled over both of them. "Good luck tomorrow, Ken," Leo said.
"Good luck to you too," Ken replied with a grin.
As Leo walked home, the streets darkened, he was intercepted by two armored Knights.
"The King requests your presence," one said. "You must be safe."
Leo groaned. "Alright… jeez, that old geezer again."
At the castle, his mother, Queen Selene Lightlock, immediately scolded him for wandering at night. "Leo! You can't just roam the city!"
"Okay, I'm going to sleep now," Leo muttered stubbornly.
"Go to sleep now!" she insisted, hands on her hips.
From the shadows of the throne room, King Henry watched quietly. There was something in Leo's gaze—a secret, a weight he could not yet reveal. He opened his mouth to speak but hesitated. Not yet. Some truths had to wait.
Leo finally closed the door to his room, exhaustion pulling him down, unaware that the shadows outside his window whispered of a world already bound by chains—and that his destiny was just beginning.