A long sigh broke the silence beside . I turned, already annoyed.
"Can you not breathe so loudly, Farel?"
He shrugged, eyes fixed on the large notice posted on the wall. The parchnt flapped under the wind, bold letters burned across it:
ROYAL DECREE — ALL ABLE YOUTHS TO ENROLL IN THE MILITARY ACADEMY.
Farel groaned. "Has the kingdom run out of soldiers? Why send us to fight demons?"
I didn't answer. My stomach twisted the sa way his voice did.
He tore the notice from the wall, crumpled it, and tossed it aside. "This is insane."
I caught his wrist. "Insane or not, it's the king's order."
He yanked free, scowling. "We're eighteen, Xanders. We're supposed to be planning weddings, not wars."
"Marriage was your goal, not mine."
"Right. Easy for you to say." He ruffled my hair hard enough to sting.
"Stop that, idiot."
"You wouldn't understand," he muttered. "You don't have soone waiting for you."
I rolled my eyes. "Forget marriage. The demons won't wait."
He sighed, tossing another pebble into the river. "Then what do we do?"
"We go to the Ministry of Defense," I said.
His eyes widened. "You're serious?"
"Completely." I pulled him along before he could protest.
---
The line outside the minister's house stretched down the street. Farel complained the entire ti.
"This is madness. We're actually signing up for a demon war?"
"Na," barked the guard at the desk.
"Xanders," I said quietly. "I live with an old woman nad Wilona, from Elf Village."
The guard scribbled my details, then handed a slip marked #100. "Don't lose it. Be ready."
Farel stared at my number. "A hundred? Guess we're not the only idiots."
I leaned closer. "I'm doing this for Nenek Wilona. She's sick. The army pays in gold coins."
He frowned. "You could've just asked for help."
I shook my head. "This is sothing I have to earn myself."
Farel sighed, shoulders drooping. "Fine. For Grandma Wilona, then. I'll join too. Even if it ruins my chance to get married."
---
That night, I returned ho. Our small wooden house sat alone, far from the city lights. Wilona lay resting on her mat, her breath shallow but steady.
"Nenek, I brought bread," I said softly, kneeling beside her. Her eyes fluttered open, warm and weary.
"Ah, my child… you're back."
I handed her the bread and a few silver coins. "We sold the fish at the market today."
She smiled weakly. "You shouldn't worry about . Go find your parents, live your own life."
I shook my head. "You're my only family, Nenek."
Her hand trembled as she touched my cheek. "Then promise one thing—be happy when I'm gone."
"Don't say that." I helped her sit upright. "Eat first, then take your dicine."
Her gaze drifted toward the window, the fading sunlight painting her face gold. "When I found you years ago, you were wrapped in this."
She opened an old wooden box and lifted a crimson pendant shaped like a star. Its glow pulsed faintly, as if alive.
"This belonged to your parents," she whispered. "Maybe soday it will guide you to them."
I stared at the gem, anger flickering in my chest. "They abandoned ."
"Don't hate them, Xanders."
I swallowed hard, unable to reply.
Her frail smile softened the air. "If I must leave soon, know that I've already been blessed—having you."
"Nenek, please stop talking like that." My voice cracked.
She only chuckled, light and tired. "You've grown strong. Promise you'll live."
I held her hand until her breathing steadied, the crimson pendant heavy in my palm.
---
Hours later, I sat outside, staring at the dark sky. Clouds gathered thickly, but no rain fell. Sothing twisted in my gut. The pendant around my neck pulsed faintly—warm, alive.
"Why do I feel like this?" I muttered.
Inside, Wilona prepared breakfast. "Nenek," I called, forcing a smile, "Farel and I are going to the forest today. Shasha will stay here with you."
She frowned. "You're leaving?"
I nodded hesitantly.
"Is that really Farel?" she asked, squinting at him when he appeared by the doorway.
"Yes, Nenek. We'll hunt so deer. Might take a while."
Shasha, her caretaker, touched Wilona's shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll watch her."
Wilona exhaled slowly. "Then return safely, both of you."
Her words lit sothing inside —determination, and a fear I couldn't na.
---
Two hundred elves gathered at the edge of the forest, banners fluttering under the dawn light. The academy awaited beyond the mountains.
"Wait, he's coming too?" soone scoffed.
I ignored the laughter, but Farel didn't. "Got a problem with that?"
"Yeah. He's not even a full elf. What's he doing here?"
"Does it matter?" I replied calmly.
Apparently, it did. A boy nad Micky grabbed my collar.
"Enough!" A gray-haired officer separated us. "Save your fights for the demons."
Micky glared before backing off. I bowed slightly. "Thank you, sir."
He waved it off. "My duty is to keep order. Now move."
We marched through the dense woods for days. When night fell, we set camp beneath the towering trees.
---
The others slept quickly, but I couldn't. My body felt heavy, my pulse racing.
"What's happening to ?" I whispered.
Pain ripped through my chest. My skin burned. My breath ca ragged. I stumbled toward the river, desperate for water.
"Please… help…" I plunged my hands into the stream—then froze.
The water wasn't cold. It couldn't touch .
A red glow spread from my palms, crawling up my arms like living fire. My vision blurred. Shadows gathered in the darkness, whispering my na.
"No… stay away—"
Everything went black.
---
When I woke, sunlight blinded . Farel stood over , arms crossed.
"Sleeping by the river now? I thought you ran off."
I sat up, dazed. "I… what happened?"
"You tell ." He handed my gear. "Everyone's ready to move."
I dipped my hand in the water again—still no cold. My heart pounded. I forced a smile. "Nothing happened. Let's go."
Farel frowned but didn't push.
We marched on. The wind shifted, carrying the scent of danger.
"Watch out!" soone shouted.
A massive tree crashed down ahead, crushing two soldiers. Chaos erupted.
"Ambush!" the captain roared.
Arrows hissed through the air. We dove behind trees, returning fire where we could. The night flared with light and blood.
"Hold the line!" the captain bell
owed. "Feel the wind—listen for the source!"
I closed my eyes, hearing it—the faint hum beneath the storm, the whisper of the pendant against my skin.
Then everything erupted in fla.
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