The room felt heavy with silence as Kael and Yuna took in the old man's words. The truth of their journey had begun to reveal itself in unsettling ways, and Yuna struggled to grasp it all.
Her mind raced, a whirlwind of questions tumbling out one after another. She couldn't process it fast enough.
"Wait…" Yuna spoke up, her voice shaky with confusion. "How could you possibly know that my parents were from this village? How do you even know about them?"
The old man, sitting across from them, gazed at her with an unreadable expression. His eyes, though clouded by age, held an intensity that made Yuna uneasy.
"It's not about knowing them personally, child," he said slowly. "It's about what I saw."
Yuna frowned, her brows furrowing with disbelief. "What do you mean?"
The man leaned forward, his voice soft yet unwavering. "Your hair. That deep brown hair. I've seen it before, years ago, on someone who once walked these lands. It was rare, but I knew the moment I saw you... you carry their blood."
Yuna took a step back, hand instinctively going to her hair, running through the strands as though they could reveal some hidden truth. "You can't possibly know that," she muttered to herself.
The old man gave her a knowing look, as if he were trying to hold back some greater revelation. "I may not have known them well, but I knew their legacy. They were... different. Outcasts, perhaps, but they left a mark on this village that can never be erased."
Yuna was silent, her mind still not ready to accept what he was saying. "But... how does that tie into the sword? You mentioned a sword, a demonic one. What does that have to do with any of this?"
The old man's expression grew more somber. "The sword," he said, his voice thick with reverence and caution, "is a relic. A demonic weapon buried deep beneath this village. It was forged by darkness, and no one can touch it without suffering its curse."
Yuna felt her heart pound. A demonic sword? That sounded far too dangerous.
"Wait, wait," she stammered. "How do you even know about this sword? You said it's buried here, but... no one can touch it? Why not?"
The old man gave her a grave look, his weathered hands resting on his knees. "It is said that the sword was forged by dark forces long ago, a weapon of unimaginable power. Its true purpose is unknown, but it's kept sealed here, beneath the earth, where no one dares to disturb it. Whoever tries to take it... they face its wrath. It's a sword of evil, and it was buried for a reason."
Yuna shook her head in disbelief. "But how can you be so sure it's here? And why are you telling us this?"
The old man's gaze softened. "Because you need to know. There are those who search for it, and they are not the ones who should wield it. But if you wish to find it, if you must, you will need to ask the villagers. They know more than I do."
Yuna stepped back, the weight of the conversation pressing down on her. "But how do you know it's here? You said no one can touch it. Who has even tried?"
The old man's lips twitched into something like a sad smile. "Many have tried. But no one has ever succeeded. The sword is buried so deep, no one has the courage—or the power—to claim it."
Yuna's mind was racing. She couldn't understand it all, couldn't fit the pieces together. Was this really the answer? Was this sword really tied to their journey?
Looking at Kael, her confusion only deepened. "But… why tell us about this sword? You don't even know it's for Kael, do you?"
The old man didn't answer immediately. He only stared at her with his piercing, knowing gaze. Finally, he spoke. "I don't know who it's meant for. But the sword will reveal itself when the time is right. You'll know when you're meant to find it."
Kael was silent for a moment, deep in thought. He turned to Yuna, his voice steady despite the swirl of emotions within him. "We need to find that sword. If it's buried here, if it's linked to my father's legacy, we have to see it for ourselves."
Yuna looked at him, still uncertain. "But how can we? The man said no one can touch it."
Kael clenched his fists, determination in his eyes. "We'll figure it out. We have to."
The old man's gaze softened as he nodded slowly. "If you're determined to seek it, then ask the villagers. They will guide you. But be careful. The sword is not something you should take lightly."
Yuna hesitated, but she knew they had no choice. The path ahead was clear, and they couldn't afford to turn back now. They would have to seek out the villagers and learn the truth about the sword—and whatever else lay hidden beneath the surface.
She took a deep breath and turned to Kael. "Let's do this. We'll find the sword. But we need to make sure we're ready for whatever it holds."
Kael nodded, a fire in his eyes. "We're ready. Together."
With that, they left the old man's house, the weight of their journey ahead heavy on their shoulders. The village stretched out before them, a place filled with secrets and dangers they had yet to understand.
Tomorrow, they would search for the sword. And maybe, just maybe, the truth would finally begin to reveal itself.