The sun was slowly setting through the thick foliage of the garden, casting long, golden, and shifting shadows across the veranda. The air was mild, perfumed with a subtle blend of resin, warm earth, and a hint of wild lavender. In this peaceful setting, the world seemed suspended, as if time itself were silently observing the scene unfolding before it.
Gaël was there, standing a few steps away from his wife and son, leaning against one of the wooden pillars supporting the awning. His arms were crossed over his chest, his gaze fixed on them without blinking. One might have thought he was simply watching calmly, but in truth, his heart was overflowing with silent emotions.
Before him, Stella and Érikan were sharing a rare moment: a knowing glance, a hand brushing the other, a smile exchanged filled with love and pride. Stella, upright and elegant, carried in her eyes a tenderness that was almost sacred. Érikan, seated nonchalantly yet with a luminous gaze, exuded that energy peculiar to those who have just crossed a threshold—a kind of newfound confidence, a quiet fire in his eyes.
And Gaël... Gaël watched. Not like a distant spectator, but as a fulfilled father, a deeply moved husband. In his silence, he felt everything. An immense gratitude, unconditional love, but also a quiet worry.
He thought that this moment, however perfect, was fragile. That this peace, this happiness he saw in the eyes of his son and wife, could be shattered by the outside world at any moment.
But within him, a fierce determination was growing, like a flame no wind could extinguish.
"I will protect them. Whatever the cost. Even if the whole world tells me it's impossible. Even if I have to stand alone against the storms. This smile... this peace... I will defend it with my life."
For such was Gaël: a silent wall, stubborn as stone, grounded like a rock. But that rock, beneath its surface, was made of love, restrained gentleness, and unwavering loyalty.
He was not only a warrior in the shadows, he was a man, a father, a husband. He loved Stella with the quiet strength of a mountain. And he saw in Érikan not only a son but a miracle, a symbol of hope, a future he would let no one destroy.
And as the evening wind stirred the leaves and the light bathed the scene in an almost sacred hue, Gaël remained there, upright, silent, his gaze gentle yet resolute.
A pillar. A guardian.
A father ready for anything.
Silence had fallen like a velvet blanket in the room. A soft light bathed the space, filtered through the white linen curtains that swayed slowly with the wind. The fire crackled in the hearth, spreading a comforting warmth, but nothing could warm the intensity of the moment about to unfold.
Gaël stood like a granite statue, arms crossed, his expression grave.
"Son," he said in a deep voice, gently breaking the stillness.
Érikan slowly opened his eyes. His gaze had changed. It was no longer that of a curious child, but of an awakened being. He had seen something. Understood something. A new light animated his eyes—a calm and resolute flame. Gaël noticed it immediately. He was surprised, almost moved. It was no longer the look of a boy, but of a future warrior.
"Now that you are awakened, that your training has begun," said Gaël with a peaceful face, "it is time to know the truth about this world. Its laws. Its rulers. And the threats that gnaw at it."
At these words, Stella gently approached, placing a light hand on her son's shoulder. Her voice was soft, but the shadow in her eyes betrayed the gravity of what she was about to reveal.
"My darling," she whispered, "this world we live in is divided into two continents. We are on Limen, a vast and ancient land, inhabited by humans, elves, beastmen, and dwarves. Each people occupies its own lands, organized according to their customs and strength. The human domain, for its part, is ruled by eight great powers: the Four Sovereigns and the Four Venerables."
Her voice took on a legendary tone.
"Among the Sovereigns:
The Némphis, masters of beasts, with green hair, spiritually linked to creatures by a bond as ancient as the forests.
The Tulips, a matriarchal dynasty, governed by women of disconcerting beauty and consummate art in illusion and manipulation.
The Krevnis, born with a natural affinity for ice, possessing eyes as cold as their powers and glacial discipline.
And... the Blood Flames."
She paused. Her gaze fixed on Érikan, and time seemed to hold its breath.
"The Blood Flames... were the lords of fire. Their mastery of the element was absolute. They were recognized by their hair black as obsidian and eyes glowing like volcanic embers. But eight years ago... they were betrayed. Attacked in their sleep. Their clan was decimated."
A heavy silence fell. In Érikan's soul, a chasm opened. Fragments of memory violently resurfaced: the warmth of a maternal arm, the rough fabric of a wrap, the howling flames, and the icy cold of escape. He staggered inwardly.
Stella continued, her voice soft but firm.
"The Four Venerables are:
The Xiphos, masters of the sword, with piercing gazes and divine style.
The Dory, lords of the spear, with violet hair, rigid and ruthless.
The Skiephoneús, people with dark skin and red hair, known for their superhuman endurance and brute strength.
The elves are ruled by a royal family intimately connected to the mana itself. They form a council of elders, wise and strategic. As for the beastmen, they live in tribes, too numerous, too scattered to form a unified kingdom. But their strength is unpredictable."
Then, Stella's tone grew grave. A shadow slipped into her voice.
"And across the sea... lies Epeiros. A continent of darkness. Inhabited by demons."
The fire crackled louder, as if to underscore the tension.
"They are not like us," she continued. "They do not live. They consume. They were born from an imbalance between elements, from corrupted mana. They have no pity, no compassion. Some have human appearances. Others are shapeless beasts. All seek only one thing: conquest. And the destruction of our world."
"Their goal is clear," added Gaël. "Eradicate Limen. Absorb our energy. And impose a reign of chaos. What stops them? The Alliance. A fragile union between the free peoples of Limen. We are part of it."
"But that's not all," he continued. "Our greatest threat does not come only from them. It also comes from those who betrayed their own blood. The Prodidimè. Humans who sold their loyalty to the demons in exchange for power. They are the ones who betrayed the Blood Flames. They are the ones... who nearly ended your clan."
Érikan's face turned pale. He trembled. The child in him wept. But the awakened being fought to remain standing. He understood. He was alone... the last heir. And his adoptive parents had always known.
Gaël placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Érikan. The world is cruel. To survive, you must become strong. Not out of hatred. But out of necessity. To protect those you love. Your mother and I are not just your parents. We are soldiers of the Alliance. Undercover agents."
Stella stepped forward, her eyes shining with tears.
"When we found you, your cradle was engraved with the rune of the Flames, and your dra shone with an ancestral glow. I knew. I understood. But I loved you as my son. And... I'm sorry, my treasure. I just wanted to protect you."
Her words caught in her throat. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
Érikan stepped forward. Slowly. And embraced her.
"You will always be my mother."
Stella burst into tears against his chest. Gaël joined them, embraced them both. A simple, profound embrace. A family, united against adversity.
But in this world ravaged by war, the Alliance could not simply hope. It had founded the Helions Academy.
A sacred institution, hidden in the heart of the Eryphos mountains, where the most brilliant awakened children of Limen were trained. Not to live... but to survive, to protect, to overcome.
They taught the art of combat, strategy, manipulation of mana in all its forms, and the secrets of ancient clans. Érikan would soon enter it.
For destiny offers no rest to those who bear a name forgotten in blood.
And somewhere, in the shadows of this world, the demons were already preparing.