Chapter 1: awakening
Act 1: Loss
That— that was a strange dream… it felt so surreal, yet alive.
I have been getting these a lot more frequently.
When I used to be a kid, I scoffed them off, thinking nothing of it.
Yet today was the worst one I've seen. I can't call it a nightmare, nor a dream.
Anyways, I got other things to worry about now. My family needs me, more than ever— now that we lost our lands to the demons.
Damn demons killed the Sultan, and to make matters worse, the new Sultan is not doing anything about it…
Once a great house, now look at us? Tssk…
I can't believe we are refugees now…
I… I— damn everyone!
"Birds chirp"
I should get up and see how my family is doing.
Outside my tent, I can see the great green forest.
It's so peaceful out here. The farther south we travel, the calmer it gets.
There is almost no worry about the war here.
My mother is cooking something up, my grandfather is with my uncles making plans, Hakan— my cousin— is with his father checking on the supplies, and I… I'm just lazing around.
Ever since the incident, they have been treating me differently, as if I am fragile or something!
I can't stand them for it. They used to see me as the gifted of the family, and now… I am being treated as a kid!
Their ideals, beliefs, and their way of life…
That's why our house is no more…
My mother is calling me. I better go eat something before I go out hunting.
"How are you feeling today, my darling son?"
Ah… my mother. So innocent, so pure, so beautiful— yet she wasted her talents… she had so much to offer for herself!
So loving, yet so gullible…
"I'm fine, Mother. Thank you for the food."
We don't have what we are used to, but we make it work.
Even with this less, she cooked a delicious meal as ever.
While eating, my cousin Hakan is giving me some funny-looking faces.
He knows I haven't been myself lately and is doing whatever he can to cheer me up.
I know my mother is worried about me too, ever since the incident, but—
Today is the day I break free.
My grandmother taught me all the fundamentals of life, and as life goes by, I can see them clearly.
Ooh… Grandmother… I miss her so much…
I should go.
The sun is pretty high up. I should slow down my movement when I get deeper into the forest.
As I move towards my tent, I can feel some concerning glares my way.
The usual again, even today.
At my tent, I can't find any of my gear.
Did my mother take them away?
This is ridiculous!
I am a prodigy. I will carry the Balkar legacy forward!
I go storming outside.
"Mother! Did you take my weapons and gear?"
"No, no, my dear. Your grandfather did."
My grandfather… so cautious of everything.
Once a great warrior, but now a reflection of his former self.
He despises the Sultanate family— strong enough to keep his own against them, but forced to uphold the peace between them.
He needs to stop treating me like a kid!
"Grandfather!"
"Boy! Can't you see we are planning for something important! What is it?"
"Where are my weapons and gear?"
"Boy, you don't need those!"
"I have stayed quiet. I accepted because of circumstances, but you can't treat me like this!"
"Boy, you are sick! You need to rest! No one thinks less of you! You still have a great future… now go."
I can't believe he thinks I will let this go so easily…
I'll show him!
That said, I can sense little movement behind them in the bushes.
We Balkars are great warriors— and the only humans that can control light magic.
I conjured light magic in the form of a spear.
Holding it tight, I can feel the magic gathering around it and getting stronger.
It hums, almost— shining brighter than ever and holding a lot of aether inside.
Now they are focused on me.
"Boy! What are you doing?"
Showing you my capabilities…
I threw the spear right through them!
Their shocked faces, their wide eyes, the sweat dripping from their hairlines…
I can taste their fear, surprise, and anticipation.
It was worth it!
A loud grunt can be heard behind them.
I hit my target.
But…
What— what is happening to me?
I— I feel weak…
Am I? Am I blacking out?
As I fall to the floor, I can't stop thinking about how pointless everything is…
Why do I even bother?…
Act 2: In the Shadow the Light Fades
Where am I?
This— this is my grandparents' home…
Before…
Am I dreaming? Or was it all an illusion?
"You have been asleep for hours, my boy."
"Grandmother?"
"Yes, dear?"
Here I was, sitting right in front of my grandmother.
It feels so real…
The bare sight of her fills my eyes…
Even if this is real or not, I should hug her.
"Dear? What's wrong?"
"Nothing… nothing at all, Grandmother."
As soon as I let go of her, my heart sank down my body, and my feet felt wobbly.
I miss her so much!
"Did you have a hard day?"
"It was a long day, Grandmother."
"Well, you know what they say…"
"A day ending with energy to spare is a day wasted."
"You did good, my boy. I'm proud of what you have become."
"I can't wait to see what else you will achieve."
As she said that, my eyes filled up again…
I can't hold it anymore, as a sound left my throat…
My grandmother should not see this…
What would she think of me?
"Did you say something, my dear?"
As I clear my throat, I told her that I had a dry throat.
"Here, have some water."
She handed me the water with a heartwarming smile.
I needed this.
But what is this?
Why is my vision getting blurry?
Everything is fading!
As I stood in the pitch black, only the eerie sound of nothingness could ring in my ears.
So it was all fake…
A moment of joy— but as I said, why do I even bother…
A faint light appeared above me. It's a bright light, and right next to it, a dark light.
They appear to be hovering right above me.
Should I?
"The time has come."
"Who is there?"
Who said that? What menacing voice could that belong to?
"You are the next chosen one."
Chosen? What does that even mean?
As I looked up, the orbs of light started to move ever so closer.
"A gift by Darkness."
"A gift from whom?"
Why is this all so vague? Do I have to accept this so-called gift?
The orbs appear to be floating right above me now…
What am I supposed to do?
Do I?
As my mind races, the orbs appear right in front of me, and they have stopped moving.
I hold my hand out to the orbs.
The light feels familiar— it holds memories and emotions…
These— these are mine…
This is my light magic. My aether runs through it.
But… this dark orb feels strangely familiar too.
I have never seen it before, but I can sense some memories inside of it.
What am I supposed to do here?!
"Light cannot survive in the darkness."
Light cannot—
DOES HE WANT ME TO ABANDON MY LIGHT FOR THIS SO-CALLED GIFT?!
Light would always persevere inside darkness…
Strangely, I don't believe in my own words anymore.
No… it can't be…
I— I am a Balkar… I cannot lose my light…
If this darkness is what I think it is, then…
I shouldn't think about this too much, but I just can't stand the idea of losing my light magic.
Still… I can't decline this gift…
As I hold out my arms towards the light, it circles around me.
We both cherish the moments we had and know this won't be the last time we will see each other.
"Go— go and find someone worthy of my light!"
As the light fades away into the distance, I hold out my arms to openly invite the darkness— as absurd as it may sound.
As soon as the darkness touches me, a wave of sinister thoughts enters my mind, a flow of ever-powering strength bursts inside of me, and I know this will alter my fate…
Act 3: A Familiar Bond
"I'm healing as fast as I can!"
"There are too many wounded!"
"We won't survive this!"
"Illyria! Go find your parents and flee this place, quick!"
"No! We can't leave these people!"
"We can't keep this up. They will capture us if we don't flee."
"Go! Now!"
I ran as fast as I could, through all the chaos—burning houses, dead bodies, and fighting.
These damn demons have no remorse!
How did they even get to the Elven Kingdom?!
I look in all directions, but I can't find my parents…
She was right… our village will fall to the demons…
As I was running towards our home, I saw a dying elf gasping for air.
I sat right next to him to ease his pain, but his wounds are too deep to heal, even for me…
If only I had been here sooner.
All I can do is ease his death.
For a moment, he smiled at me before he shut his eyes…
I know this man. He was the local village guard chief.
Tears flowed down my cheeks as I kept on looking for my parents.
Fear engulfed my heart and kept me thinking the worst.
They aren't near our home, and the only place I haven't looked is the village hall.
I know that's where most of the fighting is taking place, but I can't leave my parents!
Nearing the village hall, the echoes of blades, destruction magic, and screams can be heard even louder.
These demons are ruthless… I should be careful, as they are known to take elves as prisoners.
Lurking behind some trees, I can see the village chief holding his ground against some demons.
Around him are countless dead demons, but beyond that, there are a lot more elven bodies.
I can't bear to look… all this death…
Then I heard it—my father's voice, shouting something to my mother.
I look in their direction and see them battling the demons.
My father is a magic archer, while my mother holds light magic.
Together, they are stronger than anything I have ever seen.
As I muster up the courage to go to them, I can see a winged horror moving in on them.
He slams to the ground, landing on an elven warrior.
Almost nothing is left of him.
My father quickly lets his arrows rain upon the winged horror,
nailing it stuck to the ground.
My mother sends out a beam of light magic right toward it.
No being could survive that!
Looking around, the demons appear to be losing this battle.
There might still be hope left!
As I wanted to move out of cover and run toward them, I have no feeling in my legs anymore, and my healing seems to be numbed.
I can feel a slight warmth approach me.
I look up and see an orb floating right above me.
It appears to be light magic…
Maybe my mother is trying to locate me!
But before I could even let out a word, the orb came crashing down toward me.
As it wants to enter my aether, I can feel the light settling in me, giving me strength and an ability to carry it.
I can sense someone's memories and emotions inside of it.
I— I can't believe what I am witnessing…
It's too much! I can't hold out much longer…
As I fall to the ground, I can see my parents fighting while my eyes shut.
Act 4: Captivity
It feels like I am moving…
How can that be? I'm still so tired…
As I open my eyes, I can't believe what I'm seeing— I'm inside a carriage, and with me are the elves from the village.
All children and young adults…
As reality settles in, I start out crying, my heart feeling heavy and my body trembling out of fear…
Am— am I really gonna die?!
Is this it for me?!
"Illyria?! I told you to run!"
It's Talia from the healer's cabin at the village…
It appears she too got captured.
"Talia! Have you seen my parents?!"
Barely holding my own, my voice cracked and tears uncontrollably flowed from my eyes.
"They… they got killed… I'm so sorry, Illyria."
What?… my— my parents are…
I can't believe it…
Mother… Father… nooo! Please!
Hours have passed since I got captured.
Learning about my parents…
My eyes feel so heavy… I have barely any fluid left in me.
But then Talia offers me some water that she made with her water magic.
Not tasty, but at least… I can't stop thinking about my parents.
A faint memory of my past keeps coming back to me.
It seems my memories of them—
The times my dad went hunting and I gathered herbs with my mother.
I always sneaked off to go to the forest to practice my magic, or the times we went into the village for supplies…
I miss them so much!
My father always told me that elves are the demons' greatest enemies.
They would never let any elf live.
Maybe… just maybe, I can survive with my light magic…
Act 5: The Truth
My head… it feels so dizzy… I can barely open my eyes.
"I think he is waking up!"
"Aslan, dear, are you feeling better?"
Are they standing around me?
As I open my eyes, my entire family is standing around me.
They are staring at me, worried, but I can feel uneasiness.
"I— I should be okay, Mother."
"Are you sure? Drink this first, and you need to see something…"
See something? What does she mean?
After some water, my body starts to react positively to it.
I sit up and ask:
"What do you want me to see?"
She hands me a mirror.
A mirror? But why?
As I look at myself in the mirror…
WHAT?! WHAT IS THIS?!
It appears I've gotten dark veins across my face— only on the left side— but what is this?!
When I touch it, it feels like skin, but this abnormality…
I've never seen this before!
My left eye has changed color too.
It appears to be purple now.
Is this the gift??
This is darkness??
My mind races while I stare at myself…
"Aslan? Honey, please, how did this happen to you?"
"Darkness."
"What did you say, boy? Darkness?"
As my face starts to look serious, my eyes narrow and lock on to my mothers.
I ask-
"Mother… I need to know the truth…"
"About what, son?"
"Who is my father?"