Legends of the Stars

Chapter 6: Shadows of the Past

Chapter 6

Shadows of the Past

For as long as he could remember, Jaden lived in that rustic house in Kamina Village. This small, quiet town was near the eastern coast of the kingdom, overlooking the Azurean Ocean. Lush fields and fresh sea air spread across the hills every day. The town was also a sanctuary from the demons that roamed the wilderness at night. The ring of mountains surrounding the village prevented the beasts from crossing into it. For all the townspeople, life there was paradise.

Throughout his childhood, Jaden lived in Kamina with his Aunt Lara and Uncle Aeron, who were both his heroes growing up. The way they worked hard in the service of others inspired him. They always tried to find a way to help people, not once thinking of themselves, and they taught him to do the same. They were everything he wanted to be.

Lara ran a small orphanage in the village, acting as a guardian for multiple children. She took care of them all like she took care of Jaden like they were her own flesh and blood. Her dedication to the children inspired Jaden a great deal, and as he volunteered at the orphanage, he became like a big brother to them all.

Though Aeron was a simple farmer and blacksmith, he was also a veteran soldier in the Knights of Astrelm. Jaden grew up on his uncle's stories of fighting against the Empire with his father. For years, they helped drive away their armies from smaller countries, protecting their citizens from their fiery wrath. Because of their heroic deeds, they were both considered legends of their time.

Hearing his exciting tales, Jaden dreamt of becoming a knight. But Aeron and Lara did not share the same dream for him. They always said that it was too dangerous to be a knight and that they needed his help at home. They wouldn't even let him touch any of his uncle's swords hung up on the walls.

Despite this conflict, Jaden's childhood was a relatively happy one. He did exceptionally well in school and always got good grades, making him one of the top students in his class. Jaden was beloved by almost everyone in his village, so he had many friends in his school. He couldn't have been happier.

But when Jaden was fourteen, he began having the same nightmare almost every night:

Darkness. Demons surround him. They howl. They shriek. They snarl. These sounds terrify him as he sinks into utter helplessness. When he reaches the apex of fear, Jaden runs away from the demons, who chase him across the abyss. No matter how fast he ran or how far he goes, they are always close behind. Just like running inside a wheel. Just when he feels like he can no longer move, the demons merge into one giant shadow that appears in front of him. This amorphous shadow morphs into a dark beast towering over him with its two long horns and three golden eyes. But this creature had no face. Only a black, empty shape rippling through the darkness, a scorching tear in the fabric of existence.

And just as Jaden is too exhausted to run anymore, a blinding, blue aura crowns the demon's head in a cosmic halo. Within that mesmerizing light, a resounding male voice speaks.

"Jaden! Wake up! The time has come! Your destiny will decide the fate of life itself! The time has come for you to awaken!"

In the end, the black mass howls a great bellow, its gigantic maw swallowing the light into a bottomless, red pit. Jaden can see an infinite vortex of teeth as the dark beast swallows him whole, dragging him down into the heart of darkness.

* * *

At that point, Jaden would wake up screaming in a cold sweat. Everything about that dream felt all too real. He could hardly tell if he was actually awake. Even though he had only ever seen demons as pictures in a book, he felt like he had truly stood in front of them when he was asleep. He could still see those golden eyes staring at him in the dark every time he blinked. He also found himself so exhausted, his body had forgotten how to breathe. It felt like he had just run for miles on end, and he thought maybe he did. Even when he had gotten out of bed to grab a drink of water, Jaden could feel his legs ache.