Shadows of Aether

Chapter 1: The Prophecy

The young prince, dressed in white, ran through the halls of the Temple of Realms. Torches flickered along the stone walls, guiding him toward a red door adorned with bronze metal. He pounded on it with his fists, kicked it, and even screamed, but no one answered. Frustrated, he turned away and kicked a loose pebble, sending it bouncing into the wall.

*Tick, tick—open.* A small crack appeared in the wall, and the boy sprinted toward it. Just as it was about to close, he dove forward, slipping inside. Darkness surrounded him, but he pressed on, using the narrow walls to guide him. Soon, a faint light appeared ahead.

He entered a room illuminated by glowing orbs, where noblemen and leaders from across the Aether Kingdom gathered around a massive platinum bowl. They were draped in cloaks of cloud-coloured silk, holding staffs and talismans from the kingdom's history. The unbreakable red door from before opened, and a cloaked figure entered. The room fell silent as the figure's wooden shoes echoed against the marble floors. He walked to the platinum bowl and lowered his hood.

"Father?" the boy whispered in awe.

The king smiled and addressed the room. "Guardians of the realm, thank you for joining me on this night of the Blood Blue Moon." His voice boomed with authority. "Sage Mirai will now present the prophecy that will guide us into the new age."

An elderly sage hobbled forward, using her staff for support. She stood before the bowl, her hands moving gracefully through the air as ether gathered into an orb of light. She raised her hands high, and the orb floated above her. Her eyes shot open, glowing pure white.

"A child, a gift from God, will come. Powerful from birth, but tested they will be. Reborn from the ashes, out of the sea. Lustrated in a bath of lightning, given to only thee. Eyes of purity, to see all worlds in one. With a heart of pure gold, born from the sun. If the child cannot fulfill their destiny, the world as we know it will cease to be."

The orb vanished, and the sage collapsed to the ground. The room erupted in gasps as the king rushed to her side. She shook her head at him solemnly.

"SILENCE!" the king roared, regaining control of the room.

As he helped the sage to her feet, she struck her staff against the floor, commanding attention once more.

"I fear this prophecy brings danger to all the kingdoms. It must remain secret. When the child is found, they will live in isolation on the Isle of Harumi. No other kingdom can know of this prophecy."

The king nodded gravely. "For the peace of the realm, this meeting will never be spoken of again, unless summoned by the higher council."

The leaders nodded in agreement and began to leave the room. Only the king and Sage Mirai remained.

"Sage Mirai," the king said, pacing around the bowl, "what exactly did you see?"

"Destruction," she whispered, her voice heavy. "A woman with lightning in her heart, tearing through the sky. The Aether Kingdom, consumed in darkness, burnt to ash."

The king stopped, his face stricken. "How do we stop it?"

The sage smiled sadly, conjuring a small cloud of lightning in her hand. "We can't."

As the sage and the king left, the young prince, hidden behind a small crack in the wall, wiped tears from his eyes.