The Promised Of Elaria

The Wait

Ethan was led out of the temple and down a series of winding paths through the village. His mind was still spinning from everything the Mother had said. He was supposed to be their savior? Their answer from the gods? It didn’t make any sense, yet there was no denying the seriousness in her eyes.

They finally arrived at a large wooden building on the outskirts of the village, standing tall and ornate, surrounded by lush greenery. Two women stood by the entrance, bowing slightly as they approached.

“This is where you will stay for now,” the woman guiding him said, gesturing to the building. “We’ve prepared everything for your comfort.”

Ethan glanced around, his eyes darting to the women who had gathered nearby. They were watching him again some from windows, others from behind trees. There was curiosity, yes, but also something more intense, something that made him uneasy.

“Why are they all... staring at me like that?” he asked, keeping his voice low.

The woman smiled, though there was a knowing glint in her eyes. “You are the first man they’ve ever seen. They’re curious.”

“Right,” Ethan muttered, feeling the weight of their gazes. “Curious.”

He stepped inside the building, his eyes scanning the room. It was spacious, with a large bed in the center draped in rich fabrics, a table with food laid out, and a fireplace crackling softly. Everything seemed too... perfect.

“I’ll leave you to rest,” the woman said, her voice soft. “But be warned many of the women here will seek your favor. They believe in the prophecy.”

Ethan raised an eyebrow. “And what do you believe?”

The woman hesitated for a moment before answering, “I believe the gods have plans for all of us, whether we understand them or not.”

She bowed slightly and turned to leave, closing the door behind her. Ethan stood there, alone in the quiet room, trying to wrap his head around everything. He could still feel the Mother’s touch on his face, the way she had spoken to him as if he was the answer to their prayers. But none of this made any sense.

He sat down on the edge of the bed, running a hand through his hair. “What the hell am I supposed to do?” he muttered to himself.

Before he could gather his thoughts, there was a knock at the door.

“Already?” he sighed, standing up. “Come in.”

The door creaked open, and a young woman stepped inside. She was different from the others her long hair braided over one shoulder, her eyes wide with awe as she looked at him. She seemed nervous, her hands fidgeting at her sides.

“Uh, hello,” Ethan said, trying to sound calm.

The woman hesitated before speaking. “I... I wanted to meet you. The Promised One.”

Ethan sighed, waving her in. “Yeah, I guess that’s me. But look, I’m not really sure what’s going on here. All of this ‘promised’ stuff... I’m just a guy. A regular guy.”

She stepped closer, her voice trembling. “You don’t understand. You’re not just a man. You’re here to... to fulfill the prophecy.”

Ethan frowned. “And that means what, exactly?”

Her eyes darted to the floor, then back to him. “You’re supposed to father the next generation. You’ll save us.”

Ethan’s stomach dropped. He had heard the Mother say something similar, but hearing it from someone else made it feel even more real.

“Listen,” he said, raising a hand, “I don’t even know how I got here. I don’t know anything about this prophecy, and I sure as hell wasn’t planning on fathering a whole bunch of kids.”

The woman stepped closer, her eyes pleading. “But it’s your destiny. The gods sent you to us.”

Ethan took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. “I didn’t ask for this.”

Before the woman could respond, another knock came at the door. This time, it swung open without waiting for an invitation, and another woman entered, older and more confident.

“What’s going on in here?” she asked, her tone sharp. “Why are you troubling him already?”

The young woman’s face flushed, and she quickly backed away. “I...I just wanted to see him.”

The older woman sighed, shaking her head. “You know the rules. He is not to be approached without permission.”

The young woman gave Ethan one last look before scurrying out of the room, leaving him with the older woman.

“Sorry about that,” the woman said, turning to Ethan with a softer expression. “It’s just... you’ve caused quite a stir.”

“Yeah, I can tell,” Ethan muttered, sitting back down on the bed. “Look, I don’t want to cause any trouble. I just... I need some time to figure all this out.”

The woman smiled sympathetically. “I understand. It’s a lot to take in.”

Ethan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Why me? Why am I the one the gods sent?”

The woman studied him for a moment before answering. “Because you are the only man, Ethan. In this realm, you’re more than just human. You’re... hope.”

“Hope,” he repeated, the word feeling heavy in his mouth. “I don’t know if I can live up to that.”

“You don’t have to understand it all right now,” the woman said gently. “Just know that we’re here to help you. And when you’re ready, the Mother will guide you.”

Ethan looked up at her, his mind swirling with questions. “And if I’m never ready?”

The woman’s smile didn’t falter. “You will be. In time.”

With that, she turned and left the room, leaving Ethan alone once more. He let out a long breath, leaning back on the bed.

Hope. Savior. Father of a new generation.

It all felt like too much, too soon.

He lay back, staring up at the ceiling, wondering how in the world he was going to handle everything that had been thrust upon him.