Call of the Shadow Heart

Chapter 8

The warm sun was slowly making its presence felt, casting a soft glow as dawn touched the darkness away. As Elara sat by the small fire in Sarah's modest home, the warmth barely eased the tension coiling in her chest. She had barely spoken since arriving in Eldorath, unsure of what to say or where to begin. After escaping the goblin base, most captives returned to their homes, and Sarah had offered her a place to rest after learning Elara had nowhere to go.

After tending to their bruises and changing clothes, Sarah bustled about, laying out a warm drink on the table before finally sitting across from Elara, her eyes filled with quiet curiosity.

"So, you came from the... lake?" Sarah asked gently, breaking the silence. Elara nodded, grateful that Sarah wasn't pressing too hard.

"Yes, although I don't know how to exactly explain this but.. I was dragged in here.. in this world, by an unknown shadow creature." Elara hesitated, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of her cup.

"So, you're saying you're not from Aetheria?" Sarah was a bit taken aback.

".. I guess so."

The events of what had happened felt like a blur, but beneath the confusion, one constant memory tugged at her: her grandmother. It was strange, how even here, so far from home, she couldn't shake the feeling of being connected to the woman who had raised her.

"I grew up far from the village," Elara began, her voice soft. "My grandmother took care of me. We were... different from the others. People kept their distance."

Sarah's expression softened with understanding. "The village folk can be like that sometimes, afraid of what they don't understand."

Elara nodded, her mind drifting back to her childhood. "They thought we were strange because of our eyes. Golden, like hers, saying we're like witches," she said, her voice quieter now, as though speaking the words out loud made them more real.

Sarah's gaze flickered with a glimmer of recognition, but she didn't interrupt, letting Elara continue.

"We didn't have much, just a small house surrounded by nature. My grandmother never really talked about herself. She kept to herself mostly… but she had this way of making everything feel safe, even when things around us weren't. I never understood why she was so cautious."

The fire crackled softly as Sarah listened. Elara's words carried a weight of mystery, but they also painted a picture of a life that had been hidden away, protected.

Elara took a deep breath. "I've always wondered about her past, why is she the one who raised me and not my parents, who she really was. I mean, she was more than just a healer. There were times when I saw her do things.. things that seemed impossible.”

Sarah's eyes widened slightly, but she held her composure. She set down her cup, leaning forward a little, her voice gentle but curious. "What do you mean?"

Elara hesitated. She had never spoken about this with anyone, not even her grandmother. But there was something about Sarah's calm presence that made her feel like maybe, just maybe, it was okay to share. "I saw her perform magic, more than once," she whispered. "She healed wounds with just a touch and protected me when I was in danger. But she always acted like it wasn't a big deal, like it was something we should never talk about because it's normal."

A small, almost imperceptible tremor went through Sarah's hands as she listened. She carefully stood, crossing the room to a small bookshelf. After a moment of searching, she pulled out an old, leather-bound book, its pages worn and edges frayed with age.

"This... might explain some things," Sarah said, her voice quieter now. She placed the book on the table between them, her fingers lingering on the cover for a moment before she opened it. "My great-grandparents were scribes for the kingdom, and they documented everything they could about the history of Aetheria."

Elara looked at the book, a sense of unease and curiosity rising within her.

Sarah flipped through the pages, her voice thoughtful. "They wrote about the Equinox Orb, how it maintained the balance in Aetheria for centuries, until the Shadow Tribe's greed shattered that balance."

Elara's brow furrowed. "The Shadow Tribe?"

Sarah nodded. "They were once a powerful force, but they craved more. They wanted to rule over Aetheria, and their lust for power led them to manipulate the Orb, which distorted its magic. When the balance broke, chaos followed. The Shadow Tribe vanished soon after, their existence almost wiped from memory. No one speaks of them anymore. It's forbidden."

She turned the page, and Elara noticed the careful, detailed drawings of strange symbols and figures that seemed both familiar and distant.

"The Orb's destruction caused a ripple across the land, and it is said that only someone with the purest magic can restore it." Sarah's eyes lifted to meet Elara's. "It was prophesied that the Child of Light would be the one to bring that balance back."

Elara felt a strange chill sweep through her as Sarah spoke. "Why are you telling me this?"

Sarah exhaled slowly. "Because the Child of Light was destined to appear, to restore the balance... I believe you are that child, Elara."

Elara froze, her heart skipping a beat. "No... that can't be," she whispered, shaking her head. "I'm just... me. I'm nobody special. You're mistaken."

Sarah shook her head softly, her eyes filled with a mix of awe and empathy. "Your grandmother, Elara—she wasn't just anyone. She is Maerith."

The name hung in the air between them, heavy and full of meaning. Elara blinked, confused. "Maerith?"

Sarah nodded. "She is a powerful sorcerer. People have whispered her name for years, wondering what happened to her. She vanished long ago, but her legacy never disappeared."

Elara felt a rush of emotions flood her. "My grandmother… she never told me any of this."

"She was probably protecting you," Sarah said gently. "The balance has been broken for so long, and the Shadow Tribe could just be hiding, waiting for you. If they knew who you were..."

Elara's thoughts swirled, everything she thought she knew crumbling around her. Could it be true? Could she really be the Child of Light, the one meant to restore the balance in Aetheria?

"I need time to think about this," Elara whispered, her voice barely audible.

Sarah nodded, placing a comforting hand on hers. "Of course. But, Elara, the people of Eldorath are waiting for you. They've been waiting for the Child of Light for generations."

Sarah smiled gently, her tone reassuring. "Tomorrow, we will meet the emperor of Eldorath. He needs to hear your story and understand your connection to Maerith. The kingdom needs hope, and I believe you can give it to them."

"B-but.. what if I'm not what they expect?" Elara looked at Sarah, her deep scar running down the side of her face, but hope and determination was visible on her eyes.

"You are more than you realize, Elara," Sarah replied, her eyes shining with conviction. "You carry your grandmother's legacy. It's time to embrace who you are."