Chapter 1: The Day The Sky Broke
by juan63_8988607Every world has a legend. A story passed down through generations. A story about a hero who will rise when darkness comes. In the world of Aethera, that legend was known as The Last Light. For a thousand years, the people of Aethera believed the legend was nothing more than a story. They were wrong. The World of Aethera Aethera was a world filled with ancient kingdoms, towering mountains, enchanted forests, and oceans that stretched beyond the horizon. At its center stood Elyndor, the greatest city ever built. Deep beneath Elyndor rested an ancient crystal known as the Heart of Light. According to legend, the Heart protected the world from darkness. As long as it remained alive, Aethera would be safe.
And for a thousand years...
It was.
Kael Ardyn
Far from Elyndor, in a small village surrounded by forests, lived an eighteen-year-old boy named Kael Ardyn.
Kael wasn't a prince.
He wasn't a famous warrior.
He wasn't even particularly special.
At least, that's what he believed.
He spent his days training with a sword, exploring the forests, and dreaming about leaving his quiet village behind.
Tonight, however, was different.
It was Kael's eighteenth birthday.
He stood on the roof of his family's home, staring at the stars.
His best friend had told him that turning eighteen meant he was finally an adult.
Kael wasn't convinced.
He smiled to himself.
Then the stars disappeared.
Kael looked up.
A thin black crack had appeared across the night sky.
His smile vanished.
Another crack appeared.
Then another.
The entire sky began to fracture like glass.
Kael slowly stood.
"What... is that?"
A deafening sound echoed across the world.
BOOM.
The ground shook.
Birds fled the forest.
Windows shattered.
And somewhere thousands of miles away...
The Heart of Light went dark.
The Darkness Arrives
Kael watched as something began crawling through the cracks in the sky.
Creatures.
Hundreds of them.
Their bodies were made of smoke and bone, with glowing blue eyes burning inside their hollow faces.
The village erupted into chaos.
People screamed.
Buildings caught fire.
Kael grabbed the sword hanging beside his bedroom door and ran outside.
His mother shouted his name.
"KAEL!"
He turned.
For one brief moment, their eyes met.
Then a creature crashed through the house.
Kael ran toward her.
But a blast of darkness sent him flying across the street.
He hit the ground.
Everything went silent.
When Kael opened his eyes...
His village was burning.
His home was gone.
And his family was nowhere to be seen.
Kael struggled to stand.
Then he noticed something glowing on his hand.
A strange symbol had appeared on his palm.
A small sun...
surrounded by black flames.
Kael stared at it.
"What is happening to me?"
A voice whispered inside his mind.
"The Last Light has awakened."
Kael froze.
Then footsteps echoed behind him.
He turned.
A woman stood in the middle of the burning street.
She wore a silver mask and carried a sword at her side.
Kael raised his weapon.
"Who are you?"
The woman stared at the symbol on his hand.
Then she looked toward the broken sky.
"My name is Lyra."
She paused.
"And if you stay here..."
A shadow moved behind her.
"...you'll be dead before sunrise."
Kael tightened his grip on his sword.
He had no idea who Lyra was.
He didn't know what the symbol meant.
And he didn't know why the darkness had come.
But one thing was certain.
His old life was over.
And the legend of the Last Light...
had finally begun.