The wind howled through the darkened valley, carrying whispers of forgotten tales. The sky, draped in an ocean of stars, casts an eerie glow upon the rugged landscape. In the heart of this desolate land stood a lone traveler, his silhouette outlined against the distant mountains. His name was Kael Draven, a man without a past, yet destined for a future written in legend.

Kael pulled his cloak tighter against the biting cold. His journey had begun weeks ago, but he still had no clear destination. Only a lingering feeling in his chest guided him forward, as if something unseen was calling him. His leather boots crunched against the frost-covered earth as he approached a small village nestled at the edge of the wilderness.

Eldoria.

It was a place he had never seen before, yet it felt strangely familiar. The houses were built of aged wood and stone, their roofs slanted to protect against the heavy snowfall that often blanketed the region. Lanterns flickered along the winding paths, casting warm golden light upon the cobblestone streets. The village seemed peaceful, but Kael had learned long ago that peace was often an illusion.

As he walked through the empty streets, he caught sight of a tavern—its sign creaked in the wind, bearing the name The Broken Crown. The scent of roasted meat and ale drifted through the air, stirring the hunger that gnawed at his stomach. He pushed open the heavy wooden door, stepping inside to find a dimly lit room filled with murmuring voices. A fire roared in the hearth, casting flickering shadows across the walls.

Kael moved toward the bar, his sharp eyes scanning the faces of the patrons. Farmers, traders, a few mercenaries—none of them seemed to pay him much attention. He was just another wanderer in their eyes, another soul lost to the vast unknown. He preferred it that way.

“What’ll it be, stranger?” The barkeep, a burly man with a graying beard, wiped a tankard with a cloth that had seen better days.

“A meal. And information,” Kael replied, placing a few coins on the counter.

The barkeep raised an eyebrow but took the coins without question. “Depends on the kind of information you’re looking for.”

Kael leaned in slightly. “I’ve heard whispers of an ancient ruin near these lands. A place untouched by time, hidden from those who do not seek it.”

The tavern grew quieter. A few patrons glanced in his direction before returning to their drinks, but Kael did not miss the way tension crept into the air. The barkeep hesitated before answering.

“You’re talking about the ruins of Veldrath,” he said in a hushed tone. “No one goes there. Not anymore.”

“Why?” Kael asked.

The barkeep sighed, his fingers tightening around the tankard. “Because those who do… don’t return.”

A chill ran down Kael’s spine, but not from fear—from anticipation. If the ruins held the answers he sought, then he had no choice but to go.

Outside, the wind howled once more, as if the night itself was warning him.

But the path of a legend was never meant to be easy.

Read chapter:2

The cold air clung to Kael’s skin as he left The Broken Crown, the wind carrying whispers of a warning he chose to ignore. The ruins of Veldrath—shrouded in fear and mystery—were his next destination. His instincts told him that whatever lay buried within those ruins held the key to his past.

The village had fallen into silence, save for the occasional rustling of trees. Kael’s breath formed clouds in the night air as he walked toward the outskirts. He found a stable, its doors slightly ajar, revealing a few resting horses. A stable hand dozed against a wooden post, his snores lost in the wind. Kael approached quietly, slipping a few coins into the boy’s coat before untying a black stallion.

The horse snorted but did not resist as Kael mounted. He steered it north, toward the mountains where the ruins lay forgotten beneath the weight of time.

The journey was treacherous. Snow-covered paths twisted through the jagged cliffs, and the howling wind carried an eerie presence. Hours passed, yet Kael pressed on, an unshakable force drawing him forward. Then, as dawn threatened to break the horizon, he saw them—crumbling stone spires jutting from the earth like the ribs of a long-dead beast.

Veldrath.

Dismounting, Kael approached with cautious steps. The air grew thick, charged with an unseen force. The ruins pulsed with an energy that made the hair on his arms rise. Symbols, ancient and forgotten, adorned the worn stone. He reached out, tracing a marking with his fingers—

A sudden surge of energy shot through him. His vision blurred. The ground beneath him twisted, the world spinning into chaos.

Then, silence.

Kael gasped as he found himself standing in a different time. The ruins were no longer in decay; they stood tall, proud, untouched by centuries. The air was warm, filled with the distant hum of voices. He turned sharply—he was no longer alone.

A figure approached, draped in dark robes. Their face was hidden beneath a hood, but their presence was suffocating. “You should not be here,” the voice rasped.

Kael reached for his dagger, but before he could draw it, pain lanced through his skull. Memories—not his own—flooded his mind. A war. Betrayal. A man, his face eerily familiar, wielding a blade of blackened steel. Kael saw himself falling, a life stolen before it could fulfill its purpose.

He stumbled, breath ragged. “Who… am I?” he whispered.

The figure took a step closer, the world around them beginning to blur once more. “You are reborn from vengeance, Kael Draven. And your past is not as dead as you think.”

Then, darkness swallowed him whole.

Kael awoke, gasping for breath, back in the ruins. The dawn had broken, but the warmth of morning did nothing to ease the chill in his bones. He clutched his chest—his heart thundered against his ribs, not from fear, but from the undeniable truth.

He had lived before.

And someone had stolen everything from him.

Now, it was time to take it back.

Read chaper:3

Kael sat motionless amid the ruins, his breath ragged, his mind a storm of fractured memories. The vision had been more than a dream—it was a glimpse into a life stolen from him. But how? Who had taken everything from him? And why did the name Veldrath feel so familiar, as if it were carved into his very soul?

The morning light painted the ruins in gold, but the warmth did little to thaw the chill that had settled in his bones. He tightened his grip around the hilt of his dagger, a weapon he had always carried but never questioned. Now, he wondered—had it once belonged to him in another time?

A sound cut through the stillness. Footsteps.

Kael tensed, his body coiled like a predator ready to strike. A figure emerged from the mist, her long cloak shifting with the wind. She moved with purpose, her piercing silver eyes locking onto him.

“You touched the markings, didn’t you?” Her voice was calm, but there was an edge to it.

Kael rose to his feet, muscles still taut with caution. “Who are you?”

The woman hesitated before answering. “Selene Varros. Scholar, seeker… and someone who knows what you saw last night.”

Kael’s heartbeat quickened. “Then tell me—what was it?”

Selene exhaled, her gaze shifting toward the ancient symbols etched into the stone. “A fracture in time. The ruins are more than remnants of an old world; they are a gateway to what once was. And you, Kael Draven, are not the first to glimpse through it.”

A cold realization settled over him. “Then who was I before?”

Selene studied him for a long moment before answering. “Someone who was never meant to return.”

The words sent a shiver down Kael’s spine. He clenched his fists. “I need answers. If this place is a gateway, can I use it? Can I go back and see the truth for myself?”

Selene’s expression darkened. “The ruins do not grant knowledge freely. Time is a river, and stepping into its depths without caution can pull you under.”

Kael shook his head. “I don’t care. If someone took my past, I will take it back.”

Selene let out a tired sigh. “Then understand this—this journey does not lead to salvation. Only tragedy awaits those who chase ghosts.”

Kael’s eyes darkened. Tragedy had already found me.

Selene stepped closer, lowering her voice. “If you truly wish to uncover your past, there is something you must know.”

Kael’s pulse quickened. “Tell me.”

“The ruins of Veldrath were once home to a powerful order—the Keepers of Time. They guarded secrets that could alter fate itself.” She hesitated. “And you… I believe you were one of them.”

Kael’s breath caught in his throat. The visions, the whispers, the overwhelming sense of familiarity—all of it pointed to the same truth.

“Then why was I erased?” he asked.

Selene hesitated before answering. “Because the past was rewritten.”

The wind howled through the ruins once more, carrying with it a whisper—one that only Kael could hear.

Come back.

His fate was calling. And he would answer.

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