THE PATH OF THE SEEKER

The village of Eldralyn was still, its cobblestone streets bathed in the silvery glow of moonlight. Aria walked slowly, the shard wrapped tightly in a cloth in her hands. Her thoughts churned, replaying every moment of their encounter with Dorian Veyl. His silver eyes, the way his voice seemed to pull at something deep inside her—it all felt too familiar.

"Why did he feel like…" she murmured, shaking her head. She couldn't finish the thought.

By the time she arrived at the Elders' Hall, her friends were already there. Lyric stood near the bookshelves, flipping through a heavy tome with her usual sharp focus. Finn leaned back in a chair, juggling a bright orb of light in his hand to stave off boredom. Kael was by the door, arms crossed, his ever-watchful gaze on her.

"You're late," Kael said softly, though there was no reproach in his tone.

Aria sighed. "I needed some air."

Elder Thalos entered the room, his presence commanding instant silence. His amber eyes fixed on the shard, and a flicker of unease crossed his face. "Place it here," he instructed, motioning to the center table.

Aria hesitated before unwrapping the cloth and setting the shard down. Its faint glow cast long shadows across the walls, filling the room with an eerie hum.

Thalos exhaled heavily. "The Lumina Shard," he murmured. "It has been centuries since anyone has laid eyes on even a fragment of it."

"What does it do?" Lyric asked, her voice eager but respectful.

Thalos's expression turned grim. "The Lumina Shard was created in an age long forgotten, a time when magic flowed unchecked across the land. It was a source of unparalleled power, but it also became a source of great conflict. Wars were fought over it, lives lost, civilizations destroyed. Eventually, it was shattered, its pieces hidden to prevent such devastation from ever occurring again."

"Then why does Dorian want it?" Kael asked, his voice cold.

Thalos looked at them all, his gaze heavy with meaning. "There are those who believe the shard holds the key to unlocking ancient magic, magic that could either heal this world or burn it to ash. If Dorian Veyl seeks it, he may have already chosen which path to take."

Aria swallowed hard, her hand instinctively going to the pendant around her neck. "But why would he warn me to trust him?"

"Dorian is a master manipulator," Thalos said firmly. "He will say whatever he must to achieve his goals. Do not let him cloud your judgment, Aria."

---

Later that night, Aria sat by her bedroom window, the shard resting on her desk. Its glow had dimmed, but its energy thrummed faintly in the still air. She held her mother's pendant in her hand, tracing its delicate engravings with her thumb.

Her thoughts drifted to the stories her mother used to tell—tales of a forgotten age, of heroes and villains, of choices that shaped the course of history. At the time, Aria had thought they were just bedtime stories. But now, fragments of those tales resurfaced in her mind, their details aligning too closely with what Elder Thalos had said.

Her mother's voice echoed in her memory: "The past has a way of whispering to those who listen. Trust your instincts, Aria. They'll guide you when the time comes."

Tears stung her eyes as she whispered, "What did you know, Mom? Why does it feel like you were trying to prepare me for this?"

The pendant warmed slightly in her hand, almost as if in answer.

Suddenly, a shadow flickered outside. Aria's heart leapt, and she peered through the glass.

Dorian stood at the edge of the village, his figure shrouded in darkness. The silver of his eyes caught the moonlight, locking onto hers.

For a moment, the world seemed to fade. There was no village, no shard—just the pull of his gaze and the questions it stirred in her soul. Then, without a word, he turned and disappeared into the trees.

Aria's breath hitched. His presence felt like an echo from a life she didn't remember, a piece of her own past that refused to reveal itself.

But if Dorian Veyl was tied to the shard, to her mother's stories, and to the choices she would have to make… how could she not seek the truth?