THE STARLIT PROMISE

The night was unusually still in Elyndor, the wind barely stirring the leaves of the towering oaks that bordered the village. The sky above shimmered with countless stars, each one twinkling as if keeping silent secrets from the world below. Alina walked alone through the narrow path leading out of the village, her heart heavy with a familiar weight that seemed to grow as the nights lengthened. It had been weeks since her last encounter with the celestial spirits, and their absence gnawed at her. Alina had always been attuned to the stars. Ever since she was a child, she could hear them whispering to her in the night, their voices soft and ethereal, guiding her, comforting her. But lately, those whispers had grown faint, distant—almost as if they were being drowned out by something far darker. The path wound up a hill overlooking Elyndor. From here, she could see the small cottages, the flickering light of lanterns, and beyond them, the sprawling forests that separated their world from the unknown. Alina’s fingers brushed against the silver pendant hanging from her neck—a crescent moon her mother had given her before she died. The pendant glowed faintly, like a small piece of the night sky. She came to a stop at the top of the hill, her favorite spot to gaze at the stars. Sitting down on the soft grass, Alina sighed, her green eyes searching the heavens for any sign of them. As a healer, her powers were rare, even among the gifted of Elyndor. But it was her connection to the stars—the celestial spirits—that set her apart. They whispered knowledge to her, helped her channel her magic to heal wounds, and, in the darkest times, warned her of dangers yet to come. But tonight, there was nothing. Only the soft rustling of the trees and the far-off howl of a wolf. Alina closed her eyes, trying to focus, trying to reach out to the stars once more. “Why won’t you speak to me?” she whispered into the void. Moments passed, and still no answer. She was about to give up when a voice broke the silence. But it wasn’t the familiar, comforting murmur of the stars. This voice was low, deep, and undeniably human. “You shouldn’t be out here alone.” Alina’s heart leapt into her throat. She spun around, her hand instinctively reaching for the small dagger hidden beneath her cloak. Standing in the shadows of the trees was a man—a tall figure with broad shoulders, his face half-hidden in darkness. “Who are you?” Alina demanded, her voice steady despite the sudden rush of fear. The man stepped forward, the moonlight catching his features. He was strikingly handsome, with sharp, angular features and a gaze that seemed to pierce straight through her. His dark hair fell just past his ears, tousled by the breeze, and his eyes—an intense, stormy blue—were fixed on her. “My name is Kael,” he said, his voice as calm as the night. “I mean you no harm.” Alina’s hand remained on her dagger. “You’re a stranger in Elyndor. Why are you here?” Kael’s gaze softened, and for a moment, he looked past her, up at the stars, as if they held the answer to her question. “I’m looking for something,” he said quietly. “Something that was taken from me.” Alina frowned, unsure whether to trust him. There was something about him that felt… different. Not dangerous, but powerful, like the energy that hummed through the air before a storm. “And you think you’ll find it here, in the village?” she asked. He shook his head. “No. But the stars led me here.” At that, Alina stiffened. “The stars?” Her mind raced. Could this man be connected to the celestial spirits? But that was impossible. No one else in Elyndor had her connection to the stars. And yet, something in his eyes made her believe him. “Why would the stars guide you?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Kael took another step toward her, and this time, she didn’t back away. “I don’t know. But I’ve learned to trust them. They’ve led me through battles, through lands far beyond this one.” He paused, his gaze locking with hers. “And now they’ve led me to you.” Alina felt her heart skip a beat. There was a weight to his words, a sense of fate woven into them. She had never been one to believe in coincidences. “What do you want from me?” she asked, her hand finally releasing its grip on her dagger. “I don’t know,” Kael admitted. “But I think you do.” Alina frowned, confusion flickering in her green eyes. But before she could respond, a sudden chill filled the air. The temperature dropped sharply, and the stars above seemed to dim. Alina gasped, feeling the familiar tingle of magic—dark magic—creeping through the night. Kael’s expression hardened instantly, his hand moving to the hilt of the sword strapped to his side. “Something’s coming,” he said, his voice tense. Alina nodded, her heart racing. She could feel it too, the oppressive presence pressing in around them, like a storm about to break. And then, from the forest beyond the hill, shadows began to stir. “Stay behind me,” Kael said, drawing his sword in one swift motion. Alina’s pulse quickened, but she stood her ground. She wasn’t defenseless, not with her magic. “No,” she said, her voice firm. “We face this together.” Kael glanced at her, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, but he didn’t argue. As the shadows drew closer, Alina could make out the shapes of twisted, nightmarish creatures—beasts formed of darkness and malice. Their red eyes glowed in the moonlight, and their growls rumbled through the air like thunder. Alina reached for her pendant, closing her eyes and summoning the magic within her. She could feel it, the power of the stars, surging through her veins, ready to be unleashed. “On my mark,” Kael murmured, his sword raised. Alina nodded, her magic crackling at her fingertips. The air around them grew heavy, and the creatures charged. “Now!” Kael shouted. Together, they leapt into action—Kael’s blade flashing in the moonlight, Alina’s magic flaring with a brilliant light. The battle had begun, and in that moment, Alina knew her life would never be the same again.