THE STARLIT PROMISE

CHAPTER 4 : ECHOES OF THE STARBORN

Alina stood frozen, the weight of her mother’s words pressing down on her chest like a heavy stone. Her mother, who had vanished without a trace, was here. But she was different. Everything about this felt wrong—her presence, her warning, the strange glow in her eyes.

Kael’s hand hovered protectively over his sword as he watched Leora closely, his stance defensive. He was clearly not convinced of her peaceful intentions, and neither was Alina. She hadn’t even processed her mother’s sudden appearance when the words “the darkness is coming” echoed in her mind.

“I don’t understand,” Alina managed to say, her voice shaky. “What darkness? What are you talking about?”

Leora’s expression softened, but the eerie glow in her eyes remained. “You’ve always known, deep down, that you are different, Alina. The powers you possess are not mere healing abilities. They are the mark of something far greater.”

A chill ran down Alina’s spine. She could feel Kael tense beside her, but she couldn’t tear her gaze away from her mother’s face. “What do you mean?”

Leora took a step closer, her cloak rustling softly in the wind. “You are not just a healer, my child. You are Starborn—descended from an ancient line that holds the power of the stars themselves. Your abilities come from the celestial realm, from the very fabric of the universe.”

“Starborn?” Alina repeated, the word unfamiliar and strange on her tongue.

Leora nodded. “Our bloodline is rare, nearly extinct. The Starborn are beings of light, born under the stars and gifted with powers beyond human comprehension. It is why I had to leave, to keep you safe. The darkness that seeks to destroy us has been hunting the Starborn for centuries.”

Alina’s mind raced, struggling to comprehend this new information. The powers she had always feared, the abilities that had set her apart, were a gift? A celestial gift passed down through her bloodline? But if that were true, why had her mother hidden it from her all these years?

“You should have told me,” Alina whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of betrayal and confusion. “You left me without answers, without knowing who I really am.”

Leora’s face softened with regret, her glowing eyes dimming slightly. “I did it to protect you. I had no choice. The darkness was closing in, and I couldn’t risk it finding you. You were safer not knowing.”

Kael, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. “What is this darkness you keep talking about? And why is Alina at the center of it?”

Leora turned her gaze to Kael, her expression hardening slightly. “The darkness is an ancient force, older than any of us. It feeds on the Starborn’s power, corrupting and consuming it until there is nothing left. It is what destroyed our kind, and it is what will destroy this world if it is not stopped.”

Alina’s heart pounded in her chest as she listened to her mother’s words. A force that consumed the Starborn? A power that could destroy the world? She had always felt her abilities were dangerous, but this was far beyond anything she could have imagined.

“Why now?” Alina asked, her voice shaking. “Why has the darkness returned?”

Leora’s eyes darkened, and she lowered her voice. “Because the last of the Starborn are awakening. You, Alina, are one of the last. And your power has begun to stir.”

The wind rustled through the clearing, carrying the weight of her words. Alina felt a sinking sensation in her stomach. She had never asked for this, never wanted any of it. All she had ever wanted was a quiet life, to use her healing abilities to help those in need. But now, it seemed her fate had been written long before she had even been born.

“I don’t know if I can do this,” Alina whispered, her voice barely audible. “I don’t know if I’m strong enough.”

“You don’t have to face it alone,” Kael said, his voice steady as he stepped closer to her. “We’ll figure this out together.”

Leora watched them for a moment, her expression unreadable. “There is a prophecy,” she said quietly, “one that speaks of a Starborn who will either save the world from the darkness or fall and bring destruction. Alina, you are that Starborn.”

Alina felt as though the ground had shifted beneath her feet. “A prophecy? I’m supposed to—what? Save the world?”

“Yes,” Leora said softly. “But you are not without allies. The stars have always been our guide, and there are others who will help you. Your bond with Kael is no accident. He was meant to find you.”

Kael’s eyes flicked to Leora, surprise flashing across his face. “What do you mean?”

“The stars have chosen you both,” Leora explained. “You are bound by fate, Kael. Your destinies are intertwined.”

Alina’s breath caught in her throat. Bound by fate? She glanced at Kael, who was staring at her with a mixture of disbelief and something else—something deeper, more personal.

Leora turned back to Alina, her voice softening. “The road ahead will not be easy. The darkness will come for you, and it will try to consume you. But you have the power to fight it. You must learn to embrace your gift, to harness the power of the stars within you.”

Alina swallowed hard, fear and uncertainty swirling in her chest. Her mother’s sudden appearance, the revelation of her Starborn heritage, the looming threat of an ancient darkness—it was all too much to take in. But despite the fear, there was a part of her, deep down, that felt a strange sense of purpose. As if she had always known that her path would lead her here, to this moment.

“I don’t know how to fight something like that,” Alina said, her voice trembling.

Leora stepped closer, reaching out to gently touch her daughter’s cheek. “You will learn. And when the time comes, you will know what to do.”

Before Alina could respond, a sudden rustling in the trees behind them made all three of them turn. The air grew thick with tension as another figure emerged from the shadows—a tall man, cloaked in darkness, his face hidden beneath a hood.

Leora’s eyes widened in alarm. “No,” she whispered, taking a step back. “It’s too soon.”

The figure stepped forward, his voice low and filled with menace. “You can’t hide her forever, Leora. The darkness has already found her.”

Kael drew his sword, stepping in front of Alina as the man approached. “Stay back.”

The man laughed, the sound cold and empty. “You think you can protect her? You think fate will save her?”

Alina’s heart raced as she backed away, fear flooding her veins. She could feel the darkness emanating from the stranger, a cold, suffocating presence that threatened to consume her.

“Run, Alina!” Leora shouted, her voice filled with urgency. “Go now!”

But it was too late. The darkness had come for her, and there was no escaping it.