The Hunter of Forgotten Names
504 Words
The creature descended like a storm.
Its wings blotted out the light of the three moons, and every beat sent powerful gusts across the silver plains. As it landed, the earth cracked beneath its claws.
Kael stood frozen.
The Hunter was unlike any beast he had ever imagined. Its body was covered in dark, shimmering scales, but its face was hidden behind a mask of polished white stone. Glowing runes pulsed across its wings, and its crimson eyes never left Kael.
Seraphine stepped in front of him.
“Do not fight,” she whispered. “Not yet.”
The Hunter tilted its head as if studying Kael. Then, in a voice that echoed through the valley, it spoke.
“Who are you?”
Kael opened his mouth, but no answer came.
He had always been called Kael by the villagers, yet deep inside he knew that was not the name the creature sought.
“I… don’t know.”
The Hunter lowered its massive head.
“Then you remain unseen.”
With a sweep of its wing, invisible chains of light shot toward Kael. Before they could bind him, Seraphine raised her staff. A brilliant shield flared to life, shattering the chains into sparks.
“Run!” she cried.
Kael hesitated only for a moment before sprinting across the silver fields. The Hunter roared and launched into the air, pursuing him with terrifying speed.
Ahead, the ancient temple loomed over the valley. Its towering gates stood open, as though waiting for him.
Kael dashed inside just as the Hunter crashed against the entrance. A shimmering barrier erupted from the temple walls, forcing the creature back.
The Hunter let out a furious roar but did not cross the threshold.
Inside, silence returned.
The temple was vast and empty, its walls lined with thousands of glowing tablets. Every tablet carried a single name, shining with a different color.
Kael walked slowly through the endless hall.
Some names glowed brightly.
Others flickered, as though they were fading from existence.
At the center of the chamber stood a stone pedestal.
Resting upon it was an ancient book bound in silver.
As Kael reached for it, the pages turned by themselves.
Only one page stopped moving.
At the top was a blank space.
Below it were the words:
“When the Nameless Child remembers the First Name, the Veil between worlds shall break.”
Before Kael could read further, a cold voice echoed from the darkness.
“You should never have come here.”
A tall figure stepped from the shadows, cloaked in black robes embroidered with crimson symbols.
His face was hidden beneath a hood, but his eyes glowed with the same crimson light as the Hunter’s.
He smiled.
“Welcome, Kael.”
“You’ve been searching for me… since the day I was born.”
The stranger slowly removed his hood.
“I know the name you have forgotten.”
The temple trembled as Kael realized that the greatest mystery of his life was about to be revealed.
- Writer
