Chapter 3:THE DESERT GHOST
557 Words
The dragon's roar shook the forest.
Golden flames erupted from its mouth, sweeping across the battlefield like a blazing river. Soldiers screamed as they threw themselves to the ground, their shields melting beneath the unbearable heat.
Princess Seraphina stood unmoved. Her silver eyes narrowed.
"So..." she murmured. "This is the Guardian that has slept for centuries."
She slowly raised her sword.
"Archers!"
Hundreds of soldiers emerged from the trees, surrounding the clearing.
The dragon spread its enormous wings, shielding Eleanor behind its body. Its golden eyes never left the army.
The Alpha Gem around Eleanor's neck pulsed faster.
Almost...
As if it were afraid. "Eleanor," the Guardian's ancient voice echoed inside her mind.
"Do not leave my side."She nodded, though her hands trembled.
Seraphina smiled.
"You can not protect her forever." She pointed her sword toward the dragon.
"Kill the Guardian."
The forest exploded into chaos. Arrows darkened the sky.
The Guardian roared and unleashed a wall of golden fire, turning hundreds of arrows into ash before they could reach Eleanor.
But more came.
And more.
The soldiers attacked from every direction. Even a Guardian could not fight forever.
Suddenly—
A horn echoed from the western ridge.
Every soldier stopped. A deep silence fell over the battlefield.
"What was that?" One knight whispered.
Another looked toward the ridge.
His face turned white.
"No..."
"It can't be..."
A lone figure stood at the top of the rocky cliff.His dark cloak danced in the wind.
A long spear rested across his shoulder.He did not move.
He simply watched. The air itself seemed to grow heavier. The Guardian slowly lowered its head.
Not in fear.In recognition.
Seraphina frowned."Who are you?"
The stranger didn't answer.
Instead...
He stepped off the cliff.Gasps filled the battlefield.
Instead of falling...The wind carried him gently to the ground.
He landed without a sound. Dust swirled around his boots.His amber eyes swept across the battlefield before settling on Eleanor.She had never seen him before
Yet...
Something about him felt strangely familiar.The stranger glanced at the Alpha Gem.Then at the Guardian.
Finally, he spoke.His voice was calm.
Steady.
"You've awakened too soon."The Guardian let out a low rumble.It sounded almost like an agreement.Seraphina's grip tightened on her sword.
"I asked you a question."
The stranger finally turned to look at her."You shouldn't be here." Those five words made Seraphina's expression harden.
She lunged. Her sword flashed toward him.
Before the blade could touch him, He caught it with one hand.
The entire battlefield froze. Even Eleanor forgot to breathe.
No magic.
No struggle.
Just one hand holding back the sword of the kingdom's deadliest princess. The stranger released the blade. "You've improved," he said quietly. "But not enough."
Seraphina staggered back, disbelief filling her eyes. "Who... are you?" From somewhere among the frightened soldiers, an old veteran dropped to one knee.
His voice shook.
"I know him..."Another soldier followed.
Then another. Until whispers spread through the ranks. "The Desert Ghost..."
"The child who survived..." "He's alive..."
The stranger ignored them all. His eyes remained fixed on Eleanor.
Then, for the first time...
He smiled. Not warmly. Not cruelly.
Simply as if he had found someone he had been searching for.
"My name..."
He paused. "...is Haniel." Eleanor stared at him in silence.
She had no idea that this meeting would change the fate of every kingdom.
- Writer
