THE CRYSTAL BORN

Long before Elias was born, the world was nearly destroyed. Five ancient crystals had appeared in an age forgotten by most people. Each crystal carried a power unlike anything humans had ever known. Together, they could protect the world—or destroy it. So five societies were created, each dedicated to protecting the knowledge of one crystal. But there was one rule that terrified them all: The five crystals could never remain separated forever. Whenever their bearer died, the crystals would disappear and eventually be born again inside another child. That child was called the Crystal Born. For centuries, the Crystal Born had appeared only when the world was threatened. And now, after many peaceful generations, the crystals were awakening again. Chapter One Rain poured over the small village of Arven. Elias ran through the narrow streets, holding a basket of bread above his head as thunder shook the sky. “Elias!” an old shopkeeper shouted. “You were supposed to bring that an hour ago!” “I know!” Elias shouted back, laughing as he ran. “The rain wasn't part of the plan!” He slipped around a corner and nearly crashed into a wooden cart. “Whoa!” The basket flew from his hands. Elias caught it just before it hit the ground. He smiled proudly. “Still got it.” A voice behind him answered. “Barely.” Elias turned. Mira stood beneath the roof of a nearby house, watching him with an amused expression. “You're late,” she said. “I was helping someone.” “You were running through the village with bread over your head.” “That counts as helping myself.” Mira laughed. For a moment, everything felt normal. Elias didn't know that before the night ended, his entire life would change. That evening, Elias sat beside his bedroom window watching the storm. He had always felt different. Not special. Just... different. Sometimes he dreamed of places he had never seen. A black forest. A ruined city. A massive door covered in strange symbols. And always, at the center of those dreams, there were five lights. Five crystals. That night, however, the dream changed. Elias stood in a dark chamber. Five crystals floated before him. One glowed like a burning star. One shimmered with silver light. One was surrounded by darkness. One seemed to bend the air around it. And the final crystal looked as though it contained an entire night sky. Elias reached toward them. Suddenly— BOOM! The chamber shook. A voice echoed from somewhere beyond the darkness. “Find him.” Elias froze. Another voice answered. “The Crystal Born has awakened.” The five crystals suddenly flew toward him. Elias woke up screaming. He sat upright in his bed, breathing heavily. His room was dark. For several seconds, he heard nothing except the rain. Then he noticed something strange. A faint light was coming from beneath his shirt. Elias slowly pulled the fabric aside. There, beneath his skin, was a glowing symbol. A circle surrounded by five smaller marks. His eyes widened. “What... is this?” Suddenly, the entire village shook. Windows rattled. Dogs began barking. People shouted outside. Elias rushed to the window. Beyond the village walls, five enormous lights had appeared in the night sky. His heart began pounding. Then came a sound that he had never heard before. A deep horn. Once. Twice. Three times. Someone was coming. Elias ran outside. Mira was already in the street. “Elias!” she shouted. “What is happening?” “I don't know!” The villagers gathered in fear. Then the village gates exploded inward. A group of masked warriors entered. Their armor was black, and strange symbols covered their weapons. At their center stood a tall figure wearing a silver mask. The stranger looked directly at Elias. For a moment, nobody moved. Then the stranger raised his hand. “There,” he said. “The Crystal Born.” Elias felt the mark beneath his skin burn. The five lights in the sky suddenly vanished. And somewhere far beyond the village, something ancient opened its eyes. The hunt had begun.