The Forsaken Legacy

Kai was halfway through his breakfast, savoring each bite of fresh bread and honey, when Mira’s voice interrupted his thoughts.

“Kai,” she said, her tone gentle yet serious. “Would you like to go to Havenbrook tomorrow?”

The words took a moment to sink in. Kai blinked, his spoon frozen mid-air, as he processed her question. Mira had always been strict about where he could go, her boundaries set so firmly he’d never even dared to ask about leaving Elaris recently. The thought of Havenbrook, a place he’d only dreamed of, felt like a distant world that he’d never touch.

“Wait… Really?” he stammered, wide-eyed, his heart racing.

Mira nodded, her gaze holding his with a gentle but unyielding warmth. “Yes, Kai. You’re not so little anymore. It’s time you saw the world beyond Elaris. Besides, it will do you good—especially once you start cultivating. The world is larger than you think, Kai. There’s so much to learn out there.”

A smile spread across Kai’s face as her words sank in. After years of longing, countless pleas, and hidden disappointment, he was finally being given the chance to explore the world beyond the familiar trees and hills of his village. Without thinking, he jumped up from his seat, rushing to Mira’s side and wrapping her in a tight hug.

“Thank you, Mom!” he said, his voice overflowing with excitement and gratitude. “I can’t believe it!”

Mira chuckled softly, returning the hug, her hands gently patting his back. “Alright, alright,” she said with a small, helpless smile. “You’ll be leaving with Aurelia and Eldrin tomorrow morning, so go and get ready for today. Go on, or you’ll be late for school.”

“Okay!” Kai answered, grinning widely as he grabbed his satchel and practically bolted out the door, excitement buzzing through his veins.

As Mira watched him disappear down the path, her smile slowly faded. She stood in silence, her thoughts clouded with worry and a wistful ache in her heart. ‘I knew this day would come,’ she thought, her chest tightening. ‘I can’t hide him forever. But I wish there was another way.’

---

Kai couldn’t stop grinning as he made his way to the village square, where he was supposed to meet Lia before heading to school. The news bubbled up inside him, almost spilling over as he imagined the look on her face when he told her. He quickened his pace, his mind spinning with the thought of Havenbrook—the bustling streets, the market stalls, the tall stone buildings he’d only heard about in stories.

As he neared the square, he spotted Lia waiting for him, tapping her foot impatiently. She caught sight of him and waved, running over with her usual cheerful bounce. Her dark hair, tied loosely behind her, swung with every step.

“Kai! Guess what?” she exclaimed, her face lit up with excitement before he could even open his mouth.

“What?” he asked, momentarily startled by her enthusiasm. He wondered if she could possibly have guessed his news.

Lia leaned in, practically bubbling over with excitement. “Mom asked me to go to Havenbrook with her tomorrow! She needs extra hands to help sell herbs at the market.” She clasped her hands together, her eyes shining. “Can you believe it? I’ve never been allowed to go, and suddenly she says it’s ‘good experience’ and I should ‘see more of the world.’ Isn’t it great?”

Kai blinked, the initial surprise melting into a sense of amusement. “Wait… you’re going to Havenbrook too?” He tried to hold back his grin, but it only widened. ‘So this is what Mother meant,’ he thought to himself, suddenly understanding. The adults had planned for both of them to go.

“Yeah! Isn’t it strange, though?” Lia continued, her brow furrowing slightly. “I’ve asked Mom about going to Havenbrook so many times, and she’s always said no. And now, out of nowhere, she’s all for it.” She paused, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “Why do you think they’re suddenly being so… nice?”

Kai shrugged, though a small spark of suspicion lingered at the back of his mind. “I don’t know. My mom said the same thing, that I should see the bigger world. I guess they think we’re old enough now.”

“Hmm.” Lia’s eyes narrowed, as if she didn’t entirely buy it. “Maybe. But it just feels like… like they’re planning something.”

Kai chuckled, playfully nudging her arm. “Well, whatever the reason, we’re finally getting to go! Havenbrook, Lia. Tomorrow!”

Her expression brightened again, and she nodded eagerly. “You’re right! Havenbrook! Oh, I can’t wait to see everything! The stalls, the crowds… and maybe we’ll even see some Nobles!” She clasped her hands together dreamily, her thoughts already racing with images of adventure.

They walked side by side toward the school, their conversation filled with plans, ideas, and a thousand what-ifs about the trip. But as Kai listened, excitement humming through him, his mind kept drifting back to Mira’s expression that morning, to the quiet sadness that had flickered in her eyes as she’d watched him leave. ‘Why now?’ he wondered, though he pushed the thought aside, eager to savor the moment.

---

Meanwhile, in the quiet sanctuary of Aurelia’s cottage, the wise elder sat with Eldrin and Garrick, the room bathed in the morning light filtering through the window. Aurelia’s hands moved steadily as she sorted a pile of freshly gathered herbs, her expression calm and focused.

“It’s about time Mira agreed to let him out,” Eldrin muttered, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall. “I thought we’d be gray and old before she let him set foot outside Elaris.”

Aurelia let out a small chuckle, her gaze shifting to the blacksmith with a knowing look. “Patience, Eldrin. You know as well as I do that Mira’s reasons run deeper than mere overprotectiveness. She’s doing what any mother would do—protecting him as best she can.”

Garrick, who had been listening quietly, gave a solemn nod. “Yes, but she knows it’s inevitable. He’s bound for greater things, whether any of us like it or not. Keeping him here would only limit him.”

Aurelia set her herbs aside, her expression thoughtful as she looked between the two men. “It’s a difficult thing, to let someone go, especially someone as dear as Kai. But she knows, as we all do, that he has a destiny to fulfill. He deserves to see the world… to know the truths that have been hidden from him.”

Eldrin grunted, the usual gruffness in his tone softened as he considered her words. “Well, I’ve been waiting for this day as much as any of you. He’s got spirit—that much I know—and keeping him cooped up here won’t let him become the man he’s meant to be.”

Aurelia’s gaze softened as she looked out the window, her thoughts drifting to Kai’s mother. ‘Mira has been through so much,’ she thought, her heart aching for her old friend. ‘And yet, she’s strong enough to let him go.’

The three of them fell into a comfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts. They’d been waiting for this moment for years, watching Kai grow from a curious child into a young man with a bright, untapped potential. They knew he had a long and difficult path ahead of him, but they also knew that he had the strength to face it.

---

As Kai walked to class with Lia, he felt as though he were walking on air. The world beyond Elaris—the bustling streets, the tall buildings, the new faces he’d soon meet—was so close he could almost touch it. And with Lia by his side, he knew this journey would be everything he’d hoped for and more.

‘Tomorrow,’ he thought, the thrill of adventure surging through him. ‘Tomorrow, my world is going to get so much bigger.’