New God(wheel of time)

Chapter 19: The Path Forward

Eryndor stood at the edge of the village, the cool breeze ruffling his cloak, his thoughts still heavy from the revelation of his name. Moraine had left him to his thoughts for now, a silent understanding between them that this moment, this awareness, needed time to settle.

The power within him, which had always been so familiar, now felt different. It was as if the knowledge of his name had unlocked something deeper, a well of memories and sensations he couldn't yet fully grasp. But something had shifted, and the world around him seemed to hum with a new resonance—both calming and ominous in its depth.

He could feel it, like a pressure on his chest, something calling to him from within. He could not explain it, but the need to act—to do something—pressed upon him. He had to move forward, not just for his own understanding, but for what was beginning to unfold in the world around him. He could feel the undercurrents of fate shifting, the tapestry of events stretching out in front of him, waiting for him to make his next move.

"You seem distant," Moraine's voice came from behind him, soft but insistent. "The weight of your name, perhaps?"

Eryndor turned to face her, his expression a mixture of wonder and wariness. "It's more than that," he said, his voice quieter than usual. "I feel something within me—something calling, something ancient. I think I'm beginning to understand the power that courses through me, but I don't know how to control it. Not yet."

Moraine studied him for a long moment, concern and curiosity flickering in her eyes. "You're not just a man anymore, Eryndor. You never were. You've become something else, something... greater. And with that comes the need for discipline, for control. I don't know what it will take for you to understand your limits—if you even have limits—but we must tread carefully."

He nodded slowly, his gaze never leaving hers. "I know. And yet, something compels me to act. I sense... something on the horizon. There's danger, something darker than I've ever felt. Perhaps I'm meant to face it."

Moraine raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, 'something darker'? You've already shown your strength. No one can harm you, Eryndor. No one can challenge you."

Eryndor looked away, his eyes narrowing as he felt the vague sense of unease continue to grow within him. "There's always something darker, Moraine. Always something that can tip the balance."

For a moment, they stood in silence, the wind carrying the distant sounds of the village behind them. Moraine's eyes softened. "Then perhaps it is time we discover what that darkness is."

Before Eryndor could respond, a distant cry echoed through the village—a sound that pierced the stillness of the night, sharp and desperate.

"An attack?" Moraine asked, her voice rising in an instant, the urgency clear.

Without hesitation, Eryndor moved toward the sound, his senses already alert. "Let's find out."

The village was in chaos. People rushed through the streets, panicked shouts ringing in the air. The cause of the disturbance was clear before they even reached the center of the village. From the distance, figures could be seen emerging from the shadows—dark shapes, moving with unnatural speed.

The Trollocs.

Eryndor's heart beat once, then stopped. There was no fear, no hesitation. Only a burning resolve.

He could feel the power within him stir, grow stronger. The urge to unleash it was undeniable, but he had learned enough in his brief time with Moraine to know that raw power wasn't always the answer. He needed to think.

Moraine reached his side as they neared the edge of the village square. She was breathing heavily, her hand on the sword at her side. "We can't let them get away with this. They'll destroy everything."

Eryndor nodded, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the scene. There were dozens of the creatures, far more than he had anticipated. They were attacking with brutal force, their monstrous forms tearing through the village like a storm.

But as his gaze swept across the chaos, something else caught his eye. A flicker in the shadows. A figure, tall and imposing, standing just beyond the fray, watching. It was difficult to make out the details in the low light, but there was something familiar about the figure.

"Who is that?" Moraine asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I don't know," Eryndor replied, his focus narrowing. "But they're not just watching. They're waiting."

Before they could react, a low rumble echoed through the ground beneath them. The earth trembled, and the very air seemed to grow heavier, charged with an unfamiliar energy.

"I can feel it," Eryndor murmured, his eyes glowing with an unearthly light. "There's something more to this than we realize. This isn't just an attack."

The figures in the distance began to move, not toward the village, but toward the edge of the land. The Trollocs, driven by something unseen, began to retreat in unison, vanishing into the woods with unnatural speed.

"What just happened?" Moraine asked, her tone a mixture of confusion and suspicion.

"I don't know," Eryndor replied, his voice laced with a newfound urgency. "But whatever is pulling the strings, it's something far more dangerous than any Trolloc. We need to find out what it is."

With that, Eryndor turned and began walking toward the shadows, toward the unknown, toward whatever force had just manipulated the battlefield.

Moraine, though hesitant, followed. She knew that whatever it was, it was tied to him. And with his newfound awareness, his name, and his power, there was no turning back now.

The adventure was only just beginning.