Oath of the King-Chapter 12: The Prophecy of the Eternal World

As they left, Leonhard held onto his mother's arm. "Wait," he said, stretching out his hand. His scarlet-purple eyes shimmered into a glowing gold. Above the burning village, thick clouds gathered, swirling in the dark sky. Within moments, rain poured down, drenching the land and extinguishing the raging fire.

They decided to rest in the forest for the night. The trees stood tall and silent, their leaves whispering with the wind.

"Could you start the fire?" Martha asked softly.

Leonhard nodded, lifting his hands. Small sparks flickered from his fingertips. His magic had weakened, but it was still enough to ignite the pile of wood. Flames crackled, casting flickering shadows on the ground. Martha tried to make small talk, but Leonhard barely responded. His thoughts were heavy, lost in the events of the day.

The silence between them was thick. Martha, exhausted, wrapped herself in a thin, worn-out blanket and lay down on a log. As her breathing slowed, she drifted into sleep.

Leonhard remained awake, his golden eyes fixed on the fire. The flames danced, twisting into strange shapes. He was about to close his eyes when a soft glow appeared in the darkness.

A figure emerged from the trees—a slender woman, her body shimmering like the moonlight.

"Follow me, Leonhard," she whispered.

Her voice was sweet, hypnotic. Leonhard felt his body move on its own, his feet stepping forward.

"Keep going, follow me," the woman urged, leading him deeper into the woods.

Leonhard tried to resist, but something pulled him forward. The glowing woman stepped into a lake, the water rippling around her feet.

"Join me," she said, her voice like a song. "Together, we will be free forever."

Leonhard stepped forward, the cold water reaching his ankles.

Suddenly, a rough hand grabbed his shoulder, yanking him back.

"Enough of this," a deep voice growled.

Leonhard spun around to see a massive orc with green skin and thick, twisted horns. His golden eyes glared at the glowing woman.

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"My lady, it is surprising that even after two millennia, you still try to lure souls into the depths," the orc said. His voice was calm but firm. "But this one is too important to perish with you."

The woman's glow dimmed. She turned to Leonhard, her eyes filled with sorrow. "You will understand soon," she whispered before vanishing into the mist.

Leonhard shivered. He looked up at the orc, confused.

"Who are you?" he asked.

The orc crossed his arms. "You don't know yet, do you?" He chuckled, his tusks glinting in the moonlight. "Come. There are others waiting for you."

Leonhard hesitated but followed the orc deeper into the woods. The trees thickened, and the air shimmered with strange lights. Then, they entered a clearing.

Leonhard gasped.

Before him stood creatures he had only heard of in stories. Dryads, their bodies woven with leaves and vines, watched him with curious emerald eyes. Fairies, glowing like tiny stars, flitted through the air, whispering among themselves. Centaurs, their strong bodies half-human, half-horse, stood tall. A group of elves, their silver hair gleaming, observed him with knowing smiles.

And more—griffins, werewolves, merfolk—an entire world of magical beings surrounded him.

One of the dryads stepped forward. Her hair was made of golden leaves, her skin like smooth bark. "Leonhard," she said, her voice like rustling trees. "You have finally arrived."

"Arrived?" Leonhard frowned. "I don't understand."

A fairy, no bigger than his palm, hovered before his face. "It is you," she said excitedly. "You are the one from the prophecy!"

Leonhard took a step back. "Prophecy?"

The orc nodded. "The Eternal World has waited for you. We have lived in hiding, hunted and feared by humans for centuries." His golden eyes darkened. "But you... you will bring us freedom."

Leonhard shook his head. "You must have the wrong person."

"No," a deep voice rumbled. A centaur with a silver mane stepped forward. "It is written. A child with golden eyes, born of two worlds, will awaken the power that will change the fate of all magical creatures."

Leonhard's heart pounded. "But I don't even know who I am," he whispered.

A dryad placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You will," she said. "You are the bridge between our world and theirs."

The creatures knelt before him, their eyes filled with hope.

Leonhard's hands trembled. For so long, he had searched for a place where he belonged. Was this it?