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Eli exhaled slowly, his gaze flickering between the two confused teenagers sitting across from him, making the air feel much heavier than it had before.
Xander sat back in his chair, arms crossed, trying very hard not to go batshit crazy again. Iris rested her chin on her palm, eyes sharp, waiting for answers she had far too less patience for.
Eli folded his wrinkly hands on the table, brown eyes deep with something ancient and wise as almost all old people are.
"You come from a realm separate from ours," he began, voice steady, "a world untouched by the gods and their conflict. But the realm you now stand in—the Earthly Realm, Alcazar—was forged by the hands of divine beings, shaped through war, compromise, and fate."
Xander frowned, rubbing his temple. "Right. So we're in fantasy world territory now. Got it."
"Shush, nerd." Iris nudged him with her elbow. "Let him talk."
Eli continued without reacting to Xander's sarcasm. "Long ago, the gods discovered the Veylith Crystals, sacred jewels that drifted across existence for countless ages. They wielded their power to create the Earthly Realm, but greed overtook them. They fought for control, each believing they alone deserved its rule."
Xander raised an eyebrow boredly. "And lemme guess—someone stole the crystals?"
"Yes, wise Kaelhi." Eli nodded. "One of their own. A god now fallen. The Beast King."
Iris narrowed her eyes slightly. "What happened when he took them?"
Eli leaned back, the weight of history pressing against his words. "The gods could no longer reach him. He descended into the Earthly Realm, but in his arrogance, knowing they could be used to destroy him, he scattered them across the land. All but one crystal, which he swallowed so they will never be reunited. Allowing time to bury them beneath ruin, war, and legend."
Xander sighed, dragging his hands down his face. "This is so much worse than I thought."
Iris folded her arms. "And where does...uh... Kaelhi fit into all this?"
Eli's eyes darkened, as if recalling something far older than words could hold.
"The Kaelhi is not of the gods, nor of men. He is the force of balance, born to cleanse the chaos that spreads through the realms. He is the traveler between worlds, appearing only when the Earthly Realm reaches its breaking point."
Xander blinked. "So you're telling me—Kaelhi shows up every few centuries to clean up whatever mess the gods make?"
Eli inclined his head. "In a sense."
Iris glanced at Xander. "And you're supposed to be him?"
Xander groaned, burying his face in his hands. "This is crazy."
Eli's voice remained firm, unwavering. "You were sent here to reclaim the Veylith Crystals, harness their power, and end the Beast King's reign once and for all and restore peace to the realm once again."
Silence stretched between them.
Xander, tired beyond reason, lifted his head with the deadest expression imaginable.
"D–do I at least get a... starter weapon or something?"
Eli hesitated—then smiled slightly. "You already have one."
Iris blinked. "Wait, what?"
Xander stared. "Excuse me?"
Eli stood slowly, walking toward the far side of the cottage.
"I will show you," he said simply.
Eli walked to the far side of the cottage. Xander and Iris watched as he pulled a thick, brown hardcover book from the wooden shelf, its surface worn with age, the spine cracking slightly as he opened it. The pages were yellowed, edges rough, but the ink remained bold and clear.
Eli flipped through carefully, scanning each page until, at last, he stopped.
A single drawing took up the entire parchment—a sword.
Not just any sword.
A blade of gold, elegantly curved yet unmistakably powerful. Its hilt was encrusted with intricate carvings, patterns that seemed to shift if looked at too closely. The guard extended outward like twin wings, edges sharp enough to cut through the very air. And at its center, embedded within the hilt, was a small, luminous crystal, radiating a faint glow even through the faded ink.
Xander stared, a strange tension settling in his chest.
"That's… one hell of a sword," he muttered.
Eli nodded. "It is yours."
Iris leaned in slightly, eyes narrowing. "It looks powerful."
He turned the book toward them fully. "This is the Aurex Blade—forged long ago to channel the power of the Veylith Crystals. Unlike the Beast King, who consumed their magic recklessly, this sword was designed to contain and refine their energy."
Xander blinked, sitting up straighter. "Wait. So instead of swallowing ancient relics like a psychopath, I get a sword?"
Eli closed the book gently. "It will...make the process far safer. Without it, your body would struggle to hold such immense power even if you were a complete god."
Iris glanced at Xander. "So, uh… you need the sword. Unless you want to explode."
Xander threw his hands up. "Of course. Of course there's a catch."
He sighed, rubbing his temple. "Alright. Where is it? Is it here?"
Eli's gaze deepened, the weight of his next words hanging thick in the air.
"I am afraid it isn't. It rests in the Temple of Iasora, far from here, deep within the city ruins."
Iris frowned. "Ruins?"
Eli nodded. "A once-great city, now nearly abandoned, claimed by time and danger. The temple still stands, but few dare enter."
Xander let out a long breath, staring at the ceiling like his life had officially turned into an epic quest.
"So what I'm hearing is—we have to travel miles into an...apocalyptic ruin to fetch a legendary sword, while avoiding whatever nightmare creatures probably live there."
Eli inclined his head. "That would be correct."
Xander groaned. "I freaking hate this."
Eli closed the book with careful precision, his gaze settling on Xander and Iris with quiet expectation.
"We will leave at first light tomorrow," he said firmly. "The journey to Iasora will not be easy, but retrieving the Aurex Blade is essential."
The weight of his words hung heavy in the air.
Then, almost in perfect sync—
Xander and Iris shook their heads as they said in unison. "Nope."
"Yeah, see, that's great and all," Xander started, gesturing vaguely, "but I think I'm gonna opt out of the whole chosen-one thing."
Iris nodded. "We appreciate the effort, Eli, really. And the hospitality as well, but I think we're just gonna head to the cave and go home."
Eli frowned immediately.
"You cannot leave," he said, voice sharper than before. "It is not possible."
Xander blinked. "Uh… what do you mean we can't?"
Iris narrowed her eyes. "The cave brought us here. It can take us back."
Eli's expression remained unchanged.
"The realms do not function as you think," he said simply. "You are here now, and you cannot return. Until you finish your quest, until you achieve your destiny then ascend to the Heavenly Realm at last."
Xander stared.
Iris blinked.
The silence stretched thick and suffocating.
Xander let out a breath, rubbing his temple. "Okay. So what you're telling us is…"
Iris finished his sentence flatly. "We're stuck here."
"You are correct, Companion."
'Fuck.'