Thornton

  My body remains still and serene, a deep calm settling over me. Is this the sensation of death? Am I already gone? My name echoes once more, and I am certain it is the voice of the gods summoning me to move on to the next life. Then, the voice cuts through the silence again, sharper than before.

  "THORNTON!"

  My eyes snap open, my heart racing. The sound of birds chirping fills my ears, and the warmth of the sun kisses my cheek through the window. I'm back in my bed. Jade stands over me, a look of concern on her face.

  "Wake up; you don't want to oversleep. We've got thirty minutes before the briefing."

  "Oh, right," I reply, my voice thick with lingering confusion, my heart still pounding from the remnants of the dream.

  I sit up, still disoriented. I don't remember falling asleep, but that dream—no, that nightmare—felt too real. I can still feel the presence of that man, and the overwhelming energy he radiated, like a storm threatening to break through the calm.

  "How did you sleep?" Jade asks, her voice light, though there's an undercurrent of concern.

  I lie, forcing a smile. "I slept fine," I say, quickly changing the subject. The lie feels like a stone in my chest, but I push it aside. "Come on, let's get ready." I nudge her gently and head for the door.

  Jade doesn't press further, though I catch the flicker of doubt in her eyes. She knows me too well, but she lets it go for now. Together, we make our way downstairs, where Emberes greets us with his usual warm smile. He's dressed in a new set of armor—light, but gleaming with a polished sheen. The greatsword resting on his back is an extension of his form, and his locs are neatly tied into a ponytail. On the outer left shoulder of his armor, a blue symbol stands out: a single line cutting through the center of a half-upside-down rectangle. The ends of both the line and the rectangle align perfectly at the bottom of the shoulder. The symbol belongs to the Char Clan, the protectors of Canu Village.

  Noticing my gaze, Emberes smirks at me.

  "You like it, right? I've got yours laid out on the chairs, and all your equipment and weapons are in the satchel beside it."

  "You're seriously the best, Emberes!" I exclaim, my excitement building.

  I rush over to my new armor and examine it carefully. It's identical to Emberes' set, except for the symbol on the shoulder. This one is a green-outlined triangle with a purple fill, and atop the triangle rests a green squiggle.

  "Hey, Emberes, what's this symbol? Is it for people who've just accepted their first mission?" I ask, my curiosity piqued.

  "No," Emberes replies, his tone thoughtful. "My father told me this is your clan's symbol. I don't know much else about it, except that you two are the only Liche left. That's why you have this symbol instead of ours."

  "I don't even remember my parents, let alone our clan," I say quietly, the words heavy in my mouth.

  Jade shoots me a sharp look. "That's because your memory's terrible," she snaps, her frustration clear.

  Emberes cuts in before I can respond. "Regardless, whether you remember them or not, Liche is who you are, and it's what you'll represent. It's not my rule. So wear your name with pride."

  Jade ignores Emberes' words and looks directly at me. "I really hate that you don't remember our parents, Thornton. I don't remember much about our clan either, but I still remember them," she says, her voice tinged with sadness and frustration.

  "I'm sorry," I reply, guilt tightening in my chest. "We should just focus on what's ahead of us right now."

  I hate that she's upset, but I don't know how to fix it. The memories are gone, and it feels like they've been gone for a lifetime. Jade tries to help me remember, but nothing she says sparks any recollection. Instead, I try to change the mood. "Look how cool our armor is!"

  I eagerly put it on. It fits perfectly, like it was made just for me. I grab my satchel and sling it over my shoulder, the familiar weight a small comfort.

  "Ah, you can take that off, Thornton. Your armor has compartments for your weapons and potions," Emberes calls out, his tone light but practical.

  I remove the satchel and start organizing my gear. The fabric of the armor is soft, almost like silk, making it incredibly easy to move in. I slide my sword into its sheath, and the armor feels lighter than I expected, almost weightless despite its sleek appearance.

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  I glance at Jade, who has already donned her armor. The sunlight coming through the window catches her in a perfect halo, her purple eyes glowing as they reflect the light. She looks regal, powerful. Her bow rests on her back, poised and ready. I notice Emberes watching us with awe in his eyes, but we exchange a brief, knowing look. There's a silent understanding between us all.

  "You two ready?" Emberes asks, his voice steady.

  Jade and I nod in unison, signaling we're prepared.

  "Alright, let's go. And Thornton, good job remembering how to maintain your protective mana. I tried to intensify the attack I did on you earlier, but it didn't work."

  The only reason why i'm maintaining my protective mana right now is because I can't shake the feeling that the dream is still with me, lingering in my veins like the aftereffects of a powerful spell. The thought sends a chill down my spine. Everything about that experience felt too real, like it was more than just a dream. I give Emberes a confident smile, masking the unease that still clings to me.

  We step outside, the air fresh and crisp, and begin walking toward the village manor. As we pass through the village, people stop and stare, but today the stares feel different. People capable of manipulating mana begin to release waves of energy, each burst adding to the atmosphere. It's as if the whole village is alive with magic. Strangely, the energy doesn't intimidate me—instead, it boosts my confidence. Cheers of "Good luck!" and "Return safe!" fill the air. I realize that I've never seen this much mana concentrated in one place before.

  But then I glance at Jade. Her expression is conflicted, weighed down by something, though she doesn't say anything.

  "Hey, Emberes. What's going on? I've never seen anything like this when warriors are receiving or departing for a mission," Jade asks, her curiosity piqued.

  "Ah, this is a ritual the Liche always performed when warriors received their first mission," Emberes explains, a small smile on his face. "My father thought it would be special to honor your clan's tradition in this way."

  "This energy is unbelievable!" I exclaim, feeling the power surging around me, as if the very air itself is charged.

  "I haven't felt anything like this either," Emberes admits, his voice thick with awe.

  As the ritual continues, a wave of curiosity begins to wash over me. For the first time, I feel a deep need to learn more about my clan. Before today, I had never cared much about them, but now, with the symbol on my armor, this strange ritual, and even the mysterious shed in our yard that no one talks about, I can't ignore the pull to uncover the truth.

  We reach the manor, where the five village elders stand at the top of the stairs. Galla, Fells, Drexel, Brinks, and Winston—each a representative of their respective clans. Winston is from the Char Clan, just like Emberes and Drexel. The other three hail from the Rew, Ajian, and other clans with their own histories and traditions.

  There's a tense silence as we exchange glances with the elders. The weight of their gaze feels like a test, as if they're measuring us, sizing up our worth. Drexel breaks the quiet, pushing open the large wooden doors behind him and gesturing for us to enter. We follow closely, stepping into the dimly lit manor.

  Inside, weapons gleam in glass cases, and rows of ancient books line the walls. The flickering torchlight casts shadows that dance on the cobblestone floors. As we move deeper, Drexel leads us into a room bathed in warm light. It's starkly different from the dim corridors, the ceiling towering nearly twenty feet high. A round table sits in the center of the room, ten chairs surrounding it. The elders take their seats, and we follow suit, taking our place at the table.

  Drexel speaks first.

  "First and foremost, congratulations on completing all the training assigned to you and being here to accept your first mission, Thornton and Jade. I know this is your first mission, but it's an important one. Fells will give you a rundown on the situation, as his clan specializes in this sort of matter."

  Fells nods and takes over. "King Belfour has reported recent dark magic activity outside the Forest of the Lost. You three will stake out the area for three days and gather as much intelligence as possible. A cabin has already been prepared for you, six miles before the forest. We believe a small, non-threatening group of mages is trying to locate the Mask of Cada. Only engage in combat if absolutely necessary. If this situation turns out to be larger than we anticipate, Emberes will report back to us immediately, and the king will send the Guar Knights to handle the situation."

  "What is the Mask of Cada?" Jade asks, her curiosity evident.

  "The Mask of Cada is an incredibly powerful artifact that amplifies the wearer's magical abilities," Fells explains. "If the wearer practices dark magic, they would likely seek revenge against King Belfour for banning dark magic within the kingdom."

  "Let's say the Mask of Cada really is in the Forest of the Lost. Should we retrieve it and bring it back?" I ask, my voice filled with anticipation.

  "No, the Guar Knights will handle that if the mask is truly there," Drexel replies firmly.

  "You must also be cautious," Fells adds. "When the mask is worn, the wearer's face remains exposed, but the mask adapts to match their features. The only way you can identify the mask on someone is by the immense amount of mana they'll give off."

  The mask sounds incredible. If it falls into the right hands, it could be a game-changer. I imagine what it would feel like to wear it, to harness its power. Maybe my invisibility would last longer, or I could access more of my mana. Perhaps with its power, Jade could control even more arrows at once. I secretly hope the mask is in the forest—and that I will be the one to recover it. This mission could be the beginning of something bigger for me.

  "Emberes, you have full control over this mission," Galla says, sliding a small black cylinder across the table. "If anything goes wrong, point this into the sky. We will assist you if necessary."

  Emberes takes the cylinder and nods. "Understood."

  And just like that, we're ready. The mission lies ahead of us, and I can feel my heart racing. The Mask of Cada could hold the key to everything I'm looking for.

  I glance at Jade and Emberes, and though the road ahead is uncertain, one thing is clear: we will face whatever comes our way, together.