The te afternoon light draped the forest in a golden hush, soft and snting through the high branches above. The air was warm but cooling, ced with the scent of moss and distant blossoms. Shadows stretched long and zy between tree trunks, and though birds still chirped here and there, a heavy silence had begun to settle — not quite ominous, but charged. As if the forest itself was waiting.

  Era’s grip tightened around Raphael’s hand as she pulled him closer, her eyes locked onto the mysterious figure emerging from the shadows.

  – I don’t know – she hissed, her voice low with suspicion. – But they’re definitely not human. And they’re following us.

  Raphael’s heart skipped. He instinctively leaned into her, grounding himself in the warmth of her presence. Then, clearing his throat and summoning his voice, he shouted toward the silhouette that lingered between the trees:

  – Who are you?

  The figure paused mid-step, as though contempting the question — or perhaps savouring the moment. Then, with deliberate slowness, it began to move closer. The soft crunch of dried leaves underfoot echoed unnaturally loud in the stillness. As the figure stepped into a shaft of golden sunlight filtering through the treetops, its features emerged — a young man, tall and striking, with jet-bck hair that fell in elegant waves around his face. His eyes were twin shards of intensity, fixed solely on Raphael.

  As the figure stepped into the golden shaft of light, Raphael’s breath caught. The world around him seemed to hush for a moment, colors softening, sound dimming — as if nature itself paused to make space for this apparition.

  He was beautiful.

  Not in a gentle or delicate way, but in the kind that unsettled something deep inside you. His face was sharp and sculpted, with cheekbones that caught the sunlight like stone carved by divine hands. His lips — curved in the faintest, unreadable smirk — held a quiet confidence, the kind that spoke of centuries, not years.

  But it was his eyes that truly held Raphael captive.

  Jet-bck, with no visible distinction between iris and pupil, they shimmered like pools of ink stirred by unseen currents. Mesmerizing barely scratched the surface. They weren’t just eyes — they were promises, secrets, storms barely contained behind gss. And they looked at him — not through him, not past him — at him. With full attention. With knowing.

  A chill rolled down Raphael’s spine, not of fear, but of awareness. Something ancient and immense had just stepped into his world... and chosen to see him.

  Why does he look at me like that? Like he knows something even I don’t.

  It was both terrifying and... thrilling.

  – Who are you? – Raphael asked again, slightly louder than a whisper, his voice catching in his throat.

  The young man stopped just a few feet away. He moved with the ease of a predator — graceful, fluid, and entirely unbothered by the tension in the air. His gaze never wavered.

  – I am Kael – he said in a deep, otherworldly voice that seemed to echo with yers of meaning. – And I’ve been looking for you, Raphael.

  A strange flicker of recognition danced at the edge of Raphael’s consciousness. His breath caught.

  – Do you know me?

  – Yes – Kael answered simply. – I know exactly who you are. And what you are.

  He gnced briefly at Era, then back to Raphael.

  – Though I see you’ve found a protective companion here – he added, a slight smirk pying at his lips.

  Raphael swallowed hard, trying to keep his voice steady.

  – I don’t want to be rude, but what are you?

  Kael’s smirk deepened, revealing teeth that were just a little too sharp, a little too perfect — beautiful in a way that hinted at danger.

  – I’m like you, Raphael. Other. Though I wouldn’t say “what”... I’d say “who.”

  He took a step closer, his presence commanding, casting a long shadow that stretched toward Raphael like a whisper from the earth.

  – I am a vampire.

  The word hung in the air like a thundercp. Raphael blinked, heart pounding.

  – I’m really sorry. I didn’t want to offend you. I’m new to this world — or at least I think I am.

  Kael chuckled softly — a sound like velvet and smoke, darkly elegant.

  – No offense taken, Raphael. I can scent the newness on you. It’s... intoxicating.

  His eyes flickered briefly to Raphael’s neck before returning to his face. Raphael instinctively tilted his head back, but Kael made no move to approach further.

  – You need not fear me. I mean you no harm.

  – Ok. I believe you. I don’t know why, but I can feel it.

  Kael’s expression softened slightly, as if those words had touched something in him.

  – Good. Trust is not something to be given lightly, especially in our world.

  He turned his attention to Era once more, noting her stance — firm, unmoving, quietly prepared to intervene if needed.

  – Your companion here, she’s... something else entirely.

  Raphael followed his gaze, then looked to Era, his brow furrowed in thought.

  – Honestly – he said feeling incredibly awkward – I know only that she’s helping me make my first steps here.

  - I’m really sorry Era. I haven’t even asked what kind of being you are.

  Era smiled warmly, her eyes gleaming with amusement and something else — pride, perhaps.

  – No need to apologize, Raphael. I’m an Elemental — specifically, a spirit of the earth.

  She gestured gracefully to the ground beneath them, where tiny roots twisted like veins just under the surface, pulsing faintly with life.

  – I take many forms, but this one is my preferred.

  – Elemental... like a magician with specialization or a pure emanation of the earth element?

  Era nodded approvingly, clearly pleased by his insight.

  – Very perceptive of you, Raphael. I’d say a pure emanation of the earth element is closer to the truth. We Elemental spirits aren’t merely magic users — we’re living embodiments of our elements.

  Wow... I didn’t realize how special my guide is. A quiet awe crept into Raphael’s face. He turned again to Kael. – I’m sorry. This is all new to me, and I get distracted easily by every bit of new information. You said you know me... What did you mean by that?

  Kael’s expression grew solemn, shadows pooling in the hollows of his face as the sunlight shifted above.

  – What I mean is, Raphael, your existence — your very being — has been... anticipated.

  He spoke with careful deliberation, as if every word carried weight.

  – There are prophecies. Ancient scripts that speak of a powerful new entity entering our world.

  The revetion hit like a tidal wave. Raphael reached out and held onto Era’s arm, slightly dizzy from the overload of information. The forest spun ever so slightly around him. Era noticed immediately, her instincts sharp. She wrapped an arm around his waist, steadying him with silent strength.

  Kael’s voice softened into something like reverence.

  – The descriptions match you perfectly — the unique aura, the unmistakable scent of something... otherworldly yet familiar.

  Raphael stared at him, lost in the swirl of half-formed questions and feelings he couldn’t yet name.

  – I don’t know what to say... Are you part of the school as well?

  – Indeed, I am. I attend this prestigious school for supernatural, where beings like myself learn to control and master our abilities – Kael said calmly.

  His words carried a quiet authority, as though he wasn’t just speaking of a school, but of a sacred pce. He gnced at Era, and though no words were exchanged, something subtle passed between them — a look of mutual understanding too swift and intimate to ignore.

  – It seems fate has brought us together, Raphael.

  Raphael felt the weight of that word — fate. It sent a strange flutter through his chest.

  – I’m so fortunate to meet you two – he said, sincere. – Maybe I could learn more about your species from you.

  Era smiled, and the earthy scent that always seemed to cling gently to her grew stronger as she drew closer. There was something grounding about her presence, like rich soil after rain.

  – We’d be happy to teach you about our kinds, Raphael. Kael is a vampire, and I, as you already know, am an elemental spirit.

  She turned her gaze toward Kael, and again that look passed — fleeting but unmistakable.

  – Ok. Kael, could we meet ter for some talk? Maybe you could tell me more about vampires and these prophecies.

  Kael nodded, a small smile pying on his lips — enigmatic, unreadable.

  – Of course, Raphael. I’ll meet you ter today. We have much to discuss.

  With a final gnce at Era, he stepped backward into the trees. The golden light caught in his dark hair for just a moment before his figure vanished entirely into the shadows. Silence returned, save for the gentle breeze and Era’s soft breath beside him.

  For a few long moments, Raphael stared at the spot where Kael had stood. Even in his absence, the vampire's presence seemed to linger — like an echo or a ripple in the air. The encounter had left a subtle pressure in his chest, a cocktail of awe and confusion. His mind was still spinning with the weight of Kael’s words, and the truth of their meeting refused to settle quietly.

  Raphael turned to Era. – What is next on our trip pn?

  She turned to face Raphael, her eyes sparkling with excitement, like she couldn’t wait to share what came next.

  – Next on our little adventure, Raphael, is a trek through the nearest woods. It’s a forest sacred to my kind, where trees as old as time itself reside.

  She winked pyfully, but Raphael frowned.

  – Haven’t we just come from one? I think I’ve had enough forests for today. – His eyes narrowed slightly. – And what’s with those looks you both were exchanging? Should I know about something?

  Era chuckled, the sound low and rumbling, like distant thunder rolling across the hills.

  – You’re right, perhaps the woods were a bit too much for you today. We can skip that part and focus on the next destination. – Her smile lingered, touched by something more personal. – As for the looks, Kael and I have a... shared history. But that’s a story for another time.

  That cryptic answer only piqued Raphael’s curiosity more, but he let it go for now.

  – Ok. So what’s our next destination?

  Era’s expression shifted, becoming more serious. The glimmer in her eyes softened into something quieter, more thoughtful.

  – We’ll head to the Crystal Peaks. It’s a mountain range where celestial beings often gather. The view is breathtaking and you’ll learn more about heavenly entities there.

  She paused for a moment, studying him with an intensity that made his skin prickle.

  – Are you feeling better now?

  Raphael nodded slowly.

  – Yes, slightly. I’m still in shock after Kael’s words.

  Era reached out, her hand resting gently on his shoulder, fingers warm and steady.

  – I understand. Discovering prophecies and ancient predictions about one’s existence can be overwhelming. Don’t worry, take your time to process it all.

  With that, she began to lead him down a narrow, winding path that snaked away from the forest’s edge. The trees of the Whispering Woods whispered faintly behind them, fading with every step they took toward the rising silhouettes of the Crystal Peaks in the distance.

  The terrain began to change subtly — the soft forest floor gave way to drier earth, dotted with ft stones that shimmered faintly in the waning light. Far ahead, the mountains rose like silent guardians, their peaks kissed by the sun’s final golden rays. The air grew cooler, sharper, carrying with it a strange, ethereal scent — something Raphael couldn’t pce, yet instinctively associated with crity, height... and the unknown.

  He stole one st gnce over his shoulder. The woods behind them swayed gently, branches moving as if waving goodbye — or perhaps warning them not to return too soon. Then he focused forward, matching Era’s stride, each step drawing him deeper into a world he was only beginning to understand.