Hiroshi awoke with a start, the remnants of the Keeper’s voice still echoing in his mind, a dark and foreboding whisper that he could not escape. The mark on his hand burned faintly, as if trying to remind him of its presence, a constant pull in his veins. He had barely slept, his mind spinning with fragments of ancient visions, the prophecy, and Elder Mei’s words.
“The fate of this world is intertwined with yours now, whether you are ready or not.”
He wasn’t sure he was ready.
The morning light crept through the cracks in his wooden walls, illuminating the small room that had once felt so safe, so familiar. Now, it felt like a prison, confining him to a life that was no longer his own. The village beyond, with its peaceful streets and everyday routines, felt like a distant dream. How could everything remain unchanged when he had been marked, when the world was teetering on the edge of something dark and terrible?
He lay there for a moment longer, staring at the ceiling, his chest tight with unease. How could he pretend everything was normal? How could he walk among the villagers, greeting them with a smile, when he knew that his very existence had been tied to something ancient and dangerous?
The sound of footsteps outside his door brought him out of his reverie. Kaito’s voice called softly through the crack in the door.
“Are you awake?”
Hiroshi pushed himself into a sitting position, wiping his hand across his face. “Yeah, I’m up.”
Kaito opened the door and stepped inside, his face a mix of concern and understanding. He had always known Hiroshi well, better than anyone. They had grown up together, and while their bond had never been one of blood, it had been just as strong. Kaito was the steady one, the one who always had the right words to say, even when Hiroshi felt like he was drowning in confusion.
“You don’t have to go right now,” Kaito said, his voice calm but firm. “We’ve talked about this. You’re the one who has to choose your path. You don’t have to make a decision today.”
Hiroshi shook his head, a knot forming in his stomach. “I can’t stay here, Kaito. I can’t wait. Something is pulling me to the mountains. I don’t understand it, but I feel like if I don’t go now… something terrible will happen.”
Kaito’s brow furrowed as he considered Hiroshi’s words. The look of concern deepened, but there was something else in his eyes, something that Hiroshi couldn’t quite place. It was as if Kaito had known, even before Hiroshi did, that this moment would come. That Hiroshi was meant for something bigger, even if Hiroshi himself had no idea what that something was.
“I know you’re determined, Hiroshi,” Kaito said softly. “But just promise me this, you’ll be careful..? The road ahead is dangerous. Don’t rush into this blindly.”
Hiroshi looked up at Kaito, his eyes filled with uncertainty and fear. He wanted to be strong, to reassure Kaito that everything would be okay, but the truth was that he didn’t know what would happen next. He didn’t know what was waiting for him in the mountains, or what the Keeper of Shadows had meant by calling him a “pawn.”
“I don’t think I can be careful,” Hiroshi admitted, his voice strained. “I think this is something that’s already been set in motion. I don’t have a choice anymore.”
Kaito seemed to consider this for a moment, then nodded, his expression softening. “I know. Just remember that you’re not alone in this. If you need help, I’ll be here. Always.”
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Hiroshi smiled weakly, his heart aching at the thought of leaving Kaito behind. But there was no time for hesitation. He couldn’t afford to linger in the safety of what he knew when the darkness was calling him. The mark on his hand pulsed again, as if urging him to move, to take the first step toward his destiny.
The journey to the mountains felt different now, heavier somehow. Hiroshi had walked the paths before, but today, every step felt like a weight he couldn’t shake. The air grew thinner as they ascended, the familiar warmth of the village replaced by a chill that seeped into his bones. The landscape shifted, the trees growing sparse, replaced by jagged cliffs and rocks that seemed to grow more imposing with every step.
The mountains, which had once felt like protectors. Silent and steadfast, now loomed over him, cold and unyielding. Hiroshi’s breath came in short gasps, his body struggling to keep pace as the path steepened. The mark on his palm burned, a constant reminder of the burden he carried. The Keeper’s words echoed in his ears, and with each passing moment, the weight of his destiny became harder to ignore.
By midday, the sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows that stretched across the barren landscape. Hiroshi paused for a moment to catch his breath, gazing out over the village below. From this height, it seemed so small, so insignificant. A place he could never return to. The thought struck him with a sharp pang, and he wondered if he would ever see the familiar faces of his childhood again.
Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath his feet. It was subtle at first, a faint vibration that Hiroshi thought might be his imagination. But then the tremor grew stronger, rippling through the ground and up into his legs. The mark on his hand flared painfully, and he staggered back, clutching his palm as the pain surged through him. It was as if the very mountain itself were alive, reacting to his presence.
“You are not welcome here.”
The voice came from nowhere, its low, guttural tone sending a chill down Hiroshi’s spine. His heart skipped a beat, and he looked around frantically, trying to locate the source of the voice. But there was nothing. Only the rocks and the cold, empty air.
“Who’s there?” Hiroshi demanded, his voice trembling but filled with defiance. He wasn’t sure who or what he was speaking to, but he couldn’t just stand there in silence, not now.
The voice spoke again, louder this time, the words like a growl that reverberated through the very ground beneath him.
“You are too weak,” it hissed. “The mark you carry is not enough to stop what is coming. You are nothing but a pawn.”
Hiroshi’s hand clenched around the mark on his palm, the pain intensifying. The words of the Keeper from his vision echoed in his mind, cold and final.
“You are the key to our destruction’s success.”
“No,” Hiroshi whispered, his voice filled with determination. “I won’t be a pawn. I won’t let it control me.”
The mountain trembled again, and the voice seemed to laugh, low and mocking, before fading away into the wind. The ground stilled, leaving Hiroshi standing in silence. His chest heaved as he tried to steady his breath, his mind reeling from the encounter. What was this force? Was it the Keeper of Shadows, or something else entirely?
As the silence stretched on, Hiroshi took a deep breath and wiped the sweat from his brow. The mountains may have been trying to stop him, but he couldn’t let them. He had made his choice, and there was no turning back now.
He continued onward, each step bringing him closer to whatever lay at the summit. The path was growing steeper, and the air colder, but Hiroshi pressed on, determined to face whatever trials awaited him.
The mountains were not just a barrier to his destination. They were a test. A test that would either break him or make him stronger.
And as Hiroshi climbed higher, he could feel the weight of that test pressing down on him with every step.
Character development:
As Hiroshi climbed higher into the mountains, the weight of his destiny became clearer. The mark on his palm pulsed with power, reminding him of the strength he was beginning to recognize within himself. No longer a passive observer, Hiroshi embraced his transformation, realizing he was no longer the boy from the village but someone capable of facing the trials ahead. The Keeper's words no longer frightened him; instead, they fuelled his determination to prove he was more than just a pawn. With each step, Hiroshi grew stronger, ready to confront whatever awaited him at the summit.
