The Keeper

They saw in the distance the thick smoke rising above their settlement, which had been attacked.

A horde of monsters let out horrifying howls as they slaughtered everything in their path.

Those who couldn't escape were killed mercilessly, and a deafening and continuous clamor reverberated among the smoke as the battle raged on.

The bandits, who seemed to have prepared for everything, made use of every trick at their disposal, even shooting fire from bows, while some unleashed elemental attacks, burning monsters in flames.

The horde of monsters was unlike anything the bandits had ever encountered, effortlessly overpowering them and decimating entire families—men, women, and children alike.

Aspera was lost in the created chaos.

Kaer headed for his hut. Syberta came running towards him. She picked him up and took him to a secluded place. She raised a hatch, and Kaer entered the hideout and dug into the ground.

Syberta took Kaer's hand and placed a ring on his finger. As she twisted the ring, Kaer mingled with the air.

"I give you this gift: the Ring of Shadows. It is the most precious thing I have, and it has saved my life many times. From now on, it's yours. Stay hidden here for at least two days."

Syberta closed the hatch and left.

After two days or more, Kaer came out of hiding.

He found Syberta. She was no longer alive. The six monsters around her testified to this warrior's bravery and skill. Kaer wore the bow and the two daggers that had belonged to Syberta.

Kaer laid Syberta's corpse in his former hiding spot. In her hand, he put the mirror in which Syberta had liked to look at herself when she thought no one could see her. Then Kaer plugged the access to that hiding place.

No sign of Aspera.

Kaer was walking through the dense forest. The tall trees created a shade that gave a false sense of security.
Kaer knew every path and agorot, but now he felt an unnatural thrill for this place. So he took shelter in a hiding place, from where he could see in advance anyone who approached.

He spotted three monsters moving confidently on them. They were of imposing stature, their skin covered with shiny scales. Their long, sharp claws scratched the ground, and their dagger-like fangs heralded a death sentence. They were experienced in group combat, moving with coordination and demonstrating intelligence.

Kaer waited calmly. He acted when he calculated the monsters were within the bow's attack range.

He raised the bow and stretched the string. The first arrow pierced the heart of the first beast, and the monster fell to the ground.
Kaer drew another arrow from his leather quiver and repeated the motion without thinking. The second arrow flew straight and hit the eye of the second creature, which went down without a sound.
Angry and thirsty for revenge, the last monster leaped towards Kaer with great leaps.
The young fighter responded with an evasive move he had perfected over years of training, avoiding the fatal blow.

Hurt but not defeated, Kaer spun around and positioned himself behind the beast. With a precise movement, he plunged the two knives into the back of the collapsed creature.

Kaer felt his strength leave him. His wounds were severe, and the healing potions he carried in his belt were now just empty bottles. He crawled with difficulty towards a fallen tree, leaning on its thick trunk. His breaths were heavy, and his sight grew dim. At last, his eyelids fell, and he was shrouded in darkness.

Kaer trudged up the slope as the wild wind whipped his cloak, turning it into a dry leaf worn by hazard. Reaching the top, the view that opened up to him was one taken from a nightmare: an arid landscape, a stretch of land crisscrossed by cracks.
To the right, a dry tree stood lonely, waiting for a rain that never came.
Nearby, the ruins of a settlement. The former buildings were now just a memory.

A woman looks at Kaer, who, with difficulty, asks:

"Who are you?"

The woman answered calmly.

"I am the owner of this place. I was waiting for you, Kaer. This world needs a new protector."