Chapter 5 The Ancestors' Woods

The portal shut behind Kira.

He caught his breath and called out, "Mom?"

But he didn't receive any answer, just silence.

He turned around slowly, confused, and called out again, "Mom?"

He found himself in a charming ancient forest. Towering trees with faintly glowing green leaves stretched endlessly around him.

Wisps of golden insects drifted slowly through the air, casting a soft radiance like fallen stars.

It was quiet, no wind, no rustling leaves just an unnatural stillness.

"Where am I?" he whispered.

Something felt off, like he was being pulled.

This place he didn't recognize it, yet somehow, it felt... familiar.

As if it had been waiting for him.

He wandered forward, his boots pressing into soft moss, staring at the beautiful details of the forest in awe.

He whispered, "Mom, what happened to you? Please tell me you're safe."

His chest tightened, but he pushed the fear aside.

Then he heard a voice-faint, yet unmistakable.

It was calling his name... "Kira."

He froze. The sound seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.

"Who's there?" he called, scanning the trees.

The voice didn't answer, but a soft glow pulsed in the distance, beyond the trees.

Drawn forward, he followed it until he reached a small clearing.

A lake stretched before him, its water unlike anything he had seen before. It shone like silver, rippling in slow, steady waves.

Tiny droplets hovered just above the surface, glowing like captured moonlight.

His reflection stared back at him from the water's edge, his eyes glimmering in the soft glow.

Then he saw his reflection smile at him-and without warning, his reflection's hand shot out from the depths and seized his wrist.

A violent force yanked him downward. Cold water swept over him as he plunged into the abyss.

Panic surged through him; his limbs flailed, bubbles escaped his lips as he screamed.

There was no bottom, no end-just an endless void of water pulling him deeper, faster.

He looked around in a state of panic. then he saw a faint green light below-a small stone, sinking just beyond his reach.

Without thinking, he stretched his fingers toward it. The instant his fingertips brushed the stone-Everything vanished.

Kira gasped, as he found his back hitting soft grass.

He we suddenly laying on the ground, staring up at an endless night sky.

A huge silver moon shone above, lighting the calm water that stretched forever around him.

"How did I get here?" he murmured, pushing himself up.

Then, the voice called again. "Kira, don't be afraid. Come closer."

Hesitant, he took a cautious step forward.

as he looked to the moon's reflection in the water a strange sensation surged through his body.

His feet lifted off the ground, hovering weightlessly above the water's surface.

His eyes widened and became pure silver while images flashed in his mind.

Visions of the Past

A huge, magical forest appeared before Kira. He saw his grandfather, the warrior king, kneeling before a glowing woman.

"Aria, Queen of the Druids, I ask you to be my wife."

Her emerald eyes shimmered softly. Her presence was both powerful and calm.

with a smile she placed her hand in his, and glowing vines wrapped around their fingers, sealing their bond in marriage.

The vision shifted.

A newborn baby lay in the arms of the Druid Queen, his tiny fingers reaching out. She smiled softly, but in the shadows, eyes watched, filled with growing unease.

Another shift.

A great hall stood before Kira. Tall pillars were carved with scenes of battle, and flickering torchlight danced across the stone walls. A man stood before the throne-a strong warrior with piercing eyes, his expression serious.

Before him, the king sat in silence, his face full of frustration.

"My King," a man beside the throne said, his voice smooth and convincing,

"the Warriors are the strongest race on Earth-feared by all, thanks to our ancestor, the Great Warrior King Eldric.

He alone inherited the power of his mother, able to raise the dead, and the strength of his father, the blood of the Warriors.

Since his time, many kings have tried to combine the Warriors' power with other races through marriage, but all failed.

Their children were weaker... powerless.

But you are different. You are greater than all the kings who failed before. You must succeed where they could not."

His gaze moved to Johan, the king's only son.

Johan lowered his head, shame filling his eyes.

"Your son," the advisor continued, his voice quiet but sharp, "was born of a Druid Queen, yet he has no power.

No magic runs through his veins.

He is just an ordinary man.

The problem lies with his mother-you must choose a wife from another race if you hope to succeed."

Murmurs of unhappiness spread through the gathered warriors.

"His mother is to blame," another voice said. "She fills the King's head with foolish ideas-talks of peace and balance.

But we were meant to rule."

The king slammed his fist on the throne's armrest. "Enough." His voice was strong but tired. He looked at Johan, his disappointment clear without saying a word

Johan clenched his jaw, his hands curling into fists at his sides. He had trained harder than any warrior and honed his skills to near perfection-but it still wasn't enough. He could not summon fire, control the wind, or command the earth like his mother's people. He would never be the weapon they wanted him to be.

One final, horrifying vision-

A grand chamber filled with warriors. At its center stood a woman, her green eyes burning with anger as she faced them. Armed men surrounded her, their weapons ready.

Behind them, a man stood in the shadows, his eyes dark with hatred.

"Aria, the Queen of the Druids, is weakening our King," he whispered. "She has filled his mind with weakness. While we dream of conquest, he speaks of unity. We are the strongest of all races. We should rule this world, not beg for peace."

His voice dropped even lower, cold and sharp.

"She must die."

The vision blurred, as steel sword flashing through the air, heading for the queen.

Kira screamed.

Suddenly, he snapped out of the vision-and his body was falling.

His heart raced as he fell, sure he would sink into the water again.

But his feet landed gently, as if the water had become solid.

A woman stood before him. She was tall and graceful, with long hair the color of fresh leaves and a crown of branches on her head. Her glowing green eyes looked at him closely.

"So," she said, her voice soft but strong, "you are finally ready to see me."

"Who are you?" Kira asked, out of breath. "Are you the spirit of the woods?"

She smiled. "I am, but I am more than that to you, Kira. I am your grandmother, Aria, Queen of the Druids."

She continued, "I was there the night you were born. I saw the tremendous power you took from your father when he died-even before you took your first breath."

"Never before had a child Received such strength while still in the womb."

She disappeared briefly, reappearing beside him in a blink.

"I couldn't save your father," she continued, her voice filled with sorrow, "but I did what I could to ensure your survival.

As you absorbed his power, I realized you were also drawing from me."

Kira's breath caught. "You mean... I took your power too?"

Aria nodded. "And even after you were born, I watched in awe as you absorbed the elements and forces of nature themselves."

She studied him closely. "Have you learned to control them?"

Kira hesitated before shaking his head. "I... I don't remember having any powers."

Aria's eyes widened. "What? All these years, and Laura has taught you nothing?"

"You know my mother?" Kira stepped forward, desperation in his voice. "Please, help me save her."

Aria's expression softened, but her voice remained firm. "Kira, I can only help you within these woods.

If you leave, I cannot follow.

But do not fear-Mordrain will not harm his favorite daughter."

She paused, letting the words sink in. "However, if you truly wish to fight for her, you must learn to control your power.

Tell me, Kira-do you want to be strong enough to protect your mother and yourself?"

Kira clenched his fists. "Yes."

Aria's lips curled into a knowing smile. "Then we must not waste any more time."

In an instant, she vanished. The water around them began to ripple, the moon above twisting in the sky.

The world around Kira shifted-no longer the glowing lake, but a vast, ancient arena.

Before he could fully grasp what was happening, a massive rock, the size of a tree, came rushing at him.

He barely dodged in time, but the impact sent out a strong shockwave that knocked him off his feet.

As he struggled to get up, the rock shook and started to move.

A deep, low growl echoed through the air. The stone moved and formed a huge creature with glowing green eyes. Towering over him, it lifted its jagged arms and threw another large rock straight at him.

Kira turned to run, but the rock hit his shoulder, throwing him to the ground. Pain shot through him as he gasped for breath. He barely had time to recover before the rock creature jumped into the air, its huge fist coming down toward him.

Instinctively, Kira raised his arms to protect himself and screamed.

But the hit never came.

Slowly, he opened his eyes-just in time to see a giant golden lion standing protectively before him.

The beast's powerful jaws clamped down on the creature's arm, a deep growl reverberating through the air.

With a mighty shake of its head, the lion tore through solid stone, shattering the rocky limb to pieces.

Aria reappeared, and the golden lion immediately walked toward her, pressing its massive head against her side like an old friend, yet still looking strong and powerful. She smiled, running her hand through its mane.

"Kira," she said, turning her gaze back to him, "you are no longer a newborn. You cannot rely on Vega to save you every time."

Kira struggled to his feet. "Vega?" he echoed, confused. "Who's Vega?"

Aria raised an eyebrow. "You summoned your lion without even knowing his name?"

Kira hesitated. "I... I summoned him?."

Aria shook her head, amusement flickering in her eyes. "You have incredible potential, Kira... but there is still so much for you to learn."

Kira trained relentlessly under Aria's guidance. Days and nights.

She taught him to sense the elements, to feel the pulse of nature itself.

But something was wrong. No matter how hard he tried, he struggled to control his magic.

One morning, Aria stood over him, concern etched into her features.

"Kira, when you were born, your power was unmatched. But now..." She shook her head. "Something is blocking you."

She led him beyond the core of the woods, to the base of a towering mountain.

Pressing his palm against the stone, Kira watched as a hidden cave entrance materialized before him.

"Go inside," Aria urged.

As soon as he stepped in, the entrance sealed shut.

Darkness swallowed him whole.

Then-a massive, floating shield appeared before him.

Chains bound its surface, thick and unyielding. Smaller shields hovered around it, each engraved with different symbols-warriors, weapons, elements, animals. they wore all dark but one of them glowed faintly.

Kira stepped closer, his fingers brushing the metal. The engraving on the glowing shield showed a lion with piercing golden eyes, surrounded by five wolves.

Something deep inside him stirred. "Vega."

The shield trembled . The chains shook violently before shattering.

then, a golden lion materialized before him, along with five enormous silver wolves.

The moment they appeared, a surge of energy coursed through him-a connection, a bond as old as time.

Memories flooded his mind-of them hunting his mother the night he was born, of their presence always lingering in the shadows, watching him.

He turned back to the chained shields. He tried again and again to break another, but they refused to budge. Even when he ordered Vega to attack, the lion's claws passed through the chains like mist.

"They're not real," Kira realized. "I'm the only one who can touch them."

He clenched his fists. The answers lay somewhere within these chains.

And he must find a way to break them.