Elias awoke to the murmur of whispering voices, still groggy from days without food. His vision slowly cleared, and he opened his jade-colored eyes to find himself in a small room bathed in soft, natural light. The view outside his window revealed a stunning, Amazon-like forest, with towering trees and vibrant greenery that seemed to pulse with life.
As he took in his surroundings, his gaze was drawn to the wall opposite him, adorned with countless blades. Some were worn and battered, bearing the marks of countless battles, while others retained a pristine, polished shine. The sight of these weapons sent a shiver down his spine, a reminder of the harsh realities he had faced and the uncertain path that lay ahead.
Struggling to sit up, Elias felt a pang of hunger gnaw at his stomach, a stark reminder of the days he had spent wandering aimlessly through the forest. The whispering voices grew clearer as his senses sharpened, and he realized they were coming from just beyond the door.
With a mix of curiosity and caution, Elias swung his legs over the side of the bed, his movements slow and deliberate. He stood up, feeling the ache in his muscles, and made his way toward the door. As he reached for the handle, the door swung open, revealing the figure who had rescued him.
The tall, enigmatic figure stepped into the room, and as the light illuminated their face, Elias saw a person with a rugged yet composed demeanor. This was someone who had clearly seen their fair share of battles.
"You're awake," the stranger said, their voice a mix of relief and stern concern. "I found you passed out in the forest. You're lucky to be alive."
Elias blinked, trying to make sense of the situation. "Who are you? Where am I?" He thought to himself.
The stranger offered a small, reassuring smile. "My name is Vex. This is my home, hidden deep within the forest. You're safe here, for now."
Elias felt a surge of gratitude and curiosity. "Thank you, Sir. I... I was looking for someone. A scientist named Victoria Lore. She saved me, but we got separated."
Vex's expression grew serious. "I haven't seen anyone else, but the forest is vast and full of dangers. We'll need to be cautious. For now, focus on recovering your strength. You'll need it."
Elias nodded, feeling a renewed sense of determination.
As the days went by, Vex often ventured deep into the forest hunting, often returning empty-handed each time. On the third week, Vex came back once more empty-handed , but now Elias was back to full strength. Vex felt it was about time his young guest explained himself.
Adorned in new clothes, Elias felt a sense of relief he'd never experienced before. The comfort and security of Vex's home had given him a small taste of normalcy, but he knew it couldn't last forever.
"Come here, kid," shouted Vex, his voice carrying a note of authority and curiosity. "You know, kid, I've never been one to pry into another's secrets, but with you, I feel a sense of responsibility. There's something about you I just can't shake off."
Elias approached, pulling Victoria's pendent from his pocket. As he handed it over, Vex's eyes widened slightly, recognizing the emblem and understanding the potential trouble it signified, though he kept his thoughts to himself.
Elias activated the pendent, and Victoria's recorded message played once more. Vex listened intently, his face betraying no emotion, even as the recording ended.
"Alright," Vex said, handing Elias a rusty axe. "I need you to chop some firewood. It's a good way to focus your mind."
Elias nodded, taking the axe and heading outside. Meanwhile, Vex turned the pendent over in his hand, and a new recording began to play.
"Vex, I know you said you wanted nothing more to do with me and HOUSE BLACKWOOD, but please listen to me and do me this one last favor." Victoria's voice was tinged with desperation and determination. "This is about Elias, or should i address him as His Highness Prince Elias Nova, the lost prince, she said. The Chaos Beast experiments were more horrific than you can imagine. They infused children chaos energy extracted from Chaos Beasts. Elias here was unfortunate to have been found by those scientists and fortunate that I was there.
The recording continued, detailing the ancient history of the Chaos Beasts and the dark experiments conducted on Elias. Victoria's voice softened as she spoke of the boy, recounting the events that led to their desperate escape.
"Train him, Vex," Victoria implored. "He has immense power, but without proper training, it's as dangerous to him as it is to others. Please, help him understand and control what he is. It's the only way he'll survive."
Vex sighed deeply, the weight of Victoria's words settling heavily on his shoulders. He watched Elias through the window, the boy's determined swings of the axe a testament to his resilience.(I would've trained the prince even without you asking for it is the duty I swore as a knight) said vex to himself as he watched.
"Looks like I've got my work cut out for me," Vex muttered to himself. He stepped outside, approaching Elias as he chopped the firewood.
"Kid," Vex said, his tone softer now, "I've decided I'm going to train you. Not just to survive, but to understand and control your power. It's not going to be easy, but if you're willing, I'll help you every step of the way."
Elias looked up, his eyes filled with a mix of hope and determination. "I'm ready, Vex. I want to learn."
And so, their journey began—a path fraught with challenges, dangers, and the promise of uncovering the true potential within Elias Nova.