The woman's hands shook as she looked at the baby in her arms. Her heart fought a silent battle between love and fear. The infant's wide eyes, innocent and unaware, gazed up at her. Yet something was in the air, an electric hum that hinted at a power waiting to be unleashed. It felt like holding a storm, trapped in the fragile body of a child.
"This world will never be the same for you," the woman whispered, her voice thick with sorrow. "Your mother has made a choice that will change everything. This is the only way to keep you safe. Your power is too strong for a world like this."
The baby cooed and curled her tiny hand into a fist. She didn't understand the words, but the woman sensed the power just beneath the surface, a wild force that could tear the world apart if not kept under control. It was a power both beautiful and frightening.
With a heavy sigh, the woman reached into her cloak. Her fingers brushed against something cold and metal. She pulled out a delicate silver necklace. The chain shimmered in the dim light, and the pendant symbolized an ancient, forgotten order. The necklace pulsed with energy—magic older than the kingdom itself. The woman paused for a moment before gently placing it around the baby's neck.
"Unless you take this off, your power will stay dormant," she murmured. "But if you do, it will wake up. And with it, the Burn will come."
The air around them grew still, heavy with a quiet yet undeniable threat. The necklace glowed faintly, creating a shimmering protective barrier around the child. The woman felt regret and bittersweet hope as the weight of her promise settled in. There was no turning back now.
Outside, the world was on the edge of collapse.
The kingdom, once a thriving place of peace, now served as the last refuge against the approaching storm. The Burn—a destructive force that corrupted and destroyed all living things—was rising. It spread like a plague, turning creatures into mindless enemies and consuming everything in its way. No one had stopped it, and those who tried were overwhelmed by its wrath.
But there was something more—the woman knew it but couldn't say it aloud. The child, this innocent being, was not merely a victim of the Burn. She was a key, a key that could either end the world or save it.
The woman's hand hovered over the baby's heart, feeling the warmth of life and something more—something ancient and dangerous. "Your mother's choice was a sacrifice," she whispered. "She chose for you to stay hidden, to stay safe, but only for now. The time will come when you will have to choose."
Distant thunder rolled through the kingdom, the first signs of the Burn drawing near. The woman turned toward the window. Her eyes narrowed as she spotted shadows moving in the distance—figures cloaked in darkness, watching. She could feel their gaze on her, waiting.
She swallowed hard. They were not the only ones watching. The council, with their own plans and motives, would soon come to claim the child. They knew of her power. They knew the prophecy.
And they understood what would happen if the necklace was taken off.
The kingdom's last hope rested on the fragile shoulders of this child. But the woman had promised the child's mother she would protect her at any cost.
She bent down and brushed a lock of dark hair from the baby's face. Her voice was soft but urgent. "You must never take it off," she said, as much to herself as to the child. "You are our last chance. But once that necklace is removed, there is no turning back. The world will know your name."
For a long time, the woman stood there, her heart heavy with the weight of what lay ahead. The Burn was coming, and no one, not even the ancient guardians, knew if they could survive what was about to happen. The necklace, a gift of both protection and curse, held the power to shape the future of the world.
But one thing was certain—the child's journey had already begun.
And there was no turning back now.