The words hung in the air like a challenge. Daelen's grip tightened on the hilt of his sword, ready to draw if necessary. His eyes darted to the figure's form, trying to gauge its intentions, but it was like trying to read a shadow.
"I don't have time for games," Daelen said, his voice hardening. "Who are you?"
The figure let out a low chuckle, one that sent a shiver down Daelen's spine. It was a sound full of malice and ancient knowledge, like the laughter of something that had lived far longer than anyone should.
"I am not your enemy, child," the figure spoke, its voice smooth and deliberate. "But you... you have the scent of destiny about you."
Daelen's brow furrowed. Destiny? What kind of nonsense was that? But there was something in the figure's tone that made him hesitate. Something he couldn't quite explain.
"You speak in riddles," Daelen said, taking a cautious step forward. "What does that even mean?"
The figure tilted its head, as if considering Daelen's words. "It means you walk a path that was never meant for you," it replied. "And yet, here you are. Standing at the threshold of something much greater than yourself. You are the last of the Nameless."
The phrase struck Daelen like a slap to the face. Nameless. The word reverberated in his mind, stirring something deep inside him. He knew it, somehow. He had always known it, even if no one had ever spoken it aloud.
"The Nameless..." Daelen whispered, feeling a cold chill creep up his spine.
The figure stepped closer, its movements fluid and graceful, like a predator circling its prey. "Yes. The last remnants of a forgotten time. The forgotten kingdom. The curse."
Daelen's heart skipped a beat. A curse?
"Why are you here?" he asked, his voice quieter now, a flicker of uncertainty breaking through his usual resolve.
The figure's glowing eyes gleamed in the twilight. "Because you are the key. To everything. To the kingdom's fall. To its rise. And to your own destruction."
Daelen's mind reeled as the weight of the figure's words sank in. He wasn't sure what he had just heard, but he understood one thing: his journey had just begun. And he wasn't alone. Whatever this creature was, it was a part of the world's mysteries—a part of his past that he had yet to unlock.
But as it stepped back into the shadows, fading into the twilight, Daelen knew this: the real test had only just begun. And he was no longer walking a simple path. The road ahead was dark, treacherous, and full of questions.
But one thing was certain. He was no longer Nameless. He had a purpose now.