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For so long, he believed the stories recited to him to be nothing more than myths...

The rise of the Demon King… His thirst for power, the beasts of lore that served him, the armies of destruction under his command… Then, his eventual sealing.

...That great war between the gods, and the aftermath resulting in the complete decimation of their clan's ancestors… the very same which led to them losing their "sacred power."

Tales he'd believed to be but a distant memory, long buried by the sands of time, were resurfacing before his very eyes… and now...

Kalil didn't know how to feel. The bits of stone still clinging to his body joined the pile at his feet as he helplessly fell on all fours–the opened sanctuary doors revealing the fire which had ravaged the village and forest had dispelled to leave a charred husk of what once was–the clouded sky overhead and dampness in the air making it clear even the heavens had wept.

His shoulders shook as he kept his eyes fixed on the ground.

Kayda was nowhere to be seen, and he knew full well she had gone through with her plan. Yet her words lingered, even as her sacrifice stung.

Grow strong… and never lose hope.

"Hope…" Kalil whispered, pushing himself up from the ground to ponder the word, turning to observe the other awakened survivors with glazed eyes as they bickered between survival or to fight–of which the most vocal were the clansmen who'd tried to rally them and the elderly clanswomen who'd berated his sister.

"Can't you see that Kayda saved us, you old crone?! If you desire cowardice and escape, be my guest!"

"Better cowardice than rushing headfirst to a pitiful death, you unsalvageable whelp!"

"Enough," the elder called, raising a hand to silence the pair's unsolvable argument, while also gathering the attention of his subjects, "above all else, we must seek to rebuild. Kayda sacrificed herself for our survival, and we must keep true to her wish."

"Rebuild? How can we rebuild when even the forest around us is nothing but ash, you old fool?" The woman snarled impatiently, before pointing upwards. "Even this sacred place will hold much longer! Watch as it crumbles around us!"

"Not all is lost," the elder replied hopefully, "the vault beneath us has its purpose, and we will use it to its fullest potential. Surely some of the forest has been spared from destruction." He paused, to meet his naysayer in the eye. "Escape if you wish, but know the lands beyond this one are not ones meant for our kind."

While she opened her mouth to protest further, the old woman seemed to concede in the end--grumbling under her breath and shambling outside to be followed by the remaining villagers.

Kalil stood still and silent as he mused over the elder's words, head lowering to the ground. A hand upon his shoulder caused him to gasp, and he spun to meet the forlorn gaze of his grandmother. She did not speak as he met her old eyes, and neither did he as shamefully glanced away–brushing her hand away as he strode to halt before the ancient man clad in verdant robes.

"Elder—" the blue-haired youth began before he could be questioned, "<em>please</em>, let me go after them. I can't stay here knowing they took Kayda. She's all I–<em>we</em>, had left."

The elder sighed, giving a curt nod, much to his surprise. "I heard her words. And seeing you now, I feel a fool for not realizing it sooner."

"The tales of the Beastblood have long been nothing but myths among our tribe." Kalil glanced to see his grandmother by his side, who observed him with an expression he could not read, though a smile graced her face. "But now more than ever, do I find her words ringing true."

"So... you'll let me go then?" Kalil turned back to the elder, the despair in his voice waning as his eyes glimmered with hope.

"As Elder, I should try to stop you," he mused as he studied the child before him, stroking his beard before shaking his head with a defeated breath, "but, I know to do so would be futile. You young'uns are awfully tenacious, and so terribly spiteful."

"I…" Kalil smiled, and he forced himself to refrain from dropping to his knees, giving a grateful bow. "Thank you, elder…"

"Of course." His expression hardened as the youth stood back up. "However, you must know my earlier words were no bluff. The world outside our forest is one no longer meant for us. There is no telling how much it has changed in our absence. It will not be easy to survive, especially for one so young."

"...I see."

"Do not despair, Kalil." The elder chuckled, as though to reassure him. "There is something I wish to give you. I understand you've trained in your spare time."

From beneath his robe, he procured an ornate box, exterior the same verdant color as the garb of their clan and forests, engraved with silver vine-shaped accents. Extending his arms out to the blue-haired youth, he gestured for him to open the box.

With bated breath, Kalil did just that–jaw dropping in awe as he lifted the top of the case to reveal a sword of purest white–arguably the most ancient of blades he'd ever glimpsed–the silver blade contrasted by the verdant color of the guard, handle, and pommel. Empty notches sat at the center of the winged crossguard, their purpose unknown as he gently lifted the weapon from its resting place, eyeing his reflection in its pristine blade.

"The true purpose of this weapon has been lost to time, but I know it will be all but necessary in your endeavors." The elder explained, he himself overcome with unexpressed awe as he observed it in Kalil's hands. "It has no name which I know of, but it will make a fine companion for your foray into the unknown."

"You are far too kind to me, Elder..." Kalil shook his head, feeling unfit as he tested the blade's weight, before he lowered it to his side. "I cannot express my gratitude enough… thank you."

The elder smiled, handing him the scabbard to the blade. Almost hesitantly, the youth allowed the sword to rest within its sheath, and with it clutched tight in his arms he turned to his grandmother, who eyed him with a smile.

"I think you'll need a change of clothes before you're worthy of swinging something so fancy around." She muttered, to her grandson's sudden embarrassment. "No grandson of mine is leaving the woods in his nightclothes."

"O-Oh, right..."

---

While nearly all else had unfortunately been lost to the flames, Kalil was grateful there had been clothes which had survived the destruction of their home. He proudly wore the verdant garb common to the hunters of the tribe–a tunic of green alongside a waist-length green cloak of a slightly darker shade–otherwise necessary for clansmen should they seek to hide themselves as they prowled within the forest. The nameless blade gifted to him lay belted at his left hip, giving Kalil a feeling of safety as his hand grasped its hilt. Whatever the reality of his situation, he was confident that he could defend himself should the need arise.

Tapping his boots against the ruined floor after shaking his head, the blue-haired youth spun to glimpse his grandmother, whom he had not realized had been observing him. He couldn't help but blush as he beheld the keen sense of pride which shone in her old eyes.

"You look like a true warrior now." Her voice was quiet, but it dripped with joy. "And still have so much more growing to do."

"Hmph." Kalil pouted self-consciously, only looking up as she held out a small satchel made of burlap.

"You'll need food if you're going to travel. Extra clothes too."

In silence, he accepted the satchel from her, walking to the exit of their ruined home after gently tossing it over his shoulder, a forlorn expression across his soft features as he examined the decimated remains of their village and its burnt trees.

"Grandma…" He began as she came up beside him, chest heavy. "Will you be alright? Without me or Kayda here?"

"Oh, enough." She growled, her voice strong, although Kalil realized her face sagged with the weight of the catastrophe which had befallen their tribe as he faced her. "I'm not that old, anyways. And besides," her head lifted to the sky, "I care about your sister more than you know. If these bones weren't as heavy as they were, you wouldn't be going alone."

Kalil opened his mouth to speak, and then closed it as he could say no more, walking forward, only to stop as his grandmother called out from behind him.

"Get her back for us, Kalil. And make sure to show those demons fresh hell on behalf of all of us!"

"O-Okay…" Kalil nodded as he spun to face her, before shaking his head and blinking as he steeled himself. "Okay. I promise!"

Clenching his fists, the blue-haired youth turned back to face the ruined entrance of their village which led to the woods beyond--a once lush forest now little more than a sea of dead, burnt trees.

With a deep breath and without glancing back, he trekked forth… doing his best to prepare himself for whatever would await him in the world outside his home as he made his way through the ruined pathways of the forest.