Chương 3: Chapter 3: Trials of Youth
Years passed, and Kaelan grew into a strong and resourceful teenager. His skills in combat became sharp, his understanding of tribal life deepened, and his sense of purpose intensified with each passing season. His father, the chieftain, took pride in his son's progress, though Kaelan's ambitions sometimes unsettled him. While the other boys dreamed only of becoming great hunters or fighters, Kaelan spoke in whispers of something more, of the tribes becoming one, united under a single banner.
One fateful day, however, Kaelan's life changed forever.
The village had been peaceful that morning. The sun hung high in the sky, casting its warm light over the huts and the clearing where the children played. Kaelan and some other young men were practicing their spear-throwing by the riverbank, laughing and exchanging challenges. Kaelan's friend Toren, a good-natured but clumsy boy, laughed as he struggled to match Kaelan's skill.
"Easy for you to say, Kaelan," Toren said, grinning. "It's like you were born with a spear in your hand."
Kaelan smirked, raising his spear and adjusting his stance. "Just keep practicing, Toren. You'll catch up to me one day… maybe."
The others laughed, and Toren shook his head, playfully swatting Kaelan's shoulder. But their lighthearted banter was interrupted by a sharp, distant cry—a scream that echoed through the trees. Kaelan's heart froze. He recognized the voice: it was his sister, Elara.
Without a word, Kaelan took off running, his feet pounding against the earth as he raced back toward the village. Fear surged through him as he heard more cries rising from the camp. Smoke drifted into the air, and his heart sank. As he burst into the clearing, he saw chaos.
A raiding party from a neighboring tribe had attacked the village, their warriors clad in dark paint, brandishing weapons that gleamed in the sunlight. Villagers ran in every direction, scrambling to hide or escape. His mother was helping some children into a hiding spot, her face stricken with fear as she looked up and saw him.
"Kaelan!" she called, her voice urgent. "Find your father! He's with the warriors by the outer ring."
Without hesitation, Kaelan nodded and turned, darting toward the edge of the village. As he ran, he saw the devastation—the huts in flames, the warriors of his tribe clashing with the raiders. His father's voice boomed over the chaos as he rallied the men, his figure imposing and fierce.
But as Kaelan approached, he saw something that filled him with dread. One of the raiders, a towering figure with a scar across his face, broke through the line of defenders and charged straight toward Kaelan's father, spear raised. Kaelan screamed, lunging forward, but he was too far.
The warrior drove his spear into Kaelan's father's side, and the chieftain fell to the ground, his hand clutching the wound as blood pooled beneath him. Rage and anguish flooded Kaelan's mind. His father—his guide, his hero—lay gravely wounded before his eyes. Kaelan grabbed a fallen spear and charged at the scarred raider with a cry of fury.
The raider turned, sneering as he met Kaelan's attack. They clashed, Kaelan's strikes filled with desperation and raw anger. He dodged, ducked, and struck with everything he had, his movements a blur as he fought with all his strength. Finally, he landed a blow, the spear piercing the raider's chest. The man staggered, shock in his eyes as he fell to the ground.
Kaelan dropped his weapon, gasping, his chest heaving. He turned to his father, rushing to his side. His father looked up at him, his eyes filled with pain yet pride.
"Kaelan," his father murmured, his voice weak. "You fought… like a true leader. But this wound…" He coughed, blood staining his lips. "Listen to me… the tribe will need you now."
Kaelan's eyes stung with tears. "Father, please, don't say that. We can help you. We'll get you to the healers."
His father shook his head, his gaze softening. "My time is ending, son. But yours… yours is just beginning." He reached up, his hand resting on Kaelan's shoulder. "Remember your dreams. Unite the tribes… make them strong… make them one. Promise me."
Kaelan swallowed, nodding as he struggled to hold back his tears. "I promise, Father. I'll make us stronger than ever."
A faint smile crossed his father's lips, and he took one last breath, his hand falling limp. Kaelan knelt there in silence, the weight of his father's final words pressing upon him like a heavy mantle. He had just lost his father, but he knew what he had to do. The tribe would look to him now, and he would have to be ready.
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