Chapter 3: The Chosen

Kieran stood at the epicenter of the madness, his chest heaving with ragged breaths. The Rift pulsed ominously in the sky above, its energy twisting the very fabric of reality. Around him, the air shimmered with arcane energy, warping the streets of Ravestone into an unrecognizable nightmare. He could feel the pull of the Rift’s power, its gravitational force tugging at his very soul, but he fought against it. He had no intention of being consumed by whatever chaos it sought to bring.

The creature, whatever it had been, was gone. But its warning echoed in his mind. A war. A choice. Kieran didn’t understand what it all meant, but he could feel the urgency in his veins, like a storm waiting to break. The power of the Rift wasn’t something that could be ignored—it was far too dangerous. He had always believed that his purpose was to uncover the truth behind the Rift, to gain control of its power. But now, that purpose felt… different. More insidious.

The ground beneath him cracked again, and Kieran stumbled, barely catching himself on the edge of a fallen pillar. The weight of the situation crashed down on him. What was he supposed to do? Where could he go?

A voice pierced the chaos, cold and sharp. "You’re not alone in this, Kieran."

Kieran spun around, his staff raised instinctively, but he relaxed when he saw the figure emerging from the shadows of the ruined city. A woman, her face obscured by a hood, but there was something familiar in her gait, the way she moved like she belonged to the night. She stepped closer, her presence steady despite the surrounding turmoil. She didn’t seem bothered by the Rift’s energy.

"Who are you?" Kieran demanded, his voice rough with disbelief. "How do you know my name?"

The woman stopped just within arm’s reach, and the faint glow of her eyes betrayed the unnatural power within her. "I know more about you than you realize, Kieran. I’ve been watching you."

Kieran’s grip tightened on his staff. "Watching me? What do you want?"

"I want to help you," she said simply. "You’re in over your head, and if you don’t understand what’s happening here, you’ll never survive."

"Help me?" Kieran scoffed. "I don’t need help from anyone."

The woman smiled faintly. "You say that now. But you will need help soon enough."

Kieran hesitated, sizing her up. There was something about her—something that told him she wasn’t just some random bystander. She had the look of someone who knew far more than she let on.

"And what makes you think I need your help?" Kieran challenged.

She met his gaze, her expression unreadable. "Because you’re not the only one the Rift has chosen. There are others like you—people with the ability to control its power. But the Rift doesn’t just give power; it corrupts, twists the mind. It can drive you to madness if you’re not careful."

"Chosen?" Kieran repeated, trying to make sense of her words. "What do you mean by that?"

"The Rift chooses its champions," the woman explained, her voice growing more somber. "The ones who can wield its power. But the price is steep. You’ll be drawn into the conflict, whether you like it or not."

Kieran shook his head, frustration rising in his chest. "I don’t want to be a part of any conflict. I just wanted answers. I just wanted control."

The woman’s eyes softened, but there was no pity in them. "Control? The Rift doesn’t give control, Kieran. It gives power. It gives destruction. You need to understand the forces you’re dealing with. The creature you encountered? It was just the beginning. The war it spoke of? It’s already started."

Kieran took a step back, feeling his heartbeat quicken. "What war? Who’s fighting it?"

The woman’s eyes darkened. "The war between the beings who exist beyond the Rift—the ones who can bend the laws of the universe to their will—and those who would stop them. The war between those who wish to control the Rift’s power and those who would see it destroyed. And now, you’re caught in the middle of it."

Kieran’s mind raced. The words felt like too much to comprehend. He had come here seeking answers, but all he had found was more confusion. And now, this woman was telling him that he was part of something far larger than he had ever imagined. The Rift wasn’t just a source of power—it was a battleground, a nexus between worlds. And Kieran was one of the players.

"You said there were others like me," Kieran said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Who are they?"

The woman paused, her expression guarded. "They’re scattered, hidden. But they’ll come for you. You’ve already felt the Rift’s pull, haven’t you? The power within you is awakening. It’s only a matter of time before others with the same power track you down."

Kieran didn’t know whether to be angry or afraid. "And what do you want from me? If you know all of this, why are you helping me?"

She took a step forward, her gaze intense. "Because you’re the key. You don’t know it yet, but you’re the one who can stop this. The Rift is more than just a power source—it’s a conduit for something far worse. If the wrong hands gain control of it, everything will collapse. I’ve been trying to stop it for years, and I need you to help me."

Kieran’s chest tightened as the weight of her words settled over him. The Rift was dangerous, yes. But this… this felt bigger than anything he had prepared for.

"Why me?" he asked, still unsure whether to trust her. "Why am I the key?"

The woman didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she stepped closer, lowering her hood. Kieran’s eyes widened in surprise as the woman revealed a face both familiar and unsettling. She was older, with sharp features and a knowing gaze. But there was something haunting about her appearance—something he couldn’t quite place.

"You don’t recognize me, do you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kieran’s heart skipped a beat as memories he had long buried resurfaced. Her face, though aged, reminded him of someone from his past. Someone he had lost.

"Who… who are you?" Kieran breathed.

The woman’s lips curled into a faint, sad smile. "I’m your mother, Kieran."

End of Chapter 3