Sanathiel stood immersed in a starless night, where the full moon shone with an intensity that seemed to pierce every corner of his soul. The chill of dawn wrapped around his body, but his mind burned with fragmented memories and a weight he could not yet name. Beside him, always steadfast, Noah prepared the ritual to unleash what had long been sealed within him.
"Sanathiel, I'm going to return your memories and your gifts," Noah said solemnly. "Just close that door behind you and cross the threshold."
In the mirror before him, a red door glowed with an ominous light. Reflected in the glass, a small child stared at him with inquisitive eyes, holding the hand of a warm figure: Zaira, his huntress.
Sanathiel reached out toward the mirror, trying to touch her—but his hand met only emptiness. Suddenly, the reflection changed. Everything around him began to burn: the forest, familiar faces, joyful memories. A cacophony of screams and fire surrounded him, forcing him to recoil.
Amid the chaos, Zaira appeared again. Her presence was a balm within the flames, a luminous force that filled his heart with hope."Take my hand, Sanathiel. You won't regret it," she said with a smile that disarmed even the strongest barriers.
The impulse to reach for her was irresistible, but as he stepped forward, guilt swallowed him like a dark shadow."You're not real. You're dead…" he whispered, his voice breaking under the weight of the truth.In an instant, Zaira vanished, leaving only emptiness and guilt. Sanathiel collapsed to his knees, engulfed in profound pain. His tears hit the floor as his mind tortured him with visions of what he had lost.
Suddenly, a small hand touched his. He looked up and found the child again, with eyes that seemed to hold all the answers he had been seeking."Follow me," the child said, gently tugging his hand.
Sanathiel followed, crossing the red door that materialized before them. What he found on the other side left him speechless: a rundown cabin, familiar yet strange. The echo of children's laughter filled the air, and a familiar scent surrounded him."This is our home," the child whispered with a mischievous smile.
Sanathiel looked around as a strange warmth filled his chest. In the kitchen, a young man lifted the boy into his arms, but his face was a blur. Only the child's face was clear, laughing without a care."Sariel… my little brother…" Sanathiel murmured, feeling a lump rise in his throat.
The child led him to another door. Upon opening it, a wave of scorching heat struck him, transforming him once again into a beast. His pupils dilated, and a feral instinct took over. Out of control, he destroyed everything in his path, devouring any trace of peace."I'm scared…" the little one said, clinging to his clothes.
Still in beast form, Sanathiel found himself face to face with a massive grayish wolf that attacked him viciously, sinking its teeth into his neck and tearing off a piece of flesh."Do you think you can take me down?" Sanathiel growled, hurling himself with full force at the creature.
Sanathiel traced the triskele marked on his neck, its rough texture contrasting with the warmth that seemed to emanate from his own skin. The symbol glowed faintly under the moonlight that poured through the window."This symbol… isn't just a reminder of who I was—it's what I lost to become who I am now."
The images of the child, the wolf, and Zaira swirled in his mind like an uncontrollable storm. Every line of the triskele seemed to tell a story: love, betrayal, sacrifice.
"The past haunts me, but it also defines me. Now I know who I am. I'm not just the heir of a bloodline—I'm its guardian."
He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the weight of his memories settle inside him. When he opened them, his gaze was resolute, fierce."No more chains. No more doubt. If this symbol stands for power, I'll use it to protect what's left of my people. And if the world burns, let it burn by my fire."
With one last glance at the triskele, Sanathiel raised his head and let out a long breath. With a decisive motion, he tore the symbol from his neck—a triskele that vibrated with ancient energy. Holding it in his hand, he charged through the red door, leaving the wolf behind.
On the other side, the child awaited him, tears streaming down his face."You're me," Sanathiel said, gently wiping the boy's tears.The child looked at him with relief and added:"You could've died… You almost left me alone again.""But I didn't," Sanathiel replied firmly. "And crying in front of others is shameful, boy."
The child gave a shy smile and led him to a fireplace. The warmth embraced him, and little by little, the pieces of his being came back together. When he opened his eyes, Noah stood before him, watching with a mix of relief and admiration."Sanathiel, you've returned," Noah said, pointing to the triskele now tattooed on his neck."I understand many things now, Noah. I'm back. And by the way—take off those contact lenses. Stop hiding your heterochromia. You're special, and that matters."
Noah, surprised by the words, embraced him tightly."Sanathiel has returned."
The clock struck midnight. With his memories and gifts restored, Sanathiel knew his mission was clear: he had to find his Nevri people and reclaim the place that had been stolen from him.
As Noah updated him on rumors of signs from Salomon, his best friend, Sanathiel gazed at the horizon."Noah, the community and those who used my blood will pay for their crimes. And Salomon… He'll be the first I find."
The full moon bathed his figure in silver light, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his journey. His strength, his mind, and his purpose had never been clearer."The leader had returned."