Beyond Death: the rise of atreya

Atreya woke to the sound of voices. Blinking against the morning light, he saw two figures standing over him—a young girl with golden hair and a regal woman dressed in elegant armor.

"He's alive," the girl said, her voice filled with relief. "Mother, we should help him."

The woman knelt beside Atreya, her eyes sharp but kind. "Who are you, boy? And why are you out here alone?"

Atreya struggled to sit up, his body protesting every movement. "I… don't remember," he lied, his voice barely audible.

The woman frowned but didn't press further. "You're coming with us. You won't survive out here in this condition."

Atreya hesitated, his eyes darting to the sword lying beside him. The girl noticed it too, her gaze lingering on the strange symbols.

"That sword…" she began, but Atreya snatched it up, holding it close.

"It's mine," he said firmly, his voice stronger than before.

The woman exchanged a glance with her daughter. "Very well," she said. "Let's move quickly. We're not far from the kingdom."

---

Journey to the Kingdom

The ride back was uneventful, though Atreya remained on edge. He sat in silence, clutching the sword as if it were his lifeline.

The girl, however, was anything but quiet. "My name's Celeste," she said, her eyes bright with curiosity. "What's yours?"

"Atreya," he replied after a pause.

"Atreya," she repeated, smiling. "That's a nice name. Where are you from?"

"I don't remember," he said again, his tone flat.

Celeste frowned but didn't push further. "Well, you're safe with us now."

The queen, who had been listening quietly, glanced at Atreya. "Safe" was a relative term, especially with the looming war.