Whispers of the Blind

***

Yun Guo had been walking for hours, the uneven ground beneath his feet growing steeper with each step. His body ached, but he pressed on, following the faint hum of the artifact in his hands. The air had changed—it felt heavier, cooler, as though he had entered a dense forest or a cavernous space.

Suddenly, a sound reached his ears. Soft at first, then louder: voices.

Yun froze, his pulse quickening. It wasn't the voice that had guided him—it was different. These voices were human, or at least they sounded human.

"Stay sharp," one voice said, deep and commanding. "We don't know what else might be lurking in these woods."

Another voice, softer but tinged with impatience, replied. "You're too cautious, Eryan. The scouts said it was just a blind wanderer. Hardly a threat."

Yun's grip tightened on his walking stick. A blind wanderer? Were they talking about him?

Before he could decide whether to approach or retreat, the voices grew closer. The crunch of boots on leaves and the faint clink of metal armor reached his ears.

"Who's there?" Yun called out, his voice firm despite the nervous knot in his stomach.

The footsteps stopped. For a moment, there was silence. Then, a third voice spoke, this one calm and authoritative.

"Step forward, stranger. Slowly."

Yun hesitated, but he had no other choice. He raised his hands, one clutching the artifact, the other holding his walking stick, and took a cautious step forward.

"Easy now," the first voice, Eryan, said, his tone guarded. "What's that you're holding?"

"It's… something I found," Yun replied. "I don't know what it is, but it brought me here."

There was a pause, followed by a sharp intake of breath. "He holds the Lightstone," the softer voice whispered, now filled with awe.

"The Lightstone?" Yun repeated, his brow furrowing.

"It's impossible," Eryan muttered. "No one has seen the Lightstone in decades."

Suddenly, a hand grasped his arm. Yun flinched but didn't pull away. The hand was firm but not aggressive, and a moment later, he felt the edge of a blade press lightly against his ribs.

"Who are you?" the authoritative voice demanded. "And how did you come to possess this artifact?"

"I… I don't know," Yun admitted. "I woke up in this world a few days ago. Blind, lost, and alone. This artifact—it was calling to me. I thought it might lead me to answers."

The blade eased away, but the grip on his arm remained. "He's telling the truth," the calm voice said after a pause.

"You expect us to believe that?" Eryan said, his skepticism clear. "He stumbles out of nowhere, blind, holding one of the most powerful relics in our land?"

"It's no coincidence," the softer voice interjected. "The Lightstone has returned for a reason. Perhaps he is the one the prophecies speak of."

"Prophecies?" Yun asked, his confusion deepening.

The calm voice ignored his question. "You will come with us, stranger. The elders will decide your fate."

Before Yun could protest, the grip on his arm tightened, guiding him forward. He stumbled but regained his footing, his ears straining to pick up more of their whispered conversation.

After what felt like hours of walking, the group led Yun to a settlement. He could hear the murmur of voices, the bleating of livestock, and the distant clang of metal on metal. The smell of woodsmoke and roasting meat filled the air.

The blindfold of his sightless eyes did nothing to stop him from sensing the attention he was drawing. Whispers spread quickly as villagers noticed the stranger being escorted by the guards.

"Who is he?"

"Is that the Lightstone he's holding?"

"Could he be… the one from the old stories?"

The group halted, and Yun heard the creak of a large wooden door opening. He was led inside, where the air felt warmer and quieter.

"Wait here," the calm voice commanded.

Yun felt a bench beneath him as he was gently pushed to sit. Moments later, a new voice spoke, old and gravelly.

"So, the Lightstone has found its way into the hands of a blind man," the elder said, his tone unreadable. "Tell me, stranger, do you know what you carry?"

"No," Yun replied honestly. "But it brought me here. The voice that guided me said it would help me find answers."

The elder chuckled softly. "The voice… yes, it has chosen you, then."

"Chosen me for what?" Yun asked, frustration creeping into his voice.

The elder's tone grew serious. "To restore the balance of this world. The Lightstone is a powerful relic, tied to the harmony of light and shadow. Its return signals the coming of a great conflict, one that threatens all we hold dear. And you, stranger… you may be our only hope."

Yun's breath caught in his throat. He had wanted a second chance, but this? This was more than he had ever imagined.

***