Fanoy Mangak-Mlan stumbled backwards, his heart pounding in his chest as he watched the two sentinels of the God of Peace, Igdranon, slay his family. The crack of their staffs as they struck his parents and older sister echoed in his mind. He felt numb, frozen in place, as the realization of what just happened slowly sank in.
His thoughts raced as he tried to make sense of the situation. The city-nation of Gandorm was supposed to be a place of peace, protected by the gods and their servants. How could this happen here, in his own home? He felt a surge of anger mixed with fear. He was the only one left now, and he needed to get out of there, fast.
Fanoy quickly gathered what supplies he could find and fled the house. He ran through the dark and narrow streets, dodging between buildings and ducking into alleyways to avoid being seen. He had heard stories of rogue sentinels, those who had turned against their god and now roamed the streets, killing indiscriminately. He couldn't let that be his fate.
As he ran, he felt a cold presence watching him, a sensation he couldn't shake no matter how fast he moved. He had heard the legends of the ghostly apparitions that roamed the streets at night, seeking out the souls of the unwary. He pushed himself harder, his breaths coming in gasps as he finally burst out into a wider street, a small square lit by dim streetlamps.
In the center of the square stood a statue of Igdranon, the God of Peace. The sight of it filled Fanoy with dread. The sentinels answered only to their god, and if they were after him, it was only a matter of time before they caught up. He needed to find a place to hide, to regroup and figure out his next move.
He spotted a small alley leading away from the square, and darted into it. The darkness enveloped him, the only sounds the soft scrape of his feet against the cobblestones. He felt a hand close around his arm and he let out a strangled cry, lashing out with his other hand. He connected with flesh and heard a grunt of pain, then suddenly he was free and the figure was gone.
He stumbled back, his heart racing, when a soft voice spoke from the darkness. "Be calm, young one. I'm not going to hurt you."
He squinted, trying to see who was speaking, when a figure stepped forward into the light. It was a woman, her face obscured by a hood, a staff in one hand. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice trembling.
"I am a servant of the God of Dreams," she replied, "and I have been sent to help you."
Fanoy frowned. The God of Dreams was said to be a benevolent deity, but he had never heard of their servants intervening in the affairs of mortals. "Why would you help me?"
The woman smiled, the shadows around her shifting. "Because you are special, Fanoy Mangak-Mlan. You have a gift, one that will be needed in the days to come. The sentinels of Igdranon have been corrupted, and they seek to destroy those with the power to stop them."
Fanoy shook his head, feeling overwhelmed. "I don't understand. What gift?"
The woman's smile faded. "The gift of the hunt, young one. And the time has come for you to embrace it and use it to save Gandorm and all who reside within it. The sentinels will stop at nothing to eliminate those with the hunt in their blood, but with your power, you can stop them and restore peace to the city-nation."
"Hunt? I can't hunt..."
"You are the only descendent of the Hunters of Gods."
Fanoy's mind spun, struggling to process the information. He had always felt different, but he never thought it had to do with that.
The woman placed a hand on his shoulder, her touch calming. "That's why I am here, to guide you and help you hone your powers. But we must hurry, the sentinels are closing in."
Fanoy took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. He was scared, but he also felt a sense of determination. He was the only one left to protect his family's memory and to bring peace back to Gandorm.
As the woman led him deeper into the alley, he could feel his powers beginning to stir within him. The darkness around them seemed to recede, and he felt a sense of energy coursing through his veins.
Together, they disappeared into the shadows, living to fight another day.