The school was a blur as Alex raced through the halls, his mind consumed by a single thought: he had to protect his grandmother. He had to save her.

When he finally burst out the front doors and into the daylight, he didn’t stop running. The world around him seemed to slow, as if time itself was bending to his will, and with each step, he felt the power of the amulet lsing stronger within him. It was as though he was being guided, pushed forward by something greater than himself.

As he rounded the corner and his house came into view, Alex’s heart dropped. The front door was wide open, hanging off its hinges, and there were signs of a struggle—broken glass, overturned furniture, and a silence that chilled him to the bone.

He rushed inside, their breath coming in short, panicked gasps as they searched the house. “Grandma!” Alex called out, his voice trembling with fear. “Grandma, where are you?”

But there was no answer. The house was eerily quiet, and as Alex moved from room to room, he felt a growing sense of dread, a cold certainty that something terrible had happened.

When he finally reached the living room, Alex froze. The sight that greeted them was like a nightmare come to life. The room was in shambles, furniture smashed and scattered, and in the center of it all lay Grandma Chen, her body crumpled and still.

“No!” Alex screamed, rushing to her side. He fell to his knees, his hands shaking as they reached out to touch her, to check for any sign of life. But the moment his fingers brushed against her skin, he knew—she was gone.

A wave of grief and despair crashed over Alex, so overwhelming that he could barely breathe. Tears streamed down his face as they cradled their grandmother’s body, his heart breaking into a thousand pieces. The person who had raised hi., who had protected him, who had given up everything for him, was gone. And it was all because of the amulet, because of the power that Alex now carried.

As the tears continued to fall, Alex felt a new sensation stirring within him—a dark, seething anger that burned hotter and hotter with each passing second. He had lost everything—first his mother, and now his grandmother. And all because of the same forces that had been hunting their family for years.

They looked down at the amulet, still glowing softly in the dim light, and they knew what they had to do. This power, this legacy that had been thrust upon them—it wasn’t just a gift. It was a responsibility, a burden that had cost them everything they loved. But now, it was also a weapon, one that they would wield to avenge his grandmother, to protect himself, and to put an end to the forces that had destroyed his family.

But as he knelt beside his grandmother's body, the amulet began to pulse once more, and with it came a flood of memories.

Alex saw his grandmother fighting against shadowy figures, refusing to give up even as they overwhelmed her. He saw her fighting them until her last breath. And he saw the faces of those who had taken her life—the same forces that had hunted his family for years.

The realization hit Alex like a punch to the gut. These were the same enemies who had killed his mother, who had destroyed his family. And now, they were after Alex.

But they wouldn’t succeed. Not this time.

With a newfound resolve, Alex gently laid his grandmother’s body on the floor and stood up, his eyes hardening with determination. The grief was still there, a raw, aching pain that tore at his insides, but beneath it, there was a fire that could not be extinguished. He would not let his grandmother’s death be in vain.

Alex could feel the amulet’s power pulsing in sync with his heartbeat, growing stronger with each breath they took. It was as if the amulet was responding to his emotions, amplifying his anger, his grief, and his determination. He could sense the knowledge and skills that had been passed down through his family, now awakening within him—a deep well of martial arts techniques, healing abilities, and magical powers that had been dormant for far too long.

As he stood there, the memories that had been unlocked by the amulet continued to flood their mind. He saw glimpses of battles fought by his ancestors, of enemies vanquished, of sacrifices made. He saw his mother, fierce and unyielding, using the amulet’s power to protect those she loved. And they saw his grandmother, strong and resolute, making the ultimate sacrifice to keep them safe.

The realization hit Alex with the force of a tidal wave. The figures who had come to their house weren’t just random intruders—they were the same forces that had been searching for the amulet for eighteen years, the same ones who had taken his mother’s life. They were relentless, powerful, and they wouldn’t stop until they had the amulet in his possession.

But now, the amulet was bonded to Alex, its power intertwined with his very soul. And with it, he would make those responsible for his family’s suffering pay.

Alex wiped the tears from his face, his expression hardening into one of cold determination. He turned and made his way to the front door, his footsteps steady and deliberate. He didn’t know who these people were, or what they wanted with the amulet, but he knew one thing for certain: he was w going to find them, and he was going to make them pay.

As he stepped out into the sunlight, the world around him seemed different—sharper, more vibrant. He could feel the energy of the earth beneath his feet, the life force of the trees and plants, the distant hum of the city. It was as if they were connected to everything, part of a vast, living network that pulsed with power.

The amulet hung heavy around his neck, its weight both comforting and ominous. Alex could feel the magic within it, the ancient knowledge and power that had been passed down through generations of their family. And now, it was his to command.

But he also knew that he couldn’t do this alone. He needed allies, people he could trust to help him fight against the forces that had taken so much from him. And the first person who came to mind was Samira.