Aldric was a lone sorcerer who resided in the center of the old Sorbides forest, where emerald leaves whispered secrets to the breeze. Because of his ability to control the very essence of darkness, he was referred to by the locals as the Keeper of Shadows. Aldric lived in an odd tower, its spire extending like a blackened finger toward the sky. The aged stones were ornamented with wavy vines that appeared to be afraid of the tower's imposing shadow. The smell of ancient books and strong spices filled the room. Aldric had made the decision to live in isolation for years, exploring the secrets of magic. Astra, a silver wolf with eyes that carried millennia' worth of wisdom, was his lone companion. They walked the forest together, looking for lost wisdom and keeping the old trees safe.A young girl happened onto Aldric's tower one fateful evening as twilight bathed the sky in shades of purple and gold. Elara, as she went by, got lost in the forest while picking herbs for her ailing grandmother. She knocked on the worn door, scared and exhausted, praying for help. The girl was shaking when Aldric, with his deep-set eyes and silver-streaked hair, opened the door. Astra, ever watchful, stood at his side, her hair standing up a bit. However, upon seeing Elara's tear-streaked face, Aldric's heart softened and he let her inside. While Elara took comfort from the flickering fire, Aldric mixed a concoction to ease her grandmother's ills. The sorcerer's eyes shone with an inner light, and his hands moved with a trained ease. As she observed in amazement, Elara's terror vanished in the face of such antiquated magic. Over the next few days, Elara started coming to Aldric's tower on a regular basis. He told stories of faraway places and lost spells, and she listened to him with rapt attention. She felt a tingling sensation in her fingers as she realized she had a hidden magic gift under his tutelage. Aldric and Elara explored Sorbides' depths together, discovering old runes and secret artifacts. Under the starry sky, their relationship flourished like the wildflowers that covered the woodland floor as they laughed together. But as the seasons changed, ominous rumors began to surface. A long-dormant malignant energy started to stir, threatening to cover Sorbides in a cloud of mayhem. Aldric and Elara realized that in order to defeat this escalating threat, they would need to unite and rely on the magic that bonded them. So under the ancient trees' watchful eye, the girl and the sorcerer created a link that would survive the test of time. Their spirits interwoven like the roots of Sorbides's great oaks, they would confront the approaching darkness together.
