Child of Darkness/Child of Light

Melanie Heatstar is a young woman born to wizard parents on Odius. She quickly proves herself adept at magic and is sent to study at the Magesphere Library in the city of Alhm under the watchful eye of Lillian Cloudwater. Melanie rises through the ranks and is eventually chosen to become a Protector of Odious, tasked with protecting the world at all costs. Her first mission is to investigate rumors of an evil creature kidnapping women at night in the city of Murosa. Upon arrival, she discovers that the culprit is a lich who has been draining the youth from his victims to stay alive. Melanie engages in a fierce battle with the lich and emerges victorious, her eyes glowing gold as she casts her final spell. On her way back to report to Queen Laurel, overseer of the High Court of Halgrind and capital city of Odius, Melanie meets a young man named Dekker who travels the world to learn about its cultures and magic. They bond over their shared interest in magic and family, and it becomes clear that Dekker is also talented in art. Upon returning to Halgrind, Melanie reports her success in Murosa to Queen Laurel and learns that she may be tasked with training the next Protector of Odious. The queen alludes to a "special boy" she sees in her vision but cannot identify him directly. Melanie spends time with Dekker, accompanying him on his travels and discussing magic and their families. She begins to suspect that he may be the one the queen spoke of, but cannot be sure. As time passes, Melanie continues to fulfill her duties as Protector of Odious while watching for any signs of the "special boy." Finally, she receives word that a young man matching Dekker's description has been seen in Halgrind. Melanie rushes to meet him and confirms her suspicions - Dekker is the one the queen spoke of. She takes him under her wing and begins to train him in the ways of magic and the responsibilities of being a Protector of Odious. Together, Melanie and Dekker face many challenges as they work to protect Odius from threats, both magical and mundane. They encounter powerful foes, make new allies, and discover secrets about themselves and their world that they never could have imagined. Ultimately, Melanie passes the mantle of Protector of Odious to Dekker, confident that he will continue to uphold the values and traditions she has worked so hard to protect. As they part ways, Melanie reflects on all she has accomplished and the legacy she left behind, knowing that Odius will always be in good hands.