The magnificent throne room of the Empire, where every word echoed off the cold stone walls, was now filled with a hum of voices. Seated at a massive table were the finest minds and warriors of the realm. Their polished faces and haughty gazes concealed the unease awakened by recent reports. At the center sat Emperor Kailan, his golden eyes carefully observing every movement, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest of the throne.
General Heiron rose, holding a scroll that appeared as weighty as the responsibility of what he was about to report.
"Your Majesty," he began with a slight bow, "in the past two months, we have received twenty-seven reports of wild animal attacks from the northeastern lands."
"What's new about that?" scoffed one of the lords, a young and self-assured man. His tone, like his gilded collar, was overly ostentatious.
"If they were simply hungry beasts, my lord, I wouldn't be standing before you," Heiron replied, keeping his gaze fixed on the Emperor. "These attacks are accompanied by unexplained phenomena."
Kailan leaned forward slowly, and the room was immediately filled with tense silence.
"Explain, Heiron," he said, his voice soft, but every word cut like steel.
"The animals involved in these attacks display... unusual behavior. They are aggressive, attack in coordinated patterns, and show no fear of humans. Most disturbingly, some of them have strange black stones embedded in their bodies."
The general's words caused a ripple of murmurs throughout the room. Lords and councilors began whispering among themselves, but Kailan raised a hand, silencing them all.
"These stones," the general continued, "emit a faint light, and those who approached them reported feeling... magical resistance. One mage who tried to examine the stone claimed it 'responded' to his attempts to interact with it."
"A stone 'responded'?" one of the elder councilors raised an eyebrow skeptically. "That sounds like a child's fairy tale."
"A fairy tale?" Heiron gritted his teeth but maintained his composure. "My lord, three soldiers died trying to extract one of these stones. One of them had his blood freeze in his veins. This is no fairy tale."
Kailan rose to his feet, and once again, the hall fell into a grave silence. His gaze, cold and commanding, swept across the room.
"Heiron," he said, "do we have information on where these attacks are most concentrated?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," the general straightened. "All incidents are focused around the forests of Daren and the surrounding villages."
The Emperor paused in thought.
"If they are concentrated in the forests, this isn't mere chaos. Someone is using these animals as weapons."
The murmuring in the hall grew louder. One of the younger lords stood abruptly, unable to contain his agitation.
"Your Majesty, forgive me, but isn't this an overstatement? We're talking about beasts! Even with magic, they're just animals. We could increase hunting efforts or set more traps."
"Hmm," Kailan looked at him with a faint smirk. "You propose combating magic we don't understand with traps?"
The lord froze, realizing his blunder.
"My apologies, Your Majesty. I..."
"Sit," Kailan said curtly.
He turned back to the general.
"Heiron, I want the study of this stone expedited. Recruit the Empire's best mages, and if necessary, seek help abroad. At the same time, double the patrols along the forest borders. No one carrying a threat should leave that area."
The general bowed.
"It will be done, Your Majesty."
"One more thing," the Emperor added, his gaze once again sweeping the room. "This is no coincidence. The forests of Daren have long been shrouded in rumors of dark creatures. I have a feeling this is tied to something much greater. If it is, we must be prepared."
His words hung heavily in the air, making it clear that the safety of the Empire—and their own lives—was at stake.
As the council began to disperse, Heiron lingered near the exit, glancing back at the Emperor.
"Your Majesty," he said quietly, so only Kailan could hear, "if this truly is something bigger, we need to be ready for anything."
Kailan nodded.
"I know, Heiron. Which is why we will not allow a single mistake."
His voice was calm, but beneath it lay an unshakable resolve. The Emperor understood that an enemy capable of wielding nature itself as a weapon would be more dangerous than any he had faced before.
***A Flash of Truth
The hall plunged into silence. Massive columns and golden-streaked stained glass windows towered over the throne room, a constant reminder of the Empire's grandeur. Yet at this moment, even the brilliance of the sun couldn't dispel the shadow looming over Kailan.
He sat on the throne, leaning thoughtfully against the armrest. His eyes, golden like the sunset, stared into the distance. Thoughts of the recent council haunted him. Heiron had spoken of the threat—animals with black stones and deadly power. It all felt too much like the beginning of something far greater than mere wild animal attacks.
Kailan raised his hand, and the silence in the hall broke.
"Edward," he said quietly, his voice echoing against the walls.
From the shadows near the doors emerged a tall, imposing figure. His silver armor gleamed in the sunlight, and a sword adorned with the Imperial crest swayed gently at his side. Edward, captain of the royal guard, was always nearby, ready to fulfill any command.
"You called for me, Your Majesty?" Edward said calmly, stopping a step away from the throne and bowing his head.
"Did you hear what Heiron said at the council?"
Edward nodded, his gaze steady, as though already bracing for action.
"Yes, Your Majesty. The stones, the strange animals, the attacks… troubling news."
"Not just troubling," Kailan stood, and even the smallest movement from him seemed to tense the air in the room. "It's a harbinger of disaster."
He stepped down from the throne's dais, his voice growing lower, colder, but every word clear and sharp.
"I want you to lead an expedition to the forests of Daren. Take the best. Ensure that every single one of them understands—this mission is more important than their lives."
Edward raised an eyebrow slightly but said nothing. He knew that when the Emperor gave an order, it was carefully thought through.
"Is there anything you want to know first?" he asked.
"I want everything," Kailan said sharply. "Who or what is behind this? What power controls these stones? And most importantly—how much of a threat does it pose to our people?"
"Understood, Your Majesty," Edward replied briefly.
Kailan paused for a moment, his gaze drifting somewhere far beyond the throne room's walls.
"Edward," he continued without turning around, "be careful."
"I will not fail you," the captain replied, bowed, and disappeared through the doors, leaving the Emperor alone.
Kailan stared into the void for a long time, trying to piece together his thoughts. But suddenly, his focus shifted.
A sharp flash.
Something clenched in his chest, and before his eyes, a vision unfolded. The tangible reality around him gave way to something otherworldly.
He stood frozen, but before him, a figure appeared. It was a child—a girl. Her fragile body was enveloped by shadow. She looked small and defenseless, but something in her presence made his heart ache painfully.
"Aurelia…" his voice cracked, and he stepped forward.
The shadow around the girl began to shift, taking on a menacing form. It wasn't just darkness. A woman's face flickered within it—burning red eyes staring straight at him. The gaze was filled with malice.
"Selena," Kailan growled, unable to hide his rage.
He stopped. His hands clenched into fists, but there was nothing he could do. The girl vanished like a wisp of smoke, leaving behind only emptiness.
The vision disappeared as suddenly as it had come. Kailan stood alone, his chest heaving, and in his mind echoed her presence, even though he hadn't heard her voice.
"It was her," he whispered, not fully aware he was speaking.
Princess Aurelia. His daughter. Missing for six years.
But what did this mean? Why had he seen this vision now?
Kailan took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. He couldn't afford weakness. If this was connected to the stones and the threat looming over the Empire, he needed to know everything.
He lifted his head, his gaze growing firmer despite the turmoil within.
"You're out there somewhere, Aurelia," he said, his voice filled with resolve. "And I will find you."
Meanwhile, Edward, accompanied by a twenty-man unit, approached the borders of the Daren forests. The sky above the trees was shrouded in clouds, though the day was far from over.
"Sir," one of the soldiers addressed him, "they say these forests have been cursed for years. Rumors about magical beasts have been circulating forever."
"Rumors often outlive the truth," Edward replied curtly, maintaining his pace. "But if these stones are real, we're dealing with something far more dangerous than superstition."
The unit entered the dark thicket, their figures soon swallowed by the dense trees.
**"A Conversation in Shadows
Kailan remained in the throne room when Evelina entered. Her face, usually calm, now bore traces of tension.
"Did you feel it?" she asked, stopping beside him.
Kailan turned his head, their eyes meeting. He nodded but struggled to find words.
"I saw her, Evelina," he finally said, his voice quiet yet firm. "It was Aurelia."
Her hands clenched into fists as she lowered her gaze.
"I saw her too," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I saw her… There, in the shadows. She was so small. Her face…"
"Her face was hidden," Kailan interrupted, stepping closer. "But it was her. I'd recognize her among thousands."
Evelina raised her head, her eyes brimming with tears.
"The shadows that surrounded her… Did you see them? They were alive, Kailan. They were watching us."
Kailan nodded.
"I saw them. A woman's face. Red eyes filled with malice and fury. That wasn't just a vision, Evelina. It was a warning."
Evelina drew a shaky breath, wrapping her arms around herself. She tried to speak, but her voice faltered. Kailan stepped closer, resting his hands on her shoulders.
"We will find her, Evelina," he said, looking directly into her eyes. "I won't let this world take her from us."
She nodded weakly, though her expression remained pensive.
"But what does it mean?" she finally asked, her voice growing steadier. "Why did we see her now? Why those shadows?"
Kailan was silent for a moment, releasing her shoulders. He moved to a table covered with scrolls detailing reports from the forests of Daren and picked up one of them.
"It's all connected," he said, flipping through the pages. "These stones, animals with magical power, the attacks—it all started recently, and it all points to the forests of Daren."
"You think she's there?" Evelina stepped closer, her voice tense.
Kailan nodded.
"I'm certain. But the real question is how she's connected to this threat. Why did those shadows appear around her?"
Evelina's face grew cold and resolute as she pondered.
"Those shadows…" she began, almost speaking to herself. "They seemed familiar. I can't say for sure, but they remind me of ancient magic. Something dark we thought was long gone."
Kailan frowned, turning the pages.
"You think it's magic from the past?"
"Possibly," she replied cautiously. "But if that's the case, we're dealing with something far greater than just a curse or coincidence. Those stones… they might be tied to this power."
"The stones…" Kailan paused, mulling over her words. "The mages said the stones felt alive, that they reacted to magic."
"Now imagine if someone is using them for their own purposes," Evelina added. "Someone who understands their nature and knows how to wield that power."
Kailan remained silent, but his gaze grew as cold as winter's wind.
"If that's true, then this is more than a threat to us. It's a threat to the entire Empire."
Evelina wrapped her arms around herself, her face contorted with inner fear.
"But why Aurelia? Why her?"
Kailan stepped forward and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"We'll find the answers," he said firmly. "I've sent Edward with a unit to the forests of Daren. He'll uncover what's happening there."
"And what if there's something there he can't defeat?" Her voice broke, but she quickly composed herself. "Kailan, if Aurelia is tied to this, we can't afford to take risks."
"We're not taking risks," he said, his voice resolute, as though carved from stone. "We're preparing."
Evelina nodded, but worry lingered in her eyes.
"If these stones are truly connected to ancient magic, we'll need more information. We must call upon everyone who can help—mages, scholars, even those we've long forgotten."
Kailan considered her words before nodding.
"You're right. We'll act. But first, I want to hear from Edward."
Evelina silently agreed, and for a moment, they both fell into quiet contemplation.
In that moment, standing in the throne room, they both understood they were stepping into something far greater than a simple battle against an unknown enemy. This was a fight for their family, for their daughter, for everything they held dear.
Kailan gazed once more toward the horizon, his golden eyes alight with determination.
"I will find her, Evelina," he said softly, but with such conviction that she turned to face him. "And I will destroy everything that stands in our way."
Evelina stepped closer, her silver eyes—shining like moonlight—meeting his unwavering gaze.
"We'll do it together, Kailan. We'll find her."
And in that moment, hope ignited in their hearts once more, despite the darkness that loomed over them.