The first rays of dawn cast a golden hue across the Aeternis estate, but the warmth of the morning did little to ease the cold weight pressing upon Duke Reynard's mind. Standing at the highest balcony of the manor, his sharp gaze swept across the horizon.
The prince had arrived.
Beyond the rolling fields and fortified borders of his lands, the banner of Solaris fluttered in the distance, its golden emblem of a rising sun stark against the deep blue of the kingdom's colors. A royal envoy, one that carried power and authority, but more than that—it carried intent.
Reynard narrowed his eyes. Why now?
Had the prince come merely to observe, or did he intend to test the waters? Either way, it was a move that could not be ignored.
He turned to the aide at his side. "Have the guards reinforce the perimeter. Ensure no one enters without my permission."
The aide bowed. "Shall I summon the knights?"
"No," Reynard said, his voice steady. "We will not provoke them. Yet."
The aide hesitated. "My lord, the Oracle's words must have reached the king's court. If Prince Alistair is here, it is not without reason."
Reynard's expression darkened. He had dealt with kings and nobles long enough to recognize when someone came as a guest and when they came as a hunter.
And Prince Alistair was no guest.
-----
The grand hall of Aeternis Manor was bathed in soft morning light, yet the air was thick with unspoken tension. Duke Reynard sat upon his seat at the head of the hall, his posture composed yet unwavering.
Across from him stood Prince Alistair.
The prince was young, perhaps only in his early twenties, but he carried himself with the confidence of one who had been groomed for power since birth. His sharp blue eyes met Reynard's gaze without hesitation, a smirk playing at his lips.
"Duke Aeternis," Alistair greeted smoothly, inclining his head just enough to maintain the balance between respect and superiority. "I must thank you for your hospitality."
Reynard nodded. "It is not often we receive an envoy of your stature without prior notice, Your Highness."
Alistair chuckled. "Ah, but sometimes the best visits are those unannounced. Wouldn't you agree?"
Reynard did not smile. "That depends on the purpose of the visit."
Alistair exhaled lightly, taking a step forward. "You are a man of great renown, Duke Reynard. Your house holds a legacy of strength, wisdom, and… peculiar talent." His gaze sharpened. "Talent that I hear extends to your son."
Reynard's fingers tapped against the armrest of his chair. "You've come a long way to speak of rumors, Your Highness."
"Rumors?" Alistair's smile widened. "The Oracle of Solaris does not deal in rumors."
The room fell into a heavy silence.
Reynard's grip on his chair tightened. The Oracle. The divine seer of the Solaris Kingdom. If she had spoken of Leon…
That complicated matters.
Alistair's voice lowered, almost conspiratorial. "We both know there are forces in this world that move beyond kings and lords. Your son is… special." He leaned in slightly. "And special children often walk paths filled with both wonder and peril."
Reynard's golden eyes glowed faintly, a warning. "Are you threatening my son, Your Highness?"
Alistair laughed, shaking his head. "Threatening? No, Duke Aeternis. I am offering."
Reynard's silence urged him to continue.
"The Solaris Kingdom values strength. We do not fear it—we embrace it. A child of such talent should be nurtured in an environment that will allow him to flourish. Under my family's protection, your son will have access to the greatest mentors, the best training, the—"
"No."
Alistair paused. "You refuse before hearing the full offer?"
"There is nothing more to hear." Reynard stood, his presence towering. "Leon is my son. His path is not yours to dictate, nor is it yours to 'guide.' If that is all, Your Highness, you may take your leave."
Alistair's smile faded slightly. "You are making a mistake."
Reynard's eyes burned with authority. "The only mistake would be allowing those with unknown intentions to come near my son."
The prince held the Duke's gaze for a long moment before finally exhaling and stepping back.
"As you wish," Alistair said smoothly. "For now."
As he turned to leave, his smirk returned. "But fate has a way of bringing the worthy together, whether we will it or not. We shall see how this unfolds, Duke Aeternis."
Reynard watched him go, his jaw tight.
He had protected his son today.
But the storm was not over.
It was only just beginning.
---
Seraphina stood by the window of her chamber, gazing at the prince's departing entourage. Her golden eyes, so warm in the presence of her son, now burned with a cold intensity.
She had heard everything.
The prince thought he could take Leon away? That he could twist fate in his favor?
A slow, deliberate breath escaped her lips. Not while I draw breath.
She turned back to the crib where Leon lay, his small chest rising and falling in peaceful sleep. He was oblivious to the forces moving against him.
She gently ran a hand through his soft silver hair, her fingers brushing against the faint warmth of his skin.
"You are mine," she whispered. "And no one will take you from me."
Not the prince.
Not the Oracle.
Not the gods themselves.
---
Night had fallen once again over the Aeternis estate, but Leon did not sleep.
Golden eyes, filled with intelligence far beyond his age, stared at the ceiling of his crib. He could feel something. A presence, distant but watching.
Someone was here.
The wind shifted outside his window, and in the depths of the trees, unseen eyes gleamed.
A voice, barely a whisper, drifted into the air.
"The prince has made his move. Now… it is our turn."
In the distance, the shadows of the forest seemed to shift, a presence slipping through the veil of night as if drawn toward something unseen.
The storm had only just begun.
And Leon was at its center.