The night air was crisp, carrying the scent of the earth and the distant crackle of torches lining the Aeternis estate's perimeter. Duke Reynard stood on the high stone walls of his manor, his cloak billowing against the cold wind. His golden eyes, sharp and unyielding, surveyed the darkness beyond the fortified grounds.
His mind replayed the prince's words, dissecting every hidden meaning.
"Your son is special."
He had known this for some time. But now, others knew as well. The Oracle's vision had reached the royal court, and worse, the prince himself had taken an interest.
This was no coincidence.
Reynard's jaw clenched. He had fought in wars, defied kings, and crushed enemies who sought to challenge his house's power. But this was different. This was a battle of unseen forces—whispers in the dark, hands moving unseen pieces on a vast board.
"Shall I double the night watch, my lord?" one of his knights asked, stepping forward.
Reynard remained silent for a moment before answering, his voice quiet but firm. "No. Keep the men sharp, but do not let them suspect anything is amiss. If we move too soon, we might expose what we seek to protect."
The knight hesitated but nodded, bowing before retreating into the shadows.
Reynard exhaled slowly, glancing back toward the manor. The soft glow of candlelight flickered in the window of his wife's chamber.
Seraphina would not sleep tonight.
Neither would he.
---
Seraphina sat beside Leon's crib, watching the gentle rise and fall of his tiny chest. Her fingers trembled slightly as she traced the soft strands of his silver hair.
She had heard every word spoken in that hall. The prince's veiled threats, his calculated charm—it was the kind of danger that was harder to fight than an enemy with a sword.
Her mind raced.
She had fought for Leon once before, defying the Oracle's warnings when she had chosen to bring him into this world. Now, another force sought to take him.
Her heart burned with something primal.
No power in this world would steal her child from her.
Leaning closer, she pressed a soft kiss to Leon's forehead. "No matter what they plot, my love," she whispered, "you will remain with us."
The child stirred slightly, a faint hum escaping his lips as if he had heard her words in his sleep.
Seraphina's grip tightened on the edge of the crib.
She had once been a gentle noblewoman. A woman who followed the rules of the court.
But she was also a mother.
And a mother would do anything to protect her son.
---
At dawn, the Solaris royal envoy rode through the outer gates of the Aeternis estate, their golden banners reflecting the morning sun. Prince Alistair, still seated proudly upon his white stallion, cast one final glance at the towering manor behind him.
He had not expected the Duke to be so unyielding. Reynard Aeternis was a man of immense power and pride—qualities that made him dangerous.
But the prince was patient.
He had seen the look in the Duke's eyes. Fear. Not of battle, but of something greater.
"The Oracle's words are absolute," he thought. "If she has foreseen it, then it will come to pass."
With a subtle smirk, he signaled his men to move forward.
The game had begun.
And he would be the one to win it.
---
Far beyond the reach of the Aeternis estate, where the thick canopy of the forest swallowed the light, a hooded figure knelt before a towering, twisted tree.
Dark energy pulsed from the roots, swirling in the cold air like whispers of the abyss.
"The prince has made his approach," the figure murmured. "But he is not the only player in this game."
From the darkness, unseen eyes watched. Their presence was neither mortal nor wholly of this world.
"The child," a voice rasped from the shadows. "The one they seek to protect… his power is growing."
The hooded figure inclined their head. "Yes. And soon, he will be drawn into the great tide of fate."
Silence stretched between them before the unseen entity spoke again.
"The storm is coming."
The figure smiled beneath their hood.
"It has already begun."