The sun dipped low beyond the distant mountains. Golden light spilled over Virelyn's rooftops and the newly rebuilt palace. The city hummed with life. Markets bustled, laughter filled the streets, and children ran freely beneath the clear spring sky. It was a time of peace—fragile but real.
Kael stood alone on the balcony, the weight of his sword heavy at his side. His eyes scanned the horizon, searching for something he could not name. The past year had brought healing, but the silence that now filled the air felt uneasy, like the calm before a storm.
Arien approached quietly from behind. Her footsteps were soft on the stone floor. Her eyes, once fierce with the fire of battle, now held a quiet strength. She joined Kael and looked out over the city.
"Do you feel it too?" she asked, her voice low.
Kael nodded. "The flame in the kingdom still burns bright. But something stirs beyond the borders. I can feel it in my bones."
Arien's gaze darkened. "The shadows we thought banished are not gone. They wait. They grow."
A sudden noise interrupted them. The heavy gates of the palace courtyard creaked open. A lone rider appeared, cloaked in grey, dust trailing behind. The rider moved with purpose, carrying a sealed message tied to the saddle.
Kael's grip tightened on his sword as the rider approached. The seal bore a symbol unfamiliar to him—a circle split by a jagged line, a mark lost to history but filled with ominous meaning.
The rider dismounted and bowed slightly. "A message for the Protector," the rider said. His voice was steady but held an edge of urgency.
Kael took the sealed letter and broke the wax. Inside was a short note, written in a hand both elegant and cold.
"The shadow you fought is but the first. The true darkness rises again. Find the Emberstone before it is too late. Or all will burn."
Arien's eyes widened. "The Emberstone? That is a legend."
"A legend we must now believe," Kael replied. "This is no ordinary threat. It comes from the depths of forgotten magic."
The two exchanged a glance filled with unspoken questions and silent resolve. The peace they had fought so hard for was in danger. The fire that saved them once would have to burn again.
Kael turned the note over in his hands. The words echoed in his mind. The Emberstone had been spoken of in stories told