A shrill voice shattered the early morning stillness.
"WAKE UP, EVERYONE!"
The golden halls of the eastern wing echoed as seven royal children buried deeper into their pillows. Sunlight spilled through the stained-glass windows, casting blue and amber streaks across the polished marble floor of the dormitory. Outside, the royal bells tolled softly—ceremonial, polite, and absolutely ignored.
Fifteen more minutes passed in defiance. Then the door slammed open.
"Jack! Kitty! Marcus! Tom! Peter! Susan! Lucy! WAKE UP RIGHT NOW!"
This time, the floor trembled. Birds scattered from the window ledges. One of the crystal chandeliers above let out a protesting creak.
Lucy groaned from her bed. "Yeah, Mommy… five more minutes..."
A wave of yawns followed. But the woman at the doorway—Gracie, caretaker of the royal children and storm in human form—was not having it. Her gown whipped around her like she was conjuring a gale. She marched into the room with fury in her step.
"No more 'yeah Mommy' nonsense! If I have to shout one more time, I'll summon a hurricane and blow the beds straight out the window!"
A low chuckle came from behind her.
Standing casually in the doorway, arms folded, was King Edmond himself. His silver-trimmed robe shimmered in the morning light. He smiled.
"Take it easy, Gracie. If you keep yelling like that, you'll wake up the entire kingdom."
Gracie scowled, though her lips twitched into a reluctant smile. "They're your children too, you know."
King Edmond stepped forward, clapped his hands once, and said in a warm but commanding voice, "Alright, everyone. Time to rise. You're going on a mission today."
That worked like magic.
Marcus shot upright. "Mission?"
Tom rubbed his eyes. "Like a real mission?"
Susan gasped. "Are we being summoned by the Royal Army?"
Jack stretched and grinned. "Did someone say adventure?"
Peter rolled off the bed and hit the floor with a thud. "Wait, what? Are we fighting dragons? Please tell me there's dragons."
"You'll get your answers after breakfast," the king said. "Get ready."
Twenty minutes later, the royal dining hall buzzed with energy. Steam rose from plates of fresh rolls, spiced eggs, golden honey cakes, and citrus fruit. But no one was paying much attention to the food.
"You're being sent to the eastern forest," King Edmond explained from the head of the table. "There's been strange activity underground. The court magicians believe ancient passages may be opening—possibly ruins from the First Era."
Tom's eyes gleamed. "Do we get weapons?"
"No," Gracie answered before the king could. "You get snacks. And maybe a healing kit."
Peter grinned. "A healing kit can be a weapon if you throw it hard enough."
Jack pointed his fork like a sword. "Let's go uncover a dungeon."
Susan leaned forward. "If it's from the First Era, we might find sigils. Traps. Magic left behind."
"That's why you're going together," the king said. "Seven minds. Seven skills. Don't underestimate yourselves—or each other."
Hours later, the royal transport rolled to a stop at the edge of the ancient forest. Towering trees lined the horizon like silent guards. The air smelled of pine, soil, and something older—something buried. The children stepped out, packs slung over their shoulders, light cloaks fluttering in the breeze. They wore simple gear, enchanted for protection, stitched with their family crests.
"You'll be tracked magically," the king said. "If something goes wrong, we'll find you. But you must act on your own. Trust your instincts. Don't wait."
Kitty knelt beside a moss-covered boulder. "This rock isn't natural. Help me roll it."
Together, they pushed it aside, revealing a faint silver glimmer beneath the earth. Tom scraped away dirt until a hatch was visible—ancient, rune-carved, and pulsing faintly with dormant energy.
"It's cold," Lucy murmured. "Like it's been asleep."
Peter brushed his fingers over it. "Guess we're the alarm clock."
The hatch creaked open, revealing a spiraling staircase that plunged into shadow. A wave of cold, dusty air met their faces.
Peter struck a torch. "Well… first one down's a hero."
He stepped inside. Jack followed close behind. Then Kitty, then Susan. Tom paused for a breath, then went in. Marcus rolled his eyes and muttered, "Why do I feel like we just stepped into something very big?"
Lucy, the last to descend, looked up at the trees swaying above them, then back into the shadows.
She followed.
The hatch closed behind them with a slow, final groan. The wind stilled. The forest stood still.
Far above, in a sky that had only just begun to darken, something ancient stirred.
And watched.