The hooded figure's warning lingered in the air long after he had disappeared into the night. Zyra and Damen stood frozen, their minds racing with questions. Who was he? What had he seen? And most importantly—what was coming next?
The morning light did little to ease the tension in the city. Whispers of the stranger's visit spread quickly, fueling both fear and speculation. In the council chamber, arguments erupted over what course of action to take. Some called for stronger walls and weapons, others for arcane defenses, but none had the certainty needed to reassure the people.
General Kael slammed a fist onto the table. "If war is coming, we must be ready. We cannot wait for the darkness to strike first."
Zyra remained silent, staring at the Seal. Its glow had dimmed, but she felt something new—a stirring beneath its surface. She turned to Damen. "We need to know more."
Damen frowned. "Then we go back to the archives."
The archives of Valtor were ancient, filled with forgotten lore and prophecies lost to time. Within the dimly lit chamber, they poured over brittle pages, searching for any mention of the Seal's origins and the war the hooded stranger had warned of.
After hours of searching, Zyra found it—a passage nearly erased with time:
The Shadow War will rise anew when the chains are undone. The warriors of light must face the darkness, or all shall fall.
Her blood ran cold. "The war isn't coming. It's already begun."
Damen clenched his jaw. "Then we rally the warriors. We fight."
Outside, the shadows lengthened, creeping ever closer.