The night after the appearance of the dark pillar, the entire royal capital remained on high alert.
Royal knights patrolled every street.
Magical barriers were placed around the palace.
No one knew where the darkness mage had appeared.
But everyone knew one thing.
Something dangerous had entered the kingdom.
Inside the royal war room, several important figures had gathered.
King Veerendra Singla sat at the head of the table.
Beside him were the strongest nobles of the kingdom and the royal mages.
A large magical map of the kingdom floated in the center of the room.
One of the royal mages pointed toward the mountains north of the capital.
"The dark mana surge originated from this region, Your Majesty."
"The ruins of the ancient Velkar Temple."
Another noble frowned.
"That place was abandoned centuries ago."
The mage nodded.
"Yes… after the Void Cult was destroyed."
The room grew quiet.
The Void Cult.
A name erased from most history books.
They were followers of forbidden magic.
Especially darkness.
King Veerendra spoke calmly.
"Send a scouting unit immediately."
The captain of the Royal Knights bowed.
"It will be done, Your Majesty."
Meanwhile—
inside his bedroom in the royal palace, Saksham sat near the window.
The moonlight illuminated the room.
He was thinking about the darkness energy he had felt earlier.
Inside his mind, the system activated again.
SYSTEM MESSAGE
Event Active
The Shadow Awakens
Current Objective:
Investigate the source of the Darkness Surge.
Reward:
Unknown
Saksham frowned.
"Investigate?"
He was only five years old.
There was no way the palace would allow him anywhere near that place.
Just then—
a familiar calm voice spoke behind him.
"You seem troubled, Prince."
Saksham quickly turned around.
Standing in the corner of the room was the mysterious man again.
Orion.
The hidden instructor of the Royal Academy.
Saksham crossed his arms.
"You broke into the royal palace again."
Orion shrugged.
"The guards here are not very impressive."
Saksham stared at him seriously.
"You felt the darkness earlier."
Orion nodded.
"Yes."
His expression became serious.
"That power belongs to a dangerous group."
"The Void Cult."
Saksham had heard that name earlier in the throne room discussion.
"They still exist?"
Orion looked toward the moon outside the window.
"Groups like that never truly disappear."
"They only hide."
Then he turned back toward Saksham.
"But what interests them most…"
"…is power like yours."
Saksham remained silent.
Orion continued.
"If they discover you possess the darkness element, they will try to capture you."
"Or recruit you."
The room became quiet.
Finally, Saksham asked the most important question.
"What should I do?"
Orion smiled slightly.
"Get stronger."
Then he walked toward the window.
"And sooner than you expected…"
"…you may have to face them."
Before leaving, Orion said one final thing.
"The Royal Academy entrance exam might not be the only test waiting for you this year."
Then he disappeared into the night.
Saksham slowly looked down at his hands.
Light.
Darkness.
Two powers that could change the world.
And now—
they had attracted enemies.
Far away in the ruined temple…
the dark robed leader of the cult looked toward the capital again.
"The prince…"
He slowly whispered.
"You cannot hide forever."
To be continued…
Chapter 10
The King's Decision
The night after the appearance of the dark pillar, the entire royal capital remained on high alert.
Royal knights patrolled every street.
Magical barriers were placed around the palace.
No one knew where the darkness mage had appeared.
But everyone knew one thing.
Something dangerous had entered the kingdom.
Inside the royal war room, several important figures had gathered.
King Veerendra Singla sat at the head of the table.
Beside him were the strongest nobles of the kingdom and the royal mages.
A large magical map of the kingdom floated in the center of the room.
One of the royal mages pointed toward the mountains north of the capital.
"The dark mana surge originated from this region, Your Majesty."
"The ruins of the ancient Velkar Temple."
Another noble frowned.
"That place was abandoned centuries ago."
The mage nodded.
"Yes… after the Void Cult was destroyed."
The room grew quiet.
The Void Cult.
A name erased from most history books.
They were followers of forbidden magic.
Especially darkness.
King Veerendra spoke calmly.
"Send a scouting unit immediately."
The captain of the Royal Knights bowed.
"It will be done, Your Majesty."
Meanwhile—
inside his bedroom in the royal palace, Saksham sat near the window.
The moonlight illuminated the room.
He was thinking about the darkness energy he had felt earlier.
Inside his mind, the system activated again.
SYSTEM MESSAGE
Event Active
The Shadow Awakens
Current Objective:
Investigate the source of the Darkness Surge.
Reward:
Unknown
Saksham frowned.
"Investigate?"
He was only five years old.
There was no way the palace would allow him anywhere near that place.
Just then—
a familiar calm voice spoke behind him.
"You seem troubled, Prince."
Saksham quickly turned around.
Standing in the corner of the room was the mysterious man again.
Orion.
The hidden instructor of the Royal Academy.
Saksham crossed his arms.
"You broke into the royal palace again."
Orion shrugged.
"The guards here are not very impressive."
Saksham stared at him seriously.
"You felt the darkness earlier."
Orion nodded.
"Yes."
His expression became serious.
"That power belongs to a dangerous group."
"The Void Cult."
Saksham had heard that name earlier in the throne room discussion.
"They still exist?"
Orion looked toward the moon outside the window.
"Groups like that never truly disappear."
"They only hide."
Then he turned back toward Saksham.
"But what interests them most…"
"…is power like yours."
Saksham remained silent.
Orion continued.
"If they discover you possess the darkness element, they will try to capture you."
"Or recruit you."
The room became quiet.
Finally, Saksham asked the most important question.
"What should I do?"
Orion smiled slightly.
"Get stronger."
Then he walked toward the window.
"And sooner than you expected…"
"…you may have to face them."
Before leaving, Orion said one final thing.
"The Royal Academy entrance exam might not be the only test waiting for you this year."
Then he disappeared into the night.
Saksham slowly looked down at his hands.
Light.
Darkness.
Two powers that could change the world.
And now—
they had attracted enemies.
Far away in the ruined temple…
the dark robed leader of the cult looked toward the capital again.
"The prince…"
He slowly whispered.
"You cannot hide forever."
To be continued…