The library was silent.
Too silent.
Prince Kael stood calmly among the ancient shelves, as though he belonged there more than Arin did.
Arin's heart hammered.
"Elara…" he whispered. "Who is he?"
Elara's jaw was tight.
"You shouldn't be here," she said coldly.
Kael's smile widened slightly.
"And yet… here I am."
His gaze flicked to the pendant.
"It's brighter than the last time I saw it."
Arin froze.
"You've seen it before?"
Kael stepped forward slowly, hands relaxed at his sides.
"I have spent years searching for the heir of the Shadow Throne," he said. "Years chasing whispers and ruins."
Elara raised her hand, light gathering in her palm.
"One more step and I burn you where you stand."
Kael chuckled.
"If you could, you would have already.
The air shifted.
Something heavy pressed down on Arin's chest.
Power.
Not Elara's.
Not the pendant's.
Kael's.
Arin swallowed hard.
"What do you want?"
Kael's eyes softened—almost human for a moment.
"I want to save this kingdom from what's coming."
Elara's voice snapped.
"Liar."
Kael sighed.
"You still think in simple terms. Enemy. Ally. Light. Dark."
His gaze sharpened.
"The Order of Veils is not the greatest threat anymore."
Arin blinked.
"Then what is?"
Kael looked upward, as though he could see through stone and city.
"The throne is waking."
The pendant pulsed.
Kael continued.
"And when it wakes fully… it will call the Forgotten Lords."
Elara's face drained of color.
"No…"
Arin's voice trembled.
"Who are they?"
Kael's answer was quiet.
"The ones who destroyed the Shadow Kingdom the first time."
A chill crawled down Arin's spine.
Before he could speak again—
A distant boom echoed through the underground chamber.
THUD… THUD…
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Elara spun toward the staircase.
"That came from above…"
Then—
A scream.
Faint, but real.
Arin's blood turned cold.
"The city…"
Kael's expression hardened.
"They've begun."
Elara grabbed Arin's arm.
"We have to go!"
Kael stepped aside.
"Go, heir."
Arin hesitated.
"You're coming?"
Kael's eyes gleamed.
"I have my own role to play."
Arin didn't understand.
But there was no time.
They raced up the stairs.
And as they emerged back into the night—
Arin saw it.
Fire.
The eastern quarter was burning.
Smoke rose into the sky like a dark omen.
And marching through the streets…
Were cloaked soldiers.
Not just the Order of Veils.
Something worse.
Their armor was black.
Their eyes glowed faintly red.
Elara whispered, horrified:
"The Forgotten Lords…"
Arin clutched the pendant.
The storm had arrived.
Thank you for reading Chapter 9!
The true enemy has finally appeared… and the Shadow Throne is awakening.
Stay tuned for Chapter 10 — Flames and Choices