In the emperor’s council room, a sense of urgency crackled like static. The council officials were all seated, speaking in low, tense voices. The emperor himself sat at the head of the table, his gaze unwavering as he listened to the reports.
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Duke Maximillian Evigheden,One of the senior officials, looking worn and concerned, finally broke the uneasy silence. "Your Majesty, the situation in Willow Forest has become dire. Animals are turning feral, attacking anyone who ventures near. Hunters report a crack in the barrier and there smoke seeps from it, strange and unnatural. Some say the air itself has become toxic."
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The emperor’s eyes narrowed. "A crack in the barrier, you say? This is the first time we’ve seen something so strange within the forest."
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Marquess Cedric Lucelence one of the official leaned forward, his hands folded as if to steady himself. "It’s as if the forest has been tainted, perhaps cursed. This smoke… it doesn't behave naturally. Even the creatures are losing control as if some force stirs them to madness."
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The emperor considered this, his fingers tapping slowly against the table. "And what of our Falcon Knighs? Did any return with answers?"
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Earl Tristan Noirceur one of the official exchanged a troubled look with his colleague. "A few made it back. But they were… affected. Dazed, unable to recall much. Some claimed they heard whispers coming from the smoke, luring them closer. The darkness seems to have a pull of its own."
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The emperor’s face grew grim. He looked down at his clasped hands, his mind racing through the possibilities. If this darkness could drive animals and people to madness, it threatened more than just the Willow Forest. "Send word to the mages," he commanded. "We need their expertise to understand what’s brewing in that forest. And set a perimeter nothing goes in or out without strict orders."
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The council members nodded, their faces a mix of relief and worry. But before anyone could respond, the emperor continued, his voice steadier than ever. "This forest has been our protector, a guardian on our borders for generations. If it now needs our help, we shall do everything in our power to aid it. Whatever darkness lies within, we must face it not with fear, but with wisdom and strength."
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Inside Valen's dimly lit room, he faces a creature that has a monstrous blend of reptilian and avian features, resembling a large serpent or dragon. Its long, sinuous body is covered in shiny, iridescent scales that shimmer like precious metals.
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Valen: commanding “Find it, and report it to me.”
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The creature’s head is flattened like that of a lizard, and it exhibits rooster-like characteristics, including a prominent comb or crest. Its short, clawed limbs and powerful tail coil menacingly.
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With a swift movement, the creature vanishes, leaving Valen alone in the room, the air thick with tension.
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--
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Meanwhile, inside Aeron's room, he holds a magnificent sword with a gleaming silver blade. The blade is long and sharp, etched with delicate, ancient symbols that catch the light. The hilt is wrapped in deep blue leather, smooth yet firm, adorned with a polished sapphire set in the center.
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Aeron admires the sword, feeling its power resonate within him.
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Aeron: to himself “This is the weapon.”
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As he draws the sword, it glows faintly, radiating an almost otherworldly presence.
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_____
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Caelum, meanwhile, is nowhere to be found in his room. Instead, he stands at the top of the palace, balanced on the thin edge of the royal flag, simply wearing his nightgown. A huge moth flutters behind him, its wings shimmering in the moonlight but remaining invisible to low-ranking mages.
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Caelum: “The wind is alive with secrets!”
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Caelum: grinning, eyes sparkling as he saw Valen's creature dashed into the willow forest. " Oh, not a chance!”
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He steadies himself, feeling the moth's presence as a comforting guide.
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Caelum: “I got a feeling that this will be going a wild night.”
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In the foggy depths of the willow forest, the man staggered through the underbrush, gasping for breath as he fled. His heartbeat thundered in his ears, and every snap of a twig behind him felt like footsteps closing in.
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"No, please…not like this," he whispered to himself, eyes darting around, looking for any path to safety.
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A dark silhouette loomed ahead, barely discernible through the thick fog. It was massive, with a twisted, hulking form that seemed to meld with the shadows around it. The man froze, his breath catching in his throat as the creature’s glowing eyes pierced the mist, two burning embers of malevolence.
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"No…" he whimpered, taking a shaky step backward. But the creature moved too, mirroring his retreat with a chilling grace. It slithered and stalked, its long, sinewy body dragging across the forest floor, making an eerie, slithering hiss that sent shivers down his spine.
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The man knew he had no chance of outrunning it. He could feel the oppressive presence of the darkness pressing down on him, sapping his strength and will to fight. With one final burst of desperation, he stumbled toward an ancient willow tree, hoping its wide trunk would hide him. He pressed his back against the rough bark, his hands trembling as he struggled to steady his breath.
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Silence enveloped the forest once more, broken only by the rustle of leaves and the occasional drip of dew falling from the branches above. The man strained to hear anything, praying that the creature had passed him by. He dared to hope.
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Then, a whisper. It was soft, almost tender, but it came from nowhere and everywhere at once. The voice twisted around him, chilling his bones and fogging his mind.
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"Why do you run from me, little one?" the voice crooned, dripping with malice. "You belong to the shadows now."
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Terror gripped him as the fog thickened, swirling into shapes that reached for him with ghostly hands. He tried to scream, but the sound caught in his throat as something cold and clawed brushed against his ankle.
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"Please," he begged, squeezing his eyes shut. "Spare me—"
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The words were cut off as the ground beneath him gave way, and he was yanked downward into the earth. Darkness swallowed him whole, the forest echoing with his final, unspoken cry.
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---
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High above the forest, Caelum stood on the palace edge, watching as the mist roiled and churned. He felt the pulse of energy from the heart of the forest, a whisper that spoke of hunger and ancient wrath.
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“Oh, so it begins,” he murmured, eyes glinting with an unsettling curiosity. His moth companion flitted around him, its wings glowing with moonlight.
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Aeron appeared behind him, sword in hand. The weapon’s glow had intensified, casting a protective light around them. “Caelum,” he called out sharply, his voice cutting through the night. “Did you feel that? Something… something just awakened in the forest.”
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Caelum turned, his expression playful yet serious. “Yes, and it’s quite the spectacle, isn’t it?” He spread his arms wide, gesturing to the dark expanse below.
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