Chapter 7: The Trial Before the King
646 Words
The towering gates of the Forbidden Forest came into view.
Azul and Bashan burst through them almost at the same time, both breathing heavily.
The guards stationed at the entrance immediately rushed forward.
“Your Highness!”
“What happened?”
Before either of them could answer, the captain of the royal guards emerged from the crowd. His eyes swept over their torn uniforms, bruised bodies, and exhausted faces.
“Where are the others?”
“They’re still inside,” Bashan replied between breaths. “A Shadow Fang attacked us.”
The captain’s expression darkened.
“A Shadow Fang…? Impossible. Those beasts were driven out of this region years ago.”
“I saw it with my own eyes,” Azul said firmly.
The captain studied the two boys for a long moment before turning to his soldiers.
“Send a rescue team into the forest immediately! Bring back every trainee you can find.”
“Yes, Captain!”
Within moments, dozens of guards disappeared into the trees.
⸻
By evening, the survivors had all returned to the palace.
Some were injured.
Others could barely stand.
The annual survival assessment had ended in disaster.
Word spread throughout the kingdom before nightfall.
A powerful beast had appeared in the Forbidden Forest.
The Crown Prince and Bashan were the last to return.
Something unusual had happened inside the forest.
Rumors multiplied faster than anyone could stop them.
⸻
The next morning…
The Royal Court assembled.
Nobles filled both sides of the magnificent throne room, their colorful robes contrasting with the polished sapphire floor.
At the far end of the hall sat the King of Azul.
Beside him was the Queen, her face calm but her eyes filled with concern.
Azul and Bashan stood before the throne.
The hall was silent.
The King finally spoke.
“I have heard many versions of yesterday’s events.”
His deep voice echoed across the chamber.
“I want to hear the truth.”
Azul stepped forward.
“We followed the assigned route until we were attacked by a Shadow Fang.”
Murmurs rippled through the nobles.
“The beast chased us deeper into the Forbidden Forest.”
“And then?” the King asked.
Azul hesitated.
Should he tell them about the glowing stream?
The mysterious voice?
The strange power?
He looked at Bashan.
Bashan gave the slightest shake of his head.
Not here.
Not now.
“We escaped,” Azul answered carefully.
“Nothing more.”
One elderly noble scoffed.
“Nothing more? A Shadow Fang nearly wiped out an entire training expedition, yet the powerless prince escaped unharmed?”
Several nobles nodded in agreement.
Another stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, with all due respect… there are too many unanswered questions.”
The King’s eyes narrowed.
“What are you suggesting?”
“I believe the prince is hiding something.”
The room fell silent.
Azul clenched his fists but said nothing.
Then, without warning—
A royal guard rushed into the throne room and dropped to one knee.
“Your Majesty!”
“What is it?”
“The rescue team has discovered something… near the Endless Stream.”
The King’s expression changed instantly.
“What did they find?”
The guard swallowed nervously.
“Footprints…”
“They don’t belong to any known beast.”
A cold silence settled over the throne room.
The King slowly rose from his throne.
“For centuries, the Endless Stream has remained untouched.”
His voice carried a weight that silenced every whisper.
“If something has awakened there…”
He looked directly at Azul.
“…then the kingdom is about to face an enemy unlike any it has ever known.”
At that very moment, far beyond the palace walls, deep within the Forbidden Forest…
A pair of glowing crimson eyes opened in the darkness.
And this time…
They were not alone.
- Writer
