Chapter 119: The Gathering Storm
638 Words
Morning arrived slowly over the mountain range.
Golden sunlight stretched across the snowy peaks, replacing the darkness of the previous night.
At the edge of a cliff overlooking the valley, Aria stood quietly.
The cold wind brushed through her hair as she stared at the distant forests below.
Everything looked peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Behind her, Kael approached slowly.
“You didn’t sleep.”
It wasn’t a question.
Aria shook her head.
“I kept thinking about what the Blood King said.”
Kael crossed his arms as he stood beside her.
“That the real war hasn’t started.”
“Yes.”
Aria’s silver eyes reflected the morning light.
“If he escaped… then he’s preparing something.”
Kael’s expression darkened slightly.
“And we’ll be ready when he returns.”
A loud yawn interrupted the moment.
Darius walked out from their temporary camp, stretching his arms dramatically.
“Good morning, heroes of the ancient temple.”
Roran followed behind him, already fully dressed in his armor.
“We should start moving.”
Kael nodded.
“Back to the Lycan Kingdom.”
Darius blinked.
“Wait… already?”
Roran glanced toward the mountains.
“The Blood King knows about Aria now.”
He turned serious.
“That means every dark creature in the world might start hunting her.”
Darius sighed.
“Great. Just great.”
Aria looked back toward the valley.
“So the kingdom needs to prepare.”
“Yes,” Kael said firmly.
“And the council needs to hear what happened in the temple.”
Aria hesitated slightly.
“The council may not trust me.”
Kael placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
“You are the Moon Queen now.”
He looked directly into her eyes.
“They’ll have no choice.”
Hours later, the group began descending the mountain path.
Snow crunched beneath their boots as they moved carefully along the narrow trail.
The journey back to the Lycan Kingdom would take several days.
But none of them realized they were already being watched.
Hidden among the dark trees below, a shadowy figure crouched silently.
Red eyes glowed in the darkness.
The creature slowly revealed itself.
A tall warrior covered in dark armor.
His cloak moved like living smoke around him.
He lifted a small crystal orb in his hand.
Inside the orb, crimson energy swirled.
“The Moon Queen has awakened,” he whispered.
The crystal suddenly flickered with dark light.
A deep voice answered from within it.
The voice of the Blood King.
“I know.”
The shadow warrior bowed his head.
“What are your orders, my king?”
The Blood King’s voice echoed through the crystal.
“Let them return to their kingdom.”
The warrior looked confused.
“You want us to wait?”
A quiet chuckle came from the crystal.
“Yes.”
The crimson energy inside it glowed brighter.
“Because when the war begins…”
The Blood King’s voice turned cold and dangerous.
“…I want the entire world to witness the fall of the Moon Queen.”
The crystal light faded.
The shadow warrior slowly stood up again.
He watched the distant mountain path where Aria and the others were walking.
Then he disappeared silently into the forest.
Far ahead, Aria suddenly stopped walking.
Kael looked at her.
“What is it?”
Aria frowned slightly.
“I felt something.”
Darius groaned.
“Please don’t say another ancient evil temple.”
Aria shook her head slowly.
“No.”
Her silver eyes scanned the forest below.
“It felt like someone was watching us.”
Kael’s hand moved to his sword.
Roran looked around carefully.
But the forest was silent again.
Whatever had been there…
Was already gone.
And the first pieces of the coming war had already begun moving.
- Writer
