Chapter 95: The Council of Shadows
782 Words
Morning arrived slowly over the kingdom.
For the first time in many days, the sunrise was calm. Golden light spread across the mountains and forests, touching the castle towers that had survived the terrible war.
The battlefield below had already begun to change.
Warriors worked tirelessly to clear the broken weapons and shattered stones left behind by the fight. Others helped the wounded or repaired damaged walls around the outer gates.
Life was returning to normal.
But inside the castle, tension still lingered.
In the great council chamber, a small group had gathered around the massive stone table in the center of the room.
Kael stood at the head of the table.
His posture was calm, but his golden eyes showed that his mind was far from peaceful.
Around him sat the kingdom’s most trusted leaders.
Commander Roran leaned against the table with his arms crossed, his battle armor still scratched from the war.
Darius sat casually in a nearby chair, though his sharp eyes carefully studied everyone in the room.
Several elders of the Lycan council also sat quietly along the sides of the chamber.
And standing beside Kael—
Was Aria.
The room remained silent for a moment.
Then Kael finally spoke.
“Aria saw something last night.”
His voice carried clearly across the chamber.
“A prophecy.”
The elders immediately exchanged uneasy looks.
One of the older council members leaned forward.
“A prophecy?”
Aria stepped forward slightly.
Her silver eyes were calm, but the memory of the vision still lingered in her mind.
“Yes,” she said.
“The Moon showed it to me.”
Commander Roran frowned.
“That doesn’t sound comforting.”
Darius raised an eyebrow with interest.
“Prophecies rarely are.”
Kael nodded toward Aria.
“Tell them what you saw.”
Aria took a slow breath before speaking.
“I saw an ancient temple,” she explained.
“It was filled with symbols connected to the Moon and the Alpha bloodline.”
The elders leaned forward slightly, listening carefully.
Aria continued.
“There was a stone tablet inside the temple with glowing writing.”
She paused for a moment.
“The message said something important.”
Roran rubbed his chin.
“Important how?”
Aria looked directly at Kael before finishing the sentence.
“It said the Devourer was only the first shadow.”
The chamber suddenly became very quiet.
Even Darius stopped smiling.
One of the elders whispered nervously.
“The first shadow…”
Kael’s expression darkened slightly.
“What else did it say?”
Aria’s voice lowered.
“It warned that a greater darkness sleeps beneath the earth.”
Roran frowned deeply.
“That sounds worse than the monster we just killed.”
Darius leaned back in his chair thoughtfully.
“Much worse,” he said.
Kael folded his arms.
“Did it say when this threat will appear?”
Aria nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
Her silver eyes reflected the sunlight coming through the tall windows.
“The prophecy said the final war will begin when the Blood Moon rises.”
The words echoed heavily in the chamber.
One of the elders suddenly stood up in alarm.
“The Blood Moon?”
Roran glanced at him.
“You’ve heard of it?”
The old elder nodded nervously.
“Yes.”
He looked toward the window as if remembering something distant.
“In ancient records, the Blood Moon was believed to awaken creatures that sleep beneath the world.”
Darius raised an eyebrow again.
“Creatures?”
The elder swallowed.
“Things older than the Lycan kingdoms.”
The chamber fell silent again.
Kael slowly walked toward the large window overlooking the valley.
The peaceful kingdom stretched out below.
Villagers and warriors were rebuilding their lives after the war.
They had fought so hard to protect this place.
And now—
Another danger might be coming.
Behind him, Aria spoke quietly.
“The prophecy didn’t say when the Blood Moon will appear.”
Roran sighed.
“So we’re waiting for a threat we can’t even see yet.”
Darius stood up slowly.
“Well,” he said with a small grin.
“At least life won’t be boring.”
Kael turned back toward the council.
His voice was calm but firm.
“If the prophecy is real, we prepare.”
The leaders around the table nodded.
Roran cracked his knuckles.
“Then we better start getting stronger.”
Aria looked up toward the sky through the window.
The moon was invisible during the day.
But somehow—
She could still feel its presence.
Watching.
Waiting.
And somewhere far beneath the mountains…
Something ancient slowly began to stir.
- Writer
