Chapter 96: Signs Beneath the Earth
650 Words
The kingdom slowly returned to life.
Days had passed since the fall of the Devourer, and the scars of the great battle were gradually fading. The broken walls of the outer gates had been rebuilt, the wounded warriors were recovering, and the forests surrounding the valley once again felt peaceful.
From the castle towers, the land looked calm.
Too calm.
Inside the castle courtyard, warriors trained under the morning sun. Steel clashed against steel as soldiers prepared themselves for whatever the future might bring.
Commander Roran stood in the center of the training grounds, watching the younger fighters carefully.
“Again!” he barked.
Two warriors rushed forward, their blades colliding in a sharp clash.
Roran crossed his arms with a serious expression.
“Faster. If another monster appears, you won’t have time to hesitate.”
The soldiers nodded and continued training.
Even after victory, no one had forgotten the prophecy.
Far above the courtyard balcony, Kael observed the training quietly.
His golden eyes scanned the kingdom beyond the walls.
Fields stretched across the valley, and villagers were already working to repair homes damaged during the war.
Life continued.
But the prophecy still lingered in his mind.
Behind him, soft footsteps approached.
Aria stepped onto the balcony.
Her silver hair moved gently in the breeze as she joined him.
“You’re thinking about the prophecy again,” she said softly.
Kael glanced at her.
“Can you blame me?”
Aria shook her head.
“No.”
She looked out across the kingdom.
“I’ve been feeling something strange too.”
Kael turned slightly toward her.
“The Moon again?”
Aria nodded slowly.
“It feels restless.”
Before Kael could respond—
A loud rumbling sound echoed through the valley.
The ground trembled slightly beneath the castle.
Both of them froze.
“What was that?” Kael asked.
Aria’s eyes widened slightly.
“That came from below.”
Down in the courtyard, the warriors stopped training immediately.
Roran looked around with a frown.
“You all felt that?”
The soldiers nodded nervously.
The tremor lasted only a few seconds before fading.
But the silence that followed felt uneasy.
Moments later, a castle guard rushed into the courtyard.
“My King!” he shouted breathlessly.
Kael and Aria quickly descended the stairs to meet him.
“What is it?” Kael asked.
The guard struggled to catch his breath.
“Scouts from the northern mountains have returned.”
Roran frowned.
“And?”
The guard looked nervous.
“They said the ground has started cracking.”
Kael’s expression hardened.
“Cracking?”
“Yes, my King,” the guard replied.
“They found deep fissures opening in the earth… as if something below is pushing upward.”
Aria felt a cold chill run down her spine.
Her hand instinctively moved to the crescent mark on her skin.
“The prophecy…”
Kael looked toward the distant mountains.
“Prepare a scouting party,” he ordered immediately.
Roran nodded.
“I’ll lead it.”
But before anyone could move—
Another rumble shook the ground.
This one was stronger.
Far stronger.
Some of the younger soldiers stumbled as the earth vibrated beneath their feet.
In the distance, birds suddenly burst out of the forest in frightened flocks.
Aria whispered quietly.
“It’s starting.”
Kael looked at her sharply.
“You’re sure?”
Aria nodded.
“The Moon is reacting.”
Her silver eyes lifted toward the sky.
“Something ancient is waking up.”
Far away in the northern mountains…
Deep beneath the earth…
A massive stone cavern slowly cracked open.
Dust fell from the ceiling as ancient chains buried in the rock began to break apart.
A deep, monstrous breath echoed through the darkness.
For centuries—
It had slept.
But now the earth itself had begun to awaken it.
And the Blood Moon was slowly approaching.
- Writer
