Chapter 25: The Thing Beneath the Mountain
595 Words
Night fell slowly over the Lycan kingdom.
Torches burned along the palace walls as guards doubled their patrols after the battle. The war had paused, but everyone knew it wasn’t truly over.
Something worse was coming.
Inside the palace courtyard, Aria stood beside the massive Shadow Beast.
Even under the torchlight, the creature’s dark scales shimmered faintly. Its glowing red eyes watched the night carefully, as if expecting danger to appear at any moment.
Aria gently rested her hand on its head.
“You felt it too… didn’t you?”
The beast released a low rumble.
Kael approached from the palace steps, dressed once again in his royal armor. His expression was serious.
“The scouts have returned,” he said.
Aria turned toward him.
“What did they see?”
Kael’s golden eyes shifted toward the distant mountains.
“Magnus and his rebels disappeared into the northern mountain range.”
Aria’s stomach tightened.
“The place where that strange power awakened?”
Kael nodded.
“Yes.”
The Shadow Beast suddenly growled louder.
Its claws dug into the stone floor.
Aria felt the Moon-Bound power stir again inside her chest.
“That thing in the mountain…” she whispered. “It’s dangerous, isn’t it?”
Kael didn’t answer right away.
Instead, he looked toward the enormous guardian standing beside her.
“That creature might know the answer.”
Aria blinked.
“You mean the Shadow Beast?”
Kael nodded slowly.
“If it truly served the ancient Lycans, then it may remember the past.”
Aria hesitated.
“Then… how do we ask it?”
Kael folded his arms.
“You’re the Moon-Bound.”
His voice softened slightly.
“It listens to you.”
Aria turned back toward the giant creature.
For a moment, she wasn’t sure what to do.
Then she slowly raised her glowing hand again.
The silver Moon-Bound aura spread softly across her palm.
The Shadow Beast lowered its head again, allowing her to touch its scaled forehead.
The moment their connection formed—
Another vision flooded Aria’s mind.
She saw the same mountains from long ago.
Ancient Lycans stood before the massive stone entrance Magnus had opened.
But this time, they weren’t entering it.
They were sealing it shut.
Huge stone chains wrapped around the entrance.
Magic symbols glowed across the rock.
The Lycans were locking something inside.
Aria heard one of the ancient kings speak.
“Never let the creature beneath this mountain awaken again.”
The vision suddenly shattered.
Aria stumbled backward, breathing heavily.
Kael caught her before she fell.
“What did you see?”
Aria looked up at him, her face pale.
“The mountain…”
Her voice trembled.
“It’s a prison.”
Kael’s expression darkened.
“For what?”
Aria swallowed.
“For something the ancient Lycans were too afraid to kill.”
At that exact moment—
Far away inside the mountain, Magnus and his soldiers stepped into a massive underground chamber.
The walls were covered in ancient carvings.
At the center of the chamber stood a gigantic stone cage.
Inside it…
Something enormous slowly moved.
Two glowing yellow eyes opened in the darkness.
A deep voice echoed through the chamber.
“Who dares… wake me?”
Several of Magnus’ soldiers stepped back in terror.
But Magnus walked forward confidently.
“I do.”
The creature shifted inside the cage.
Chains rattled against stone.
Why?
Magnus smiled.
“Because I have a kingdom for you to destroy.”
The creature’s eyes gleamed in the darkness.
And its deep laugh shook the entire mountain.
- Writer
