Chapter 18: The Beginning of War
765 Words
The palace courtyard turned into chaos.
War horns echoed across the towering walls of the Lycan kingdom as soldiers rushed in every direction. Armored warriors grabbed their weapons while messengers ran across the stone pathways delivering urgent orders.
The rebellion had begun.
Aria stood frozen in the training yard, watching the sudden transformation of the peaceful morning into preparation for battle.
Just minutes ago, warriors had been sparring.
Now they were preparing for war.
Kael turned toward his soldiers, his voice sharp and commanding.
“Prepare the army,” he ordered. “All warriors to the northern gate.”
The guards immediately bowed.
“Yes, my King!”
They rushed away to spread the command.
Aria looked up at Kael.
“You’re going to fight them now?”
Kael nodded.
“If Magnus is moving his army this close to the capital, he’s planning a full attack.”
His golden eyes shifted toward the distant forest beyond the kingdom walls.
“And I won’t let him reach the palace.”
Within minutes, the massive northern gate of the kingdom was surrounded by hundreds of Lycan warriors.
Some had already begun shifting partially into their wolf forms, their claws and glowing eyes revealing their battle readiness.
The ground trembled under the weight of the gathering army.
Aria followed Kael up the stone stairs leading to the top of the wall.
From there, she could see far beyond the kingdom.
And what she saw made her stomach tighten.
Across the open fields and tree line, dark figures moved through the fog.
Hundreds of them.
Rebel wolves.
Their glowing eyes looked like scattered fire in the distance.
Aria whispered, “There are so many…”
Kael stood beside her, his expression calm but cold.
“Yes.”
His hand rested on the hilt of his sword.
“Magnus didn’t come to threaten us.”
“He came to destroy us.”
Below them, the royal army formed battle lines outside the gate.
Warriors stood shoulder to shoulder, their armor glinting under the pale daylight.
The massive gates slowly opened.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
The sound echoed like thunder.
Kael stepped forward.
His voice carried across the entire battlefield.
“Warriors of the Lycan kingdom!”
Every soldier immediately turned their attention to him.
“You stand here today to defend your home.”
His golden eyes burned with determination.
“Magnus believes our kingdom is weak.”
A low growl spread through the warriors.
Kael raised his sword.
“Show him how wrong he is.”
The Lycan army roared.
Aria felt the ground vibrate under the sound of hundreds of wolves growling together.
Then Kael turned toward her.
“You’re staying inside the walls,” he said firmly.
Aria shook her head immediately.
“No.”
Kael frowned.
“Aria—”
“I’m part of this,” she said.
Her voice was stronger now.
“The rebels are after me. If I hide while everyone else fights for the kingdom, I’ll never learn to control my power.”
Kael studied her face carefully.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Kael sighed quietly.
“You’re stubborn.”
Aria crossed her arms.
“So I’ve been told.”
Kael’s lips twitched slightly.
“Fine.”
He stepped closer to her.
“But you stay behind the front lines.”
Aria nodded quickly.
“Deal.”
Moments later, the armies faced each other across the open battlefield.
The rebel wolves slowly emerged from the forest.
Magnus walked at the front of them.
His sword rested casually across his shoulder as he approached.
He looked up toward Kael.
“Impressive,” Magnus called out. “You gathered quite the army.”
Kael stepped forward to meet him halfway.
“You still have time to surrender.”
Magnus laughed.
“You still believe this is a rebellion?”
He spread his arms dramatically.
“This is a revolution.”
The rebel wolves behind him howled.
Magnus’ gaze shifted past Kael.
His eyes found Aria standing among the royal warriors.
His smile widened.
“There she is.”
Aria felt a chill run down her spine.
Magnus pointed his sword directly at her.
“Bring me the Moon-Bound.”
The rebel wolves surged forward.
The battle exploded instantly.
Claws clashed.
Steel rang against steel.
Wolves shifted and lunged across the battlefield.
The war for the Lycan kingdom had begun.
Aria raised her glowing hands as the silver Moon-Bound energy began gathering again.
This time…
She was ready to fight.
And high above the battlefield—
Dark clouds slowly covered the moon.
- Writer
