Althea vanished into the shadows, her form dissolving into the darkness that consumed the tent. Kael's crimson eyes scanned the room, searching for any sign of her, but she was gone, as if swallowed by the night itself.
A cold dread crept into his heart. He knew of the royal family's affinity for darkness magic, but to disappear without a trace was a feat he had never witnessed. He raised his hand, a sphere of crimson energy forming in his palm. He would not be caught off guard.
The sphere erupted, casting the tent in a crimson glow. Shadows retreated, revealing nothing. Yet, Kael knew better than to be deceived. He sensed her presence, a faint whisper in the darkness. With a growl, he hurled the sphere, the crimson light illuminating the tent once more.
There, in the far corner, a figure emerged from the shadows. Althea, her eyes glowing with an otherworldly light, stood poised for attack. Her dagger, imbued with darkness, glinted menacingly.
