Chapter 2: The Awakening
The sun blazed high above the sky as Noah Sin walked down the mountain trail, the wind tugging at his long, dark cloak. Zap perched comfortably on his shoulder, occasionally ruffling his white feathers. Below, the valley stretched endlessly—a mix of towering forests, shimmering rivers, and villages bustling with life.
Noah stopped at the edge of the path, his sharp eyes scanning the unfamiliar terrain.
"It's changed," he muttered, his voice carrying a note of surprise. "The trees, the air, the mana… everything's so… weak."
Zap tilted his head. "Weak? But it feels so dense, Noah. This world… it's full of energy."
Noah chuckled softly. "To you, maybe. To me, it feels like the remnants of something great. Once, this place must've been overflowing with mana. Now…" He sighed. "Now it's a pale shadow of itself."
As they descended further, they reached a small village nestled near a lake. Farmers were tending to their fields, and children ran about, laughing and chasing each other. Noah paused, his eyes narrowing. Something was off.
Zap's feathers fluffed up. "Do you feel that?"
"Yeah," Noah said quietly. "A disturbance in the mana flow… and it's close."
Just as he spoke, a loud roar tore through the peaceful air. Villagers screamed, running in all directions as a massive beast, cloaked in black mist, emerged from the forest. It had the body of a lion, but its eyes glowed red, and its claws shimmered with unnatural energy.
Noah watched silently, his hand resting casually on the hilt of his blade.
"Should we… help them?" Zap asked hesitantly.
Noah sighed. "It's always something, isn't it?" He stepped forward, the ground trembling faintly beneath his feet.
---
Meanwhile, in Colchis Castle…
Elder Ren sat across from Empress Raya, who was lounging in her chair, her crimson hair spilling over her shoulders. The room was grand, adorned with golden tapestries and intricate carvings of dragons.
"You rejected another proposal, didn't you?" Ren asked, raising an eyebrow.
Raya smirked. "Why bother entertaining weaklings? I've no time for simpering fools who think they can tame me."
Ren sighed. "You know this could lead to trouble, right? The Kingdom of Laska isn't one to take rejection lightly. Especially not Prince Noro."
Raya waved her hand dismissively. "Let them try. If they want war, they'll get one. I'm not afraid of their so-called 'frost dragon.'"
Before Ren could respond, a young guard burst into the room, his face pale. "Elder Ren, Empress Raya, urgent news!"
"What is it?" Raya asked, her voice sharp.
"There's been… a disturbance near the southern border. A creature of immense power has been spotted attacking villages. The scouts say it's covered in black mist, and it's unlike anything we've seen before."
Ren's eyes narrowed. "Black mist?" She glanced at Raya, whose confident smirk had disappeared.
"It's happening," Raya muttered under her breath.
"What's happening?" Ren asked, her voice tense.
Raya stood, her gaze steely. "The prophecy. The Moon's Awakening."
---
Back at the Village…
The black mist creature charged at the villagers, its claws tearing through carts and scattering debris. Noah stood still, watching as the beast wreaked havoc.
"Noah! Are you going to do something, or are we just going to stand here?" Zap squawked, fluttering nervously.
"Fine, fine," Noah said, drawing his blade. The weapon gleamed faintly, a simple yet elegant design, but the energy radiating from it was anything but ordinary.
The creature turned, sensing Noah's power. It let out a deafening roar and lunged at him.
"Big mistake," Noah said, a smirk playing on his lips.
In one fluid motion, he vanished, reappearing behind the beast. His blade sliced through the air, leaving a trail of shimmering energy. The creature froze mid-attack, its body trembling before it collapsed into a cloud of black mist.
Zap stared, wide-eyed. "You didn't even use your full strength, did you?"
Noah shrugged. "Didn't need to."
As the mist began to dissipate, something unexpected happened. A single shard of golden light emerged from the remains of the creature, hovering in the air. Noah reached out, and as his fingers touched the shard, a wave of energy surged through him.
His eyes widened. "This… this is ancient mana."
Zap fluttered around him. "Ancient mana? What does that mean?"
"It means," Noah said slowly, his expression darkening, "this world has more secrets than I thought. And I'm not the only one who's been awakened."
---
In the Depths of the North…
Deep within the frozen halls of the Laska Kingdom, Prince Noro stood before an enormous icy gate. His face was bruised, a result of his defeat at Empress Raya's hands, but his eyes burned with determination.
Behind the gate, a low rumble echoed, shaking the very ground.
"My prince," a voice called from behind him. "Are you sure about this? Awakening the frost dragon could—"
"Silence," Noro snapped. "If the Empress thinks she can humiliate me, she's wrong. I will awaken the frost dragon and claim my vengeance."
The rumble grew louder, and a pair of glowing blue eyes appeared behind the ice.
---
To Be Continued…