The chamber was thick with the smell of death. It clung to the stone walls, a mix of rot and metal that filled every corner. The bodies of the sorcerers lay on a cold stone slab, their skin pale and stretched thin over their bones, as if life had been drained from them in a way that went beyond just death.
Kaden stood by the slab, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, his eyes narrowed as they scanned the room. This wasn't like any battlefield he'd seen before. He was used to bloodshed, to the chaos of war, but this... this felt different. Something darker had happened here. His eyes then turned towards Isaiah who moved around the stone slab.
Isaiah crouched beside one of the bodies, his fingers gently prodding the discolored skin. "It's as if they've been drained of life," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Look here," he pointed at the sorcerer's wrist, where a strange blackened vein ran from the hand to the elbow. "This isn't natural. It looks like some kind of poison."
Kaden narrowed his eyes, kneeling beside Isaiah to take a closer look. The skin around the vein was decayed, almost rotting, yet the body hadn't been dead long enough for decomposition to begin, "What is this?"
Isaiah nodded grimly, his fingers tracing the blackened vein. "This is dangerous, my PrinceWhoever did this didn't just want them dead—they wanted to corrupt them, make an example out of them."
Kaden's lip curled in disgust. "Why target the sorcerers? Why leave their bodies in such a state? There's no glory in this. No power to be gained from attacking the kingdom's most valuable assets."
Isaiah hesitated, then lifted the sleeve of one of the sorcerers' robes, revealing a strange, faded mark etched into the skin. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but the lines were jagged, unnatural, as though they had been burned into the flesh by something unholy. "This symbol," Isaiah said quietly. "I've seen it before."
Kaden's brow furrowed, his wolf instincts prickling with unease. "Where?"
"In the old scrolls. It's the mark of an ancient rebellion, a group that believed magic and power should be free for all to wield, not just the chosen few. They were said to be wiped out centuries ago, but this…" Isaiah trailed off, his eyes darkening. "This looks like their work."
A silence settled over them, thick and heavy. Kaden's fists clenched as he stood, his golden eyes flashing with barely contained fury. "You think this is the start of something bigger? A rebellion?"
Before Isaiah could answer, the door creaked open, and Aros entered, his footsteps echoing in the tense quietness of the chamber. Kaden's jaw tightened immediately, the scent of a familiar human filling his senses.
His gaze flicked up toward the entrance, where Aros stood, draped in fine, polished silver armor that gleamed with silver accents. His attire was more ornamental than functional, the kind of armor meant for show, not for real combat. Kaden's lip curled in disdain. He always looked out of place here, standing amidst as if he were a misplaced piece on the wrong board. Aros met Kaden's gaze, his blue eyes steady but lacking the same wild intensity as the latter. His expression was calm but Kaden knew better.
Aros walked toward the bodies, his expression unreadable, though there was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes as he took in the sight of the decayed sorcerers. "What happened here?" he asked, his voice quiet but firm.
"Something dark," Isaiah replied, not looking up from the corpse he was inspecting. "These sorcerers weren't just killed—they were corrupted. Whoever did this wanted to send a message."
Aros's gaze lingered on the bodies for a moment before shifting to Kaden. "And you believe this is the start of an uprising?"
Kaden's fists tightened, his claws threatening to emerge as his wolf stirred within him. "I don't think," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "I know."
Aros sighed, his brow furrowed as he looked back at the bodies. "If that's the case, we need to be ready. This isn't just an attack—it's a declaration of war."
Kaden's eyes flashed with anger, his muscles rippling beneath his skin as the urge to shift clawed at him. He took a menacing step forward, his voice a whisper, "We don't need your help to handle this. This is werewolf territory. You're out of your depth, Aros….."
Isaiah, sensing the rising tension, quickly interjected. "Look here," he said, pointing to another corpse. The sorcerer's fingers were blackened, the nails cracked and twisted as if something had tried to crawl out of them. "This decay is spreading. It's not just within the body—it's working its way out. Whoever did this was corrupting them from the inside."
Kaden's eyes narrowed as he studied the twisted fingers, his wolf growling beneath the surface. "This isn't just an attack. They're trying to spread something. We can't let this get out."
Isaiah nodded in agreement, his face grim. "If this spreads, it could infect more than just anyone in Riveria. It may corrupt anyone who comes into contact with it."
Kaden took in a deep breath, his anger rising with each passing moment. The room felt too small, too confining, the stench of death pressing down on him. His wolf was clawing at the edges of his control, and he could feel his body beginning to tremble as the shift threatened to take over.
Aros, oblivious to Kaden's inner turmoil, stepped closer to the bodies, his gaze sweeping over them, "If this is a curse meant to spread, we need to act quickly and contain the threat."
Kaden snarled. "You don't need to do anything. It's not your concern."
Aros's eyes flickered with frustration, but he held his ground, his voice calm. "This isn't just about wolves, Kaden. If this curse spreads, it could affect everyone. Including humans in Riveria. You can't afford to be narrow-minded about this."
Kaden's breath came in ragged gasps, his muscles straining as he fought to keep the shift at bay. His claws extended, his vision sharpening, and he took another step toward Aros. "The only reason I haven't ripped you apart is because I'm holding back. But keep pushing me, Aros, and you'll see just how dangerous I can be."
"I'm not your enemy, Kaden," Aros said softly, though there was a hint of sadness in his voice. "But like it or not, I was sent to help. I'm not here to undermine you. We're both loyal to Riveria, aren't we?"
Kaden's eyes narrowed. "Loyal to who ? You're human. You're here because of the king's mercy. You think that makes you an equal?You understand nothing."
Aros's gaze flicked to the bodies again, his brows knitting together. "I understand enough to see that something terrible is happening. I don't need to be more of a human to see that whoever did this is a threat to everyone—human or wolf."
Kaden's lips pulled back in a sneer, "You're a threat to me," he muttered, his voice low and dangerous. "Every time you breathe, you're a reminder of what I could lose."
Aros blinked, genuine surprise flashing across his face. "Lose? Kaden, I—"
"Don't pretend you don't know," Kaden cut him off, his hands shaking as he fought the urge to shift. "You're human, but the king, my father trusts you. You're not bound by a curse. You're not losing control every time something goes wrong. You are capable of taking my place."
Aros's face softened, his voice quiet as he spoke. "I never wanted to take your place, Kaden. I've always admired your strength—your leadership as a commander. You're a better prince than I could ever be."
Kaden's jaw clenched, the frustration boiling over. "Then why do you insist on being involved in things you don't understand?"
"Because I care about Rivera!" Aros's voice rose, but it wasn't angry—just sad. "This kingdom means everything to me, just like it does to you. I may not be a wolf, but I'm not your enemy. I respect you, Kaden, but you're always so focused on what you think I'm taking from you that you can't see that I want to help."
"Help?" Kaden barked out a bitter laugh. "You think you're helping by getting involved in things you don't belong in? You're human. You don't understand what's at stake here. You never will."
Aros flinched at the venom in Kaden's voice but didn't back down. "You think because I'm human, I don't understand desperation? You think I don't know what it's like to be seen as lesser? To fight for everything I have?" He gestured to the bodies. "I'm not blind to what's happening, Kaden. But you need to stop thinking of me as a threat when we should be focusing on this."
Before Kaden could respond, Isaiah's voice cut through the tension. He raised his hand, palm facing outwards, as if to push back the argument. "Enough!" he said firmly, his eyes steady as he looked at both Kaden and Aros. His fingers were spread, a gesture meant to end the debate and restore order.
Kaden's body trembled violently, his bones aching with the effort of holding back the shift. His claws retracted slowly, his breath coming in heavy, labored gasps as he fought to regain control. The tension in the room was palpable.
Isaiah stood, his expression stern as he met Kaden's gaze. "There's something worse at play here than your rivalry with Aros. Focus on what matters, my Prince."
Kaden's breath slowed, the shift receding as Isaiah's words cut through the fog of his anger. His eyes flicked to the bodies on the ground. ""How do we stop it?"
Isaiah shook his head slowly. "I don't know yet. But we need to contain this. If these bodies get out of here, if anyone knows…"
Kaden's chest heaved, but he managed a slow nod, his anger still simmering just beneath the surface. His gaze flicked back to the decaying bodies. "We need the village guarded day and night. Every stranger, every amulet, every strange piece of clothing needs to be accounted for. I do not care if it's a child. No one enters or leaves Riveria without my knowledge."
He then turned his gaze to Aros, his eyes narrowing in warning. "Rebellion will not be accepted. No matter what."
Aros met his gaze. "You're judging with your head and not with your heart. You can't protect a kingdom like that."
Kaden's smirk returned, cruel and sharp. "You are quite cunning with your words." he then gestured to the bodies with a flick of his hand. "You take care of these. You seem so eager to help—clean up this mess."
Aros frowned, his lips pressing into a tight line, but he didn't protest.
Kaden's smirk deepened. He glanced between Isaiah and Aros, his voice cold and final. "No one should know about this. Not anyone. This stays between us and my father."
Isaiah nodded, his face grim. Aros hesitated, then gave a curt nod.
Without another word, Kaden stormed out of the chamber, the heavy doors slamming behind him. The shadows of the room seemed to close in tighter, leaving Isaiah and Aros standing in the cold silence of the chamber, the decaying bodies of the dead sorcerers lying at their feet.