The council's conclusion brought no rest to Aeron's mind. Though alliances were forged, the tension between the kingdoms remained palpable, and he knew that the Abyssal Prince's forces would not sit idly by. The urgency to prepare for what lay ahead pressed on his every thought.
As the group returned to their quarters within the Grand Hall, Aeron couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. His right eye, the one that glowed red, throbbed faintly, as if warning him of an unseen threat.
Mira noticed his distraction and placed a hand on his arm. "You sense it too, don't you?"
Aeron nodded. "Something's off. I can feel it in the air—like we're being watched."
Selene stepped closer, her hand resting on the hilt of her blade. "The shadows have eyes. It's a feeling I've grown accustomed to, but this is different."
Thorin grunted as he threw himself onto a nearby chair. "If the Abyssal Prince has spies, they're likely all around us. These walls can't keep them out."
Before Aeron could respond, the air in the room shifted. A cold breeze brushed past them, though no windows were open. His red eye flared with sudden intensity, catching a glimpse of movement—something dark, something unnatural.
"Everyone, on guard!" Aeron shouted, drawing his sword as the room darkened unnaturally, the shadows elongating and swirling around them.
From the inky blackness, a voice emerged—whispering, dissonant, filled with malice. "You think your little council can stop what's coming?"
Mira's sword was out in an instant, glowing faintly with a soft, icy blue light. "Show yourself!"
Laughter echoed from the shadows as they converged into a singular form—an apparition, tall and cloaked in darkness, its eyes burning with a faint red glow. It was a Shadow Wraith, an emissary of the Abyssal Prince.
"You're already too late," the Wraith hissed. "The Abyssal Prince's reach extends far beyond what you mortals can imagine. Your alliance will crumble before it even begins."
Aeron stepped forward, unafraid. "Tell your master we're not as divided as he thinks. We'll stop him."
The Wraith's laughter grew louder, more sinister. "You? Stop him? You, who can't even protect your own mind?"
Before Aeron could react, the Wraith's form dissolved into mist and surged toward him. It swirled around his head, whispering insidious words, trying to burrow into his thoughts. Aeron gritted his teeth, his red eye glowing brighter as he fought against the mental assault.
"Get out of my head!" Aeron growled, focusing his energy. With a burst of power, he forced the Wraith out, the shadowy figure reforming across the room.
The Wraith seemed momentarily stunned, but it quickly recovered, sneering. "Impressive, but you cannot hold out forever. The Abyssal Prince will break you."
Mira's sword flared with icy light as she lunged at the Wraith, her blade slicing through the shadowy form. It let out a piercing screech before dissipating into the air, leaving behind a chilling silence.
Selene sheathed her blade, her expression unreadable. "They're testing us. Sending warnings."
"We need to strengthen our defenses," Thorin muttered, his hand still resting on the hilt of his axe. "This won't be the last time they try something like this."
Aeron exhaled slowly, trying to calm the storm in his mind. The Wraith's words still lingered, gnawing at him. He knew the Abyssal Prince's forces would stop at nothing to sow fear and doubt, but they couldn't afford to let it affect them.
"We'll need to inform the council," Aeron said, turning to his companions. "They need to know that the Abyssal Prince's reach is already here."
---
The next morning, the council reconvened, and Aeron wasted no time in relaying the events of the previous night. The room fell into a tense silence as the leaders of the kingdoms absorbed the gravity of the situation.
Queen Lyria of Ignisheim was the first to break the silence, her fiery temper showing. "You're telling us that the Abyssal Prince's forces are already within our walls?"
Aeron nodded. "A Shadow Wraith appeared last night. It spoke of the Abyssal Prince's plans and tried to invade my mind. This is just the beginning."
King Zephiron of Aqualis furrowed his brow, his calm demeanor shaken. "If they can reach us here, in the heart of Terragarde, then nowhere is safe."
Lord Kael of Umbrawood's voice was a mere whisper. "The shadows move even where the light is strongest. We should not be surprised."
Thornak, the Draconic King, growled lowly, his eyes narrowing. "If these creatures think they can enter my realm unnoticed, they're sorely mistaken. I'll see to it that Drakarath is impenetrable."
Lord Graven of Terragarde stood, his face stern. "Then it's settled. We'll strengthen our defenses, but we need more than that. We need a way to counter these dark forces, or we'll be overwhelmed."
Aeron's mind raced. He thought back to the powers he had been granted by the system, the abilities that had saved him countless times. But now, he needed something more—something that could turn the tide against the Abyssal Prince.
"We need to strike back," Aeron said, his voice firm. "We can't just sit here waiting for them to make the next move. We need to take the fight to them."
Queen Lyria raised an eyebrow. "And how do you propose we do that, Aeron Vanguard? The Abyssal Prince's forces are hidden in the shadows, and his influence spreads across Elysium."
Aeron met her gaze, unwavering. "I have a way. But it's dangerous. We'll need to gather information on his strongholds, on the dark creatures that serve him. We can't just react—we need to act."
Lord Graven nodded slowly. "We'll need scouts. Elite ones. And we'll need a plan to strike at his forces before they gather strength."
Aeron's companions stood beside him, ready for whatever lay ahead. Mira, Selene, and Thorin were unwavering in their loyalty, and he knew that together, they could stand against any threat.
But deep down, Aeron knew the hardest battles were yet to come.