Amara stood in the throne room, her mind racing. The council members were gathered around her father, King Orion, a man whose regal composure now seemed strained. The air was thick with tension, the room dimly lit by the flickering torches along the walls.
"What do you mean, a shadow appeared?" she demanded, her voice louder than she intended.
King Orion glanced at her, his expression tired. "It was… like a dark fog, whispering warnings about an impending threat. I've never seen anything like it."
A shiver ran down Amara's spine. A dark fog whispering warnings? It sounded like something from a nightmare.
Kael stepped forward, his earlier flippant attitude gone, replaced by a serious resolve. "Your Majesty, I've come to warn you about this threat. It's real."
The council exchanged skeptical glances, some murmuring amongst themselves. "A sky-painter? And he brings tales of shadows and ancient sorceresses?" scoffed Lord Tremaine, an elder advisor. "This is preposterous."
Kael's jaw tightened. "I don't expect you to believe me, but I've seen the signs. Zephyrion is in danger. You need to take this seriously."
Amara stepped between them, her heart pounding. "What do you propose we do, then?"
Kael looked at her, his eyes steady. "We need to find out more about this sorceress. There must be records, legends, anything that might give us a clue."
Her father sighed. "But where would we even begin? The archives in the royal library contain only the most superficial histories. Most of our past has been lost to time."
Kael's gaze turned distant. "I might know where to start. In the Lowlands, there are old tales, hidden in the remnants of ancient libraries. It's a long shot, but it's all we have."
Amara's heart leaped. "Then we go there."
The king frowned. "You want to venture into the Lowlands? It's dangerous especially now, with whatever this threat is closing in on us."
Amara held his gaze, her voice firm. "We don't have a choice. If this sorceress is real, then we can't sit here and do nothing."
Kael stepped forward, a determined look in his eyes. "I'll go with her. I know the way. And I know how to stay off the radar."
The king hesitated, then nodded. "Very well. But take guards with you, if there is truly a threat, you must be protected."
Amara's heart clenched at the thought of guards accompanying them. She wasn't a child to be watched over, but she knew her father's reluctance was born out of love.
"We'll need to leave soon," Kael said, his voice low. "The longer we wait, the more danger we're in."
As they left the throne room, Amara turned to Kael. "Why are you helping us? Why not just leave and save yourself?"
Kael's smile was sad. "Because the sky told me to, Princess. And once it speaks, you can't ignore it."
Amara studied him for a moment. "Then I guess we're in this together."
He held out a hand. "Together."
And for the first time, a flicker of hope sparked in Amara's chest. Perhaps, just maybe, they could save Zephyrion after all.