Dawn broke over Vernal Keep, painting the sky rose and gold. The prince, his face pale but his eyes burning with an unsettling intensity, had returned from the Whispering Woods.
The remnants of the Silent Guard, now reborn as something… more, followed in his wake, their movements silent and purposeful, their eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.
The hunt had been brutal, efficient.
The forest floor was littered with the carcasses of animals, their souls harvested, their essence consumed, their life force fueling the growing power of the Silent Guard, and by extension, the prince's own terrifying ascent.
The System's cold, emotionless voice echoed in Kaelen's mind, a constant reminder of the pact he had made, the price he was paying.
His corruption level was higher than it had been at this point in his previous timeline, at nearly 20%, he felt his memories slipping away faster than ever, replaced now by the clarity of his mental demise.
