Beneath the vibrant marketplace, something dark stirred, like a storm gathering on the horizon.
The mammal cubs—born of the wild—were taking longer to shift into their human forms. Their magic, once brimming with nature's essence, had grown weaker. The forests, though still lush, no longer held the vibrancy they once had. Nature was decaying, its life force dwindling, and the shift that once came so easily had become a slow, agonizing process. The balance was faltering, and with it, the very foundation of the wild.
The Queen of the South, seated high in her palace, knew this better than anyone. She had been watching the world change, watching as the old alliances crumbled and the clans sought to carve out their territories amidst the weakening magic. She saw the signs, the subtle shifts in the air.
And tonight, under the glow of the full moon, something—or someone—would come to change everything.
The Moonlight Market was the heart of the South, a place where magic, commerce, and diplomacy intertwined seamlessly. Spanning miles of the bustling city, it was the epicenter of trade in the region, where every clan from Serpent to Witch had a presence. As the full moon rose higher in the sky, the market began to glow with an ethereal light, casting long shadows between stalls piled with rare spices, enchanted gemstones, and mystical artifacts.
Merchants from distant lands and mysterious travelers rubbed elbows with high-ranking nobles and secretive spies, all under the watchful gaze of Queen Elysia's guardians, who patrolled the streets with vigilant eyes. The market was known for its order, its peace, and most importantly, for its absence of conflict—no one dared disturb the rule of the Queen, the one who held dominion over the South.
The air in the Moonlight Market was electric with the energy of trade and diplomacy, yet something felt out of place. The city, as always, was alive with activity, but the tension that lay beneath its surface was palpable.
And then, the unthinkable happened.
A shiver ran through the crowd, followed by a gust of unnatural wind that snuffed out the lanterns one by one. The once vibrant market was suddenly bathed in darkness, save for the moon's cold light.
A scream pierced the air—a high, shrill cry that echoed across the square.
At the center of it all, a man who had been speaking with a merchant just moments before now lay writhing on the ground, his body spasming as dark veins spread across his skin like ink on parchment. His eyes turned black, his breath coming in shallow gasps as if something unseen was slowly suffocating him.
People rushed to his side, trying in vain to help, but nothing worked. The once peaceful market descended into chaos as the crowd began to panic, shouting, pushing, and trying to escape the strange, menacing aura that now gripped the air.
From the shadows, our heroine, cloaked in black, watched silently. The scene unfolded in front of her like a sickening dance of death. Almond eyes narrowed as she surveyed the unfolding chaos, her mind already racing.
This was no accident. This was no random attack. She could feel the black magic thick in the air—twisted and malicious, far stronger than anything the South had seen in years.
The Queen's guards surged forward, their polished armor gleaming in the faint moonlight, but their faces remained impassive. It was clear that while they had been trained to protect, they had not been trained for this. They moved quickly to secure the area, but they would never catch the true culprit.
Her duty was clear: observe, gather information, and report back.
But she knew something they didn't.
The Queen needed no reports—she already knew everything.
So, as the guards scrambled, our heroine slipped into the shadows, her every movement precise and deliberate. This was not a moment to wait. She had seen enough, and she wasn't about to sit idly by.
The attack had a purpose, she could feel it. The question was: who was behind it, and what did it mean for the South?
With her gaze locked on the falling figure, she turned and quickly disappeared into the labyrinth of narrow streets, where the answers awaited.
Her journey would lead her to the Eastern Village, a place whispered about in dark corners of the South—a place that may hold the key to the mysteries unfolding in the city. The Queen's words echoed in her mind: the East held secrets, danger, and perhaps, the truth that the Queen feared to uncover.