The kingdom lay under an uneasy silence the morning after the attack. Burned stone, shattered crystal lanterns, and torn banners turned Lunareth's pristine streets into a battlefield graveyard. Workers and soldiers hurried to clear debris, but nothing could sweep away the dread hanging in the air.
Shoko stood atop the eastern battlement, staring across the city he had helped defend. Ariandel's blood was still dried onto his sleeve. The memory of going emotionless of returning to that slave-like numbness clung to him like chains.
A soft voice pulled him back.
"Shoko… you shouldn't be up here alone," Elyndra said. She looked exhausted, her silver hair unbraided, her eyes dim. "You scared us yesterday."
Shoko didn't turn. "I scared myself."
Elyndra stepped closer, wrapping her arms around herself. "When you lost all emotion… it was like you weren't even you."
"I know." His voice was flat, but not cold. Just tired. "But I'm in control now."
Before Elyndra could answer, rapid footsteps echoed up the stairs.
Ariandel appeared, one arm bandaged, irritation flaring across her face. "There you are. Why does everyone always run off after nearly dying?"
Shoko managed the faintest smile. "You're one to talk."
Ariandel rolled her eyes. "I'm fine. It'll take more than a masked freak to put me down."
Elyndra shot her a look. "You nearly got skewered."
"Nearly," Ariandel corrected with a smug grin.
Shoko turned toward them. "The masked figure was stronger than before. Faster too."
Ariandel's smile faded. "Yeah. And he wanted you specifically. Didn't even look at the rest of us."
Elyndra whispered, "Why…?"
Shoko shook his head. "I don't know."
Before they could speak again, a horn sounded from the courtyard. A summons horn.
Ariandel groaned. "Oh great. Another emergency council meeting."
Elyndra straightened. "We should go."
They descended from the battlements and headed into the heart of the palace.
The council chamber was buzzing when they entered. High elves, generals, mages, and nobles argued loudly, pointing at maps littered with red markings.
Queen Lysa lifted a hand. "Enough. Silence."
The room obeyed instantly.
King Thalanar spoke next. "The masked entity escaped with injuries, but its presence inside Lunareth proves our defenses are compromised. We must assume another attack is imminent."
A councilman added, "We should move the citizens deeper underground. Seal the outer gates. Summon every available battalion."
Another argued, "If we do that, fear will spread. We can't appear weak."
Ariandel muttered, "Too late."
The queen's eyes flicked toward her but she continued. "What of Shoko? His connection to this being is undeniable."
Murmurs rose—fearful ones.
Elyndra stiffened. "He saved the kingdom. Without him Ariandel would be dead."
"And without him," one noble countered, "the masked being would not have come."
The room went silent.
Shoko's hands slowly curled into fists, but he forced himself to stay calm.
Ariandel glared at the noble. "Say that again. I dare you."
King Thalanar cut in. "Enough. We are not blaming a child who has done nothing but defend us."
The noble bowed and backed down, but his eyes stayed sharp with fear.
The queen turned to Shoko. "There is something about you the masked figure wants. We cannot ignore that."
Shoko swallowed. "I know. And I'll fight him again if he comes back."
Elyndra's voice cracked. "Shoko, you don't have to—"
"I do," he said quietly.
The queen looked at Elyndra then at Ariandel before finally settling on Shoko again. "You will not fight alone. But we must understand what this entity is."
A tense hush fell.
Elyndra's secret—whatever it was—seemed to tremble on the edge of slipping. Shoko noticed the way her hands shook, how she avoided the queen's eyes.
Ariandel noticed too. "Elyndra…? You ok?"
Elyndra jolted. "Y-yes. Fine."
Nobody believed that, but the council continued.
King Thalanar stepped forward. "From this moment, Lunareth is under heightened lockdown. Patrols will double. The people will be informed with caution."
Queen Lysa added, "We also need strategies. Countermeasures. And… perhaps unconventional power."
A mage leaned forward. "Unconventional how?"
The queen looked again at Shoko.
Then at Elyndra.
Then stopped herself.
Ariandel narrowed her eyes. "What aren't you saying?"
The queen hesitated. "Nothing that needs discussing yet."
It was a lie. Everyone felt it.
But before anyone could press her, a guard burst into the chamber.
"Your Majesties—citizens are panicking. They want to know if the masked entity will return."
Ariandel snorted. "Probably."
Shoko glanced outside the windows. Civilians gathered in the streets, whispering, pointing toward the palace. The fear was spreading faster than the damage cleanup.
The king dismissed the council. "Prepare for further defense. We meet again at dusk."
The room emptied, leaving Shoko, Elyndra, and Ariandel among the last to step out.
Outside the chamber, Elyndra sagged against a wall.
Ariandel frowned. "What's going on with you? Ever since yesterday you've been acting strange."
Elyndra looked away. "It's nothing."
Shoko watched her carefully. "It's not nothing. You almost said something during the council."
Elyndra flinched. "I… I can't tell you. Not yet."
Ariandel crossed her arms. "Why not?"
"Because it will change everything," Elyndra whispered.
Before they could push further, a shout echoed from the lower courtyard.
"Monsters! They're breaching the gates!"
Ariandel cursed. "Already?!"
Shoko didn't hesitate. "Let's go!"
The three sprinted across bridges and down staircases toward the inner gate. Soldiers had already formed walls of shields and spears, but twisted shadow beasts pushed against them—spawn from the masked figure's corruption.
A commander yelled, "We can't hold them!"
Ariandel summoned fire into her uninjured hand. "You can now!"
Shoko leapt forward, the world slowing around him. His heartbeat was steady. Too steady. His emotions quieted—controlled, but dangerously close to slipping back into that blankness.
He struck the first beast with a blow that shattered its form into smoke.
Elyndra unleashed light magic, illuminating the battlefield with silver radiance.
The beasts lunged again.
Shoko moved like lightning, each strike precise and lethal. But with every hit, the numbness spread. Ariandel noticed.
"Shoko! Don't lose yourself again!"
"I'm fine," he said without looking back.
But he wasn't.
He was starting to fade.
Elyndra grabbed his arm between strikes. "Shoko, listen to me—"
He pulled free, eyes blanking for a split second.
Ariandel cursed. "Not again!"
But before Shoko could fall completely into that cold state, a horn blew from the gate towers.
The beasts withdrew—just like that—evaporating into mist.
A soldier shouted, "They're retreating!"
Ariandel exhaled. "Why would they—"
Then she saw it.
A message burned onto a stone wall. A symbol left by the masked figure. A warning.
Or a challenge.
Shoko stared at it, emotion returning sharply enough to hurt.
Elyndra whispered, "He's coming back soon…"
Ariandel clenched her fists. "Then we'll be ready."
Shoko didn't answer.
Because deep down, he knew the masked figure wasn't done with him.
Not even close.