Night fell over Elarwyn, the hidden city of Valedorn.
Golden lights glowed softly in the branches of the giant trees, and the forest winds moved gently through the leaves.
But something was wrong.
The forest animals had gone silent.
Even the glowing insects had vanished.
High on one of the great branches, Aeralion stood watching the dark sky.
His wings were slightly spread.
Listening.
Waiting.
Below, Kael sat near a small stream inside the city.
He kept thinking about what Queen Elyndra had revealed.
He turned toward Dwaho.
"So… you're from the Void Mountains."
Dwaho stared at the water.
"I told you I left when I was a child."
"That place is not a kingdom. It's a prison."
Kael crossed his arms.
"You didn't think that was important information?"
Dwaho looked up.
"I didn't want people to think I was one of them."
Before Kael could respond—
Aeralion's voice thundered in their minds.
"GET DOWN!"
At that exact moment—
Something black shot out of the sky.
It moved so fast it looked like a streak of shadow.
BOOM.
The ground exploded where Kael had been standing.
Wood shattered.
Water splashed everywhere.
Kael rolled across the ground.
"What WAS THAT?!"
A figure landed in the center of the broken clearing.
Silent.
Deadly.
The assassin wore black armor made of strange dark metal.
Two curved blades hung at their sides.
But the most terrifying part was their mask.
A smooth mask with no eyes.
Only darkness.
Dwaho's face turned pale.
"No…"
The assassin slowly lifted one blade.
Its edge glowed with dark energy.
Queen Elyndra stepped forward from the trees.
"Nightblade," she whispered.
The assassin tilted their head slightly.
Their voice was cold and emotionless.
"By order of the Emperor…"
"The Gatewalker dies tonight."
Kael stepped backward.
"Why does everyone keep trying to kill me?"
The Night Assassin moved.
Faster than anything Kael had ever seen.
In one blink they were in front of him.
The blade slashed toward his chest—
CLANG!
Dwaho blocked the strike with his sword.
The force threw both of them backward.
The assassin didn't move.
Dwaho stood again slowly.
His voice shook slightly.
"This isn't just any assassin."
Kael swallowed.
"Let me guess… this one is worse?"
Dwaho nodded.
"They're called Nightblades."
"The Emperor's most feared killers."
Suddenly the assassin spoke again.
"Dwaho."
The name echoed strangely through the mask.
"You cannot escape your blood."
Kael looked confused.
"What does that mean?"
The assassin lifted a second blade.
"Because he belongs to the Emperor."
Silence hit the clearing.
Kael looked at Dwaho.
"…You really need to start explaining things."
Dwaho's voice dropped low.
"The Emperor…"
"…is my father."
Kael's brain froze.
"WHAT?!"
Before anyone could react—
The assassin attacked again.
This time moving even faster.
Aeralion dove from the sky like a bolt of lightning.
His massive claws struck the ground between them and the assassin.
The impact shook the entire city.
The Nightblade slid backward but stayed standing.
They looked up at the giant griffin.
"Aeralion."
Their voice remained cold.
"Guardian of the skies."
The griffin's golden eyes burned with ancient power.
"You bring death into the forest of Valedorn."
The assassin raised both blades.
"I bring the Emperor's will."
They vanished.
Completely disappeared.
Kael looked around in panic.
"Where did they go?!"
Aeralion roared.
"EVERYONE MOVE!"
Suddenly—
The assassin appeared behind Kael.
The blade swung toward his neck.
But the star mark on Kael's chest suddenly exploded with light again.
Seven glowing symbols spun around him like a shield.
The assassin's blade struck the light—
And shattered.
For the first time…
The assassin stepped back.
Queen Elyndra whispered in awe.
"The power of the Seven Thrones grows stronger."
The Nightblade slowly lowered their remaining weapon.
"Interesting."
They looked at Kael.
"The Emperor will want to witness your power himself."
Dark smoke surrounded them.
"And the prince will return home eventually."
The assassin vanished into the shadows.
The forest slowly became quiet again.
Kael stood breathing heavily.
Then he turned slowly toward Dwaho.
"So… your father is the Dark Emperor who wants to destroy the world."
Dwaho looked exhausted.
"Yeah."
Kael rubbed his face.
"You could've mentioned that earlier."
Aeralion stepped closer.
His voice was serious.
"The war has become far more dangerous."
Queen Elyndra looked toward the north.
"If the Emperor's son travels with the Gatewalker…"
Her voice lowered.
"Then the prophecy is far more complicated than we thought."
Kael sighed deeply.
"I miss my attic."
Aeralion opened his wings slightly.
"The next kingdom may hold the answers."
He looked toward the distant mountains.
"Drakmor. The Kingdom of Fire and Stone."
Dwaho tightened his grip on his sword.
"Where dragons are born."
Kael blinked.
"…More dragons?"
Aeralion nodded.
"Yes."
"And the ones in Drakmor do not serve the Emperor."
Far away in the Void Mountains…
The Dark Emperor stood before a massive window of black stone.
He looked toward the south.
Toward Valedorn.
His voice was cold.
"My son walks beside my enemy."
He turned slowly.
"Prepare the armies."
Dark creatures filled the throne hall.
"The age of waiting is over."