Chapter 6: Betrayal Under the Moonlight

The leader of the Royal Guards slowly lowered his sword, its polished blade reflecting the pale moonlight.

"By the authority of the Royal Council," he declared, his voice cold and unwavering, "Prince Kael Asterion, you are under arrest for treason against the Celestial Kingdom."

Silence filled the park.

Liana stared at the soldiers in disbelief before turning to Kael. His expression remained calm, but she could see the pain hidden behind his sapphire-blue eyes.

"Treason?" she whispered. "How can a prince betray his own kingdom?"

Kael didn't answer immediately. His gaze never left the guards.

"I expected my uncle to make his move," he finally said. "I just didn't think it would happen this soon."

The captain stepped forward.

"Your Highness, surrender peacefully. Do not force us to fight."

Kael let out a bitter laugh.

"You know me better than that, Commander Rylan."

The captain's eyes softened for only a moment.

"I do. Which is why this pains me."

Liana frowned.

"You know each other?"

Kael nodded.

"He trained me when I was a child."

Commander Rylan lowered his head briefly.

"I swore to protect you, Your Highness."

"Then why are you pointing a sword at me?"

The commander's grip tightened around his weapon.

"The council has declared you a traitor. They claim you abandoned the kingdom and stole the Celestial Heart for yourself."

Liana immediately shook her head.

"That's impossible! He's trying to protect everyone."

The guards looked at her with surprise.

One of them whispered, "A human..."

Another frowned.

"So the rumors were true."

Commander Rylan looked directly at Liana.

"Young lady, this matter does not concern you."

Kael stepped protectively in front of her.

"It concerns her now."

The captain sighed.

"I see."

Before anyone could react, dozens of soldiers emerged from the shadows surrounding the abandoned church.

They formed a circle around Kael and Liana.

There was no escape.

Liana counted them nervously.

"There are too many..."

Kael quietly leaned toward her.

"When I give the signal, run."

"What?"

"Don't argue."

"I'm not leaving you!"

"You have to."

She shook her head stubbornly.

"I don't even know where to go."

Kael couldn't help smiling despite the danger surrounding them.

"You really are impossible."

Commander Rylan raised his sword.

"This is your final warning."

"Surrender."

Kael slowly removed the silver pendant from around his neck.

It glowed brighter with every passing second.

"I'm sorry, Commander."

Blue light surrounded his body.

"I can't."

The pendant transformed into his radiant sword.

Gasps spread through the ranks of the Royal Guards.

"The Royal Blade..."

"So the prince intends to fight."

Commander Rylan closed his eyes briefly before drawing his own weapon.

"Then forgive me."

The battle began.

Steel clashed against enchanted light.

Kael moved with incredible speed, disarming one soldier after another without delivering fatal blows.

Every strike showed years of royal training.

Every movement was graceful.

Yet he refused to kill the men who had once served beside him.

Liana watched in amazement.

"He could defeat them..."

Then she noticed something.

"He isn't fighting seriously."

Kael blocked another attack before jumping backward.

"I won't harm my own people."

One of the younger guards hesitated.

"He spared me..."

Commander Rylan shouted, "Do not hesitate! Capture him!"

More soldiers rushed forward.

Kael sighed.

"I'm running out of options."

Suddenly, an arrow made of black energy shot from the darkness.

It wasn't aimed at Kael.

It was aimed at Liana.

"Look out!" Kael shouted.

Without thinking, he threw himself in front of her.

The arrow pierced his shoulder.

He staggered backward, dropping to one knee.

"Kael!"

Liana caught him before he fell.

The Royal Guards looked around in confusion.

"Who fired that?"

Another black arrow flew from the trees.

Then another.

This time, the guards became the targets.

Cries echoed through the park as several soldiers fell.

Commander Rylan's expression darkened.

"The Shadow Hunters..."

Figures dressed in black cloaks appeared among the branches overhead.

Their leader smiled cruelly.

"Thank you for gathering everyone in one place."

Commander Rylan cursed under his breath.

"You planned this."

The Shadow Hunter laughed.

"We only needed you to keep the prince occupied."

Kael slowly stood despite the pain in his shoulder.

"So this was never about arresting me."

"No."

The hunter raised a hand.

"It was about eliminating everyone loyal to the royal family."

The Shadow Hunters attacked without mercy.

Dark energy exploded across the battlefield.

Royal Guards and assassins clashed in a violent struggle.

The peaceful park became a war zone.

Commander Rylan fought fiercely beside Kael.

Back-to-back, they defended themselves against wave after wave of enemies.

Liana watched in disbelief.

"They're working together now."

Kael blocked a deadly strike aimed at the commander.

"I told you..."

"I never considered you my enemy."

Commander Rylan smiled sadly.

"I should have trusted you."

"So should the council."

Another Shadow Hunter lunged toward Liana.

She froze.

Fear rooted her to the ground.

The assassin raised his blade.

Before it could fall, brilliant blue light burst from Liana's body once more.

The energy expanded like a protective shield.

Every Shadow Hunter caught within its reach was thrown backward.

The Royal Guards shielded their eyes from the intense glow.

Commander Rylan stared at Liana in shock.

"The Light of Aether..."

Kael's heart skipped a beat.

The ancient power had awakened again.

Only this time...

It was far stronger than before.

When the light finally faded, the Shadow Hunters had disappeared.

The surviving guards stood in stunned silence.

No one dared to speak.

Commander Rylan slowly approached Liana.

He knelt before her.

"My Lady..."

Kael frowned.

"What are you doing?"

The commander looked at him with wide eyes.

"There is an ancient prophecy in the Celestial Kingdom."

"What prophecy?"

"The prophecy of the Light Bearer."

Kael's expression hardened.

"I thought it was only a legend."

"So did we all."

Commander Rylan looked at Liana again.

"The prophecy says that when darkness threatens both worlds, a woman carrying the Light of Aether will appear."

Liana stepped back nervously.

"You're mistaken."

"I've never been to your world."

The commander slowly shook his head.

"The prophecy never said she would come from our world."

He looked toward the sky, where the clouds had begun to part.

"It only said..."

"'She will come when the heir of the Celestial Kingdom is on the verge of losing everything.'"

Kael fell silent.

He had crossed worlds searching for the Celestial Heart.

Instead, destiny had led him to someone far more important.

And somewhere in the shadows, Lord Malachar watched everything through a magical mirror.

A cruel smile spread across his face.

"So..."

"The prophecy has finally begun."

He turned to his followers.

"Prepare the next phase."

"This time..."

"I want the girl alive."

The battle was over.

But the real war had only just begun.