The chill in the air was sharper now, carrying the scent of pine and old secrets. Eolan’s footsteps echoed softly on the stone stairs leading down from the battlements, where the stars above offered no comfort—only a silent witness to the growing storm. Inside the command tent, the council awaited, faces drawn tight with exhaustion and dread. But today, something had shifted. Aera’s usually steady gaze darted nervously, Ying’s jaw clenched harder than usual, and Rafa’s calm veneer showed cracks beneath the surface. Eolan held the folded parchment that had set this chain of suspicion in motion. The strange symbols were no longer just ominous markings—they were a code. A warning. And, more terrifyingly, a signature. He cleared his throat, drawing the room’s attention. “We’ve deciphered part of the message. It wasn’t just a warning to us. It’s a direct message—to one of us.” Aera’s breath hitched. Ying’s eyes narrowed sharply. Rafa’s hand twitched slightly, and Eolan caught it. “T
Last Updated : 2025-08-15
