The Magic of Arkonia

The city welcomed them back with an unsettling hush.

The streets, once filled with lively chatter, now carried whispers—too soft to catch but heavy enough to stir unease. People moved cautiously, their heads lowered, their steps quick. The air itself felt heavier, as if something unseen lingered in the shadows, watching.

Vaelen was the first to notice it. He slowed his steps, scanning the streets with a wary gaze. "Something's wrong," he muttered.

Raviel let out a dry chuckle. "Something's always wrong, Vaelen. You'll get wrinkles if you keep frowning like that."

Vaelen shot him a glare. "That's rich, coming from someone who never looks relaxed."

Liora sighed, rolling her eyes. "Can we at least reach the palace before you two start bickering?"

Veyra, who had been silent since they arrived, finally spoke. "It's not just the people." She paused, narrowing her eyes at the rooftops. "Even the birds are gone."

Silence followed.

She was right. The usual caws and chirps that filled the city were missing. The rooftops were empty. No flocks taking flight. No restless wings fluttering above. The absence made the city feel even more unnatural.

Liora shivered. "This place used to be alive. It feels like it's…"

"Waiting," Raviel finished for her, his voice unusually quiet.

The others glanced at him, but he only smirked and kept walking.

---

The Queen's Hidden Meeting

By the time they reached the palace, the tension had only grown. Guards were stationed more heavily than before. Their stances were rigid, their eyes sharp.

Vaelen exchanged a glance with Liora before stepping forward. "Where's the Queen?"

A hesitant pause. Then the guard answered, "She's in a meeting. No one is allowed inside."

Veyra frowned. "With who?"

"That information is restricted."

Raviel snorted. "Right. Because secrecy has never caused problems before."

Vaelen clenched his jaw but didn't argue. They had just returned. Barging into a royal meeting wasn't exactly a good idea.

Still, a strange unease settled over them.

---

Ravyn's Restlessness

That night, as the others rested, Veyra found Ravyn standing alone on the balcony, staring up at the night sky.

The moon was high, casting a silver glow over the city.

"Are you waiting for something?" she asked.

He didn't look at her. "No." A pause. "Yes. I don't know."

She leaned against the railing beside him. "You're acting weird."

He smirked, finally glancing her way. "I'm always weird."

She rolled her eyes. "Not like this. You're quieter. More thoughtful."

"Is that so terrible?"

"For you? Yes."

He chuckled but didn't deny it. Instead, he turned his gaze back to the sky. "You ever wonder how bright the stars can get?"

Veyra frowned. "What?"

"They always shine the brightest right before dawn." His voice was soft, distant. "Like they know their time is almost up."

Something about the way he said it sent a chill through her.

"You sound like you're saying goodbye."

He didn't respond. Just gave her a lazy smirk before pushing off the railing. "Don't be dramatic, Veyra."

But the feeling didn't leave her.

---

The Warning – But Too Late to Understand

In the depths of the palace, an urgent message arrived.

A bloodstained piece of parchment, torn at the edges.

Zareth's handwriting.

Liora picked it up, eyes narrowing as she read:

"The prophecy is moving faster than expected. The Serpent—"

The ink was smudged.

"Beware the Queen's next move. Someone must—"

The rest of the message was missing.

A piece of torn parchment. An unfinished warning.

And no time left to understand it.

---

Their Last Moment of Peace

The unease lingered, but for now, there was nothing they could do.

So, as a temporary distraction, they did something they hadn't done in a while.

They ate together.

Seated in one of the palace courtyards, surrounded by dim lantern light, the tension faded just for a moment.

Vaelen and Liora were bickering about sword techniques.

Veyra tried to steal a piece of bread from Vaelen's plate, only to have him swat her hand away.

Raviel sat back, watching them, his smirk never fading. "I don't understand how you all survived this long."

Liora scoffed. "Says the guy who nearly died last month because he refused to follow a simple plan."

Raviel held a hand to his chest. "That was strategic improvisation."

"That was you being an idiot."

Veyra chuckled, leaning her head back against her chair. "This is nice."

Vaelen raised an eyebrow. "What is?"

She gestured vaguely. "This. Sitting together. Eating. Not nearly dying."

For a brief second, they all fell quiet, as if realizing at the same time how rare moments like this were.

Then Raviel smirked, raising his cup. "To not nearly dying."

The others rolled their eyes but clinked their cups together anyway.

For a moment, everything was normal.

---

The Ending – And the Ominous Sign

Then, the wind shifted.

It wasn't much. Just a faint change in the air, barely noticeable.

But Raviel felt it.

His smirk faded as he glanced toward the horizon.

The sky, once clear, now carried a strange red hue.

Liora frowned. "The hell…?"

Vaelen stiffened. "That's not normal."

A whisper echoed through the wind. Soft. Unclear.

Raviel exhaled, his shoulders relaxing in a way that felt almost… accepting.

"It's starting," he murmured.

Veyra turned to him. "What's starting?"

He didn't answer.

Because deep down, he already knew.

And there was no stopping it now.