After the embrace, shadows dispersed into the air, leaving only the emperor and Xyril with the sinister Wendigo in the dim, eerie silence.
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"Pathetic humans," the Wendigo spat, its voice laced with disdain. "You still have no idea of the reason."
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"You!" In a flash, the emperor appeared behind the Wendigo, his blade leveled dangerously close to the creature's hollow eyes, glinting with an unearthly menace.
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"The voice. Tell me," the emperor commanded, his tone cutting through the tension like ice.
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Meanwhile, deep in the palace underground, a shadowy stranger moved silently, creeping through the ancient, hidden passages.
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The Wendigo merely laughed, a guttural, haunting sound. "You already know."
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A frown creased the emperor’s brow, suspicion flickering across his face. "Don’t play dumb, beast."
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The Wendigo's grin widened into something almost grotesque. "It’s already too late." With a final, mocking gaze, it disintegrated into a cloud of ash, swirling upward and vanishing into the night.
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Without warning, a violent explosion rocked the distant Ashengil Castle. Xyril’s sharp senses caught it instantly. She turned to the emperor, her gaze urgent. "Your Majesty, Ashengil Castle—it's under attack!" Her voice held a hint of dread.
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The emperor’s expression darkened. Without hesitation, Xyril shifted into her dragon form, her scales gleaming like polished onyx. The emperor mounted swiftly, and together, they surged into the sky, racing towards Ashengil Castle.
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Upon arrival, a scene of chaos greeted them. Flames blazed high against the darkened sky, and there, amidst the destruction, stood Aeron, his sword wreathed in fire, casting an ominous glow across his face. The emperor’s mind flashed to their last conversation—the memory of Aeron questioning him about the abandoned castle, his curiosity hinting at something deeper.
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“Aeron!” the emperor’s voice boomed as Xyril landed, gracefully shifting back to human form. Fury radiated from him as he approached, an aura of energy swirling around him, barely contained.
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Just as he raised his hand to strike Aeron in his rage, another figure burst onto the scene. Caelum appeared, his eyes now a brilliant violet, and streaks of his hair had turned a dark, electric pink—a sign that he had awakened his gift. In his arms, he carried Leth, who seemed weak but alive.
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“Enough!” Caelum’s voice cut through the tension, his own aura pulsing with newfound power. He placed Leth gently on the ground before stepping between the emperor and Aeron, his gaze unyielding. "Now is not the time for vengeance. The enemy has already struck at the heart of the empire."
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"Father, I saw someone enter the heart of the palace. That person seems to be connected to us because they unlocked the Αστρικά Αρχεία (Asterial Records)," Caelum said, his voice filled with a mixture of intrigue and urgency. His violet eyes flashed, catching the dim light, his newly awakened powers still simmering within him.
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The emperor’s mind went blank for a moment, struggling to grasp the implications of Caelum’s words. The Αστρικά Αρχεία had been sealed for generations, protected by ancient magic, known only to those of imperial blood. Whoever had broken its seal posed a threat not only to their legacy but to the very foundations of the empire itself.
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Without hesitation, the emperor summoned Muerte, his shadowy companion who lurked in the darkness, his figure shifting like a living shadow, as dark as the night. Muerte bowed, awaiting his command, his eyes glinting like hidden embers.
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"Bring me that person!" the emperor’s voice thundered, his words laced with barely restrained fury.
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As Muerte melted into the shadows to carry out his command, the emperor’s gaze fell upon Leth. She lay on a nearby cot, her body frail and skeletal, a stark contrast to the vibrant aura that once defined her. Her sunken eyes fluttered open briefly, as if sensing his gaze, but in them, he saw only weakness a frail shell, a reminder of past failures and lost power.
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Disgust twisted his features as a storm of emotions surged within him: anger at Leth’s helplessness, mingled with the disdain for her survival. Despite her weakened state, the memories of betrayal lingered, fueling his resentment.
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"Caelum, Aeron" he finally said, his voice low and cold, "prepare yourself. If this intruder could unlock the Asterial Records, they may have powers that surpass even our own."
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Caelum and Aeron nodded, his hand instinctively gripping the hilt of his sword. A sense of foreboding filled the air as he stepped forward, ready to defend his legacy, even against an unknown threat.
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Just as they braced themselves, a distant rumbling echoed from the palace’s depths a sign that the stranger’s presence was not only real but powerful enough to disturb the very heart of their world.
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