The morning sun rose over the ancient towers of Windan, bathing its white marble spires in a golden glow. The sky was clear. Too clear.
Queen Altharia Moonveil stepped onto her balcony. The wind that usually danced with her silver hair had stilled. The sky bore no songbirds. The breeze carried no scent.
> Queen Altharia (quietly):
"The winds are silent today... even the earth holds its breath."
Behind her, Elina, her loyal handmaiden, hesitated.
> Elina:
"Why do you say that, my Queen?"
> Queen:
"Have you heard any birds singing this morning?"
> Elina:
"No, my Queen. Not a sound. Even the temple bells are quiet today."
Altharia's eyes narrowed, gaze locked on the horizon. > Queen (softly):
"Something... unnatural is stirring."
She turned suddenly.
> Queen:
"Has the Elite Guard returned from their search?"
> Elina:
"Not yet. But I heard... they will arrive at court by noon."
The Queen said nothing, her silence heavier than words. She stepped back into her chambers.
> Queen (calmly):
"Prepare my crown, Elina. We must meet them in court."
Before leaving the chamber: > Elina:
"My Queen… in the royal records, has the wind ever stopped like this before?"
> Queen Altharia (after a long pause):
"No, child. In ten thousand years of recorded human history... this has never happened."
Queen Altharia walked briskly through the ivory hallways of the palace, her long cloak trailing like a shadow of doubt behind her. Her mind swirled with unease.
> "What could silence the wind… mute the birds… and still the rivers? This cannot be natural."
Her thoughts turned grim.
> "It must be the Domain of Darkness… something has awakened there."
As she approached the Royal Courtroom, she noticed the unease. Nobles, scholars, guards, and even the servants wore expressions of dread. Whispers filled the air like fog.
The doors creaked open. A royal bellman struck the staff against the marble floor.
> Bellman:
"All rise for Her Majesty, Queen Altharia Moonveil!"
> Crowd (in unison):
"Long live the Queen!"
Queen Altharia stepped through the golden archway and ascended her throne. She raised one hand and declared:
> Queen Altharia:
"Let today's court begin."
The High Minister stood and bowed deeply.
> Minister Varin:
"Your Majesty… there is much unrest in the natural world. Rivers have stilled. Forests are lifeless. Birds are gone. Even the breeze refuses to move. We've also lost all contact with the Elite Royal Guard."
> Queen (alarmed):
"Still no message? They were expected three days ago."
> Minister:
"None, my Queen. Scouts sent to the outer forest report... nothing. No movement. Not even animal tracks."
A cold silence fell over the court.
> Queen Altharia:
"This… this is not nature. I fear something has awakened in the Domain of Darkness. We must act now."
She stood from her throne, eyes burning with resolve.
> Queen:
"Prepare the army. Alert the outer villages. Strengthen the border defenses. Send warnings to allied kingdoms. We will be the first to face whatever rises… and we will not fall."
> Queen (firmly):
"Let all citizens find shelter. Ready our mages. Ready our warriors. I will not let Windan be taken in silence."
Suddenly, a palace guard stormed into the room, breathless.
> Guard:
"My Queen! The Elite Royal Guard… they've returned. But—only one made it back."
The room gasped.
> Guard:
"He is… gravely wounded, barely breathing. The rest… 50 of them… are missing or worse."
The court erupted into disbelief. Murmurs turned into fearful shouts.
> Noblewoman:
"The Elite Guard? Defeated?"
> Scholar:
"Each of them is said to be worth five hundred soldiers!"
> Servant:
"This can't be true… this is impossible…"
Panic brewed like a rising storm.
Queen Altharia raised her hand again — this time with power behind her voice.
> Queen Altharia:
"Silence! We are elves. We are Windan. We have stood for ten thousand years — and we will stand still."
Her voice echoed through the marble halls. > Queen:
"I will meet the surviving warrior personally. Once I return, we prepare. Every sword, every spell, every soul… ready for what comes.
Queen Altharia walked through the grand halls of Windan Palace, accompanied by her high ministers. Her footsteps echoed against the marble floors, the silence around her deeper than ever. Her mind was plagued with dread.
> Queen Altharia (thinking): "What could possibly destroy my finest warriors? Only one returns—Captain Able. The strongest among them. If he fell, then what did they face?"
Her heart ached. Doubts clawed at her.
> Queen Altharia (thinking): "Did I fail? My father entrusted this kingdom to me… My bloodline watches from the stars, and I have brought disgrace to it."
A palace guard approached with urgency.
> Guard: "My Queen… we've reached the medical chambers. But be warned—what you see inside will be… brutal."
Queen Altharia nodded silently.
As the doors creaked open, the stench of blood struck her. Her eyes widened. Before her lay Captain Able—barely alive. Blood soaked his armor. One leg was missing. One hand was gone. Cuts laced his body. Yet worse than the wounds was the fear in his eyes. The strongest warrior in Windan trembled.
> Queen Altharia: "Able! My brave soldier! What happened? What kind of monster could do this?"
Captain Able slowly turned his head.
> Captain Able: "Forgive me, my Queen… I cannot rise today."
> Queen: "You need not rise, my soldier. Speak. What did this to you?"
> Able: "There's something beyond imagination stirring in the Domain of Darkness. My entire unit—gone. Fifty of Windan's best… and only I returned. I failed you, my Queen. I am no longer worthy to bear the title of Captain."
His voice cracked.
> Able: "They screamed for help… and I… I couldn't save them. Their faith in me led them to death."
> Queen: "Never say that again! Your bravery is unquestionable. My faith in you is unshaken. Now tell me—what happened out there?"
> Able: "We were stationed near the water border between Windan and the Domain of Darkness. But the sea had frozen solid. Curious—and cautious—we crossed it. As we stepped into the forest… we became lost. There was no exit. The trees were too thick. The air… thick with dread."
> Able: "We saw thousands of human skeletons. No signs of how they got there. Every step we took was like walking into a tomb. Then we saw him. A man… no, a thing… standing on a stone. Black mist flowed from his form. We couldn't see his face or aura clearly—not even my divine detection could sense him."
Able began to cough blood. The Queen leaned closer.
> Able: "Then… in an instant… he moved. Just a twitch. And my men… shattered. Turned to dust."
> Able (voice trembling): "But it didn't end there. He brought them back. Again and again. Each time killing them differently—burning, freezing, slicing. It was like a cruel game."
Tears welled in his eyes.
> Able: "He raised his hand… and unleashed a black flood. It pierced through their bodies… and they turned. Into monsters. Creatures with immense strength and twisted forms. I was surrounded by my own comrades—now demons."
> Able: "Only one among them, Avkai, recognized me. He… he threw me back across the frozen sea. I don't know how. But he saved me."
> Able: "My Queen… I fear I carry that black blood inside me now. I feel it crawling under my skin. I'm losing control. Please… please, end me before I become one of them."
> Able: "Tell my wife… I loved her more than anything. Tell my children… I'm sorry I couldn't return home. I wish I had dinner with them one last time. I was lucky to have them in my life. Please… release me from this pain."
Queen Altharia's hands trembled. Her eyes were filled with tears.> Able: "Don't let me be the reason Windan falls. Strike me down. Now."
As Able began to scream, his body convulsing, Queen Altharia summoned her divine power. Her fingers glowed with sacred light.> Queen Altharia (whispering): "Forgive me, my brave friend. May you find peace."
With a final prayer, she touched his forehead. His body turned to dust—silent, peaceful dust.
The chamber fell quiet.
Queen Altharia rose. Her sorrow turned to fury.
> Queen: "Assemble the ministers! Mobilize the army! Send messengers to every kingdom—Kazmara, Orvelin, Duskron, Solgard, and more. This is no longer Windan's war—it is the battle for humanity."
> Queen (commanding): "Prepare every sword, every mage, every soldier. Anyone who can fight—must fight. Or our future will vanish."
The bells of Windan rang once more. Not for ceremony. Not for peace. But for war.
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