Morning arrived, but the tension inside the royal palace had not disappeared.
Knights moved quickly through the halls.
Messengers ran between offices.
Everyone was busy preparing for the king's orders.
Inside the royal courtyard, a group of elite knights had gathered.
They were the scouting team assigned to investigate the ruins of Velkar Temple.
Captain Leon stood in front of them.
"Listen carefully," he said with a serious voice.
"The mana disturbance last night was not normal."
"We suspect the presence of followers of the Void Cult."
The knights immediately straightened.
That name alone was enough to make any soldier nervous.
Captain Leon continued.
"Our mission is simple."
"Scout the area."
"Confirm the enemy presence."
"And return with information."
"No unnecessary fights."
The knights nodded.
"Yes, Captain!"
The scouting team soon left the palace, riding toward the northern mountains.
Meanwhile—
inside the palace library, Saksham was once again reading ancient books.
He had been searching for anything related to darkness magic.
But most records had been destroyed or sealed.
Only vague warnings remained.
"Darkness consumes everything…"
"Those who use it lose control…"
"Forbidden power must never return…"
Saksham closed the book slowly.
"That's strange."
His darkness did not feel like that at all.
It felt calm.
Controlled.
Balanced by light.
Inside his mind, the system appeared again.
SYSTEM MESSAGE
Skill Progress Updated
Balance Control Level 3
Next Requirement:
Balance Control Level 4
Training Recommendation:
Increase simultaneous control of Light and Darkness.
Saksham leaned back in his chair.
He still had one year before the Royal Academy entrance exam.
But now there was a bigger problem.
If the Void Cult truly existed again…
then the world was becoming dangerous much sooner than expected.
Just then—
the doors of the library opened.
A familiar voice called out.
"Prince Saksham!"
Saksham looked up.
It was Arjun Rathore.
The young noble who had challenged him earlier.
Arjun walked inside confidently.
"You're hiding in the library again?"
Saksham replied calmly.
"I'm studying."
Arjun crossed his arms.
"You're preparing for the Royal Academy too, right?"
Saksham nodded.
"Of course."
Arjun grinned.
"Good."
"Because next time we fight…"
"I'll be stronger."
Saksham almost smiled.
"Then I'll look forward to it."
At that moment—
far away in the northern mountains—
Captain Leon and the scouting knights arrived near the ruins of Velkar Temple.
The ancient stone structure stood broken and abandoned.
But something felt wrong.
The air was cold.
Heavy with dark mana.
One of the knights whispered.
"Captain… do you feel that?"
Leon nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Suddenly—
a voice echoed from inside the temple.
"So the kingdom has finally noticed us."
Dark figures slowly stepped out from the shadows.
Each one wearing black robes.
Void Cult followers.
And standing behind them…
was the same mysterious leader with glowing dark eyes.
He smiled calmly.
"Welcome, royal knights."
The scouting team immediately drew their swords.
Captain Leon stepped forward.
"You are surrounded."
The cult leader laughed softly.
"You misunderstand."
His dark energy suddenly expanded across the ruins.
"You are the ones surrounded."
Back in the royal palace—
Saksham suddenly felt a powerful surge of darkness far away.
His eyes widened.
"The knights…"
Something terrible was about to happen.
To be continued…