The forest was silent.
Too silent.
Amara stood at the edge of Hollowmere, staring into the dark trees where the fragment of the Eternal Shadow had appeared. The battle was over, but the feeling of danger had not disappeared.
Villagers were still whispering behind her.
Some looked at her with gratitude.
Others looked at her with fear.
Amara wrapped her arms around herself.
"I didn't mean for them to be afraid," she said quietly.
The Shadow Prince stood beside her, his cloak moving gently in the wind.
"They fear what they do not understand," he replied. "Power always brings fear."
Amara looked down at her hands. They were still faintly glowing with amber light.
"You said I'm… Lightbound," she said slowly.
"What does that mean?"
The Prince was quiet for a moment.
As if choosing his words carefully.
"Long before your village existed," he began, "there were two ancient forces that shaped this world."
"Light… and Shadow."
Amara listened carefully.
"The Lightbound were warriors who carried the pure power of light," he continued. "They were the only ones capable of defeating the Eternal Shadow."
Amara's heart beat faster.
"So my power…"
"Is the same power that once saved the world," he finished.
She shook her head in disbelief.
"That doesn't make sense. I'm just a girl from Hollowmere."
The Prince looked at her with a faint smile.
"You were never just a girl."
Suddenly—
A loud horn echoed through the village.
Amara turned quickly.
Several riders were approaching from the southern road.
Armored soldiers.
Their silver armor shone under the sunlight, and their banners carried the symbol of a golden sun.
The villagers stepped aside nervously as the soldiers rode into the village square.
The leader dismounted from his horse.
His sharp eyes immediately locked onto Amara.
"So," he said, his voice cold and firm.
"We finally found you."
Amara blinked in confusion.
"Found me?"
The soldier stepped closer.
"I am Captain Roderic of the Royal Guard," he announced. "Sent by the king himself."
The villagers gasped.
The king?
Captain Roderic studied Amara carefully.
"You are the girl who used Lightbound magic last night," he said.
Amara hesitated.
"Yes… I think so."
The captain nodded.
"Then you must come with us immediately."
Amara frowned.
"Why?"
His answer made the entire village go silent.
"Because," he said,
"the king believes you may be the only person who can stop the return of the Eternal Shadow."
Amara slowly looked at the Shadow Prince.
His expression had darkened.
As if something about the soldiers worried him.
Very much.
As the soldiers prepared to take Amara away, the Shadow Prince whispered quietly:
"Be careful… the king may not be the ally you think he is."
Amara's eyes widened.
If the king couldn't be trusted…
Then who could?