Morning in Eldoria felt normal, very normal.
Vendors opened their stalls, guards rotated shifts. People moved through the streets like nothing had changed.
Inside the new estate, things were… lighter.
Darin had already claimed most of the space like it belonged to him. Alaric was organizing his equipment. Serenya moved through the house quietly, still adjusting.
Elara stood by the window again, still not used to the view, still not used to being this close to the palace.
"ELARA!" Darin's voice echoed through the house.
She groaned. "What now?"
She walked into his room, He stood there, with crossed arms.
"Time for your duties," he said.
She frowned. "What duties?"
"My room," he said simply. "Unpack my things and
arrange everything properly."
Elara blinked. "You're joking."
"I'm not."
She folded her arms. "Do it yourself."
Darin raised an eyebrow. "No complaining," he said. "Remember?"
Elara paused, then rolled her eyes at him. "Fine."
"Make sure you're done before I get back," he added, already heading out.
She muttered under her breath as he left.
Not even a minute passed.
Then— "Mom! Dad!"
Darin's voice again, but only this time it was different, urgent and loud.
"Elara, come down! You need to see this!"
Elara froze, the ran outside. She rushed down the stairs, nearly slipping as she turned.
Alaric and Serenya were already heading for the door.
"What is it?" Elara asked.
No one answered, they stepped outside.
The air felt… wrong, still and heavy.
Elara looked up, her breath caught.
The sky was changing, dark cloud was spreading rapidly. Not from the horizon but from above the palace. It was midday but the light was fading fast like something was swallowing the sun.
"What is happening?" someone whispered nearby.
Elara turned, the were streets were filling, people gathering. Everyone was looking up.
The clouds grew thicker and darker almost black
And they weren't moving naturally, they were circling almost as if they were controlled.
Serenya stepped forward slightly, her expression had changed completely.
"This isn't natural," she said quietly.
Alaric looked at her. "You know what this is?"
She didn't answer, the darkness deepened.
Until, there was no sunlight left.
A ripple moved through the sky.
Then— Something appeared. At first it was just a shape, then it became clearer. A woman suspended in the air above the palace. Gasps spread through the crowd.
Elara's chest tightened she couldn't look away.
The woman's hair moved as if carried by an unseen force—glowing faintly against the darkness.
Her eyes, bright and unnatural, watching everyone below.
She didn't look human, not completely.
"Who… is that?" Darin muttered.
No one answered.
Then the woman smiled slowly.
Her voice was not loud but everyone heard her.
"So this… is what remains of Eldoria."
The crowd went still. Even the guards near the palace gates hesitated.
Serenya's hand gripped Elara's arm suddenly.
"Elara…" she whispered.
Her voice had changed, there was fear in it.
Elara turned slightly. "Mother—?"
"Don't look at her for too long," Serenya said quickly. "Don't draw her attention."
Serenya's grip tightened around Elara's wrist. "We need to go," she said quickly.
Elara turned to her. "What?"
"We can't stay here," Serenya added, already trying to pull her back. "We can't let her see you."
"Mother, why?" Elara asked, confused.
"No questions," Serenya said firmly. "We have to leave. Now."
But Elara resisted. "No," she said, pulling her hand free. "We need to see what's happening."
Serenya's expression hardened. "Elara,"
A voice cut through the air, loud, clear and powerful.
"Who are you?"King Aldric asked.
He stood near the palace gates, surrounded by guards, his presence firm despite the tension around him.
All eyes shifted to the sky, the woman looked down at him. Then she smiled.
"I am Sybil."
Her voice echoed across the entire city. It wasn't just heard, it was felt.
"I will take over Eldoria."
Gasps spread through the crowd, fear turned into panic.
"From this moment," she continued, her voice rising, "Eldoria is mine."
Serenya's face went pale. Darin stepped slightly in front of Elara instinctively. Alaric's expression tightened.
Sybil lifted one hand slowly. "Let the destruction begin."
Then— She disappeared just like that.
For a second, nothing happened.
Then, a loud crash.
The palace gates shook violently then they burst open.
Creatures flooded in. Goblins first, small, fast, aggressive.Then others, larger, deadlier.
Snarling, clawing, tearing through anything in their path.
Screams filled the air, people ran. Guards moved instantly, forming lines, weapons drawn.
"Protect the civilians!" someone shouted.
Chaos broke loose. Darin grabbed Elara's arm. "We need to move!"
But Elara didn't move. Her eyes were fixed on the destruction, on the people.
On the guards being overwhelmed.
Then, she saw kealen in the midst of the chaos.
He stepped out from the palace, still clearly not fully recovered, but already drawing his sword.
"Hold the line!" he shouted.
His voice cut through the chaos, The soldiers rallied immediately.
A goblin lunged toward him.
Kaelen moved fast, faster than he should have been able to in his condition—and struck it down.
But it was clear, he wasn't at full strength.
"Elara, we have to go!" Serenya said again, grabbing her hand.
"This is not your fight!"
Elara pulled back. "Yes, it is," she said.
Her voice was steady and certain.
Serenya shook her head. "You don't understand—"
"I do," Elara cut in.
Her eyes were on the battlefield, on kealen and on the people.
"I can help."
Serenya's grip tightened. "No," she said. "You can't lose control now. Not here. Not like this."
But Elara wasn't listening anymore, the same feeling from before was rising again. Stronger and pulled by fear. By something deeper.
Another crash echoed, the city walls were breached.
More creatures poured in, the battle had already begun.
And this time Eldoria wasn't ready.