That night, the village burned.
Screams filled the air as shadow creatures poured in from the forest.
Kael ran through flames, searching for Mira.
"Kael!" she cried.
But before he could reach her, a massive shadow beast crashed between them.
Its voice echoed like thunder:
"The Crown has returned."
Kael's hand began to glow violently.
Pain surged through his body.
And then—
Darkness exploded outward.
The beast vanished.
The fire stopped.
Everything went silent.
Kael stood in the center…
Alive.
Unharmed.
And surrounded by shadows that obeyed him.