Philip’s expression was grave as he gathered the courage to speak. Adam stood across from him, bracing himself for bad news. A heavy silence filled the air.
"We never saw it coming," Philip began quietly. "The Spirit Dinsion... it has collapsed." His voice trembled at the admission. "Our ho is shattered."
Adam’s eyes widened in disbelief. He stepped forward. "Collapsed? How? What happened over there, Philip?"
Philip took a slow breath. "We were attacked out of nowhere," he said. "An unknown force struck the Spirit Dinsion without warning. Chaos erupted instantly. Not even the Seven Council mbers – the Supre Spirits themselves – could stop it."
Adam struggled to grasp the words. The Supre Spirits were legendary figures of imnse power. "The Council mbers," he repeated, "even they failed?"
Philip nodded, pain flickering in his eyes. "Yes. They fought desperately, but the enemy was beyond anything we’ve seen. In the end, the dinsion itself began to crumble under the assault."
Adam clenched his fists. "Who attacked you? Do we know who or what could do this?"
Philip shook his head. "We have no idea who the attackers were," he answered. "They ca swiftly and with overwhelming force. Even now, no one knows their identity or motive. We only know the devastation they left behind."
Adam fell silent for a mont, stunned by the revelation. "And the Council mbers? The Supre Spirits... are they...?" He couldn’t finish the question.
"We don’t know," Philip said, voice low. "When the Spirit Dinsion fell, the Seven Council mbers vanished. Maybe they were destroyed in the collapse, or maybe they’re missing. But no one has heard from any of them since the attack."
Adam gritted his teeth, the reality sinking in. The guiding spirits of their world were simply gone. He forced himself to continue, needing every detail. "Were there any survivors? Anyone at all?"
Philip’s gaze dropped to the floor. "Very few," he murmured. "Most of our people perished or were lost when our realm shattered. Of the great ones, only two of the Spirit Kings survived the initial onslaught."
Adam blinked. The Spirit Kings were powerful in their own right—second only to the Council. "Two kings survived?" he asked hopefully. "Where are they now? What did they say?"
A bitter smile tugged at Philip’s lips. "They did not survive for long," he replied. "Those two were grievously wounded. But with their last strength, they sent out a ssage... a final command for those of us who remain."
Philip paused, recalling the mont. Adam waited, heart pounding, for the revelation. "What was the ssage?" Adam pressed gently.
Philip t Adam’s gaze, eyes filled with sorrow and determination. "They spoke of ’the Prince’," he said. "The ssage was clear: The Prince will descend into the mortal realm."
Adam frowned in confusion. "The Prince? Descend to the mortal realm? What prince are they talking about?"
"We aren’t entirely sure," Philip admitted. "In their final monts, the Spirit Kings said only this: ’Our last hope, the Prince, shall descend to the mortal realm.’ They gave no na. But they called him the Prince, as if we should know who that is."
Adam tried to recall any ntion of a prince among the spirits. Nothing ca to mind. "Did they explain anything else?" he asked. "Why send this Prince to the mortal realm?"
Philip shook his head again. "No, that was all. They were fading as they spoke. We can only guess at their intent. Perhaps the Prince is soone important—soone who needed to escape the destruction. Sending him to the mortal realm might be to protect him from the attackers, or to hide him where the enemy cannot easily reach."
Adam inhaled slowly, steadying himself. The idea that a mysterious Prince was now their last hope was almost too much to process. "So all we have is that the Prince will descend here, and we have to... what? Find him? Protect him?"
"Yes," Philip said firmly. "It sounded like they were entrusting the Prince’s safety and whatever destiny he carries to those of us in the mortal realm. It’s our responsibility now. That was their final command."
Adam absorbed Philip’s words in heavy silence. The Spirit Dinsion—his ho—was gone. The Supre Spirits, who once guided them, had vanished. Only a final ssage remained, urging them to safeguard a figure they knew almost nothing about.
He looked up at Philip. "We’ll follow their command," Adam said, voice steady despite the turmoil inside him. "We’ll find this Prince and keep him safe. If that’s our last hope, then so be it."
Philip managed a small nod. "It’s all we can do," he replied. "Until we learn more, the Prince is our only lead. The Kings gave their lives to send that ssage. We cannot let it be in vain."
Adam’s hand tightened at his side. He still had so many questions, but many would remain unanswered for now. "Philip," he asked quietly, "there’s truly no clue who did this? No trace of the attackers or the missing Council mbers at all?"
"None," Philip answered, frustration edging into his tone. "They struck from the shadows and disappeared just as quickly. We’re completely in the dark. As for the Council mbers—" he hesitated, grief flickering across his face, "—we can only pray they survived sohow. But we have nothing to go on. Not yet."
A tense hush fell between them. Adam realized he had been holding his breath and exhaled slowly. It was a struggle to accept that sothing so catastrophic had occurred without any warning or known cause.
At length, Philip broke the silence. "I know it’s difficult to believe," he said softly. "But we have to keep moving forward with what we do know."
Adam gave a determined nod. "Right. We have a mission now," he said. "We find the Prince, protect him, and figure out what cos next. And if possible, we’ll search for any sign of the Council mbers and learn who did this."
Philip placed a hand on Adam’s shoulder, offering a faint but encouraging smile. "We will," he agreed. "The Spirit Kings’ final command will guide us. It’s our duty to see it through."
With that resolve, the two stood together, the weight of the fallen Spirit Dinsion heavy on their shoulders.
Though their hearts ached for their shattered ho and lost comrades, they turned their focus to the future.
The last words of the dying Kings echoed in their minds: the Prince was coming to the mortal realm.
Now it was up to them to honor that final command.
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