Commander Maria stood atop the Moonlight walls, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon. She hadn’t moved from this spot since dawn, a silent sentinel watching for any sign of movent across the silvery plains that surrounded the kingdom. The eastern sun cast long shadows across her weathered face, highlighting the scar that ran from temple to jaw.
’Three days since Mika left,’ she thought, fingers absently tracing the hilt of her blade. ’She should have reached the border by now.’
The fatigue of constant vigilance weighed on her shoulders, but she refused to leave her post. Not when so much was at stake. Not when the Veilwalker remained missing and Viva’s fate unknown.
A flicker of movent on the horizon caught her attention—dust rising in thin plus against the morning sky. Maria straightened, eyes narrowing as she focused on the approaching riders.
"Sound the bell," she ordered the guard beside her, her voice sharp with urgency. "Riders approaching from the east."
The guard nodded and hurried to the watchtower where the massive silver bell hung. Monts later, its clear tone rang out across the Moonlight Kingdom, alerting the royal guards to potential visitors.
As the riders drew closer, Maria’s expression shifted from concern to surprise. At the front rode Mika, her distinctive riding style unmistakable even at a distance. Behind her followed two unfamiliar warriors, their bald heads gleaming in the sunlight.
’Vylonian warriors,’ Maria realized with shock. ’How did Mika encounter them? And how did she return so quickly?’
The gatekeeper’s bell rang again, this ti in the pattern signaling friendly approach. Maria watched as the massive silver gates swung open, allowing the small party entry into the Moonlight Kingdom.
She descended the stone steps quickly, reaching the courtyard just as Mika dismounted. The warrior’s usual swagger was tempered by exhaustion, but her eyes remained alert, scanning her surroundings with practiced efficiency.
"Commander," Mika acknowledged with a brief nod, her voice low. "We need to speak with the queens. Imdiately."
Maria’s gaze shifted to the two warriors who had accompanied Mika. They dismounted with fluid grace, their identical silver armor marking them clearly as Vylonian elites. Both had intricately patterned tattoos extending from their bald scalps down their necks, disappearing beneath their collars.
"Vylonian warriors," Maria stated, her tone carefully neutral. "An unexpected developnt."
The taller of the two stepped forward, offering a respectful bow. "Captain Nari of Queen Elizabeth’s royal guard. This is Lieutenant Seril." She gestured to her companion. "We bring urgent news from Vylonia."
"It’s beautiful," Seril murmured, her eyes wide as she took in the gleaming silver architecture of the Moonlight Palace. "The stories don’t do it justice."
Maria ignored the comnt, her attention focused on Mika. "Report. What happened? How did you encounter Vylonian warriors when you were ant to be traveling to Vylonia?"
"It’s complicated," Mika replied, fatigue evident in her voice. "But they have information about the Veilwalker. About where he’s being held."
Maria’s expression remained impassive, but her shoulders tensed. "Follow ," she ordered, turning toward the palace. "The queens need to hear this."
Inside the palace, Lyra stood before a large table covered with ancient scrolls and maps. She had been working with the palace scholars since dawn, searching for any ntion of the First Eternal in the kingdom’s extensive archives.
"This can’t be right," she muttered, comparing two scrolls. "These accounts contradict each other completely."
A soft knock at the door interrupted her concentration. The door opened to reveal a young ssenger, slightly breathless from running.
"Princess," the ssenger said, bowing deeply, "Commander Maria requests your presence in the royal study imdiately. Riders have arrived from the east—including Warrior Mika and two Vylonian guards."
Lyra’s eyes widened in surprise. "Vylonian warriors? Here?" She set down the scrolls carefully. "Inform my mother at once."
The ssenger nodded and departed quickly. Lyra gathered the most relevant scrolls before making her way through the palace corridors, her mind racing with questions.
’How did Mika encounter Vylonian warriors? And how did she return so swiftly?’
When she reached her mother’s private study, she found Queen Elysia and Queen Elena already deep in conversation, surrounded by Moonlight scholars whose silver robes marked them as the kingdom’s most learned advisors.
"Mother," Lyra announced as she entered, "Mika has returned—and she’s brought Vylonian warriors with her."
Elysia looked up sharply, surprise evident in her features. "Vylonian warriors? Here?"
"They’re on their way up now," Lyra confird, placing her scrolls on the table. "Commander Maria is escorting them."
Elena’s expression grew troubled. "What could have prompted Vylonian warriors to follow Mika? They rarely leave their borders, let alone travel to other kingdoms unannounced."
"Let us hope it’s good news," Elysia replied, though her tone suggested she held little hope for such an outco.
The door opened again, and Commander Maria entered, followed by Mika and the two Vylonian warriors. All three bowed deeply before the assembled royalty.
Mika stepped forward first, approaching Queen Elena. She leaned close, whispering sothing that made the Thornvale queen’s expression darken considerably.
Captain Nari moved forward next, her posture perfect as she addressed the room. "Your Majesties, I am Captain Nari of Queen Elizabeth’s royal guard, and this is Lieutenant Seril." She gestured to her companion. "We were dispatched with urgent news regarding the Veilwalker’s whereabouts."
Nari’s eyes scanned the room carefully, noting the scholars and guards present. "The ssage is of a sensitive nature, Your Majesties."
Queen Elena raised her hand dismissively. "It is alright, warrior. You may speak freely. Everyone present is trusted with matters concerning the Veilwalker."
Nari nodded, straightening her shoulders. "Queen Elizabeth entered the dreams of the Veilwalker through her nature magic," she began, her voice clear and steady. "She discovered that he’s being held prisoner by a being called the First Eternal—a leader nad Kaida."
At the ntion of this na, a visible tension filled the room.
"Queen Elizabeth saw through the Veilwalker’s eyes," Nari continued. "They’ve taken him to a realm called Fea—a place between worlds."
"The Fea realm," Elena whispered, her face paling. "I’ve heard of it before."
Elysia stepped forward, her expression grim. "Did your queen see anyone else with the Veilwalker? Was there an elf nad Kiran?"
"Yes," Seril answered. "The Veilwalker ntioned soone nad Kiran as being involved. One of the First Eternal’s followers."
’Kiran i will kill you myself i promise,’ Elysia thought, her hands clenching at her sides.
"And Viva?" Mika demanded, her voice tight with barely controlled emotion. "Did she see Viva?"
Nari nodded slowly. "The Veilwalker wasn’t alone. There was another prisoner with him—a silver-haired warrior."
Mika’s breath caught audibly, her usual confident deanor cracking montarily.
Queen Elena observed the Vylonian warriors more closely, noting the bandages visible beneath their armor and the faint bruises on their exposed skin. "You both appear to have suffered injuries on your journey," she said, her voice laced with concern. "What happened?"
Nari and Seril exchanged glances before Seril spoke. "We were ambushed while traveling through the borderlands, Your Majesty. Strange creatures attacked our party without warning."
"Had it not been for Warrior Mika and her squad," Nari added, inclining her head toward Mika with respect, "we might not have survived the encounter. They fought with remarkable skill and courage."
"What kind of creatures?" Lyra asked, her scholarly curiosity evident in her tone.
"Unlike any I’ve encountered before," Nari replied cautiously. "It moved like water, yet had physical form. Had abilities that seed... unnatural."
"That’s impossible," Lyra murmured, eyes wide with realization. "Unless—"
"Unless they’ve found a way to alter elental abilities," Maria finished for her, her mind racing with the implications. ’A creature using water elent? How is that possible?’
"Enough," Maria stated firmly, cutting off further discussion. "No one is to speak of any creature. We have enough to worry about without adding speculations."
Elena rose from her seat, her expression resolute. "The Fea realm," she repeated, her voice somber. "A place that exists between our world and others. If that’s where they’ve taken the Veilwalker, our situation is grave indeed."
A heavy silence fell over the room as the implications settled upon them all.
"Then we must find a way to reach this realm," Elysia declared, eting Elena’s gaze with determination. "Whatever it takes."
Elena nodded slowly, her eyes distant as if recalling ancient knowledge. "Whatever it takes," she echoed softly.
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