Many lives were lost.
And with them, the peaceful nights of Elmbury...vanished.
The noble families of each group gathered inside The Great Hall — a towering stone structure nestled at the heart of town, where the three factions had long held their most secretive meetings.
At the long silver table, silence hung like smoke. No one spoke. Eyes stared at the polished surface, heavy with the weight of loss.
Until—
A raspy voice broke the silence.
It was the chief of the Whites, a man older than the walls that surrounded them.
> "The prophecy was true," he said quietly, almost to himself.
A woman's voice snapped through the stillness — sharp, surprised.
She was the wife of the Reds' leader.
> "What prophecy?"
The old man turned his gaze toward the leader of the Reds.
> "You didn't tell her, fred?"
Fred said nothing. He kept his eyes low, his hands clenched in his lap.
His wife, Sophia, glanced at him — concern flickering in her eyes.
Then, the leader of the Blues leaned forward.
> "What do we do now? The prophecy came to life — and we were unprepared."
The old chief's eyes narrowed as he studied the table. Then, slowly, he lifted a trembling finger… and pointed toward the Reds and the Blues.
> "One of you," he said. "One of you is the traitor."
Gasps echoed across the hall.
Both leaders' wives exchanged alarmed glances. No one moved.
But then — the Blues' leader's younger brother spoke. His voice was calm, but there was something sharp beneath it.
> "And what if it's the Whites?" he said, looking straight at the chief. "A clan's downfall doesn't always come from outside. Sometimes… it comes from within."
The room tensed.
The chief's eyes flared with fury.
> "We are the purest!" he thundered, striking the table with his fist. "How DARE you question our loyalty!"
The younger brother didn't flinch. He merely raised an eyebrow. Then, feeling a sharp nudge at his side, turned to see his brother — the Blues' leader — giving him a warning glare.
> "What?" he muttered under his breath.
Then, the old man's voice dropped, trembling with grief.
> "I've lost my grandson," he said. "Because of this foul act."
Murmurs rippled through the hall. Even the stone walls seemed to lean in, listening.
> "I will not rest until the traitor is unmasked," the old chief said, his voice now cold.
"No one who played a part in destroying our clan will be spared."
The fire in his eyes burned bright.
> "Let this message reach every corner of Elmbury — the hunt has begun."
The hall fell into a deathly silence. No one dared to speak.
Something terrible had started.
And there was no turning back now.
---
End of Chapter 2