The castle bells screamed as if the very stones themselves were in agony. Elara barely had time to breathe before Corvus grabbed her hand, dragging her down the spiraling stairwell. Kael followed, sword drawn, eyes darting to the swirling black mist that had begun devouring the courtyard.
"Where are we going?" Elara gasped, stumbling over her own feet.
"To the hidden chambers beneath the castle," Corvus replied without looking back. "There's a passage only the royal family knows. If the Shadowborne find you here, it will be the end of Avalor."
Elara's mind raced. Hidden chambers? Passage? I don't even know the last time anyone used these corridors…
The trio ducked into a narrow archway behind the throne room, where stone steps spiraled downward into pitch-black tunnels. Torches lit themselves magically, casting a pale golden glow over the damp walls. The air smelled of dust and old secrets, thick enough to taste.
Kael's voice broke the tense silence. "Elara… the prophecy… when it says 'the kingdom shall fall into the hands of the Shadowborne,' does it mean… you're supposed to stop them?"
Elara swallowed, her voice barely a whisper. "I don't know. I've never fought anything beyond a practice sword. How could I possibly…?"
A rumble echoed through the tunnels, and Elara froze. Shadows flickered against the walls, impossibly fast, moving like smoke with teeth.
"They've found the outer walls," Corvus said grimly. "We have only minutes before the castle itself is overrun."
The passages twisted, sometimes narrowing into barely wide enough gaps. Elara could hear the distant shrieks of guards, the clash of steel, and the unmistakable hiss of creatures that should not exist.
"Stay close," Corvus urged. "And trust no one outside these walls. Not even the King."
Elara's stomach churned at the words, but she nodded. She could hardly trust herself yet, let alone the world beyond the castle.
Finally, they reached a heavy stone door, etched with runes that glowed faintly as Corvus traced his fingers across them. The door shuddered open, revealing a hidden chamber beneath the castle—a library of forbidden knowledge, tomes stacked high, and scrolls spilling across the floor.
"Elara," Corvus said, turning to her, "you are the heir of the Shadowbound Kingdom. That means you are tied to powers older than Avalor itself. Powers that the Shadowborne crave. You must learn to awaken them… before they take everything."
Kael's hand tightened on hers. "We'll figure this out. Together."
Elara swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her destiny pressing down. She had never asked for greatness. She had never asked for danger. And yet, as the shadows pressed against the walls above, she realized there was no choice.
Her journey had begun.
And the night was far from over.