The night the walls of Eldoria shook, Prince Kaelen knew the kingdom would never be the same again.
It was supposed to be a peaceful night.
The palace of Eldoria rested under a blanket of quiet. Torches flickered softly along the stone corridors, and the guards patrolling the walls spoke in low voices, their footsteps echoing faintly in the distance.
But sleep refused to come to me.
Instead, I stood on the balcony outside my chamber, gazing up at the endless stretch of stars scattered across the dark sky. The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of pine from the forests beyond the city.
Eldoria looked beautiful from here.
The tall towers gleamed in silver moonlight. The city streets below were silent, lanterns glowing faintly outside shuttered homes. Beyond the great stone walls stretched fields of gold and the dark line of the forest that surrounded the kingdom like a watchful shadow.
For a moment, everything felt calm.
Too calm.
I rested my arms against the stone railing and exhaled slowly. Being the prince meant the weight of the kingdom never truly left my shoulders, even in moments like this.
My father always said a ruler must learn to see danger before it arrives.
I didn't know why, but tonight the air felt… wrong.
Then it happened.
The ground trembled beneath my feet.
At first it was subtle—a faint vibration that rattled the metal lantern hanging beside the balcony door.
I straightened.
Another tremor followed, stronger this time. The stone beneath me shuddered, and somewhere inside the palace a glass goblet shattered.
An earthquake?
No.
The trembling wasn't coming from beneath the earth.
It was coming from beyond the walls.
A distant roar split the night.
My heart slammed against my chest.
That wasn't thunder.
And it certainly wasn't an earthquake.
We were being attacked.
Without another thought, I turned and sprinted inside.
The quiet halls of the palace erupted into chaos as I raced through them. Servants stumbled from their rooms, confused and frightened. Guards shouted orders to one another as the alarm bells began to ring across the fortress.
I grabbed the thick rope hanging beside the great bronze bell in the corridor and pulled with all my strength.
The sound exploded through the palace.
GONG.
GONG.
GONG.
The warning bell echoed across Eldoria like thunder.
Wake up. Danger has come.
My boots pounded against the marble floors as I rushed toward the throne room. My breath came fast, adrenaline surging through me.
The massive doors burst open as I pushed inside.
My father, King Aldric, was already standing from his throne, his sharp eyes blazing with urgency.
"Father!" I shouted, struggling to catch my breath. "Our enemies are upon us!"
His jaw tightened.
Before he could respond, the doors slammed open again.
General Lysender stormed into the chamber, his armor half-fastened and his face pale beneath the torchlight.
"Your Majesty," he said urgently, bowing quickly. "Scouts report movement in the northern forest. Hundreds of creatures are approaching the walls."
"Creatures?" my father repeated grimly.
Another roar echoed through the night, louder this time.
The windows of the throne room rattled.
"We don't have time for strategy," my father bellowed, his voice cutting through the tension like steel. "We need to hold the walls!"
The general nodded sharply.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
My father turned to him.
"Ready the archers with fire arrows. Place the soldiers along the battlements. If those creatures reach the gates, Eldoria will fall before dawn."
"Yes, sire."
The general hurried out of the room to carry out the command.
For a moment, the throne room fell silent except for the distant clanging of alarm bells.
I turned toward the windows overlooking the city.
Outside, the night had changed.
Torches were being lit along the walls. Soldiers rushed to their posts. The once peaceful streets of Eldoria were filling with frightened voices and hurried footsteps.
And beyond the walls…
Something moved in the darkness.
A low chorus of screeches rose from the forest.
My stomach twisted.
Whatever was coming, it wasn't just one creature.
It was an army.
I tightened my grip around the hilt of my sword.
A cold chill slid down my spine.
This night would change everything.
And deep down, I knew the battle about to begin was only the beginning of something far worse.