The warm light of sunset cast long shadows over the golden palace as Aeron stood training alone in the isolation valley. His aura had changed—stronger, refined, and now laced with the presence of something ancient. The Celestial Warden had begun to stir within him.
But far away, in the capital city of a neighboring kingdom, a cloaked man stepped off his dimensional beast mount. His presence caused the guards to freeze, their instincts screaming to step aside. He wasn't just strong—he was legend.
His eyes, sharp and calm, landed on a glove-covered hand of a passing boy. A glimpse of something beneath the glove caught his attention—a ring glimmered faintly.
He stopped in his tracks.
> "That ring…" he muttered. "Only one of its kind was ever made."
He clenched his fist. That ring once belonged to his master's queen—a woman who vanished mysteriously years ago. And now… a boy had it.
But before he could approach, a powerful force slammed into the ground in front of him.
BOOM.
A man wrapped in armor with a blazing aura stood tall. Eyes glowing.
> "Don't. Even. Try," the protector said, his presence suffocating. "You're not permitted near him."
The mysterious man didn't flinch. He slowly stepped back.
> "Fine," he whispered. "But I know what I saw. That boy… might be him."
---
Back in the Royal Court…
The king was in the middle of a meeting with nobles and relatives when a magical scroll zipped through the air and landed gently in his hand.
He read it silently.
Then burned it with a flick of his finger.
But his eyes… they darkened with a storm of emotions.
> "My King, is something wrong?" one official asked.
> "Nothing important," he said calmly, but everyone around him knew—he was hiding something. Something huge.
Whispers began to rise.
Relatives exchanged glances.
They'd all seen that look before—right before a war started.
---
Meanwhile… Aeron & Azrakel
Aeron wiped sweat from his forehead. Training was exhausting, but Azrakel—now visible in his semi-physical form—hovered beside him, floating upside down with a ridiculous crown on his head.
> Azrakel: "Okay, dramatic energy moment aside, did anyone else feel that pressure in the air? No? Just me? Guess I'm the only one with style and cosmic senses."
> Aeron: "What was that power earlier today?"
> Azrakel: "Someone came too close to my favorite headache—you. So the kingdom's hidden guardian decided to say hi. Uninvited guests get flame-roasted. Good times."
> (to the readers)
"By the way, readers, if you're thinking 'Oh, I bet that man will return soon,'... congrats, you're correct. But let's not ruin the suspense, yeah?"
---
To Be Continued…