THE SAGES' LABORATORY — DAWN

  The first light of morning barely slipped through the tall windows of the laboratory when the heavy doors opened.

  Captain Valerius stepped inside.

  His footsteps echoed across the vast chamber, lined with towering shelves of ancient scrolls and arcane instruments that glimmered faintly in the dim light of dawn.

  He carried a burden in his arms.

  But it was not only physical.

  Walking toward the great stone examination table, he carefully laid down three bodies.

  Two citizens of Therion Vales.

  And one soldier of Xerathis.

  The dull sound of flesh meeting cold stone drew the attention of the sages.

  Orizon slowly lifted his eyes from the parchment he had been studying.

  "Captain Valerius?"

  Kaelen was already approaching.

  "What happened?"

  "The border," Valerius replied, his voice low and heavy. "I found two citizens dead… and the one responsible."

  The sages pulled back the cloth covering the bodies.

  Kaelen frowned when he saw the civilians.

  "Citizens of Therion Vales…"

  "They didn’t stand a chance," Valerius said.

  Orizon leaned over the first body and placed his hand on the center of the man's chest.

  Then he paused.

  "Wait…"

  Kaelen stepped closer.

  "What is it?"

  Orizon pressed again.

  His expression changed.

  "The Animic Core… it's not here."

  Silence fell over the room.

  "What?" Kaelen quickly examined the second citizen.

  His eyes widened.

  "This one too."

  He looked at Valerius.

  "Both of them… their cores are missing."

  Valerius frowned.

  "Removed?"

  "It appears so," Orizon said slowly.

  He then turned to the Xerathis soldier.

  Pressing his palm against the chest, he closed his eyes briefly.

  When he spoke again, his voice was calm but grim.

  "The soldier's Animic Core is still intact."

  Kaelen crossed his arms.

  "So the civilians were the targets."

  Valerius nodded.

  "He fought me."

  Both sages turned toward him.

  "And before attacking, he shouted something."

  "What did he say?" Orizon asked.

  "Amplification."

  A pause.

  "Three times."

  The two sages exchanged a glance.

  "The Great Seal Pact prevents that," Kaelen said.

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  "It should," Orizon replied.

  His gaze returned to the bodies of the citizens.

  "If someone has discovered a way to manipulate Animic Cores…"

  "Then that explains why these civilians were missing theirs," Kaelen finished.

  Valerius folded his arms.

  "And it explains why Xerathis is killing citizens."

  A heavy silence filled the laboratory.

  Orizon finally spoke.

  "Captain… leave the bodies with us."

  "We'll examine every fragment," Kaelen added.

  "If Xerathis has discovered something new about Animic Cores, we must understand it."

  Valerius nodded once.

  "Do whatever you must."

  Without another word, he turned and left the laboratory.

  Leaving the sages alone with a mystery that threatened everything they believed about the Animic Current.

  THE GREAT HALL — DIPLOMATIC COUNCIL

  Hours later, the great hall was filled.

  King Thalric sat upon the central throne.

  Beside him stood Queen Elara, her face pale from exhaustion but her posture unwavering.

  Orizon and Kaelen remained near the throne.

  Before them stood two kings.

  Zephyros Kaelum of Vaeltheris.

  His silver hair resembled storm clouds, and small arcs of lightning danced between his fingers.

  Beside him stood Vorlag Thurn of Drakmyr.

  Massive as a mountain.

  His skin resembled volcanic stone, and his eyes glowed like molten lava.

  The silence was broken by Zephyros.

  "So Therion Vales wants me to worry about Xerathis?"

  He crossed his arms.

  "The last time I worried about something beyond my borders, my kingdom nearly drowned in a storm."

  A dry smile crossed his face.

  "I learned my lesson."

  Vorlag let out a low growl.

  "In Drakmyr, lava solves problems."

  He placed his hand on the arm of the stone seat beside him.

  A small spark of magma hissed against the floor.

  "If Xerathis comes to us, they burn."

  His gaze shifted to Thalric.

  "But I will not waste soldiers protecting the Valtheris line."

  "I'm not asking for protection," Thalric said calmly. "Only that you listen."

  The hall fell silent.

  "The seal weakened."

  The two kings exchanged a glance.

  "We restored it."

  A pause.

  "Inside the soul of my youngest son."

  The air itself seemed heavier.

  "And now Xerathis is moving."

  "How?" Zephyros asked.

  Kaelen stepped forward.

  "Animic Core amplification."

  Both kings turned toward him.

  "A basic soldier fought our captain."

  Vorlag frowned.

  "When we examined the bodies… the citizens were missing their cores."

  "Removed?" Vorlag muttered.

  "It appears so," Orizon replied.

  Thalric spoke again.

  "If Xerathis has discovered a way to manipulate Animic Cores…"

  His eyes met theirs.

  "That threatens all three kingdoms."

  Silence settled over the hall.

  After a moment, Zephyros sighed.

  "Vaeltheris will watch the northern skies."

  He turned to leave.

  "If Xerathis moves… I'll know."

  Vorlag stood as well.

  "Drakmyr will do the same."

  He walked toward the exit.

  "But do not expect us to fight your wars."

  The two kings left.

  The hall fell silent.

  THE ROYAL GARDENS — AFTERNOON

  Sunlight warmed the royal gardens.

  Valerion walked slowly along the stone path, carrying Zeryon in his arms.

  Selene followed beside him with Elian.

  The two-year-old pointed excitedly at everything around him.

  "Gran! Gran! Flow!"

  Selene smiled warmly.

  "Yes, dear. Flowers."

  Elian tried to repeat the word.

  "Fow… fow…"

  Valerion chuckled softly.

  "Almost."

  But the looks around them were not the same.

  Servants stepped aside when they saw them.

  Guards lowered their eyes.

  Whispers followed them.

  "It's him… the baby."

  "They say he carries the demon."

  Selene heard it.

  Her eyes shimmered with tears.

  Elian tugged gently at her dress.

  "Gran… they…"

  She knelt beside him.

  "They're afraid."

  "Afraid?"

  "But not of you."

  Elian pointed at Zeryon.

  "Baby… afraid?"

  Selene hugged him tightly.

  "No, my angel. Your brother is not something to fear."

  She looked at Zeryon.

  "He is something to love."

  THE GROVE

  Elian spotted a flower growing farther ahead.

  Curious, he wandered a few steps away.

  He picked a yellow one.

  Then a red one.

  "Fow… fow…"

  He didn't notice the shadow moving through the trees.

  A man stepped from the forest.

  "Well… what luck."

  Elian looked up at him, confused.

  "A prince all alone."

  The man knelt in front of him.

  Elian held up the flower.

  "Fow."

  The man's eyes hardened.

  "Did you know your people killed my family?"

  Elian tilted his head.

  He didn't understand.

  He was only a child.

  The man sighed.

  "Just a baby."

  He reached out.

  Elian's eyes suddenly flared bright green.

  The ground trembled.

  Roots burst violently from the soil.

  Thick.

  Writhing.

  One wrapped around the man's arm.

  Another around his leg.

  Before he could react, a sharpened root pierced through his chest.

  The body collapsed.

  Silence returned.

  Elian remained sitting in the grass.

  Still holding his flowers.

  As if nothing had happened.

  VANE ARRIVES

  A blur cut through the grove.

  "ELIAN!"

  Vane stopped when he saw the body.

  Then he looked at the child.

  "Vane!" Elian said happily, raising the flower.

  "Fow!"

  Vane looked at the corpse.

  Then at the glowing green in the boy's eyes.

  "...his Animic Core reacted."

  He lifted Elian into his arms.

  The glow slowly faded.

  As though nothing had happened.

  Vane looked once more at the dead man.

  A Xerathis spy.

  Then he sprinted back toward the gardens.

  THE ALERT

  When they returned, Selene embraced Elian tightly.

  "Oh, thank the Current!"

  The child squirmed.

  "Gran… too tight…"

  Valerion looked at Vane.

  "What happened?"

  "A Xerathis infiltrator."

  Silence.

  "Elian's core reacted."

  "At two years old?" Kira whispered.

  Vane nodded.

  "He killed the spy."

  THE GUARD BARRACKS

  When Valerius heard the report, he stood abruptly.

  "What?"

  "A Xerathis spy attempted to abduct Prince Elian."

  Valerius walked toward the window.

  First the border.

  Now the palace.

  "Xerathis is growing bold."

  He turned sharply.

  "Maximum alert."

  The guards straightened immediately.

  "I want triple patrols at every gate."

  His gaze hardened.

  "Xerathis isn't testing our borders anymore."

  His voice dropped.

  "They're hunting."

  END OF CHAPTER 6

  The kingdom appeared calm.

  But it was a fragile calm.

  Lyra had departed for the Ashen Village.

  Kael remained in his chambers, lost in silent thoughts.

  Zeryon slept peacefully in his cradle.

  Elian rested in the nursemaid's arms, his green eyes flickering faintly from time to time.

  And along the borders…

  At the gates…

  Within the shadows…

  The warriors of Therion Vales waited.

  The time of preparation had begun.

  And when war finally came…

  Nothing in the world would ever be the same.

  Chapter 6 and for continuing to follow Animic Chain. Your support truly means a lot.

  like, following the story, and sharing your thoughts in a comment or review. Your feedback helps the story grow and motivates me to keep writing and improving each chapter.

  the path toward war has just begun.