"He— You keep guarding the Fourth Prince," the first guard ordered sharply, his voice low but urgent.
The other guard frowned. "Where are you going?"
"To His Majesty."
"What? Why?"
"Can't tell you."
The first guard didn't wait for an answer. His boots clanged against the stone floor as he sprinted toward the king's chambers, his armor rattling faintly in the quiet corridor.
---
Meanwhile, inside the dimly lit room of the Fourth Prince, Kall sat motionless on his bed, eyes narrowed, his breathing slow. There was someone here. I'm sure of it. The faint sensation of a gaze still clung to him like a cold mist. But why…?
His mind jumped to the first possibility. Right. First brother.
The thought alone was enough to make him stand up instantly. He took a step toward the door, intent on rushing to the First Prince's quarters. But then… doubt. No. If it isn't him, then I'd be wasting time. And if something else is going on, leaving recklessly could be dangerous.
He exhaled, forcing his heartbeat to slow. Calm down, Kall.
The prince turned his gaze slowly around his room, scanning every shadow, every object. His quarters were far from lavish — nothing of real value was here. No glittering treasures, no ancient artifacts. Only an old iron sword leaning against the wall… and the dead, shimmering corpse of the rainbow slime he had recently defeated.
His eyes lingered on it. An idea formed.
Without hesitation, he placed his hand over the slime's body. A faint pulse of energy passed through his palm, and the slime's form dissolved into motes of light. A voice rang in his mind:
[You have acquired a new skill: Body Revolution]
No time to think about the details. Kall grabbed the iron sword, its familiar weight reassuring, and strode toward the door.
When he opened it, the guard stationed outside jumped slightly. "Ah… Prince! Why you—?!"
"We have no time. Let's go," Kall cut in, his tone commanding.
"But…" the guard began, confused.
"No sound," Kall ordered, his eyes flashing. "Follow me."
The guard swallowed his questions and obeyed, falling into step behind him.
---
Elsewhere in the palace, the first guard — Jack — stopped before a pair of tall golden doors inlaid with intricate carvings of dragons and phoenixes. He raised a fist and knocked firmly.
"Who is it?" came a voice from within.
"I, Jack, the guard of the Fourth Prince. I have something to report."
There was a faint scrape of metal from the other side, then the doors opened. A man stepped out — tall, broad-shouldered, with hair like black silk and eyes sharp as steel. His mere presence seemed to thicken the air.
The King of Strabila.
Even without raising his voice, his words carried the weight of command. "What is this?"
Jack saluted quickly. "Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince has reached the Fourth Beginning Level… and also…"
The king's brows rose. "Is it true?"
"Yes, my lord. Also—"
"Also what?" The king's tone was neither impatient nor cold, but Jack could sense the mix of emotions swirling beneath — joy, surprise, and something heavier.
The guard hesitated. Even a king is still a father, he thought. "My lord… the prince said there was a shadow at his window. But I found no one."
The king's eyes narrowed, deep in thought. For a brief moment, he seemed to be calculating something, weighing possibilities. Then his expression hardened.
"Jack," the king said suddenly, "be on guard. We are going to the First Prince's chambers."
Jack blinked. "But why?… Oh!" Understanding struck him, and his blood ran cold.
The king turned and stepped back into his room. Moments later, he emerged holding the Royal Beast Sword — a weapon whose golden blade seemed to hum faintly with restrained power, the air around it shimmering.
"Let's go," the king said.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
---
At the same time, Kall was already on his way to the First Prince's quarters. His own room was located directly beneath his brother's, and every step he took seemed heavier with urgency.
The First Prince was more than just a royal sibling — he was the kingdom's prodigy. In the eyes of the elders, he was the greatest hope for Strabila's future. While all four princes were close in age, the other three (excluding Kall) excelled in strategy and statecraft, earning the admiration of nobles and foreign dignitaries alike. But the First Prince… his talent was unmatched in both intellect and combat.
If he were to die now, Strabila would lose its strongest protector.
Kall's jaw tightened. If that shadow was real, and its target isn't me… then it can only be him.
He approached the door silently, his grip on the iron sword tightening. Without a word, he eased it open, making sure not to let the hinges creak.
The dim light spilling from within revealed a scene that made his breath catch. For a heartbeat, he froze, the blood draining from his face. His knees almost buckled.
What he saw was beyond anything he had expected.
HEY 👋. AUTHOR NOTE 🎵.
IT IS A UPDATED VERSION OF MY FIRST WORK. WELL LET'S SEE YOU NEXT TIME.