Far from the castle, in a dimly lit tavern nestled within the slums of Faeloria's capital, a hooded man leaned against the wall as shadowy figures spoke in hushed voices.
"You're sure?" one man whispered. "The assassins failed?"
The hooded man nodded. "All three girls were defeated… by the prince alone. He used some kind of forbidden weapon. The reports speak of magic nullification, reality cracking…"
The others exchanged wary glances.
"And now he's keeping the girls? As slaves?"
"No. As shadows," the man corrected. "He named them. Trains them. Treats them like tools—but not carelessly. Strategically."
A woman with gray hair and a scar across her chin leaned in. "This is no ordinary child. If what you say is true… we have a problem."
The hooded man narrowed his eyes. "He's different. Cold. Smart. Too smart. And there's something else—something… dark. I saw the air around him shatter."
The scarred woman exhaled slowly. "Then the rumors are true."
"What rumors?"
"That the fourth prince—Serenil Aetheryn—is not of this world."
Silence fell over the group.
"Keep watching him," she finally said. "The nobles may ignore him, but we won't. If the Sword King's legacy is reborn in that child…"
"We'll have to act before he grows into it."