The morning sun rose slowly over the Valisar Kingdom, casting a soft, golden light over the capital. The streets shimmered with dew, the cobblestones gleaming as merchants opened their stalls. Smoke curled from chimneys, and the scent of fresh bread and iron filled the air.
From above, Valisar looked beautiful towers rising into the clouds, rivers cutting through the city like silver veins, and the royal fortress standing tall at its heart. But behind the beauty lay unrest. Rumors of rebellion whispered through the alleys, and the name Magnus Caldryn was once again being spoken in fear and awe.
Inside the towering black fortress, the air was thick with tension. Soldiers hurried through stone corridors, their boots echoing against the marble floors.
At the top floor, in a grand chamber lit by morning light, stood Prince Ethan Valisar. He faced the tall window, his hands clasped behind his back. The sky outside reflected in his grey eyes, dull and distant.
Ethan was not what one expected of a prince. He was lean, with pale skin and sharp features that carried no warmth. His brown hair fell to his shoulders, and a thin scar crossed his jaw a reminder of a duel long forgotten. He wasn't handsome, but something was unnerving about him a quiet, controlled power that made people afraid to meet his gaze.
The heavy door burst open, and a guard rushed in, breathless. "Y-Your Highness! Urgent news!"
Ethan didn't turn around. "Speak."
The guard bowed quickly. "A report from the south, my lord. Lord Hardard's fortress… it was raided during the night."
At that, Ethan turned slightly, his expression unreadable. "Raided?"
"Yes, my lord. The attackers killed the guards and left a message on the wall." The guard hesitated, nervous. "It said: 'Magnus was here.' With a smile drawn next to it."
For a long moment, silence filled the chamber. The faint sound of birds outside felt distant, almost unreal.
Then Ethan spoke, his tone soft but chilling. "What?"
The guard flinched. "It—it's true, my lord. They found many of Hardard's men dead and asleep. The survivors said the Caldryn boy and his companion escaped before dawn."
Ethan's eyes darkened. He turned fully now, the morning light falling across his face. "So… the Duke's son still breathes."
He walked slowly toward the guard, his boots striking the floor in steady rhythm. "And tell me — how does Lord Hardard react to this insult?"
"Master Hardard swore vengeance, my lord," the guard stammered. "He said he will hunt the boy himself."
Ethan stopped before him, gaze sharp as a blade. "Of course he did. That man's pride burns brighter than his reason."
He looked back toward the window, his voice lowering to a whisper. "Still… I did not expect Magnus Caldryn to strike first. The boy has courage — or madness."
The guard remained silent, unsure whether to speak.
Ethan sighed, placing one hand on the window frame. "Tell Hardard he may handle this however he wishes. But send word to Lyra Ganills as well. She'll want to know the details."
"Yes, my lord."
"And one more thing," Ethan added without looking back. "Tell them not to kill the boy too quickly. I want to see what he becomes when cornered."
The guard bowed deeply. "At once, Your Highness." He turned and hurried out, leaving Ethan alone again.
For a moment, the prince stood still, watching the kingdom below. People moved like insects — small, fragile, unaware that their fates hung by his will.
He whispered softly, "Magnus Caldryn… you're more like your father than you know. Defiant, reckless, and doomed."
The reflection in the glass showed his faint smile — cold and calculating.
Far from the fortress, in a quiet corner of the capital, the Silver Mare Tavern buzzed with morning life. Travelers drank weak ale, laughter filled the air, and no one noticed the two figures sitting in the back corner.
Magnus Caldryn leaned against the wall, his hood drawn low. Across from him sat Rhea, calmly eating bread and watching the door.
"They'll find that note by now," she said with a smirk.
Magnus's lips curved slightly. "Good. I hope they choke on it."
Rhea raised an eyebrow. "You realize you just declared war on Hardard, right?"
Magnus met her gaze, his crimson eyes glinting faintly. "He started this when he put my family in his sights. I'm just returning the favor."
She sighed. "You're insane, Prince."
Magnus smiled. "Maybe. But I'm not wrong."
Rhea shook her head and leaned back, finishing her meal. "So what's next?"
Magnus looked toward the window, where sunlight spilled across the table. "Next," he said quietly, "we make them come to us."
He reached into his coat and pulled out a folded map — one marked with the symbols of Valisar's strongholds and supply routes. His fingers traced a path leading north.
"They think I'm running," he said. "But I'm done running. It's time Valisar remembers the name Caldryn."
Rhea's lips curved into a faint smile. "Then let the game begin."
Magnus nodded, his expression calm but his eyes burning with purpose.
Far away, the storm over Hardard's fortress still raged and within the black walls of Valisar Castle, Prince Ethan's cold gaze turned toward the horizon.
The hunt had begun.
Continued in the Chapter 18....