Mount Damaries...
Mount Damaries was known throughout the kingdoms as the home of one of the Six Immortals.
Unlike most kingdoms built on plains or surrounded by walls,
Damaries rested high upon the mountains, hidden among thick clouds and towering cliffs. The town itself was breathtaking—stone pathways winding through glowing flowers, waterfalls falling endlessly from the mountainsides, and houses carved beautifully into the rocks.
People believed the mountain itself was alive.
Sacred.
Untouchable.
And at the very top of Mount Damaries stood the Temple of Viscara, where one of the immortals once resided before disappearing centuries ago.
Many feared the mountain.
Many worshipped it.
But none truly understood the secrets hidden within it.
________________
Somewhere in Damaries....
The sound of glass shattering echoed loudly through a dark chamber.
A woman gasped sharply.
Her trembling hands hovered over the broken remains of a glowing crystal ball lying shattered on the floor.
Her breathing became uneven.
"No… no, no, no…" she whispered fearfully while stepping backward.
Her eyes widened in horror as the remaining fragments of the crystal slowly lost their glow.
"The crystal…" she whispered shakily.
Her body trembled harder.
"It has been taken…"
A cold wind suddenly rushed through the room, extinguishing the candles around her.
Her voice cracked in fear.
"The demon…"
Her knees weakened.
"…will be released."
_______________________
THE PALACE...
Back at the palace,
the grand celebration continued.
Music echoed through the massive hall while nobles laughed loudly among themselves. Expensive dishes covered the long tables while servants moved carefully between guests.
King Thalion finally stood from his throne holding a golden cup.
The hall slowly quieted.
Everyone turned their attention toward the king.
Beside him sat Queen Elara, elegant as always, while Astra and Kael stood nearby in their royal attire.
Tonight celebrated the twins' fifteenth birthday.
And the king intended to make a grand toast.
Meanwhile, Sage carefully carried the royal cup toward him using a silver tray.
Her steps were slow and cautious.
She lowered her gaze while walking.
One mistake could cost her dearly.
The closer she got to the king, the more nervous she became.
One step.
Two steps.
Three—
Suddenly—
She froze.
Her eyes widened instantly.
The tray slipped from her hands.
CRASH!
The cup shattered loudly against the floor.
The hall fell silent.
Every eye turned toward Sage.
King Thalion's expression darkened immediately.
His face turned red with rage.
Queen Elara looked equally furious while Astra and Kael stared in shock.
"How dare you—" Thalion began furiously.
He was already raising his hand to order the guards forward when
suddenly—
He stopped.
The entire hall grew strangely quiet.
Sage wasn't moving.
Not even slightly.
She stood completely still.
Like a statue.
Then slowly—
Her eyes began turning blue.
Bright blue.
A powerful wind suddenly exploded throughout the palace hall.
The decorations scattered violently across the room.
Candles fell.
Curtains flew wildly.
Guests screamed in panic as tables overturned.
But among the oldest guests present—
None of them moved.
Instead—
They stared at Sage with horror.
Recognition.
Fear.
The wind grew stronger.
Sage's hair whipped violently around her face as her glowing blue eyes stared blankly ahead.
Then slowly—
She opened her mouth.
When she spoke, her voice echoed unnaturally through the entire palace.
"Danger…"
The hall shook slightly.
"Danger!"
More screams erupted around the room.
"He has awakened…"
The candles flickered violently.
"His Majesty…"
Her voice deepened strangely.
"…will not sit on the throne much longer."
Silence.
Heavy silence.
Then chaos erupted instantly.
Guests began screaming and rushing toward the exits.
Some nobles fell while trying to escape.
Others shouted prayers under their breath.
The younger guests panicked completely while the older ones looked pale with fear.
Prophecy.
The girl had given a prophecy.
And prophecies were never meaningless.
Meanwhile, Sage slowly turned around.
Her face remained blank.
Expressionless.
The wind continued raging harder with every step she took.
Her hair scattered wildly around her face while strands stuck against her skin.
She walked through the hall slowly as if in a trance.
No one dared stop her.
No one dared touch her.
Even King Thalion remained frozen where he stood.
Watching.
Staring.
Fear slowly replacing his anger.
News of the event spread rapidly across neighboring kingdoms.
Within days, everyone had heard about the maid from Thalion Palace.
The girl with glowing blue eyes.
The girl who spoke prophecy.
Wise old men claimed her words carried truth.
Some believed the kingdom's destruction had already begun.
Others feared the prophecy would soon come true.
And somewhere far away—
Ancient beings quietly awakened after hearing the news.
_____________________________
Screams echoed endlessly.
The smell of blood filled the air.
Flames burned across what looked like a destroyed battlefield.
Bodies lay motionless across the ground.
A masked figure stood in the middle of the destruction holding a sword stained dark red.
Opposite him—
A woman stood gripping another blade tightly.
Her face remained blurry.
Impossible to see clearly.
Yet somehow—
She felt familiar.
Lightning flashed violently across the dark sky as the two charged toward each other.
Their swords collided with a deafening sound.
The ground beneath them cracked instantly.
Another flash of lightning illuminated the battlefield and—
"AHHHHH!"
Sage jolted awake violently.
Her breathing came out uneven.
She placed a trembling hand over her chest.
Her heart raced painfully fast.
Sweat covered her forehead.
Again.
That dream again.
She had been seeing it repeatedly ever since the incident at the palace hall.
The masked man.
The mysterious woman.
The battlefield.
The blood.
Who were they?
And why did those dreams feel so real?
Sage lowered her head while trying to calm her breathing.
"What's happening to me…" she whispered softly.
Suddenly—
The door opened.
Sage quickly looked up.
Roselyn stepped inside quietly.
But the first word that came from her mouth made Sage freeze completely.
"Seer."
ROSELYN
I watched Sage stare at me in complete confusion.
Poor child.
She still understood nothing.
Then again—
How could she?
I sighed softly before sitting beside her bed.
"What is a seer?" she finally asked quietly.
I smiled faintly.
"You are," I replied calmly.
Her confusion deepened immediately.
"I am… a seer?" she repeated slowly, stuttering slightly.
"Yes," I answered.
"You can see events before they happen. You can give prophecies. And there are many more abilities you haven't discovered yet."
Sage remained silent.
Her eyes lowered toward her hands.
She looked frightened.
Confused.
Lost.
Honestly…
I didn't blame her.
Most people feared seers.
Especially powerful ones.
I studied her carefully before speaking again.
"Right now, your prophecy has caused quite a problem," I said calmly.
"The king and queen are furious. Especially King Thalion."
At the mention of the king, Sage visibly tensed.
"Do you know what your prophecy meant?" I asked.
She slowly shook her head.
"No…"
Her voice sounded small.
Fragile.
For a moment, I considered leaving her alone.
Perhaps this was already too much for her to process.
I stood up quietly and began walking toward the door.
But before I could leave—
Her voice stopped me.
"You're a witch… aren't you?"
I froze instantly.
Shock flickered through me.
Slowly, I turned around.
Sage was staring blankly at the wall while speaking.
Not even looking at me.
"How did you know?" I asked carefully.
Finally—
Sage slowly turned her head toward me.
Our eyes met.
Silence filled the room.
Neither of us noticed the shadow standing quietly outside the door.
Watching.
Listening.
And smiling faintly in the darkness.