The night burned with chaos.
Flames rose from the royal palace, licking the dark sky as the sound of clashing steel echoed through the valley. Horses screamed, soldiers shouted, and somewhere in the distance the war horns of betrayal cried.
Prince Kael was running.
His small feet slipped against the cold stones as he ran through the forest path, his chest burning with every breath. He was only a child, yet tonight he was running for his life.
Behind him, the hunters followed.
They belonged to a feared secret faction known as The Crimson Talons—a ruthless group that believed the Eagle throne had grown weak. Their plan was simple: kill the royal bloodline and seize the kingdom.
Branches snapped behind him.
"They went this way!" a rough voice shouted.
Kael forced himself to run faster, even though his legs trembled.
Then he heard it again—the sound that made his heart twist.
Footsteps behind him.
But these were not the hunters.
A sword flashed in the moonlight.
His mother.
Queen Ariella, the legendary warrior queen of the Eagle Kingdom, stood between Kael and the assassins. Blood ran down her arm, but her golden eyes burned with fierce determination.
"Run, Kael!" she commanded.
Ten assassins surrounded her.
She didn't hesitate.
The first man lunged forward.
CLANG!
Her blade moved like lightning. The assassin's sword flew from his hand before he even realized what happened.
The second rushed from the side.
Ariella spun, her sword slicing through the air with terrifying precision.
One.
Two.
Three.
The forest filled with the sound of steel tearing through armor.
Four.
Five.
Six.
Six bodies fell to the ground.
Even the remaining assassins froze for a moment.
The Queen stood in the middle of them like a storm—breathing hard, blood staining her armor, yet still unbreakable.
But she was wounded.
Too many enemies.
"After the boy!" one of them growled.
The remaining four rushed past her.
Kael didn't dare look back.
He ran deeper into the forest, branches scratching his face as fear pounded inside his chest. The kingdom had already turned against the royal family.
A rebellion called The War of Broken Wings had begun. Powerful nobles believed the Eagle throne had lost its divine blessing and wanted to replace it with their own rulers.
And tonight…
They wanted Kael dead.
His vision blurred.
His legs felt heavier with every step.
He stumbled through the trees, gasping for air, until finally his strength gave out.
Kael collapsed beside a quiet forest clearing.
Darkness slowly swallowed his vision.
Just before he lost consciousness…
He heard something strange.
Chhan… chhan…
The soft, delicate sound of payal.
Anklets.
Light footsteps approached through the grass.
Through half-closed eyes, Kael saw the faint silhouette of a young girl standing under the moonlight.
Her long hair moved gently with the wind.
Silver eyes shimmered in the darkness.
Naisha.
But Kael was already unconscious before he could see her clearly.
The mysterious girl looked down at the wounded prince lying in the grass.
And far away in the forest…
The remaining assassins of the Crimson Talons were getting closer.