Aurdis rushed to the orb. When he arrived, her hands glowing with silver light as she channeled her Magic energy into it. The room seed to hum with Magic vibration and the swirling chaos within the orb began to stabilize. Erend stood close beside her with a deep frown etched on his face.
"Is this another effort to probe the barrier?" Erend wondered. "Or is this the mont Laston decides to launch an attack?"
The uncertainty gnawed at his mind. Laston's cunning mind made it nearly impossible to predict his next move. Every action the traitor Elf took seed calculated to keep his enemies guessing, and Erend knew that underestimating him would be a grave mistake. Just like that ti where Laston was almost success but fortunately, he didn't consider him as a threat.
Aurdis's voice broke his thoughts.
"There's a disturbance," she said. "It's the sa foreign Magic energy as before and detected on the west side of the do barrier."
Erend's gaze snapped to her as she manipulated the orb, her slender fingers moving gracefully above the orb.
The orb began to expand, growing into a large, translucent sphere that hovered in the center of the room. A shimring and detailed hologram of the Magic do surrounding the palace appeared within it.
"There." Aurdis pointed, and a glowing red dot pulsed on the west side of the do. Around the dot, faint ripples of energy radiated outward, disrupting the smooth and steady glow of the barrier.
Erend stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "That ripple…" he muttered. "It looks like he's testing the barrier again."
Aurdis nodded, her silver eyes glinting with concern.
"But it's more forceful this ti. Whatever Magic he's using is increasing in intensity."
She waved her hand, and the hologram zood in on the red dot. The energy ripples grew more distinct, their erratic patterns suggesting an almost invasive presence.
"Can you pinpoint its source?" Erend asked.
"I'm trying." Aurdis's hands moved in a series of intricate gestures, runes forming and dissolving in the air around her. The hologram shifted again, focusing on the area outside the do where the disturbance originated.
A faint outline began to take shape — a dark, humanoid figure shrouded in flickering, unnatural light. The figure's movents were minimal, but its presence exuded a sense of evil.
"That's maybe him," Erend said grimly. "Or at least a projection of him."
Aurdis tilted her head, her brows knitting in thought. "He's clever. I didn't think that this is a direct attack. He's probably just appear to studying the barrier and learning its weaknesses. Or maybe another purpose."
Erend clenched his fists. "We just need to ask him directly about what he want."
Aurdis hesitated, then turned to him. "I need to call the Mages and tell them to reinforce that section of the barrier."
"Alright. You do that," Erend said, already stepping toward the door.
Aurdis nodded, her determination matching his. Together, they left Saeldir's chamber, the flickering hologram of the do and the pulsing red dot fading behind them.
Erend and Aurdis sprinted through the corridor. Aurdis's face was tense with focus as she sent a telepathic ssage to her father.
"Father, we've detected an intrusion on the west side of the barrier. Sothing had appeared there! I'm mobilizing the soldiers and Mages now. Be prepared."
She glanced at Erend, who gave her a curt nod. At the next intersection, they split. Aurdis turned sharply, stopping briefly to address a group of soldiers and Mages who were stationed nearby.
"There's a disturbance at the west barrier," she said firmly. "Prepare for an attack. Go to your posts imdiately."
The soldiers and Mages, so in the middle of eating or polishing their weapons, dropped what they were doing and sprang into action. Weapons were drawn, armor secured, and Magic energy began to hum faintly as they readied their spells.
anwhile, Erend sprinted toward the west exit. The urgency of the mont fueled his steps and the distant blare of the alarm only quickened his pace.
As soon as he erged onto the open field outside the palace, he didn't hesitate.
His Dragon Wings erupted from his back in a surge of energy, their black and red scales shimring under the sunlight. With a powerful thrust, he launched into the air, his wings slicing through the wind as he climbed higher.
Below, the palace grounds already buzzed with activity. Soldiers took up defensive positions along the ramparts, their bows and swords gleaming.
Mages ford protective Magic to buff the soldiers and archers. Their chants also resonating in unison as they reinforced the barrier with layers of Magic. Servants and civilians scrambled for safety, disappearing into shelters inside the palace's building.
The alarm continued to blare, its shrill tone reminding them of the looming threat.
Erend soared toward the west, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon. As he neared the barrier he flew past the shimring do and felt its Magic ripple against his scales. Just beyond it, the intruder ca into view.
The figure floated in the air. He draped in a black robe lined with glowing red seams that pulsed faintly like embers.
The high collar and intricate design of the robe gave the figure an air of regal nace. His hood obscured his face, casting it in shadow, but the aura emanating from him was strong. It was Magic, and sothing else.
Erend stopped mid-air, his wings beating steadily to keep him aloft. His eyes narrowed as he studied the figure.
"Laston?" he called out, his voice echoing in the stillness beyond the barrier.
The figure remained silent for a mont, then raised his head slightly. The faint glint of red light beneath the hood hinted at eyes that burned with unnatural intensity.
The figure tilted his head slightly as Erend's voice rang out. A quiet, mocking laugh escaped him. "So, you are the Dragonborn?" he said, his tone curious yet laced with disdain.
Erend frowned deeply. Sothing was off.
"That's not Laston's voice," he thought to himself. Even after all these years, he could still rember the traitorous Elf's voice. His voice was supposed to be older and deeper. But this voice was different. It was younger, sharper, and carried an almost arrogant edge.
The figure lifted his hood, revealing striking blue eyes that glowed unnaturally bright. Half of his face was concealed behind a sleek, futuristic mask, resembling a gas mask but lined with modern, pulsating light that traced its edges like veins.
"Who are you?" Erend demanded, his wings adjusting to keep him steady in the air. "Where is Laston?"
The figure chuckled, folding his arms casually. "Lord Laston... he asked to deliver a ssage," the figure said, his glowing eyes narrowing with amusent. "He told you would be here, even though you don't belong here."
Erend's frown deepened.
The figure continued, his tone growing colder. "He said that whatever power you think you have now, it won't be enough. You will not stop him."
Erend clenched his fists, the tension rippling through his body. "Where is your master now?" he asked again, this ti with growling tone. "Why didn't he co to face personally? Is he afraid?"
The figure snorted, shaking his head. "Afraid? No. My Lord is far beyond such trivial emotions. He's simply... preoccupied, making preparations sowhere else. This ti, he will not fail. He will destroy you, Dragonborn, and take the palace for himself."
A slow smirk tugged at the edges of Erend's mouth. "Your master wouldn't be able to do shit," he shot back.
The figure shrugged nonchalantly and laughed. "You have no idea, do you? No idea what Lord Laston is preparing." He tapped the side of his mask, the red lines glowing brighter for a mont. "But don't worry. He told to give you a little glimpse of what we have now."
The figure raised his wrist, revealing a small, holographic screen embedded into his gauntlet.
With a press of his finger, the screen lit up, projecting a swirling image of a portal. Behind him, the fabric of reality shimred and a dark rift tore open in the air.
From the portal erged a massive winged chanical bird, its sleek, tallic body gleaming ominously under the sunlight.
Its wings stretched wide, lined with sharp edges and glowing energy cores that pulsed rhythmically.
The machine's head turned sharply, its glowing red eyes locking onto Erend as it let out a screech that echoed across the skies — a harsh, grating sound that sent a chill through the air.
Erend's eyes narrowed as he assessed the chanical beast. "So, that's your 'preview,' huh?" he muttered, his voice laced with both irritation.
The figure spread his arms dramatically.
"A taste of what's to co," he said, his voice brimming with smug satisfaction. "Now we will see how well you fight against it, Dragonborn. And don't worry, its not just you alone who will have the fun."
Erend's wings flared. He speak with cold voice. "Bring it on." Read exclusive content at empire
Ten more portal opened in the air.
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