A week had passed since the battle at the Skyforge.
The skies over Elyndor were calm again. The stars no longer fell, and the people believed the long war was finally over.
But Aren could not celebrate.
The magic of the Star King had vanished from his body. The glowing mark on his hand had faded, leaving only a thin silver scar.
Kael walked beside him along the castle walls.
"You saved the kingdom," Kael said. "Why do you look like you've lost everything?"
Aren stared at the night sky.
"Because I keep thinking the Shadow Star was right. It said this was only the beginning."
Far away, beyond the northern sea, an ancient temple stood hidden beneath black cliffs.
Inside its deepest chamber, the hooded stranger from the mountain knelt before a massive stone throne.
The throne was empty.
Slowly, the stranger placed a small piece of black crystal upon it.
The crystal had survived the destruction of the Shadow Star.
It pulsed once.
Then again.
A deep voice echoed through the temple.
"Who dares disturb my sleep?"
The stranger lowered his head.
"My king, the prison has fallen. The heirs have returned."
The chamber grew cold.
Cracks spread across the stone throne, and shadows climbed the walls like living creatures.
After centuries of silence, the voice spoke again.
"Has the Star King awakened?"
"No," the stranger answered. "He sacrificed his power to save the world."
For a long moment, there was only silence.
Then the unseen ruler laughed.
A laugh so ancient that the temple itself trembled.
"Then the path is open."
Back in Elyndor, Lyra was studying old scrolls in the royal library.
One worn page caught her attention.
At the top was a title written in a forgotten language.
The Prophecy of the Two Kings.
Her heart raced as she translated the words.
When the Broken Stars are restored, the First King shall rise.
When the Star King loses his light, the Shadow Crown shall seek a new master.
Only one shall rule the heavens.
Before she could read the final line, the page suddenly burst into blue fire and turned to ash.
A cold wind swept through the library.
Someone was standing in the darkness between the shelves.
A tall figure wearing black armor.
Its face was hidden behind a silver mask.
"You should not have read that," the stranger said quietly.
Lyra stepped backward.
"Who are you?"
The masked warrior drew a dark blade, and its edge reflected the stars outside.
"I am the Keeper of the Shadow Crown."
"And I have come for the last heir."
At that exact moment, far across the kingdom, Aren felt the silver scar on his hand begin to glow once more.
He looked up.
A new star had appeared in the sky.
But it was not shining white.
It was shining black.
To be continued part 41...