Inside the dim-lit Emerald Inn, Jawaher sat quietly, watching Mulhim polish the glasses. His hands moved with a strange stiffness, as if burdened by thoughts too heavy to speak.
"Even you seem tense," she said softly.
Mulhim nodded.
"Of course I am.
Aurik's forces are weak—barely able to protect us if something goes wrong.
And the royal family... ever since King Caesar vanished, they've lost all influence."
He handed her a glass of fresh fruit nectar.
Jawaher sipped, then asked:
"What about Kasrahh? Asser? Sarah?
They were radiant once—celebrated across Silva.
Especially Sarah and Asser."
Mulhim leaned closer, voice low.
"I've heard troubling news.
The royal court has been completely restructured.
The Mage Guild was expelled—stripped of all influence after Caesar's death.
Some say they caused it...
But I don't believe that.
There's something deeper."
Jawaher frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Mulhim took her glass and began cleaning it again.
"The Guild loved Caesar.
Their bond was sacred.
They never allowed anyone to insult him.
But rumors say the ministers investigated his disappearance...
And pointed fingers at the Guild.
It's absurd, isn't it?"
"After that, Prince Asser expelled them.
Cut their funding.
Revoked their authority."
"And then... Aurik began to unravel.
Strange royal decrees.
Severed ties with Leona.
Downsized the army.
Closed training camps.
Disbanded veteran units."
"They even reduced magical reliance in warfare and combat arts.
All of it... the opposite of Caesar's vision."
He paused.
"I don't know what's coming, miss.
But I fear it won't be good."
Mulhim stepped outside.
The sky had darkened.
He looked up—and froze.
"No... they've done it..."
Jawaher followed him.
Above them, Silva's heavens had dimmed. Most stars had vanished, leaving only a few faint glimmers.
A traveler approached, his cloak coated in desert sand.
Breathless, he spoke:
"Mulhim...
They destroyed it.
The Luminous Tree... it's gone."
Mulhim turned to Jawaher.
"Your friend...
She won't take this well."
Jawaher gasped, hand over her mouth.
Tears welled in her eyes and fell without permission.
She looked up at the black sky.
And then—
A green comet blazed across the heavens, trailing stardust like fallen stars.
Jawaher whispered through her tears:
"Sylvance..."
Suddenly, royal guards stormed into the inn.
They approached Mulhim.
"We're tracking the merchant Jabir.
Is he staying here?"
Mulhim stepped in front of Jawaher.
"Why are you asking?"
"Your cooperation ensures safety.
If Jabir is here, we order you to surrender him—now."
Their hands gripped their swords.
Mulhim raised his own hands, trying to calm them.
"Wait, wait... why the aggression?
I'm just a frightened citizen in uncertain times.
Is this how you treat us now?
A simple question earns a sword?"
"You want peace and safety—yet threaten those who ask?
Are we your enemies now?"
"Jabir left two days ago.
Perhaps he fled...
After realizing the kingdom he helped—through wealth and wisdom—now brands him a criminal."
The guards hesitated.
"Sir, please... you don't know what's happening."
Mulhim cut in:
"Do you?
What's wrong with the sky?
Who are these cloaked figures spreading fear and death?
Can you answer that?"
The guards fell silent.
"We're leaving.
But if you learn anything about Jabir, you must report it.
Or else..."
Mulhim narrowed his eyes.
"Or else what?"
One guard stepped forward, sword drawn.
"Or we'll arrest you.
Search your inn.
Confiscate everything.
Harboring a fugitive is treason."
Mulhim laughed bitterly.
"Treason?
You want to arrest the man who saved this kingdom's economy?
Who sat beside the royal family at every summit?
Who brought crops from distant lands—crops that now feed your children?"
The guards looked uncertain.
But one snapped:
"Enough.
We follow orders.
If you have complaints—take them to the royal court.
I'm sure they'll listen."
They left.
Jawaher stood stunned.
"Jabir? Why?"
Mulhim turned to her.
"I told you, miss...
Something dark is brewing in this kingdom.
It may lead to civil war—or worse.
They're hunting strangers now.
And Jabir is among them."
Jawaher's face changed—fear etched into her features.
Mulhim placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Stay here.
I'll do what I can.
At the very least... I'll keep you safe.
As Jabir and the other woman asked."
Jawaher turned to the window.
Outside, the sky was black.
But the green comet still glowed.
The Ruined Fortress Beyond Aurik's Walls - The Black Order Gathers
Within the crumbling husk of a forgotten stronghold, the Black Order convened beneath Silva's darkened sky. The air was thick with ash and silence. Azalor and Dais had returned—victorious after the fall of the Luminous Tree.
Reiz arrived with his men, his expression grim.
Azalor turned to him, voice low and sharp.
"What happened?
I felt my grip on the Guardian of Silva slip."
Reiz placed a hand to his temple, exhaling.
"The assassins... they've changed.
Their loyalties have shifted.
They were protecting the madwoman of the library... and a child from the Luminous Tree."
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
"That child—he cast a strange spell.
It began unraveling your control over the Guardian.
With help from the librarian and the assassins... they broke through."
Azalor's eyes narrowed.
"Did you kill the child?"
Reiz shook his head.
"No.
The Guardian intervened.
He regained consciousness... and shielded the boy."
Dais stared at Azalor, unblinking.
The members of the Order murmured in disbelief.
"Someone broke Azalor's enchantment?"
Azalor remained calm.
"It was expected.
Shandriz—our ancient enemy—has studied our movements for decades.
She foresaw this.
She sent her child."
He turned away.
"It doesn't matter.
We lost the Guardian...
But so did they.
The Luminous Tree is ash.
Their magic is fractured.
These events are irrelevant."
Reiz folded his arms, sighing.
"Still...
We may need to move against the assassins and the librarian.
There's something strange about them.
They grow stronger with every battle."
Dais nodded.
"We'll keep that in mind."
Azalor stepped forward.
"Now, we can wield our magic freely.
The old woman is gone.
The Tree is destroyed.
Silva's will—its Guardian—is broken.
They fall like leaves in autumn."
"Aurik crumbles.
Leona rots from the plague we planted in its roots.
It's time to move forward.
We must find the sword."
Dais sat upon a shattered throne, carved from stone and ruin.
"And the child?"
Azalor raised a finger.
A black aura surged from the ground.
A circle of shadow spun violently, and from its center—the child reappeared.
Azalor approached.
"Hmm..."
He gestured to two cloaked figures.
"Begin the ritual.
I'll intervene when it's ready."
Dais asked:
"How long will it take?"
Azalor replied:
"With Layla's seal broken and the Tree destroyed...
One full day."
Suddenly, a shadow emerged from the void.
Its voice was pale and cold.
"Message from Korta's tunnels:
Our forces are engaged with a merchant named Jabir...
And the assassin who escorted the child."
Azalor turned to Dais.
"The assassin is ignorant. Weak.
But Jabir..."
He glanced at Reiz.
"Jabir may become a problem if we don't act."
Reiz stepped forward.
"Shall I crush him?"
Dais interjected.
"Is he truly that dangerous?
He's just a merchant, isn't he?"
Azalor's gaze darkened.
"He's more than that.
He's skilled in combat.
He holds sway over Aurik's people.
His blood ties to the royal line give him influence.
He could unravel everything you've built, Dais."
"He's beloved—unlike the royal family.
And his mind...
It's unpredictable."
Dais scowled.
"And he wants the child?
Why?
He's a merchant. He should care only for coin."
He turned to the boy.
"Answer me.
Who is Jabir?"
Azalor stepped to the edge of the fortress, gazing into Silva's broken sky.
The green comet blazed overhead.
He smiled.
"How pitiful..."
The Child and the Black Order - Shadows Stir
In the heart of the ruined fortress, the child sat quietly, surrounded by cloaked figures of the Black Order. They spoke freely, never acknowledging his presence—never suspecting he was listening, absorbing every word.
Dais approached, his gaze sharp and unblinking.
He narrowed his eyes.
"You..."
Azalor turned.
"Can you cast a spell to block his hearing?"
Azalor raised his staff, puzzled but compliant.
"Very well."
He tapped the ground gently.
A black aura enveloped the child.
Dais seized him by the collar.
"You will obey me.
You will do exactly as I command."
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck near the fortress.
Dais turned toward the blast, smiling coldly.
"Silva..."
Azalor stepped forward, voice low.
"Careful, Dais.
I don't know what secrets lie dormant within this child.
Even with the Luminous Tree destroyed and Silva's magic weakened...
I sense something strange emanating from him."
Dais nodded.
"I feel it too.
There's something... unnatural."
The child gasped, clutching Dais's wrist.
Dais leaned in.
"One day.
One day, and we'll see what you're truly capable of.
Silva's legendary sword...
Will be mine."
Azalor's men arrived, lifting the child and placing him within an ancient stone chamber. They raised their hands, and a violet ritual circle ignited beneath him. Flames of gray and purple swirled around his body. Black halos emerged from the summoners.
Azalor watched, smiling.
"Let the ritual of control begin."
---
Emerald Inn — The Princess and the Whisper of Rebellion
In her room at the Emerald Inn, Jawaher sat in silence, torn between staying and chasing after Sylvance and Jabir. She feared becoming a burden—but her heart pulled toward the storm.
A knock at the door.
"Who is it?" she called.
"It's Mulhim, miss.
You have a visitor."
Jawaher opened the door.
A woman stood cloaked in white, her hood drawn low.
She lifted it.
Jawaher's eyes widened.
"Is that...?"
Kasrahh smiled.
"Yes.
Princess Kasrahh of Aurik—in the flesh."
Jawaher blinked.
"That coat... it's a limited design.
I couldn't find it anywhere in the market."
Mulhim groaned, hand to forehead.
Kasrahh flushed.
"The coat? Really?
I thought you'd be shocked I'm the princess.
You know... royalty?"
Jawaher smirked.
"Ah, yes.
Welcome, Princess Kasrahh."
Mulhim chuckled.
"By the stars...
Let me get you both a drink.
This reunion needs something stronger than awkward silence."
They descended to the lounge.
Mulhim served a fine drink.
"On the house—for the honor of hosting Princess Kasrahh."
Jawaher sipped.
"It's been years.
You were just a child when I last saw you...
Four years?"
Kasrahh nodded, her voice soft.
"Yes...
Four years.
So much has changed.
My father... the kingdom... the royal court..."
She stared into her glass, sorrow flickering in her eyes.
Mulhim glanced at Jawaher and winked.
Jawaher leaned in.
"Much has changed...
But you haven't."
Kasrahh raised an eyebrow.
"You mean I'm still na?ve?"
Mulhim groaned again.
Jawaher waved her hands.
"No, no!
I meant you're still kind.
I've heard the news...
Your brother Asser has changed since your father vanished."
Kasrahh nodded.
"That's why I came.
Where is Jabir?"
Jawaher's face darkened.
Mulhim hesitated.
"He's in Korta's tunnels...
Something about a rescue mission..."
Jawaher interrupted.
"He'll be delayed.
But you can speak freely until he returns."
Kasrahh took a deep breath.
"My brother has changed.
Sarah is buried in her work.
I believe the royal court is under external influence.
I don't trust them.
Every time I voice concern, Asser says I'm emotional—irrational.
But I feel it...
Something is being hidden from us.
About my father.
About Silva."
"Asser blindly trusts the advisors.
He expelled the Mage Guild after they opposed key decisions—
Ending training camps, reducing magical warfare, disbanding veteran forces..."
"These were all blocked by the Guild...
Until my father vanished.
Then the advisors convinced Asser the Guild was responsible."
She drank.
"I don't believe it.
And Sarah...
I haven't seen her in weeks.
They say she's busy.
Always busy."
"And the Luminous Tree...
The sky..."
Jawaher interrupted.
"You're right.
The Tree has fallen.
By the same strangers your guards are hunting.
And I believe they've infiltrated the court."
"Everything you've described...
Mulhim heard the same."
"They're preparing something.
Jabir must know."
She stood.
Mulhim caught her hand.
"No.
I've sent someone to warn him.
Don't risk yourself.
Jabir and Sylvance wouldn't forgive me if anything happened to you."
Kasrahh frowned.
"Why?
What do they want with her?"
Mulhim's eyes widened.
"You don't know?"
Kasrahh stepped closer.
"Know what?"
Jawaher answered.
"The guards came here.
Looking for Jabir.
No explanation."
Mulhim added:
"Someone in the court ordered it.
No reason given."
Kasrahh stood, furious.
"I'll find out what's happening."
Mulhim stepped forward.
"Listen, Princess...
Something unnatural is unfolding.
Don't go without a plan.
If they know you're investigating, they'll silence you."
Jawaher nodded.
"You must uncover the truth without being seen.
They'll try to isolate you—just as they're doing to Jabir."
"He's the only one who can turn the tide.
The people still believe in him.
Even the guards hesitated to arrest him."
Suddenly, guards entered the inn.
"Princess Kasrahh.
Prince Asser has summoned you."
Kasrahh finished her drink.
She turned to Jawaher.
"I'll do what I can from the inside.
Please...
Tell Jabir.
I won't let my father's legacy be erased by strangers—or by my brother's recklessness."
Jawaher nodded.
Kasrahh left with the guards.
The green comet still burned in Silva's sky.
The Storm Over Silva - The Siege of Truth
Azalor stood over the child, his gaze shifting toward Dais.
"The little princess may become a problem, Dais.
She intends to warn her foolish brother, Asser.
Deal with her."
Dais raised his hand.
A violet-black portal tore open from the void.
"I'll handle her.
And I'll finish what remains of the Mage Guild."
He turned to Reiz.
"Guard the fortress.
No intruders."
Then to Azalor:
"Shorten the ritual. Do it yourself."
Azalor and Reiz bowed.
Dais stepped into the portal and vanished.
---
Azalor turned to the child.
"Show me what you are."
Dark energy coiled around him as he raised his hand. Shadows pressed in on the child, and tears streamed down his cheeks as he struggled to breathe. Azalor's men intensified the ritual, their hands glowing with dark sigils.
Above Silva, the sky broke.
Rain fell over Aurik for the first time in decades.
---
Inside the Royal Court
Dais stood at the palace window, watching the storm.
"That child...
He's drawing too much attention.
Hurry, Azalor."
He entered the council chamber—a long, rectangular hall lined with chairs. He sat at the center and summoned the royal advisors.
---
At the Fortress
Azalor's power surged.
Lightning struck the roof, shattering stone.
Azalor remained calm.
"Send two to the roof.
Cast a counter-spell.
I won't have this ritual disrupted by a pathetic bolt."
---
In the Council Chamber
Dais addressed the advisors, his body radiating a gray, ominous aura.
"Updates. Now."
The head of the council, Phoenix, spoke nervously.
"Your Majesty...
The people are restless.
They demand answers.
The sky... the fall of the Luminous Tree..."
Dais's eyes flared violet.
Phoenix wiped his brow.
"We've done as you asked.
Guards are posted across the kingdom.
We've explained the sky as a natural phenomenon.
We've denied the rumors."
Dais's voice was cold.
"Good.
And the princess?"
The wind howled outside.
Walls trembled.
Phoenix hesitated.
"She's... investigating.
She tried to confront Prince Asser."
Dais narrowed his eyes.
"Investigating what?"
"We don't know.
But she's moving.
She's asking questions."
Dais stroked his chin.
"We must ensure stability.
No protests. No uprisings.
Don't let her act foolishly.
She's a naive girl trying to undo her father's legacy."
He stood.
"Arrest the remaining members of the Mage Guild.
Or rather... what's left of them."
He smiled darkly.
"Summon their leader.
I have unfinished business."
He left the chamber, heading toward the castle to confront Asser—and silence Kasrahh.
"Sarah remains under my spell.
Only the foolish princess...
And that meddling merchant... remain."
---
Outside — Aurik in Chaos
The storm raged.
Clouds churned.
Winds howled.
Rain lashed the walls of Aurik.
Lightning struck the towers.
The people panicked.
Some fled.
Some fell.
Guards struggled to maintain order.
The streets flooded.
Families locked themselves inside.
The royal palace was surrounded by frightened citizens demanding answers.
Asser and Kasrahh emerged, trying to calm them.
But their words fell flat.
Even the guards began to lose faith—eyes filled with disappointment.
---
At the Emerald Tavern
Jawaher and Mulhim listened to the storm.
Mulhim stacked bottles behind the counter.
"Something's wrong...
Jabir must return soon."
Jawaher clutched her weapon, trembling.
"Jabir... Sylvance...
Where are you?"
Mulhim looked at her.
"He'll come back.
I'm sure of it.
Don't worry, miss."
