The Duke stood alone on the highest cliff of Stormwatch Isle, the wind whipping around him, carrying the salty scent of the Tempest Sea. He closed his eyes, seeking solace in the familiar sounds of the waves crashing against the rocks below. He was deep in meditation, trying to calm the storm of emotions raging within him.
As he focused on his breathing, a strange sensation washed over him—a feeling of déjà vu, as if he had been in this exact spot, in this exact moment, before. But try as he might, he couldn’t recall any specific memory associated with this place.
Frowning, the Duke tried to push the feeling aside, but it lingered, nagging at the edges of his mind. Suddenly, a voice—soft, yet commanding—seemed to whisper in his ear, but when he opened his eyes, he was still alone.
“Who’s there?” he called out, his voice echoing off the cliffs.
There was no response, but the feeling of being watched persisted. A chill ran down his spine, and he instinctively reached for his sword. As he did, a surge of energy, raw and untamed, surged through him. In his shock, he lost control of his aura, releasing it in a powerful burst that rippled through the air.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
The high-ranking warriors and mages of the dukedom, sensing the sudden surge of energy, rushed to the cliffs, their faces filled with concern. They found the Duke, standing alone, his aura pulsing around him like a visible shield.
“What’s happening?” Galen, the head of the warriors, asked, his hand on the hilt of his sword.
The Duke took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. “I… I’m not sure. Something… something strange just happened. I felt a presence, a voice, but there was no one there.”
The mages exchanged worried glances, their auras flickering with uncertainty. Master Elarion stepped forward, his eyes filled with concern. “Your Grace, perhaps you should rest. This… this may be a sign of something more.”
The Duke shook his head, his mind racing. “No, I must understand what’s happening. This feeling, it’s like a memory, but one that I can’t quite grasp.”
As he spoke, flashes of images and sensations flickered through his mind—a feeling of power, of danger, of a presence watching him from the shadows. But each time he tried to focus on them, they slipped away, elusive and ephemeral.
“Your Grace,” Alaric, the Duke’s most trusted advisor, spoke up, his voice steady. “Could this be related to the cult that Magnus and Elara were investigating?”
The Duke’s eyes widened in realization. “Of course! The Shadow Serpent. They must be behind this. Whatever they seek, it’s tied to this island, to me.”
The high-ranking warriors and mages exchanged concerned glances. The Shadow Serpent was a name that struck fear into the hearts of even the bravest warriors. Their dark rituals and insidious plots had plagued the realm for centuries, but they had always remained elusive, their motives shrouded in mystery.
“We must prepare,” the Duke said, his voice firm. “We cannot allow the Shadow Serpent to succeed. Whatever their goal, we will stop them.”
The warriors and mages nodded, their determination mirrored in their eyes. They would stand with the Duke, united against this new threat, even as the echoes of the past whispered of dangers yet to come.