In the heart of Shadowvale, the Echo Tower soared into the sky like a sharp sword plunged deep into the earth. A storm was approaching, but the tower remained silent, as if it knew all the secrets.

Aria stood at the window at the top of the tower, gazing into the distance. She lightly traced the raindrops on the glass, her heart filled with conflict. Though she had lived here for sixteen years, this was her only home. Thinking of King Magnus, she felt a mix of anger and helplessness. She raised her left hand, the dense scales glinting coldly in the rain, as if reminding her of her fate. Each scale seemed to whisper, reminding her that the shackles of destiny could not be escaped.

A piercing scream broke through the dark sky, followed by a red lightning bolt that illuminated the northern horizon. It was the warning of the prophecy—the red lightning would bring an unchangeable wheel of fate. Aria’s heartbeat quickened; she sensed an irresistible force approaching. A chill swept over her, as if the tower itself was warning her of an ominous future. She felt a wave of powerlessness, unaware that she was about to be swept into a storm she could not control.

In the hall of the palace, King Magnus sat on his throne, his cold gaze sweeping across the room. He gripped the armrests tightly, waiting for some sign. His advisors stood beside him, their faces grim, as if they too sensed the coming of the red lightning. Despite his calm exterior, his inner turmoil was like a raging sea, unable to be stilled.

“Hawk, it’s time for you to fulfill your promise,” King Magnus said coldly, his voice filled with icy determination.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” replied Hawk, his most trusted advisor, a flicker of worry in his eyes. He understood the king’s inner pain but could only silently comply.

“Aria must be kept away; the prophecy must not come true,” King Magnus’s voice was like a cold blade, cutting through the silence of the hall. His heart was full of conflict and anger, knowing that his decision was unfair, but he had no choice. Every time he thought of Aria, he felt a stabbing pain, but duty and fear forced him to make this decision. Even though she was his daughter, he could not escape this burden.

Meanwhile, Aria finished her day’s work and placed the last messenger bird into a golden birdcage. She stood gloomily at the top of the tower, gazing at the brightly lit royal castle on the hillside—a place someone as ordinary as her could only dream of—the North's most impregnable Sovereign Bastion. Her heart was filled with both longing and despair; she yearned for freedom, yet knew her fate had long been sealed.

Now, she felt like a bird trapped in a cage, unable to escape no matter how hard she struggled. The lightning before her foretold the impending change, and a flame of anger rose in her heart. Perhaps she was not just a plaything of fate. She could choose her own path. No matter how unknown the future was, she would walk it with strength.

Aria sighed softly.

Just then, a mournful cawing crow landed on the windowsill, fluffing its feathers and shaking off the raindrops. Its black eyes swiveled around, hopping closer to Aria.

"Little one, are you lost?"

As Aria attempted to touch it, the crow pecked fiercely.

A searing pain shot through her, causing Aria to bite her lip as she gently stroked the raised scale.

The accursed crow flew away.

Yet, beneath Aria's curled lashes lay an endless sense of loss.

Accompanied by the sound of hoofbeats, a double-horse carriage emerged through the gray drizzle from the dark alley. Finally, it halted at the base of the tower.

A limping boy descended from the carriage, taking the umbrella handed to him by the coachman, but before he could open it, the carriage had already departed.

"Aria, they've sent someone new," Oliver burst into the room excitedly.

"I know, Oliver. It's been three years, and this is the first one." Aria looked at the unfolded black umbrella, furrowing his brow. "They've never sent a child before."

As Aria pushed open the tower's gate, as she expected, there stood a boy of eight or nine. Yet what shocked Aria more was that one of the boy's legs was missing, replaced by a delicate iron-silver prosthetic.

The thin boy held the umbrella, pulling out a crumpled parchment scroll from his pocket and handing it to Aria.

It was a handwritten letter from King Magnus, which read:

Aria: By my decree, you shall welcome a new member to our family, your brother Xander. Unfortunately, due to an accident, he is unable to communicate with others. For Xander's safety and well-being, I have decided to let him reside in the Echo Tower. Please take good care of your brother. King Magnus.

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"He's new? His..." Oliver pointed at the boy, astonished.

Xander shifted his leg nervously, lowering his head.

"Come in, I'm your sister Aria, and I'm glad to meet you. The Echo Tower is your home from now on, my little brother," Aria pretended cheerfully. But inside, she felt saddened. She knew all too well that once again, the king had abandoned another seemingly useless child.

As Xander ascended the spiraling wooden staircase, the clanking of his iron leg against the floor echoed throughout the tower, causing Aria's heartbeat to quicken with each peculiar thud. It was as if someone had forcefully slammed a door in the dead of night, jolting her from her nightmare.

In truth, this brother was a stranger to Aria. Though she had glimpsed Xander from afar outside the gates of Sovereign Bastion. But that time, Aria had only peeked from a distance, hiding in the shadows. The sunset cast a golden glow, the king and Xander standing before the towering gates, seeming like an unreachable mirage in the sky.

Aria prepared an empty room. Though the letter clearly stated Xander's inability to communicate, she still attempted to ask a few questions.

"This room looks nice, do you like it?"

"Is there anything else you need?"

"Did Father discuss anything with you before you came?"

Xander sat at the edge of the bed with his head bowed, his hands placed neatly on his knees. He didn't even nod or shake his head, quiet as still air.

Aria sighed in resignation.

"Well, since you don't want to answer... then... goodnight..."

That night, Aria tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Their father had only the two of them, and now he had sent Xander away too. Perhaps, their father was simply a ruthless man, selfishly desiring power on the throne alone.

In the days that followed, there were particularly many messages delivered by Skydornis. Often, dozens of Skydornis were crammed in one cage, pecking at each other irritably and chirping incessantly. When a large bag of messages arrived from the royal city, the Skydornis would suddenly all fly away, leaving behind empty cages throughout the room.

Aria was always busy until late at night. She often sorted through the mess of messages into the wee hours, occasionally carrying Xander, who slept by the window, back to his room. Then, she would drag her tired body back to her own bed. In truth, Aria was always nervous when facing her little brother; she was afraid of saying the wrong thing and making Xander even more despondent.

That night, just as Aria had fallen asleep, she was abruptly awakened by urgent knocking on the door.

"Aria, are you there?" It was Oliver's voice.

"Yes, what's the matter?" Aria responded listlessly.

"It's King Magnus, he's here..."

"King Magnus?" Aria sat up abruptly.

Quickly dressing herself, she opened the door, and Oliver handed her a cold wooden tube. "King Magnus urgently needs this; he's in the secret message room downstairs."

"How long has he been here?" Aria asked, hurrying down.

"He just arrived. I fetched the message as he instructed; it's an urgent one from a Skydornis that just flew in." Oliver followed Aria, panting.

Their footsteps echoed on the dim spiral staircase.

"Did King Magnus say anything?"

"I didn't dare to look at His Majesty, let alone ask." Oliver continued, "I wonder what the message is; could it be an excuse for King Magnus to visit you?"

"No, he's here just for the message," Aria clutched the wooden tube tightly. Though she had walked these steps countless times, this time she hesitated, because the person she feared most was waiting downstairs.

The room was filled with silence.

Aria walked into the chamber alone, gently pushing the door open. Gray moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating a shining silver sword on the table. King Magnus sat behind the desk, casually flipping through small scrolls in the message bucket. His face resembled the one Aria remembered, stern and resolute, with neatly trimmed black hair cascading over his shoulders, his cold, steely eyes focused on the information written on the scroll. He wore a luxurious fur cloak embroidered with the image of a winged black dragon, resembling a cross from afar. This was the emblem of the royal family of Sovereign Bastion, the northern city.

"Has the news arrived?" King Magnus asked in a low voice, his gaze still fixed on the scroll in his hand.

Aria placed the message on the table and pushed it gently toward him.

Finally, King Magnus set down the scroll and picked up the message Aria handed him.

At that moment, there was a noise from the floor.

Aria startled, stepping back half a pace. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was a black hound curled up beside King Magnus's chair. The dog was massive, standing as tall as a grown man, a breed known as the formidable black wolfhound. It bore a pair of emerald green eyes, which had been fixed on Aria since her entrance. But without its master's command, it lay there quietly.

Time ticked by, and the room felt almost suffocating. Facing her father after so many years, even breathing seemed difficult for Aria.

King Magnus silently unfolded the small scroll, which bore only a few words. He pondered for a long while, his gaze heavy. After a moment, he folded the message again and, for the first time, looked directly at Aria, asking, "How is Xander?"

"Xander is fine, but he's very withdrawn and doesn't want to communicate with me," Aria nervously replied. "Is his throat injured?"

"No, he was bitten by a beast while hunting in the wild, his leg was broken, not his throat."

"Can Xander still speak?"

"His vocal cords are unharmed. But since the accident, he refuses to speak. Even the best doctors couldn't cure him."

"Are you here to see Xander this time? Although he doesn't speak, he..."

"I'm here to take you back. Someone wants to see you," King Magnus interrupted her, "Prepare yourself and come with me to Sovereign Bastion immediately." His gaze fell on Aria's hand, his brows furrowed with disgust as he said, "Remember to wear gloves. I don't want to see that hand."

Aria immediately hid her hand behind her back, forgetting her father's aversion to scales.

She returned to her room, pulling out an old box from under the dusty bed. At the bottom, she found a pale yellow glove. Since arriving at Echo Tower, she had discarded her past along with this glove in the box. As time passed, Aria had forgotten everything. But now, a cold remark brought her back to harsh reality.

Before leaving Echo Tower, Aria stopped by Xander's door. She stood there quietly, listening. The room was quiet, and Xander hadn't been awakened by the commotion. Aria breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that King Magnus's arrival hadn't disturbed her little brother. If the three of them met at the same time, it would undoubtedly be the most awkward moment Aria had ever experienced in her life.