(Meanwhile at the Human Kingdom)
*****
The grand hall of the human kingdom's capital was alive with murmurs and tension.
King Arthur sat at the head of the long table, his golden crown resting lightly on his glode-streaked hair.
The nobles of the realm, a mix of seasoned warlords, scholars, and power-hungry aristocrats, gathered to discuss the matter that had thrown the kingdom into unease—the four black-reddish pentagrams that had appeared across their lands.
The grand hall of the human kingdom's royal palace was thick with tension.
King Arthur sat upon his towering throne, clad in a deep blue ceremonial robe, his golden crown gleaming under the candlelight.
The long table before him was filled with nobles from across the land—lords and ladies, military commanders, and scholars—each with their own theories and fears about the mysterious pentagrams that had appeared across the kingdom.
Arthur exhaled heavily, his fingers tightening around the armrest of his throne. "Four pentagrams—four separate locations, each appearing with no warning, no trace of their creator, and no known Ki signature we can track.
What do we know?" His voice was calm but carried the weight of a ruler who demanded answers.
Duke Reynold, a stout man with a hawk-like nose and a reputation for his keen mind, adjusted his spectacles. "Our investigators have confirmed that these symbols pulse with residual Ki energy, but not one that can be traced outwards as it only circles the pentagram.
"We have detected strange atmospheric changes around each site. The crops near the pentagram in the northern farmlands have begun to rot inexplicably, and animals refuse to go near them."
"Bah!" Baron Mallrick, a red-faced nobleman with little patience for the supernatural, scoffed. "This is nothing but a trick! Some rogue brats are playing games, and we're wasting time and resources debating shadow figures."
Lady Selene, a high-ranking noblewoman and skilled magic practitioner, narrowed her eyes. "Then explain the earthquakes near the southern mountains, Baron.
"Or the lightning storm that lasted three days over the capital after the symbol appeared here."
Sir Garret, a grizzled knight commander, leaned forward. "We have soldiers stationed at each site. Reports say the air around them is heavier, harder to breathe. The more spiritually inclined among them claim they feel 'watched' when they stand near the symbols."
"Watched?" A few nobles exchanged uneasy glances.
Archbishop Aldren, an elderly priest draped in golden robes, cleared his throat. "We have consulted ancient texts, and some accounts from centuries past mention sigils similar to these.
"They were used for great summonings, sacrificial rites, and other dark practices. It is possible that these pentagrams are the work of a cult."
"Or a warning," Count Alistair, a scholar of myths, mused. "What if the gods themselves are speaking to us? The placement of the symbols—four in total—could represent the ancient directions of celestial balance. Perhaps these are messages from the divine."
Baron Mallrick laughed loudly. "Messages from the gods? We have actual problems to deal with, and you're telling me to read into fairy tales?"
A lower-ranked noble, Lord Edric, hesitantly spoke up. "There is another possibility—one that few wish to acknowledge. What if this is the work of demons?"
The hall fell silent. The very mention of demons sent a chill through the room. Though their presence had not been confirmed in centuries, the fear of their return lingered in the hearts of many.
The demons and angel races have separated from the rest of the world, only fighting with each other in their eternal war.
Almost nobody has seen or heard from members of either species in centuries.
King Arthur steepled his fingers. "Do we have any proof that demons are involved?"
Edric shook his head. "No, Your Majesty. But the scriptures say that whenever great shifts occur in the world, they are not far behind."
Duke Reynold frowned. "Superstition. We need facts, not fearmongering."
Murmurs spread across the hall, some dismissing Edric's concerns while others whispered in agreement. The meeting dragged on, with theories bouncing back and forth—some logical, others absurd.
One noble even suggested that the elves had placed the pentagrams as part of a secret war against humanity, an idea swiftly ridiculed and dismissed.
After hours of fruitless debate, King Arthur finally raised his hand for silence. "Enough. We do not yet know the cause of these pentagrams, but we will investigate further.
"Double the guard at each site. Increase surveillance. We will not sit idly by while these symbols threaten our land."
"What of the beasts?" the King looked at his prime minister and asked. "Has there been any word from our scouts?"
The prime minister nudged his head and a military officer stepped forward. "Sire, reports suggest unusual animal behavior. Wild creatures have grown aggressive near the pentagrams, even those known to be docile.
"Livestock refuse to graze, and some villages claim they've seen packs of wolves prowling unnaturally close to human settlements, their eyes glowing red."
Rowena folded her arms. "That is no mere coincidence."
"Then we are being manipulated," King Arthur said grimly. "Someone wants to keep us blind, confused."
Lord Bevin clenched his fists. "We should strike first! If we waste time debating, the enemy will move while we dither."
Arthur looked at the eager noble and sighed inwardly. Rash minds would only bring disaster. He stood, silencing the room with a simple gesture.
"We do not act without knowledge," he declared. "Send envoys to the elven kingdom, the beast clans, even the nomads of the desert. If any among them knows of these pentagrams, we must uncover it. I will not let this kingdom be dragged into war blindly."
Murmurs of agreement and dissent filled the room, but no one openly opposed him. For now, order was maintained.
With those final orders, the meeting was adjourned.
King Arthur had another meeting to attend, with the Dragon Emperor whom he had just entered an alliance with.
*****
As the nobles filtered out of the hall, a small group lingered in the shadows of a side chamber. Five men, their expressions tight with unspoken knowledge, waited until the corridors were nearly empty before speaking.
"The fools argue over theories while the truth sits before them," one noble muttered, his voice laced with amusement.
"Let them argue. The more confused they are, the less likely they are to suspect the truth," another said, adjusting his velvet-lined cloak.
A third noble, his face partially hidden beneath the hood of his robe, smirked. "The pentagrams are working perfectly. The land weakens, and the people grow afraid. The stage is set."
"And what of our benefactors?" a fourth noble asked, lowering his voice.
The hooded man's smirk widened. "They are extremely pleased. Soon, the balance of power will shift, and those who serve them will be rewarded beyond imagination."
A heavy silence settled over them, filled with the weight of dark intentions.
The kingdom teetered on the edge of something terrible, and those who pulled the strings watched in satisfaction, knowing that the chaos had only just begun.
"This grows more dangerous every day. What the hell are those ugly bastards doing?" whispered one, his voice hushed in worry. "Arthur is too cautious. If we wait, we may lose our advantage."
"He is a fool," Another noble spat. "A great warrior, but too hesitant to act when necessary."
One of the nobles glanced around before speaking. "Our benefactors expected this hesitation. They knew the King would not act rashly."
One of the lesser lords, his face partially obscured by his hood, nodded. "Then it is time we push things forward. 'They' have already begun their work."
A chill settled over the group. The shadows around them seemed to darken, and an unnatural presence lingered in the air.
"The pentagrams are only the beginning," a noble muttered. "Soon, Arthur's choices won't matter. Chaos will force his hand."
The hooded noble smirked. "And when that time comes, we will be ready."
The corridor remained silent save for the flickering of torches. Outside, a storm gathered in the distance, its winds carrying whispers of a deeper darkness yet to come.
As they all dispersed, they left those ominous words in the chilling air. A mysterious plot was brewing, covering all of the kingdoms.
Arthur had conferenced with some of the other kingdoms, barring the angel and demon kingdoms, and all of them had these pentagrams somewhere in their kingdoms.
Some had one, while others had up to eight.
As he called Agni Igris, he intended to find out.
*****
(In the Elven Kingdom)
From the edge of a small forest, a figure watched a small Elven village, hidden in the shadows of the trees.
The soft murmur of laughter drifts on the wind, the village aglow with the warmth of a thousand small fires.
The figure remains still, motionless, as if there was no figure there to begin with.
It was so still that one might mistake it for the figure standing over you as you groggily wake in a dark room.
There is no malice in its posture—only an unsettling quiet. The air, though, felt thicker, somehow, and even the moon seemed to turn its gaze away.
For a brief moment, it was as if the village itself didn't notice the watcher, and yet something the heavy feeling settled on every living creature in the village.
*****
Mass Release Goal:
Join the Patreon to get exclusive content, fan art, character ideas, and bonus chapters!
5 new members- 2 extra chapters!
10 new members- 5 extra chapters!
25 new members- 10 extra chapters!
You can join as a free or paid member, either will count!