The sky itself was in utter chaos. The clouds, stacked heavily upon one another, were dark as pitch — torn apart by pulsating lightning that lit up the horizon, as though writing in the heavens in an ancient, forgotten language.
This storm was unlike anything people had ever known; it wasn't merely winds shaking the trees, nor rain pouring upon the earth. No — it was something alien… a singular storm, twisting the very fabric of the sky as if tearing time and space into fragments.
A colossal cyclone swept across the heavens above, like a battle raging between forces far beyond human comprehension. It never touched the ground, yet everything beneath it trembled in its shadow. The trees stood still, untouched — as if bearing witness to an event they could neither stop nor escape. The sky itself had become the stage, and the battle unfolded beneath its surface.
On that day, the storm grew with an intensity so strange, so overwhelming, that the royal court was turned upside down. Amidst the chaos, the king sat upon his throne, the world around him twisting and spiraling, while within his heart a conflict raged — one words could never fully express.
Silence settled over the grand hall — but it wasn't peace. It was the silence that precedes disaster. Everyone exchanged nervous glances; troubled eyes, pale faces, whispers laced with dread passing from one to another.
One knight, standing near the wall, spoke in a hoarse voice barely overcoming his fear:
— "Do you see the color of the sky? I've never seen it this black before... like the mouth of a monster about to devour everything."
Another replied, clutching his cloak tightly around him, as though feeling an unnatural cold seep into his bones:
— "It's not just the color... even the wind carries a strange scent... the scent of death... like it comes from ancient graves opened without permission."
An old man, bent with age, stepped forward and spoke in a trembling voice:
— "In all my years... I've never heard the wind scream like this... Storms come and go... but this? This feels like it's standing over the city... watching... waiting for its moment."
A young man let out a bitter laugh — a laugh choked by the shiver of fear:
— "And what else would a storm like this wait for... other than our ruin? Who among us would survive if this curse descended upon our heads?"
Another man, staring at the window whose glass shook with every gust of wind, replied:
— "If this storm descends upon the city... nothing will remain the same. Roofs will be torn apart, walls will crumble, and even humans... perhaps their very skin will be flayed from their bodies by the sheer force of the winds."
A hopeless man, gripping his sword as if it were his only shield against a dark fate, muttered:
— "The danger isn't the wind or the lightning... The danger is what the sky is hiding within this storm... Do you really think it's only the wind that roars out there?"
Silence fell once more… as though they all understood exactly what he meant.
Then one of them whispered, pointing through the trembling glass toward the sky:
— "There's something inside... amidst the clouds... moving... it doesn't look like a bird or any creature we know... it's like a shadow swimming through the air... waiting for the moment to descend."
The people exchanged glances — no one dared to confirm it, yet none could deny it either.
One of the wise men spoke in a cold, knowing voice — as if he knew more than he wished to reveal:
— "This is no random storm... This is a warning... merely the beginning... Worse will come if we do not prepare."
Then he added with a sorrow buried deep within:
— "The city will never be the same again... Even if this night passes in peace... nothing will return to the way it was."
Silence devoured the hall… There was nothing left to be said… Everyone turned toward the king, awaiting his command — yet the truth that gripped their hearts was clear:
The sky had changed... and the world was changing with it.
The King
"Enough of this noise!" His voice pierced through the hall as he pressed his hand against his forehead, struggling to contain the chaos within his mind.
In that moment, as the king's words echoed through the chamber, a secret thought stirred within him:
In the depths of his heart:
"The world has lost its path... Darkness draws nearer with every passing moment... Can I truly lead my people through this chaos? Or has fate already written our end?"
After several moments of heavy silence, it was broken by the hesitant voice of the royal advisor:
The Advisor (with clear tension):
"Your Majesty... what are we to do in such a situation? The world has turned upside down... What is happening?"
His question echoed through the vast halls, while the king gathered his courage once more — but this time, his voice carried the weight of inner contemplation:
The King (in a low, steady voice, blending resolve with concern):
"We must find our way through this heavenly storm. Something must be done... whatever the cost."
At that moment, his thoughts began to gather — his fear mingling with determination — his eyes set on the task of restoring order to a world where reality blurred with illusion.
Meanwhile, at the great door leading into the royal hall, a fierce struggle erupted between a palace guard and another man. A violent commotion broke out before the doors, punctuated by broken, anxious words. The man leaned closer to the guard and whispered urgently:
The Man (whispering with palpable tension):
"I must speak with the king... It is urgent..."
Everyone gathered around the door with astonished eyes, until the king, from atop his throne, commanded:
The King:
"Let him in."
The man rushed in, almost collapsing to the ground from sheer terror and exhaustion. Panting heavily, he began to speak hastily:
The Man (with a trembling voice):
"Your Majesty... the general sent me... th-th-the general sent me... [incoherent words]"
The advisor intervened, trying to calm the situation:
The Advisor (calmly, attempting to clarify):
"Just speak clearly... Do not worry."
Struggling between fear and panic, the man continued with difficulty:
The Man (in a shaking voice):
"Your Majesty... The general of the royal court sent me... He told me to inform you that monsters are descending from the storm. Terrifying creatures — far beyond the beasts that haunt the dark forests... They are much stronger... far worse..."
Murmurs spread among those present — astonishment filled the hall — until the king turned directly to his advisor and commanded:
The King:
"Gather all the soldiers at once. We must protect our people from this strange phenomenon. Assemble all the knights — 500,000 strong — and gather all the mages and healers we possess."
And so, while the noise of the crowd mingled with trembling whispers throughout the hall, resolve returned to the eyes of the king and his advisor — announcing the beginning of preparations for a battle that could change the fate of the entire kingdom.