That morning, as dew still clung to the giant leaves and the cries of ancient birds filled the air, a sharp metallic ringing echoed throughout the village. A sound unmistakable—an announcement from the kingdom. Something that rarely ever happened.
People began to step out of their homes, puzzled and curious, their faces a mix of worry and wonder. In the village square, a royal soldier stood atop a stone platform, wearing leather armor embroidered with the kingdom's crest. Beside him, a town crier held a large scroll of animal skin.
Kael, who had just exited Elro's house with Teren and Rana, stood among the gathering crowd. They exchanged glances—this wasn't an ordinary announcement.
The crier unrolled the scroll and read aloud with a commanding voice:
"Hear ye, citizens of the Kingdom of Ticonic! From the high court comes an urgent decree from King Elmir himself. Suspicious signs have been discovered in the northern regions, near the Forbidden Forest. Royal patrols have found evidence of trespassing upon sacred land. Therefore, anyone with knowledge of pathways or breaches leading beyond the kingdom's borders must report to the authorities within three days. Failure to do so will be considered treason against Terra!"
Whispers broke out among the crowd—nervous, confused.
Kael swallowed hard. Teren immediately looked at him. "You heard that, Kael?"
Kael gave a slow nod, his eyes still fixed on the soldier. "They know… maybe we were seen yesterday. Or maybe there are other guards watching the area."
Rana stared at both of them, confused. "What are you two talking about? What did you see in the north?"
Kael didn't answer right away. His mind was racing, trying to form a plan. This was no longer just a personal adventure. That massive secret might now become the beginning of something far greater—and far more dangerous.
Kael grabbed Teren's arm firmly. "Let's go home. We can't stay here too long."
Teren nodded quickly, tension on his face. They slipped out of the crowd before the announcement ended. No one noticed them—everyone was too busy whispering and speculating. Kael walked fast, Rana trailing behind, still confused but sensing the seriousness of the moment.
Once they got home, Kael shut the door and made sure all the windows were tightly closed. Teren came in last, still glancing outside to make sure no one had followed them.
"After lunch, we need to find a way to avoid getting caught," Kael said firmly, tossing his bow and arrows into a corner of the room.
"You really think they saw us?" Teren asked, sitting on the wooden bench, still catching his breath.
"I don't know. But I have a bad feeling. That announcement was too specific. They must have picked up on something. We need to be ready," Kael replied, frowning as he stared at the floor.
Rana served the rest of the deer meat she had prepared that morning. "Can you guys please tell me now? What did you see up north?" she asked while placing a bowl on the table.
Kael looked at his sister for a moment. He hesitated, but finally answered, "We saw something we weren't supposed to. A world beyond this one. Bigger than anything we've been told. And now… it looks like we're in serious trouble."
Rana fell silent, then slowly sat down. "Then… should we run?"
Kael shook his head. "Not yet. We need to know how big this threat is. But one thing's for sure—after lunch, Teren and I are going back to that place. We need proof. If this world really is bigger, we have to learn the truth—and why the kingdom is hiding it."
Teren looked at Kael with hesitation, but nodded. "If you're going back there, I'm with you."
Rana looked between the two of them. Fear filled her eyes, but so did determination. "Then be careful. I'll stay here… keep watch, make sure no one suspects anything."
Kael patted his sister's shoulder. "Thanks, Rana. You're stronger than you think."
Outside, the clouds hung heavier than usual. A cold wind began to blow. As if the world itself knew—Kael's journey had only just begun.
Kael was sharpening the tip of his arrow when Teren spoke up.
"What if we bring Parker and Mira in to help us?"
Kael paused for a moment, then turned to him. "Parker can be trusted. He's calm and quick to think. But Mira… she talks too much. She might not be able to keep a secret."
Teren shrugged. "But she's smart. Remember when she saved us during the mud battle competition? She's good at coming up with plans. We could use her help, even if it's just for a cover story."
Kael sighed. "Alright. But we have to be careful. We can't tell them everything right away. Let's test the waters—see how they react."
Rana, who had been listening from the kitchen, chimed in, "If you're going to bring them in, do it tonight. It'll be safer after dark."
Kael nodded. "Good idea. After dinner, we'll ask them to meet us behind the shed. We'll say it's a 'secret mission'. That should spark their curiosity."
Teren grinned. "So… we're starting a secret group now?"
Kael chuckled. "Something like that. But this isn't a game, Teren. We're up against the kingdom. And maybe… something even bigger."
Outside, thick clouds began to cover the sun. In the distance, a faint roll of thunder echoed across the sky—signaling that a storm was coming. But for Kael, the real storm was only just beginning.
The night was growing late. The wind carried the scent of damp earth and old wood as Kael, Teren, Parker, and Mira gathered in the old shed behind Elro's house. Only a single oil lantern lit the room, casting flickering shadows on the worn wooden walls.
Kael started, "We found something… something big. And we need your help."
Teren added, "We saw a wall—not just any wall. Beyond it, there was open sea, and far out there, a massive ice wall. And there was a ship. Not like our wooden ships… something strange."
Mira stared, her eyes widening. "A ship? Ice wall? Did you two eat some weird forest mushrooms?"
But before Kael could respond, Parker folded his arms and looked down. "I already know."
Everyone turned to him.
"What?" Kael asked quickly.
"I know about that wall. About the other world. About Earth," Parker said quietly. His voice was calm, almost cold. "I heard it from my father… before he disappeared. He went north too. He said this place... it's not the real world."
Silence hung heavy in the room.
Kael stared at him. "Why didn't you ever tell us?"
Parker met his eyes. "Because no one would believe me. And because the people who know... most of them disappear or get silenced."
Mira, who had been giggling earlier, was now completely still. "You're serious, Park?"
Parker nodded. "If you've seen it yourselves... then we can't stay quiet anymore. But be careful. Those guards at the wall aren't just regular sentries. They're from the top… from a system that's been hiding this truth for generations."
Kael nodded slowly. "So you'll help us?"
Parker looked directly at Kael and replied, "Of course. But if we're going forward, we need to be ready… because what we're up against isn't just the kingdom. It's the truth that's been buried for hundreds of years."
Teren swallowed hard. Mira finally fell silent.
That night, in the damp, shadowy shed, the four of them began to plan—not just to uncover what lay beyond the wall, but to challenge the very foundation of their world.