Chapter 17 — First Signs of Danger

The sun had barely risen when the first reports arrived. Scouts from the outer villages returned in haste, their horses kicking up dust as they delivered news to the castle gates.

“Monsters… attacking the northern farmlands,” one scout gasped, eyes wide with fear. “Villagers… slaughtered… livestock gone…”

Aric’s grip on his sword tightened. “How many? What kind of monsters?”

The scout shook his head. “No one has seen them clearly. Shadows… fast… deadly. People barely escaped.”

Kaelen’s golden eyes narrowed beneath his hood. He had sensed the disturbance hours before the reports came—faint, unnatural ripples in the magical and physical currents surrounding the kingdom. Monsters were moving closer, scouting, probing, testing defenses.

“This is no ordinary attack,” Kaelen said quietly, his voice carrying calm authority. “These are Abyssal creatures. Dangerous, cunning… possibly preparing for something larger.”

Aric’s chest rose and fell rapidly. “We have to protect the villages! I—I must go now!”

Kaelen placed a firm hand on his shoulder. “Patience. Charging without strategy is reckless. You must learn to understand your enemy before facing it. Rushing in will only get you killed.”

Aric’s eyes burned with determination. “Then teach me, Master Kaelen. Show me how to fight them—so I can save people!”

Kaelen studied him silently for a moment before nodding. “Very well. Observation first. Understand their movements, their patterns, their strengths and weaknesses. Only then will you fight effectively. Let’s go.”

The two of them mounted their horses and rode toward the northern farmlands, Kaelen leading silently while Aric struggled to keep pace, both with his mount and with the flood of questions racing through his mind.

When they arrived, the scene was grim. Fields lay scorched, homes partially burned, and livestock scattered—or gone entirely. Shadows flickered at the edges of the trees, moving with an unnatural speed.

Aric dismounted, drawing his sword. “Where are they?”

Kaelen’s eyes scanned the treeline. “They are here… watching, learning. Attack when they sense weakness. You must strike decisively, but only after understanding their rhythm.”

Suddenly, a dark, hulking form lunged from the shadows—a creature with jagged claws and glowing red eyes. Aric barely had time to block its swipe, staggering back as Kaelen moved with calm precision, parrying, striking, and forcing the monster to retreat.

Aric’s breath came in ragged gasps. “Master… they’re fast… stronger than anything I’ve faced before!”

Kaelen’s golden eyes met his. “And yet, they follow patterns, just like any opponent. Watch, learn, adapt. Strength alone will not defeat them. Strategy, understanding, and precision will.”

The young prince nodded, gripping his sword tighter. For the first time, he realized that the world beyond the castle walls was far more dangerous than any training drill. Monsters, demons, and unknown threats would challenge him in ways he could never imagine.

Kaelen’s gaze swept the horizon. “This is only the beginning. The kingdom is not yet ready for what is coming—but we will prepare. Together, we will ensure that no darkness can claim it.”

As the sun climbed higher, the first true lesson of the battlefield began. Aric’s hands ached, his heart pounded, and yet a spark of resolve burned brighter than ever. The path ahead would be perilous, but under the guidance of the Mirrorblade, he was ready to face it.