Seal of Julianess: Heart of Kandrakar — Eclipse of the Two Journeys
The dust of Kuruda tasted like copper and old iron, but the wind carrying it down from the high passes was cold enough to freeze blood.
We had already taken two impossible journeys. The first was to stop the spreading darkness from swallowing the outer realms; the second, to guide thousands of lost, weeping souls back across the veil to where they belonged. Now, our boots were worn through, our weapons notched with endless battles, but the road did not end.
Before us, rising out of the mist like a titan forged of ivory and pale gold, stood the holy city of Julianess. An ancient metropolis whose history spanned thousands of years, its foundations pulsed with the raw, crackling energy of creation itself. The faint glow of the ley lines shimmered beneath the stone streets, illuminating the massive banners rustling in the square. The Ceremony of the Four Divas was about to begin.
Yet, there was no peace in the air.
"There is a rebellion brewing in Meridian," a low, urgent voice warned from the shadows of the alleyway. A hooded scout stepped out, his breathing labored. "And their leader is in grave danger. I fear a dark and difficult time is coming. Many people will need your help."
He pointed a gauntleted finger toward the horizon. "The Infinite City is still a day’s walk from here, but time has already run out. Prince Phobos has located the other heirs—his sisters, Will Vandom and Queen Elyion, who are hidden on Zibmala. If we don't rescue Will, the leader of the Guardians, and Queen Elyion before the witch Narissa finds them... Meridian and Kuruda are doomed."
The scout grabbed my shoulder, his grip desperately tight. "You have begun a journey which I am afraid you will need all your talents and strengths just to survive."
A loud, booming laugh shattered the tension.
Ellie Ragu, the legendary Shadow Skill warrior, spat onto the polished cobbles, her hands resting tightly on her blades. Her eyes burned with fierce contempt as she glared at the city guards standing frozen in their pristine, gilded armor.
"It's nonsense when warriors forget who they are and choke their warrior spirit on this courtesy crap!" Ellie roared, her voice echoing off the ancient walls of Julianess. "Only these suits here don't understand that! You hypocrites hide the truth so you can sleep at night!"
Before the guards could draw their halberds, Sam the Whoop Spike bent down over a fallen captain, prying a heavy silver amulet from the man's lifeless collar. He held it up to the pale light of the city's creation-core.
"This is bad," Sam muttered, his voice dropping an octave. "Ellie... this Banda has the seal of Julianess on it."
Ellie stopped mid-stride, her face darkening.
"So this is an inside job," Sam added quietly.
The holy city was not a sanctuary. It was the trap. With Phobos closing in, Narissa hunting the Guardians, and treason rotting the heart of Julianess itself, the third journey had begun.
Comments
Post a Comment