Chapter 3: Echoes of Darkness
The spring wind blew gently through the palace windows, carrying the scent of flowers and faint whispers that only those attuned to magic could hear.
But this morning, Xebec felt something was off. His steps down the palace corridor felt heavier than usual, as if the air itself resisted peace.
He was heading to the treasury for an inspection but was intercepted by Nanea along the way.
"Brother," said Nanea, her face worried, "You need to see this."
She pulled Xebec toward the back garden, where an old tree had stood since their grandfather's time. But now, its trunk was cracked, and from its crevices, a thin black mist seeped out like fog.
Xebec knelt and touched the ground.
"There's dark magic here…"
Nanea bit her lip. "Last night, I dreamt of a black dragon… and a broken seal."
Xebec stared at her for a long moment. Dreams like that weren't mere illusions. And this wasn't the first strange occurrence at the palace in the past week.
---
Meanwhile, far from the watchful eyes of the kingdom, Duke Malefic sat in a secret chamber beneath the eastern tower. Before him, blue flames danced atop an iron bowl, casting light on the blood-red robes he wore.
He spoke to an unseen figure.
"The seal is beginning to stir. My legacy won't fail this time."
The fire flickered. From the shadows emerged a girl—young, beautiful, but with cold eyes. Lady Astrid de Malefic stepped forward, clad in a dark gown adorned with purple gems, holding a small book in her hand.
"If Bastian hesitates, then we must guide him deeper… into the fate that awaits him."
Duke Malefic gave a faint smile. "Are you ready to play your part, Astrid?"
"I was born for this."
---
Back at the palace, Xebec stood on the balcony of his private chamber, reflecting on the chaos not yet fully revealed.
He summoned Sir Alden, the most loyal knight captain of the realm, to investigate the source of the magical disturbance.
"I want to know who's been wandering at night, and where this magic comes from," Xebec said firmly.
Sir Alden bowed. "As you command, Your Majesty."
At the same time, Xebec began to notice that Bastian had grown distant. His younger brother was rarely seen, spending more time in the underground library and the eastern tower.
That night, Xebec visited the library himself, only to find faint traces of demonic aura—remnants of a seal not yet fully erased. He touched a shelf, and a chill crept up his skin.
"Someone's meddling with powers they don't understand…"
---
Elsewhere in the palace, Bastian stood before a tall mirror. The seal on his shoulder had grown slightly, branching faintly like tree roots. He touched it hesitantly.
"If I could change the world… should I do it, even if it means going against my own blood?"
The faint reflection of Baal appeared in the mirror, grinning in satisfaction. Not fully formed, but enough to inspire both fear and power.
Outside the room, footsteps approached. Bastian quickly hid the seal beneath his cloak.
A knock on the door.
"Your Highness," came Astrid's voice, "It's time."
Bastian nodded, glanced at the mirror one last time, and stepped out. Toward an uncertain fate.
---
Night cast its silence over the palace rooftops, but behind the eastern tower, a subtle vibration could be felt—sensed only by those attuned to the unseen world.
In his private room, Bastian sat alone, flipping through the pages of an old tome given by Astrid. Each page was filled with ancient symbols—letters from the hellish tongue, Baal's legacy before he was sealed.
He frowned at the next line:
"A seal does not only bind power… but also the heart. The deeper you accept it, the fainter the voice of your conscience."
Suddenly, the seal on his shoulder glowed faintly. A whisper entered his mind.
> "You are not alone, Bastian… They forced you to live in your brother's shadow. Let me guide you."
Bastian flinched, but did not resist the voice. Fear mingled with curiosity.
As he closed his eyes, he saw a vision—a world in flames, a fallen palace, and Xebec standing amidst the ruins, a gaping wound in his chest, while he… sat on a throne.
He opened his eyes, breath ragged. "That's not real… is it?"
But the seal on his shoulder pulsed, as if replying: "It depends on your choice."
Elsewhere in the palace, Xebec did not sleep. He stood in the underground training hall, staring at a dummy target while gripping a one-handed wooden sword.
His body was tired, but his thoughts heavier. He thought of Bastian. Of his brother's once-bright spirit now fading.
Suddenly, Nanea approached with a troubled expression.
"I saw him, Brother. Bastian… in the underground corridor. He was speaking to someone invisible."
Xebec turned sharply. "When?"
"A few nights ago. But… I was afraid to say anything."
He stared at her for a moment. Then turned, grabbing his black cloak.
"Tonight, I'll find out for myself. If someone's trying to drag my brother into darkness, then I'll be the one to pull him back."
His steps echoed, marking the beginning of a dark investigation that would uncover not only betrayal—but ancient truths buried with the name of Baal, the demon king.
The secret hallway beneath the royal library was silent and thick with the dust of ages. Xebec moved cautiously, a torch in his left hand illuminating stone walls carved with ancient symbols. They weren't in the style of Phillipean art—these were older, more primal… and more terrifying.
He stopped before a half-collapsed wall, running his fingers over the surface. His hand brushed against a familiar symbol: three eyes stacked into an inverted triangle.
> "The Seal of Baal…"
With a gentle push, the wall shifted, revealing a hidden room—a secret archive never marked on palace maps.
Inside were ancient scrolls and a stone altar draped in blood-red cloth. Xebec approached, carefully unrolling one of the scrolls. The writing was in an old tongue, but he recognized parts of it.
"When the last demon was defeated, the former king bound its soul into the blood of nobles—passing down both power and curse. If a descendant breaks the seal of their own will, Baal shall rise… not in his former form, but in human flesh."
Xebec held his breath.
> "So… it's not just magic. It's a blood pact. One of us… could become Baal's vessel."
In the corner, he found an old book bearing the initials A.M.—Aurelius Malefic, an ancestor of Astrid. Xebec flipped through the pages, his heart sinking as he read the handwritten notes:
> "The Malefic children shall not serve the crown. We shall serve the true king, who sleeps in the realm of shadows. I, Aurelius, swear to prepare the world for his return, through blood… and marriage."
Xebec gripped the scroll tightly.
> "Astrid… is not just a noble."
Suddenly, the torch flickered. The room trembled slightly. From behind the altar, a shadowy figure emerged—not real, more like an echo of memory.
It resembled a man crowned with thorns, eyes glowing red, and a voice that echoed in Xebec's head:
> "Now you know… that your fate has been rewritten by your ancestors' blood. You are pawns, and I—I am the game itself."
Xebec stepped back, gasping, but didn't flee. He replied in his heart,
> "If you are the demon that awakens… then I will be the sword that binds you, Baal."
The shadow faded, leaving behind a final whisper:
> "Look to your brother… he has already begun to change."
---
Breathing heavily, Xebec exited the chamber, carrying all the scrolls he could save. In his hands, he now held not just a family secret—but a world secret. And the key to preventing the demon's return… might already be too close. Too late.
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To be continued…