The palace trembled.
A cold wind rushed through the grand halls, extinguishing every flame in its path.
Guards froze in fear.
"Something is wrong…" one of them whispered.
Deep inside the throne room—
A man sat silently.
Dressed in black.
A crown of shadows resting beside him.
His eyes slowly opened.
Sharp. Cold. Dangerous.
Prince Kael.
"The crown… has awakened," he said quietly.
For years, it had been silent.
For years, no one could touch it.
But now—
Someone did.
And that someone… was not him.
Kael stood up.
Dark energy flickered around him.
"Find her."
Meanwhile…
Aira stumbled through the empty streets outside the palace.
Her breath was uneven.
Her heart still racing.
"What is happening to me…?" she whispered.
Suddenly—
A strong force pulled her back.
Before she could react—
A hand grabbed her wrist.
Cold.
Firm.
Powerful.
Aira gasped and turned around.
Her eyes met his.
For a moment—
Time stopped.
His gaze was intense… almost piercing through her soul.
"You…" he said, his voice low and dangerous.
Aira tried to pull her hand away.
"Leave me!"
But his grip tightened.
"Do you even know what you've done?" Kael asked.
"I didn't do anything!" she replied, fear and anger mixing in her voice.
Kael's eyes moved to the crown on her head.
His expression darkened.
"That crown… belongs to me."
Aira froze.
"No… it doesn't."
For a second—
Silence.
Then—
A dark smile appeared on Kael's face.
"Interesting…"
The shadows around them began to move.
Reacting.
To her.
Not him.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"So… it chose you."
Aira's heart skipped a beat.
"I didn't choose this!" she said.
Kael stepped closer.
"So now you have two choices."
Aira swallowed nervously.
"Come with me willingly…"
He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper—
"Or be dragged into a world… you can never escape...