Chapter 8: The Prophecy Scroll

The storm arrived before midnight.

Dark clouds swallowed the stars above the Crimson Kingdom.

Lightning flashed across the distant mountains.

Thunder rolled through the valley like the footsteps of giants.

Inside Moonfall Tower, Elena stood beside a window watching the storm build.

The kingdom below glowed with hundreds of lanterns.

From this height it looked peaceful.

Safe.

But she knew better now.

Something was changing.

The prison beneath the castle was weakening.

The Hollow Ones had reportedly appeared in the northern forests.

And according to an ancient prophecy, her arrival had started a chain of events no one fully understood.

It was difficult to decide which problem worried her most.

A sharp knock interrupted her thoughts.

Before she could respond, Rowan entered the tower.

His cloak was soaked from the rain.

Water dripped onto the stone floor.

You look terrible.

Elena smiled.

Good evening to you too.

Rowan ignored the comment.

The king wants everyone in the council chamber.

Why?

The northern patrol found something.

His expression darkened.

Something old.

That answer immediately erased any desire Elena had to remain comfortable inside the tower.

Together they crossed the castle.

Rain hammered against windows.

Wind rattled wooden doors.

Guards moved quickly through the halls.

Everyone seemed tense.

Everyone seemed to know something was wrong.

The council chamber was already crowded when they arrived.

King Alaric stood beside the glowing map table.

Lyra Moonfall was examining several ancient scrolls.

The nobles argued quietly among themselves.

The moment Elena entered, many eyes turned toward her.

She was getting used to that.

She still disliked it.

Alaric raised one hand.

The room immediately fell silent.

A guard stepped forward carrying a long wooden case.

The case looked ancient.

Its surface was covered in silver symbols.

Several sections appeared burned.

Others looked cracked.

Where was it found?

Alaric asked.

Northern Watchtower, Majesty.

Buried beneath collapsed stone.

The guard swallowed.

Near the location where the Hollow One was seen.

That statement unsettled everyone.

Even Rowan looked uncomfortable.

The guard opened the case.

Inside rested a rolled parchment.

Its edges shimmered faintly.

Magic.

Elena recognized it immediately.

The scroll itself looked impossibly old.

Older than the kingdom.

Older than the castle.

Perhaps older than history.

Lyra approached carefully.

No one touched the scroll.

Not at first.

Finally the mage placed her hand above it.

Silver light appeared around her fingers.

Ancient wards.

Very ancient.

Can you open it?

One of the nobles asked.

Perhaps.

Lyra's eyes narrowed.

But not safely.

The council exchanged uneasy looks.

Alaric stepped forward.

Then allow me.

The room became noticeably more nervous.

Apparently this was not something the king usually volunteered for.

Lyra hesitated.

Majesty...

Alaric ignored the warning.

His hand touched the scroll.

Nothing happened.

Then the crimson stone within his crown began glowing.

The symbols on the case responded instantly.

Silver light spread across the chamber.

Wind erupted from nowhere.

Several candles went out.

The scroll unrolled itself.

Elena took an involuntary step backward.

Ancient writing covered the parchment.

The language was unfamiliar.

Yet somehow she understood it.

Every word.

The realization terrified her.

The same thing happened to everyone else.

The council members stared in shock.

Lyra whispered.

Impossible.

The writing began changing.

Lines shifted.

Symbols rearranged themselves.

Eventually they formed readable text.

The prophecy.

A silence settled over the room.

Then the words began glowing.

Alaric read first.

When the map returns from beyond the mist...

The room grew colder.

The bearer shall arrive.

The sleeping enemy shall awaken.

The first seal shall weaken.

The forgotten blood shall remember.

The kingdom shall stand between salvation and ruin.

No one moved.

No one breathed.

The glowing text continued.

Three paths shall appear.

One shall bring darkness.

One shall bring sacrifice.

One shall break time itself.

The bearer alone shall choose.

Elena felt everyone's attention shift toward her.

Again.

She hated prophecy.

Particularly prophecies that seemed determined to make her important.

The final lines appeared slowly.

When the Hollow King rises...

The Crown of Thorns shall fall.

And the Crimson Kingdom shall face its last dawn.

The text vanished.

The scroll became ordinary parchment once more.

Silence remained.

Finally one of the nobles spoke.

The Hollow King.

Another nodded.

It's him.

It has to be.

Elena looked around.

Who is the Hollow King?

No one answered immediately.

That worried her.

People only hesitated like that when discussing something terrible.

Eventually Alaric spoke.

My brother.

The room froze.

Elena stared at him.

Your what?

The king's expression was unreadable.

Five centuries ago, before the mist existed, before the kingdom vanished from history...

Alaric looked toward the storm outside.

There were two princes.

Myself.

And Kael Vayne.

The name felt heavy.

Important.

Dangerous.

Lyra lowered her eyes.

Kael sought power beyond mortality.

Beyond reason.

Beyond magic.

One noble whispered a prayer.

Another looked genuinely afraid.

Alaric continued.

He became something else.

Something no longer human.

The prison beneath the castle was built for him.

Elena's stomach tightened.

The voice.

The creature behind the door.

It was your brother.

Yes.

The answer carried centuries of regret.

And if the prophecy is correct?

Rowan asked.

Alaric's jaw tightened.

Then Kael is finding a way out.

Lightning exploded outside.

Thunder shook the castle.

For a brief moment the room was illuminated in white light.

Then darkness returned.

The map table suddenly flared red.

Everyone turned.

The glowing map of the kingdom was changing.

Dark stains appeared across the northern forests.

Then the western mountains.

Then several abandoned villages.

The corruption spread like disease.

Like rot.

Like something waking beneath the surface of reality.

Lyra stepped closer.

It's moving faster.

Much faster.

One noble stood.

Seal the city.

Another disagreed immediately.

That won't stop this.

The arguments returned.

Fear spread through the chamber.

Only Alaric remained calm.

Finally he raised his hand.

Silence.

The room obeyed.

The king looked directly at Elena.

The prophecy named a bearer.

The map chose you.

The gate recognized you.

And now the scroll responds to your presence.

Elena folded her arms.

You're suggesting I'm important.

I'm suggesting you're connected.

That's worse.

A faint smile appeared on Rowan's face.

The first genuine smile Elena had seen from him all day.

Unfortunately, the situation remained terrible.

Alaric turned toward Lyra.

Find every record mentioning the bearer.

Already started.

Good.

Then the king looked toward Rowan.

Prepare for a journey.

The warrior frowned.

Where?

Alaric's gaze settled on the glowing map.

The prophecy began in the north.

That is where we begin as well.

Elena felt her pulse quicken.

You mean we're leaving the castle?

Yes.

The king's expression hardened.

Because if Kael is truly awakening, answers will not be found behind these walls.

Another growl echoed somewhere far beneath the castle.

Long.

Deep.

Patient.

The prison was weakening.

The prophecy had awakened.

The Hollow King had a name.

And for the first time since entering the Crimson Kingdom, Elena realized her journey was only beginning.

Beyond the northern forests, something ancient was waiting.

And it already knew she was coming.