The following days passed in a blur of tense discussions, secretive meetings, and a quiet, mounting sense of dread that seemed to seep into every corner of the kingdom. Eryk could feel it in the air—something was coming, and it wasn’t just the wolves. The kingdom’s fragile peace was beginning to fracture, and no amount of diplomacy or royal commands could hold it together.

The council’s decision was clear: they needed to know more about Eryk’s magic, and they were willing to go to any length to control it. His mother and father had spoken of finding a scholar, someone who specialized in ancient magic, someone who could study the power within him and determine its origins. The words they used—“contain” and “control”—stung, as if they were talking about taming an animal rather than their own son.

Eryk’s nights were restless, his dreams filled with visions of dark forests and shifting shadows. The magic within him throbbed in time with his heartbeat, its presence undeniable, like a whisper in the back of his mind. It was growing stronger, more insistent, and no matter how hard he tried to keep it under control, it seemed to be slipping further from his grasp.

Kael had insisted on staying close, as always. His presence was comforting, a grounding force that kept Eryk from losing himself entirely. But even Kael couldn’t hide his worry. Eryk could see it in his eyes, in the way his jaw clenched whenever the subject of the magic came up. Kael didn’t say it out loud, but Eryk knew that he feared what would happen if the power inside him ever broke free.

One evening, after another long day of meetings and strategizing, Eryk found himself alone in the castle’s gardens, his gaze fixed on the horizon. The sky had turned a pale pink, the fading light of sunset casting long shadows across the manicured lawns. He needed space—space to think, to breathe. The weight of the crown, of the expectations placed on him, was too much to bear.

“Eryk.”

The voice broke through his thoughts, soft yet filled with an unspoken urgency. He turned to find Kael standing just a few feet away, his expression unreadable.

“Kael,” Eryk said, his voice barely above a whisper. “You should be resting.”

Kael shook his head, stepping closer. “I’m fine. But you’re not. You’ve been cooped up in that castle for days, and you’re no closer to understanding what’s happening to you.”

Eryk didn’t meet his eyes. “I don’t think I can understand it. I don’t know how to stop it. The more I try to push it away, the stronger it gets. It feels like I’m losing myself.”

Kael placed a hand on Eryk’s shoulder, a quiet reassurance. “You’re not alone in this, Eryk. Whatever this power is, we’ll face it together.”

Eryk looked up at Kael, his heart aching with gratitude. Together. That word meant everything to him. But as much as he wanted to believe it, a part of him feared that this was a fight he had to face alone.

“I know you want to help, Kael,” Eryk said, his voice thick with emotion. “But I don’t know if I can control this anymore. What if... What if it’s already too late?”

Kael’s eyes softened, and he gave Eryk’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “I don’t think it’s too late. But we can’t keep running from it, either.”

Eryk sighed, looking out over the gardens. The magic pulsed within him, a constant, rhythmic throb, like a heartbeat in his chest. It was undeniable now. No matter how hard he tried to ignore it, it was a part of him. And if he didn’t find a way to master it, he feared it would consume him—just like Velkor.

Suddenly, the air around them grew heavier, the temperature dropping sharply, and Eryk felt a prickling sensation at the back of his neck. He spun around, his heart racing. Something was wrong.

A figure emerged from the shadows of the garden, tall and cloaked in dark robes. The faintest glint of silver caught the fading light of the sun—the edge of a blade. Eryk’s heart skipped a beat.

“Who are you?” Eryk demanded, his voice firm despite the unease crawling up his spine. Kael immediately moved to stand in front of him, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

The figure stepped forward, their face hidden beneath the hood, but there was an air of familiarity in the way they moved. Eryk’s pulse quickened. Something about this figure felt... wrong.

“I’m here to deliver a warning,” the figure’s voice was low, distorted, as though it were being muffled by some kind of enchantment. “The wolves aren’t the only threat to your kingdom, Prince Eryk. You are the real danger.”

Eryk’s blood ran cold at the words. He’d feared something like this—feared it—but hearing it spoken aloud sent a chill through his very soul. The figure’s words hit him like a blow to the chest.

“You,” the figure continued, their voice now sharp and cold, “have been marked. And whether you realize it or not, you are the key to the wolves’ plans.”

Kael stepped forward, his sword now fully drawn, the glint of steel a stark contrast to the growing darkness around them. “Stay back,” he ordered, his voice steady but dangerous.

The cloaked figure didn’t flinch. Instead, they raised their hand, and in an instant, the temperature around them dropped even further, frost forming along the edges of the garden’s stone pathways. Eryk could feel the magic in the air—dark, oppressive, and familiar in a way that sent a shiver down his spine.

“You must be careful, Prince,” the figure continued, their tone almost amused. “The power you wield is not a gift. It is a curse. And sooner or later, it will tear this kingdom apart.”

With a flick of their wrist, the figure vanished into the shadows, leaving only a lingering coldness in their wake.

Eryk stood frozen, his heart pounding in his chest. Kael was already at his side, gripping his arm. “We need to go back inside,” Kael said, his voice urgent. “Now.”

Eryk could barely hear him over the pounding of his own heart. The words of the cloaked figure echoed in his mind, over and over again. You are the key to the wolves’ plans.

What did that mean? How was he the key? And what was this power inside him, really? Was it truly a curse, or was it something else altogether?

“I... I don’t understand,” Eryk muttered, his voice shaking. “What does it mean? What are they trying to say?”

Kael’s grip on his arm tightened, pulling him toward the castle. “We’ll figure it out, Eryk. But right now, we need to be safe. Whoever that was, they’re not just after you. They’re after all of us.”

Eryk allowed himself to be pulled inside, his mind spinning. This was no longer just about wolves. The threat was far deeper, far more personal than he had ever imagined. And the more he learned about his magic, the more it seemed like it was the key to everything—the wolves, the danger to the kingdom, and perhaps even to himself.

As the castle doors shut behind them, Eryk felt a new weight settle on his shoulders. The storm was coming, and he wasn’t sure he was ready for it.

But he had no choice. He had to face it.

And with Kael at his side, he would.

But even as he walked through the castle halls, Eryk couldn’t shake the feeling that something far darker was lurking in the shadows, just out of reach. Something far more dangerous than he could ever have imagined.