The warning bell echoed through the palace.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Every guard immediately straightened.
The playful atmosphere vanished.
Even Prince Hendrick's smile disappeared.
Kael's expression darkened.
"The eastern barrier has been breached."
The words repeated inside Elara's mind.
Breached.
Not destroyed.
Breached.
A small difference.
But judging by everyone's reaction, it was enough to terrify an entire kingdom.
"What exactly is the Eastern Barrier?" Elara asked.
No one answered immediately.
Kael exchanged a glance with Hendrick.
Neither looked pleased.
Finally, Hendrick sighed.
"Three hundred years ago, our ancestors fought a war against creatures known as the Nightborn."
Elara frowned.
"Nightborn?"
Kael nodded.
"They are neither vampire nor werewolf."
"Then what are they?"
The king's jaw tightened.
"Monsters."
The single word carried enough weight to make her uneasy.
"The barriers were created after the war," Hendrick continued.
"There are four of them surrounding the kingdom."
"Northern."
"Southern."
"Western."
"Eastern."
"They seal the Shadow Forest and keep the Nightborn trapped."
Elara swallowed.
"So if one barrier is breached..."
"A Nightborn can escape."
Silence followed.
Not dozens.
Not hundreds.
Just one.
Yet somehow that seemed bad enough.
A guard suddenly rushed into the courtyard.
His face was pale.
"Your Majesty!"
Kael turned.
"What happened?"
"The mages managed to seal the breach."
Everyone visibly relaxed.
For exactly two seconds.
Then the guard continued.
"But something crossed before the opening closed."
The relief disappeared.
Immediately.
Kael cursed under his breath.
The guard lowered his head.
"We lost contact with two scouting teams."
A chill crawled down Elara's spine.
The scouts weren't missing.
Everyone knew it.
Kael immediately began issuing orders.
"Double palace security."
"Send elite trackers."
"Inform the council."
The guards hurried away.
Within moments the entire palace had become a hive of activity.
For the first time since arriving in this world, Elara saw the king everyone feared.
Calm.
Efficient.
Powerful.
No hesitation.
No uncertainty.
The complete opposite of the disaster she heard inside his head.
Unfortunately, the disaster was still there.
She looks worried.
She shouldn't be outside.
Maybe I should lock her back in the dungeon.
Elara rolled her eyes.
Hendrick noticed.
"Thinking about pushing him down a staircase?"
"A little."
"Understandable."
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"I can hear you."
"Good."
Hendrick smiled.
"I wanted you to."
The king looked ready to commit murder.
Again.
Before their argument could continue, a deafening howl split the night.
Everyone froze.
The sound didn't belong to a wolf.
Or a vampire.
It sounded wrong.
Ancient.
Hungry.
The howl came from somewhere beyond the palace walls.
A second howl followed.
Closer.
Much closer.
The guards immediately drew their weapons.
Fear spread through the courtyard.
Even Kael went still.
The king's thoughts suddenly became alarmingly quiet.
That frightened Elara more than anything.
Then a shadow appeared atop the eastern watchtower.
A massive figure crouched against the moonlit sky.
Black smoke curled from its body.
Glowing red eyes surveyed the palace.
The creature had found them.
One Nightborn.
The one that escaped through the breach.
The courtyard fell silent.
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
The monster's gaze slowly swept across the crowd.
Then stopped.
Directly on Elara.
The creature froze.
Its glowing eyes widened.
As though recognizing something impossible.
Kael instantly stepped in front of her.
Protective.
Dangerous.
Ready to fight.
But the Nightborn wasn't looking at him.
It was looking at Elara.
Only Elara.
Then, to everyone's shock...
The creature lowered its head.
In a bow.
A deep.
Respectful.
Terrifying bow.
Silence exploded across the courtyard.
Kael's thoughts crashed into her mind.
Why is it bowing?
What does it know?
What are you, Elara?
The Nightborn slowly lifted its head.
Its voice rumbled like distant thunder.
"The Heir has returned."
Every person in the courtyard turned toward her.
And for the first time since transmigrating...
Elara truly felt afraid.
To be continued...
