Chapter 17: Veil of Shadows

After the celestial convergence, Ariadne and her kingdom prepared for the ordeals that had been prophesied by many ancient seers. A hum of anticipation moved across the air in tremors, artificially heavy, as they waited for that dreadful celestial alignment—the dark harbinger that would open their wards once more.

Years began to round into weeks, and more reports of the strange happenings kept trickling in from every corner of the realm. Whispers about eerie sightings and sinister omens spread like wildfire among the populace, inflaming both fear and the determination to see what was coming.

Ariadne held a council of war with her trusted advisors—Thalia, Seraphina, and Captain Leander—in the sanctum of the palace. Maps and scrolls about the kingdom's defenses rolled out across the table. The celestial relic glowed softly, a beacon of hope amidst the encroaching darkness bright in trust by Seraphina, while flickering candles cast shadows around the dimly lit area.

Ariadne intoned vindi