Thornton

  The air in the room felt heavier now, and I could sense the shift in Hue's demeanor as he took a deep breath, then looked up at the King. His voice was quiet, but the weight of his question pressed into the space between them.

  "What is the Scor Clan?" Hue asked, his words cutting through the tension like a blade.

  The King's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, the room fell utterly still. The air grew thick, like something ancient and dangerous was about to be revealed.

  The King's gaze didn't leave Hue's face, but his voice was a controlled, almost measured whisper. "Where did you hear that name?"

  Hue swallowed before answering, his gaze shifting slightly as he spoke. "When... when Emberes, Jade, Aszhuak, Gashiaz, you, and I were in the forest, we were attacked by a mysterious man. He called himself Oz. He said he was a member of the Scor Clan."

  The King's expression darkened immediately, and the air seemed to grow colder. I could feel the weight of his words even before he spoke.

  "The Scor Clan..." he murmured, a dangerous edge creeping into his tone. "The Scor are among the most dangerous people you'll ever encounter. They are ruthless and operate in the shadows, and they do not hesitate to destroy anyone who gets in their way."

  I glanced at Hue, watching him carefully. His face was tense, but I could see the confusion in his eyes. He didn't fully grasp the depth of what we were dealing with. Neither of us had, really.

  The King continued, his voice low and full of gravity. "Oz may be the weakest member of their clan, but he is still dangerous. Even at his weakest, he is as strong as a Guar Knight."

  I remembered the fight clearly. Emberes had done something none of us could—he'd defeated Oz, protecting us from a fate we weren't prepared for. I couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude for the Guar Knight.

  The King turned his gaze toward Emberes, who was standing near the door, his posture calm but alert. "I'm glad you were there, Emberes," the King said, his tone deep with approval. "You may have saved us all. While the rest of you are strong, none of you would've survived that encounter without him."

  Emberes nodded, acknowledging the King's words, but his humility was clear. It wasn't about the praise for him—it was about the mission.

  I exhaled, the tension still heavy in the room, but then I took a step forward, my voice cutting through the thick silence. "Did we retrieve the Mask of Cada?"

  The King's eyes flickered, and he gave a single, decisive nod. "Yes. It's been secured in a location where it can't fall into the wrong hands. I won't let it be used for evil."

  I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. The Mask of Cada... it was one of the most dangerous artifacts in existence. If it had been lost or stolen, who knew what chaos it could have caused. The King was right to keep it out of reach.

  Before the conversation could settle, the King turned toward the door. "I need to make sure everyone is safe. Flance!" he called sharply.

  There was a fluttering sound, and the talking bird, Flance, appeared with a flutter of wings and a sharp squawk. The bird landed on the King's shoulder, and with a tilt of his head, the King gave his command.

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  "Find my daughter, Haley. Bring her here."

  Flance squawked again, as if acknowledging the command, and darted out the door. The tension in the room lingered, but there was a sense of something being set into motion—a change on the horizon.

  Minutes later, the door opened once more, and Haley stepped inside. There was a quiet elegance to her presence as she entered the room, her eyes scanning us before they landed on the King.

  He smiled at her, but it was the kind of smile that held the weight of a thousand thoughts behind it. "Haley," he said, his voice calm but filled with intent. "I need you to make a portal to Canu Village. From here, the infirmary. For safety reasons."

  Haley didn't hesitate. She walked forward, her movements precise, and I could see the focus settle on her face. She was always ready when the King called on her. Without a word, she raised her hands, and the air around her shimmered, the magic swirling in her wake. A portal slowly formed in front of her, glowing with soft blue light.

  The King nodded, his expression serious. "Thank you, Haley. It's time we moved forward."

  I watched the portal, my heart pounding. This was no longer just about surviving. This was about setting a course for the future, and I had no idea what lay beyond the glowing threshold, but I knew we were about to walk through it together.

  The King stood, his posture as firm as ever, but there was something more in his eyes now. "Before you step through the portal, there's something I need to say," he began, his voice laced with caution. "The reason I'm sending you to Canu Village in secret is not just for safety. The palace... it's no longer as secure as it once was."

  I exchanged a glance with Hue and Jade, uncertainty creeping back into my chest. The King's words carried more weight than I could grasp in that moment.

  "Something's changed," the King continued, his gaze flickering to Emberes, then to each of us. "There are forces within the kingdom that are beginning to stir, and not all of them have our best interests at heart. The Mask of Cada may be secured, but its very existence has begun to attract unwanted attention. I won't risk exposing you to more danger than you already face. The fewer who know where you're going, the better."

  I could feel the gravity of his words settling around us. He wasn't just worried about external threats; he was worried about betrayal from within.

  "You'll leave the infirmary quietly, without anyone seeing," the King instructed. "From here on, your journey must remain a secret. The fewer who know your next steps, the safer you'll be."

  The air seemed to thicken even further with this new revelation. It wasn't just the Scor Clan we had to worry about anymore. There were deeper, more insidious dangers looming over us—danger from within the kingdom itself.

  With no further words, Haley nodded. She gave the King a single glance of understanding, then stepped forward. Without hesitation, she raised her hands, her magic swirling into the space around her, and the portal began to shimmer and glow in front of us, casting a faint blue light over the room.

  "I won't follow you through," the King said, his voice tight with urgency. "So stay sharp. Trust no one outside of this group."

  I could see the concern in his eyes, and I knew then that this was more than just a precaution—it was a warning.

  One by one, we stepped toward the portal, the swirling magic beckoning us to cross. The sensation of stepping through was familiar, a disorienting feeling that made my skin tingle. When I stepped onto the other side, my breath caught in my throat.

  What we saw next... was not Canu Village.

  We stood in a darkened forest, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and something else—something foul. The trees loomed overhead, twisted and gnarled, their branches reaching out like skeletal hands. It was a place I didn't recognize, and the heavy weight of dread began to settle in my chest.

  The portal flickered behind us, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw something—movement, shadows shifting in the distance, watching us. But when I turned to look, nothing was there.

  "What is this place?" Jade whispered, her voice tense as she glanced around.

  "This... this isn't Canu Village," Hue said, his voice betraying the confusion we all felt.

  "Stay close," I muttered, my instincts flaring. The world around us felt wrong, like we had crossed into a place that shouldn't exist.

  Then, from the shadows, a low growl echoed through the trees.

  I wasn't sure if it was a creature or something else entirely, but I knew one thing for certain—we weren't alone.

  And something was coming for us.