Shadow Over the Heavenly Throne

Silence filled the chamber, broken only by the faint rustling of curtains shifting in the night breeze. A barely perceptible, almost ethereal energy of Qi lingered in the air. Sylphia sat on a cushion, breathing steadily, allowing the currents of energy to flow around her, wrapping her in an invisible web.

She was fully concentrated when suddenly… something collapsed onto the floor. The dull thud shattered the tranquility of the night.

Her eyes snapped open. Shion lay motionless on the ground.

"Shion?!"

Sylphia sprang to her feet, her heart clenching in her chest as she rushed to the girl’s side. A storm of chaotic thoughts filled her mind. Was she hurt? Had Qi spiraled out of control? Had she…?

She dropped to her knees, hands trembling as she scanned Shion’s body for any injuries, any sign of blood.

Nothing.

Just ragged breathing and an exhausted frame.

"You overdid it…" she whispered, exhaling in relief. "When I said you wouldn’t be able to stand, I didn’t mean it this literally."

Shion stirred weakly, her fingers twitching as if trying to speak, but her eyelids fluttered before falling shut again. She was utterly drained.

Sylphia sighed. Foolish.

Without hesitation, she slipped her arms under Shion’s body and lifted her gently. She was lighter than Sylphia had expected. This girl truly didn’t take care of herself. Carefully, she laid her on the bed, adjusting the pillow beneath her head.

"You’re lucky I like you," she muttered, tucking the blanket around her.

Shion’s breath evened out, and for once, the tension she always carried on her face had melted away. As if, at last, she felt safe.

***

The audience hall was vast and solemn, the flickering candlelight casting long shadows across the stone walls. The air felt tense, as if it, too, held its breath.

Kaelrith, Maelthorn, and Deymos knelt on one knee before the throne. Before them sat the King—a ruler who needed no armor to radiate authority.

"Mutated monsters." He repeated the words slowly, as if tasting them. "And one that could alter its body at will?"

Silence. The King spoke no further for a moment, his gaze sweeping over their faces, searching for something unsaid.

"Tell me everything you saw."

Kaelrith stood and began his report. He described the creatures they had encountered—stronger, more aggressive. But one of them stood out—it changed the shape of its body mid-battle, adapting to their attacks, suggesting it wasn’t operating on mere instinct.

"There was something more within it," Kaelrith said carefully, as if doubting his own words. "It didn’t just react. It adapted to our movements."

What began as a straightforward fight—three warriors against a single beast—soon became something else. The longer the battle lasted, the clearer it became that this creature was unlike any they had faced before. When Maelthorn struck it with a weakening spell, it immediately severed the affected part of its body, discarding it before the curse could spread. It didn’t scream, didn’t recoil in pain—it simply changed.

"Its body was… unstable," Deymos added, clenching his fists. "It didn’t just evade attacks. It altered its own structure, reshaping itself to match the flow of battle."

"I saw its arm extend when I attacked," Kaelrith continued, locking eyes with the King. "It didn’t dodge. It didn’t block. It simply reshaped itself and slipped out of my sword’s reach."

Maelthorn nodded, his expression pensive.

"This was more than adaptation. It was deliberate combat."

The King narrowed his eyes, remaining silent for a long moment. His fingers tapped lightly against the armrest of his throne, his gaze distant. The warriors’ words settled in his mind like stones dropped into still water, sending ripples of doubt and consequence.

Did this mean someone had found a way to force the evolution of monsters? If so, for what purpose? Was this the work of an individual or an organization? And if such a method existed, how far could it go?

At last, he exhaled, as though forming an initial decision, and turned back to the warriors.

"What are your impressions?"

Kaelrith and the others exchanged glances.

"It’s unnatural," Kaelrith finally spoke. "As if someone is trying to create something new."

"Or something old in a new form," Maelthorn murmured.

The King studied them closely, his eyes narrowing in thought.

"And the guardian of that place?" he asked, his voice calm but carrying an underlying tension.

Deymos lifted his gaze.

"He wasn’t there, Your Majesty. The lair was empty, but…"

"But?"

"Something was there. The traces of two powerful auras. One could have belonged to the guardian, but the other…" He hesitated. "It was different. Uneven. At times as vast as an ocean, other times as small as a speck of dust. I’ve never encountered anything like it."

The King remained silent, but the tension in the room thickened, becoming almost tangible. After a moment, he lifted his gaze and nodded.

"Thank you for this report. You have done well."

His tone was measured, yet uncertainty still flickered in his eyes. Finally, he added:

"You are dismissed. Rest for now. If I learn anything further, you will be summoned."

As the warriors left the hall, the King remained seated, unmoving for a long moment. He replayed every word of their report in his mind, searching for a clue he had yet to grasp. Finally, he rose and made his way to his private chambers, where the Queen awaited him.

Upon entering their shared quarters, he found Veynessa hunched over her desk, a quill in hand. Piles of documents surrounded her—letters, reports, and official decrees demanding her attention. Even now, with the night nearing its end, she continued to work.

She lifted her head at the sound of his steps, her blue eyes immediately locking onto his face.

"You don’t bring good news," she stated before he had spoken a single word.

The King approached, taking a seat across from her. For a moment, he was silent, as if gathering his thoughts.

"It’s confirmed. The Guardian of the Labyrinth has vanished," he finally said. "And in his place, they found… something new."

The Queen set down her quill, intertwining her fingers before her. Her gaze sharpened.

"Something new?"

"Mutated beasts. Stronger than before. One of them possessed the ability to alter its body and showed signs of intelligence."

Veynessa raised a brow.

The King rubbed a hand over his face. "It could be a natural evolution of these creatures. Perhaps an accelerated process caused by an unknown factor."

The Queen remained silent for a moment, her fingers lightly tapping the surface of her desk.

"That’s possible," she admitted with a slight nod. "But if it were natural, we would observe similar changes in other beasts elsewhere. So far, nothing like this has occurred. If this is evolution, why is it only happening there?"

The King sighed, his gaze drifting toward the flames in the fireplace.

"If it’s not natural, then it means someone is controlling this process… and doing so intentionally."

Silence fell. His words carried the weight of something far greater.

"To what end?" The Queen rested her chin on her hand, analyzing the situation. "A weapon? Testing the limits? Or perhaps… a provocation?"

"Or preparation for something far worse," the King murmured, his eyes reflecting the flickering fire. "If they are testing these creatures, then their current form isn’t the final one. What happens if they find a way to gain complete control over them?"

The Queen remained quiet, but the glint in her eyes held cold calculation. They could not afford to ignore this. They needed more information.

"We must discover who is behind this," she finally said. "And we must do it before it’s too late."

The King nodded, though he did not seem fully convinced.

"Our scouts withdrew after the battle when they realized the situation could spiral out of control," he said, his tone steady but still mulling over every detail. "We don’t know if those creatures were the only ones altered. There may be more lurking in the labyrinth, waiting for the right moment to emerge."

The Queen studied him for a long moment before standing and methodically stacking her documents.

"Then we can’t rely solely on reports."

The King frowned. "What do you mean?"

Veynessa turned to him, her blue eyes gleaming in the candlelight.

"Tomorrow, I will go there myself."

The King immediately straightened, his brows knitting into a deep frown.

"That’s too dangerous. We don’t have a full understanding of the situation. We don’t know how many of these creatures remain hidden, nor who is responsible for them. I won’t allow you to take that risk."

The Queen smiled slightly, as if she had anticipated his reaction. Her blue eyes glowed warmly in the flickering light.

"Have you forgotten who I am?" she asked softly, tilting her head. "When it comes to battle, there are few in our generation who could defeat me."

The King pressed his lips together, but before he could protest further, she stepped closer, her voice teasing yet firm.

"You yourself never managed to best me."

A quiet chuckle escaped him, and he shook his head. He knew there was little point in arguing.

"That doesn’t mean you should recklessly endanger yourself."

"This isn’t recklessness. It’s necessity." Her voice was resolute. "We must act before this spirals beyond our control. If there’s something we’re missing, I want to see it with my own eyes."

The King exhaled heavily, leaning against the armrest of his chair. He knew her too well to think he could dissuade her.

"Fine." His voice was quiet but firm. "But you won’t go alone. Tomorrow morning, you will visit the Elders and request that Pharos accompany you."

The Queen raised an eyebrow, something akin to amusement flickering in her gaze.

"Pharos?"

"He is not only one of the strongest warriors in the kingdom but also someone who keeps a clear head even in the direst situations." The King met her eyes. "If anything goes wrong, I want someone there who will bring you back."

The Queen was silent for a moment, as if weighing his words, before she sighed and nodded.

"Very well. It’s been some time since I’ve seen the old man, so it will be nice to reunite." She offered a faint smile before adding dryly, "But you know I won’t let him treat me like someone who needs protection."