The quiet in the palace felt oppressive.
Heron stood at the edge of the council chamber, his mind racing with everything that had happened in the past few hours. His hands were clenched at his sides, his body still trembling slightly from the strange connection he felt with the rising presence beneath the earth. The vision, the pull, the overwhelming power—it was all still fresh in his mind.
The air in the chamber was thick with tension.
The gods gathered around the stone table, their faces unreadable. Even Thalor, usually the calm and distant observer, stood with a noticeable intensity in his gaze.
Aethrion paced slowly at the head of the table, his steps measured, his posture rigid. His mind, like the others, was clearly focused on the recent events—the rise of the dark form in the river, the tremors beneath the earth, and the ever-growing power that threatened to break free.
Heron couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed.
Not just in the world…
But in himself.
"I need answers," Heron spoke up, his voice steady despite the storm raging inside of him.
The gods turned toward him.
Aethrion's gaze softened slightly, but there was still an unmistakable edge of command in his expression. "And you will have them," he said quietly. "But not all at once."
Heron took a step forward. "I felt it. That thing beneath the earth. It's connected to me."
The gods exchanged silent glances.
Kaelion stood beside him, his eyes never leaving the gods. He had been quiet for most of the gathering, but now his voice cut through the tension. "It's not just Heron. We've all felt it. The energy is growing."
Solvyn, the God of Light, nodded gravely. "The disturbance is no longer contained. It has spread beyond the sacred lands."
"Not just the sacred lands," Calyra added, her voice low. "It's already affecting the mortal world. We've felt it in the rivers, the earth, and even in the air. Something is waking."
Heron's eyes locked with Aethrion's. "What is it? What's beneath the earth?"
Aethrion's eyes darkened, and for the first time, the king of the gods didn't speak with certainty. "We don't know. Not entirely."
Thalor's voice broke through the quiet. "It has always been there," he said slowly. "An ancient force. One that should never have been allowed to stir. But it was sealed long ago."
"And now it's waking," Veyra added, her voice filled with concern. "And it is looking for something."
Heron's heart skipped a beat. "What is it looking for?"
Thalor glanced toward the ground, his expression unreadable. "It is searching for a way out. And once it finds it…"
The silence in the chamber grew heavy.
No one needed to say more.
The threat was clear.
Heron couldn't contain his frustration. "Why haven't you told me everything? Why have you been hiding this from me?"
Aethrion's gaze softened, but only slightly. "It was never meant to be yours to bear. The power beneath the earth is ancient, and we have worked for centuries to keep it sealed. It was never supposed to be tied to anyone. And yet…"
Heron's heart beat faster. "And yet, here I am."
Aethrion looked away, his voice quiet. "You are connected to it. But the reasons… the full reasons… we do not yet understand."
Heron clenched his fists at his sides. "I need to know more. If I'm connected to it, then I need to understand it. I can't fight something I don't even know."
"None of us can," Zephyros said quietly, his voice tinged with regret. "But we've been trying to keep you safe from it. Trying to keep it hidden, even from you."
Heron's mind raced as he turned the words over in his head. "But if it's looking for something, if it's trying to break through, what do I do? How do I stop it?"
Aethrion looked at him. "You do what you must. You prepare. We all prepare. The time for secrets is over."
The room fell silent again.
Heron's heart was pounding in his chest as he tried to grasp the weight of the words. The connection was real. That thing beneath the earth wasn't just some distant memory—it was alive. And it was searching for a way to break free. And he was tied to it. Somehow. But how? Why?
The questions burned in his mind.
But one thing was clear.
The world was changing.
The gods' calm façade had cracked.
And they knew it.
Aethrion took a slow breath, his voice steady. "There are preparations to be made. We cannot let this force fully awaken. And we cannot risk it spreading any further."
"Preparations?" Heron asked. "What kind of preparations?"
Zephyros stepped forward, his eyes flashing with intensity. "We must gather all who can fight. All who are strong enough to stand against what's coming. The demigods are the first line of defense. But even then…" He looked toward Aethrion, his expression filled with unspoken weight. "Even then, we may not be enough."
Heron's chest tightened. "What are you saying?"
Aethrion looked at him again, his eyes filled with a mix of regret and determination. "I'm saying… we may have to make a choice."
"A choice?" Heron echoed.
Aethrion nodded slowly. "To stop what's coming, we may have to use the one thing that has kept it contained all these years—the very thing that connects you to it."
Heron's breath caught in his throat. "What do you mean?"
But Aethrion didn't answer.
Outside the chamber, the sounds of distant shouting reached their ears.
It was faint at first, barely noticeable, but growing louder.
Heron's heart raced as the walls of the palace seemed to tremble.
And then—
A voice rang out.
"Something's happening!"
Heron turned toward the door.
Something was happening