The palace was no longer silent.
Cracks spread across the stone walls like spiderwebs. Dust rained from the ceiling. Servants screamed in panic as guards rushed through the corridors, unsure of what was happening.
Inside the royal chamber, darkness still filled the room.
The torches had exploded moments earlier, leaving only faint moonlight leaking through the tall windows.
And in the center of that darkness…
The baby's silver eyes glowed.
The king stepped back, his heart pounding.
For the first time in years, fear crept into his chest.
"What is this power?" he whispered.
The royal prophet remained on his knees, trembling violently.
"It is not magic," he said hoarsely.
"It is something older."
Something forbidden.
Suddenly—
A sharp gust of wind burst through the broken window.
WHOOSH.
The curtains snapped violently.
The temperature in the room dropped instantly.
Cold.
Unnatural cold.
The queen tightened her grip around her child, her breathing shallow and fast.
She could feel it.
Danger.
Approaching.
Far away, on the highest tower roof…
A shadow moved.
Silent.
Deadly.
A lone figure crouched at the edge of the stone ledge, hidden beneath a dark cloak. Rainwater dripped from the hood, sliding slowly onto the cold stone floor.
His eyes were calm.
Emotionless.
Professional.
This man was not a soldier.
Not a knight.
Not a guard.
He was something far more dangerous.
An assassin.
He reached into his belt and pulled out a thin dagger.
The blade was black.
Not painted.
Not coated.
Naturally black.
Forged from a rare metal used only for one purpose:
Killing powerful targets.
He stared down at the palace window below.
The royal chamber.
The target.
The child.
"Order confirmed," the assassin whispered quietly.
His voice was low and steady.
"Primary objective: eliminate the forbidden child."
He stood slowly.
Balanced perfectly on the narrow stone ledge.
Wind howled around him, tugging at his cloak.
But he did not move.
Did not hesitate.
Did not feel fear.
Because this was his profession.
Then—
He jumped.
Inside the chamber, the queen suddenly gasped.
Her body stiffened.
Her instincts screamed.
"Someone is coming," she whispered.
The knight standing near the door immediately reached for his sword.
The king's expression hardened.
"Guards!" he shouted.
But it was already too late.
CRASH.
The window shattered inward.
Glass exploded across the room.
A dark figure rolled across the floor, landing silently on one knee.
Perfect balance.
Perfect control.
Perfect timing.
The assassin had arrived.
The guards rushed forward instantly.
"Stop him!" one shouted.
Steel clashed against steel.
Sparks flew as swords struck the assassin's blade.
But the attacker moved faster.
Much faster.
He twisted his body smoothly, dodging every strike with frightening precision.
One movement.
One slash.
A guard's weapon flew from his hand.
Another movement.
Another strike.
A second guard collapsed to the ground.
The assassin did not waste time.
Did not show emotion.
Did not speak.
He moved like a machine.
Cold.
Efficient.
Deadly.
The queen backed away, clutching the baby tightly.
Her heart raced.
Her legs trembled.
But she refused to let go.
The king stepped forward, drawing his sword.
His voice thundered across the chamber.
"Protect the child!"
More guards flooded into the room.
Weapons raised.
Faces tense.
But even as they surrounded the attacker…
A strange realization spread among them.
They were not facing a normal enemy.
The assassin slowly lifted his head.
His gaze locked onto the baby.
The glowing silver eyes.
The calm expression.
The impossible child.
For the first time…
The assassin hesitated.
Just for a fraction of a second.
Then—
The baby looked directly back at him.
Not randomly.
Not blindly.
Deliberately.
Their eyes met.
And in that instant…
The assassin felt something he had not felt in years.
Fear.
Deep inside the baby's mind—
The ancient voice returned.
Cold.
Mechanical.
Emotionless.
"Host in danger."
A brief pause.
Then—
"Defensive response activated."
Suddenly—
The air inside the chamber grew heavy.
Pressure filled the room.
The torches along the walls flickered violently.
The assassin's body froze.
Not by chains.
Not by force.
By something invisible.
His muscles locked.
His breathing slowed.
His dagger trembled in his hand.
"What… is this?" he whispered.
The prophet screamed.
"Get away from the child!"
"Now!"
But it was too late.
A faint pulse of light spread outward from the baby's body.
Slow.
Steady.
Unstoppable.
The floor beneath the assassin cracked.
Dust exploded into the air.
The pressure grew stronger.
Stronger.
Stronger.
Then—
BOOM.
An invisible shockwave burst outward.
The assassin was thrown backward across the chamber, smashing into the stone wall with tremendous force.
The impact echoed like thunder.
The room fell silent.
The guards stared in disbelief.
The king stood frozen.
The queen held her child tightly, shaking.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
The assassin slid slowly down the wall.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
His breathing was shallow.
Weak.
Broken.
But he was still alive.
Barely.
The baby's glowing eyes slowly dimmed.
The pressure in the room faded.
The cracks in the floor stopped spreading.
And silence returned once more.
The prophet looked at the king with pure terror in his eyes.
His voice trembled.
"You see it now," he whispered.
"This child…"
He swallowed hard.
"…is not meant to live among us."
The king stared at his son.
At the damage.
At the fear on every face in the room.
At the impossible power that had just saved the child's life.
His grip tightened around his sword.
And for the first time…
Doubt crept into his heart.
Far below the palace—
Deep within the darkness—
The ancient seal cracked again.
A third fracture spread across its surface.
Chains rattled violently.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
And a deep voice echoed through the underground chamber:
"The protector has awakened."