The Morning Assembly

Darragh stood on the crystal balcony overlooking his realm. The morning light cast purple shadows across the floating islands below, where his subjects moved about their daily tasks. At fifteen, he looked ordinary except for his bright blue eyes that held depths older than his years.

"My lord," called Keth, his chief commander, approaching with careful steps. The tall warrior's silver armor clinked softly as he bowed. "The morning reports are ready."

Darragh nodded, turning from the view. His dark cloak shifted around his shoulders, the faint symbols along its edges catching the strange light of this dimension. "What news from the border territories?"

Keth's weathered face grew serious. "Strange disturbances, my lord. The scouts report shadows moving where no shadows should be. The creatures there speak of whispers in the void."

The young ruler's expression remained calm, but his fingers tightened slightly on the balcony rail. In his realm, disturbances rarely meant good things were coming.

The Broken Seal

Darragh walked toward the war room with Keth beside him. The crystal corridors echoed their footsteps as they passed floating torches that cast shifting light on the walls.

"How many scouts returned?" Darragh asked.

"Only half, my lord. The others..." Keth's voice trailed off.

They entered the war room where Commander Nira waited. She was a tall woman with silver hair pulled back in a tight braid, her green eyes sharp with worry. Her leather armor bore scratches from recent battles.

"The missing scouts found something," Nira said without greeting. "Before we lost contact, Patrol Seven sent this."

She held up a small crystal that pulsed with dark energy. When Darragh touched it, voices filled the room—his scouts screaming about creatures made of void and hunger.

"They're coming from the Sunken Realm," Nira continued. "The realm we sealed away centuries ago."

Darragh felt ice in his chest. The Sunken Realm held beings that could devour thoughts and dreams. If they had broken free, his entire domain was in danger.

"Mobilize all forces," he said quietly. "And send word to evacuate the outer islands."

The crystal in his hand cracked, then turned to dust.