Episode 2: The Magician Awakens

The room is still crackled with power. The magic circle glowed faintly beneath Selene’s feet she was no longer a myth, but a reality standing before them.

Aria gasped as the energy faded, her hands trembling. The necklace pulsed once… then went still.

Behind her, a weak voice broke the silence. “She came…”

Aria turned sharply. Her father pale and barely breathing looked at Selene with a faint, satisfied smile.

“You kept your promise,” he whispered.

Selene stepped forward, her cloak trailing shadows behind her. “I always keep my word.”

Aria rushed to the king’s side, gripping his cold hand. “Please… don’t go. Not yet…”

The king’s eyes met hers, weak but clear. “Protect the kingdom… Aria… and trust her.”

His hand slipped away from hers. His eyes closed.

He was gone.

Aria froze. Her heart shattered in silence.

Selene looked down at the lifeless king. “He grew into a wise man,” she said quietly.

Before either of them could speak, footsteps pounded the hall. Steel clashed outside the door.

Then crash.

A soldier burst into the room, sword drawn.

Selene didn’t move. Her eyes flashed.

A gust of black wind struck the intruder, sending him flying backward into the wall. Unconscious.

More footsteps approached, louder now.

Another voice shouted, “Aria!”

The door swung open again.

Auren entered, sword raised, eyes sharp with fury. “Step away from her!”

Selene turned slowly. “And you are?”

“Auren,” he said. “Royal knight. And I don’t know what you are… but I’ll cut you down if you touch her.”

“She summoned me,” Selene replied calmly.

Auren looked at Aria, uncertain. “What… what is she?”

Aria stood shakily. “She’s the Black Magician. She saved this kingdom once. And… she just saved me now.”

Before Auren could respond, the ground rumbled. Distant screams echoed.

“They’ve breached the lower gates,” he said quickly. “We need to go.”

“No,” Selene said.

She raised one hand and vanished into the mist.

...----------------...

Outside the burning courtyard…

A red-robed magician stood on shattered stone, laughing as fire poured from his staff.

“Bow before Lord Kael!” he roared. “This kingdom is ours!”

But the fire suddenly froze mid-air.

A cold wind swept through the courtyard.

Selene appeared, her cloak fluttering as if it moved in slow time. Magic circled around her feet.

Kael narrowed his eyes. “Who the hell are you?”

Selene raised her hand. “The silence before your defeat.”

Kael sneered and launched a blazing attack.

It vanished on impact.

His expression changed. He fired again louder, wilder.

Selene spoke one word.

The air cracked.

Kael was thrown back, crashing into the rubble.

He didn’t get up.

The battlefield fell silent.

Even the soldier's friend and foe stood frozen.

The legend… had returned.

...----------------...

Back in the tower…

Auren looked out the shattered window as smoke rose beyond the walls.

“She’s powerful,” Aria whispered.

“Too powerful,” Auren muttered. “She might save us… or destroy us.”

They looked down at the necklace still faintly glowing in Aria’s hand.

Outside, the wind carried the scent of ash and fear.

The war wasn’t over.

It had just begun.

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