Where the Twilight Breaks

Miracle, still bathed in its majestic golden glow, completely unaware of the thousands of tattered-winged crows swarming the edge of the realms like a rising storm—

“Caw, Caw—“ A crow with tattered, ebony-black wings, squawked as it circled the bright, glowing Kingdom of Miracle, its ruby red eyes giving off a dark, suffocating energy that was far more powerful than before—

Many, many other crows with even untidier, tattered wings followed, swarming the ancient Kingdom’s glowing barrier..

“Well done, my faithful subjects,” a cold voice without a single warmth rang out, quiet, but somehow loud enough to carry the voice out to all the crows—

They froze and instantly parted as the figure floated down, only a little further away from the bright barrier, his cape billowing behind him,” You all showed me a time when Miracle doesn’t have Naladia to take care of,”

The figure threw off his hood, revealing sharp, merciless dark eyes, a hand so pale it almost glowed,” And only a weak princess in Miracle to capture. Really, Naladia, what you sacrificed so long ago…”

A slight smirk curled his lips as the crows nervously followed their Leader, Atalas. “ So, faithful subjects, the time has come..”

The crows leaned in, their blood-red eyes widening—“ To capture Miracle. And take back..what was once.”

“Mine…” His pale fingers curled into a tight fist, his eyes darkening..

A faint, eerie glow surrounded his fingers, weaving into a dark mist—and instantly, his fingers snapped so hard his white knuckles turned even whiter, sending the crows jumping in surprise,”Nebula Obscura, Rumpere Sanctum!”

The swirling shadows soared up, the crows closely following behind, dark feathers fluttering down their tattered wings, flying, stretching towards the unsuspected, glowing barrier of Miracle—

But Atalas had underestimated the protection of Miracle.

When the shadows hit towards the barrier—

Crows’ wings wide, eyes blood-red—

A soft, twilight light shot out, surrounding Miracle, fighting back the shadows, shooting back the crows—

Bright, hiding the shadows—

Atalas gasped in shock and clutched his pale hand, fingers trembling. Clenching his jaw, the crows dizzily flew around him, some crying out as the light chased them away from Miracle..

He opened his palm, still trembling, to reveal a raw, red, burning wound, shiny and painful. Some crows cawed softly, but no crow dared to fly forward. Their attack had..failed—

Twilight magic..Atalas glared at the glowing Miracle, not the warm magic of Naladia…twilight? Suddenly, his mind clicked. The cold, soft twilight magic that had protected Miracle from his attack could only belong to—

The Tree of Life—

“Alysumn….”Atalas’s face twisted into pure anger, into something darker, the crows around him backed away a little,”You’ll pay for this….”Reaching up his hurt palm, he pointed at a cowering crow right away.”Corvus! Come here.” His voice was cold, dangerously..cold..

The little crow, with one dark feather stuck at an angle on his tail, shuffled forward slowly.”Caw….?”

“Yes, you, Corvus,” Atalas’s eyes flashed,” I am going to appoint you as a spy. Fly everywhere, see everywhere..I need you to find Alysumn. Wherever he is….”The temperature around them seemed to plummet as he spoke.”Find him.”

The crows fluttered nervously. Corvus’s red eyes widened, and swallowed.”Caw, caw..”

“Good.”Atalas straightened up again, using his sleeves to hide the dark red wound on his hand.”Go..”

The little crow didn’t need to be told twice as he flew away as quick as a flash, the crows parting to form a path. Atalas watched the tiny speck vanish into the clouds. New dangers, not yet known, were forming..