Artemis Unveiled:The Descent

Untitled Part 2: The Sealed Prophecy

The grand hall of the Sovereign Bastion stood tall and majestic as always, its brilliance shining through, bathed in the sunlight that filtered through stained glass onto the carpet stretching ahead. A stone-carved dragon loomed over the throne on the dais, its head held high, claws gripping the armrests, its gemstone eyes glinting red as it surveyed the hall.

It was here that Aria met the person who had persuaded King Magnus to bring her back to the royal city. She had expected it to be someone familiar, perhaps a noble she had met during her childhood. But she was wrong on all counts.

The one who wished to see her was a wise counselor she had never met before.

At this moment, he stood in the center of the hall, awaiting Aria's arrival. His bright eyes showed a gentle smile as the doors opened. The counselor was elderly, with gray hair and a tall, slender figure draped in a glossy fox fur cloak. Behind him stood his attendant, a young man with a mop of tousled hair, his head bowed.

"Your Majesty, I heard you went to Shadowvale. Forgive my intrusion," the wise counselor spoke humbly.

King Magnus ascended the throne, his gaze piercing. "Wise Counselor Hawk, I brought Aria back. It's time for you to fulfill your promise."

"As you wish."

Aria looked at the wise counselor in astonishment. This was their first meeting, and the first time she had heard Hawk's name.

"It was I who requested King Magnus to bring you back to the royal city, Your Highness. Look how our Aria has grown into a beautiful princess," Hawk said with a smile.

"Hello, esteemed Hawk. Have we met before?" Aria asked with a wry smile and a nod.

"We have, on the day of your birth," Hawk replied with a smile. "But today, I have something very important to discuss with you."

King Magnus glanced coldly at Aria, as if she were a foul odor that had just passed. Then, the disgust vanished, and he produced a message he had retrieved earlier that morning. "This is a report we received this morning. Things are more dire than we anticipated."

Upon seeing the message, the usually stoic counselor grew grave. "We've been keeping an eye on him. How did he vanish?" he exclaimed unexpectedly.

"You believe he's disappeared too?"

"Given his reputation, he wouldn't vanish without reason. I fear he has chosen a new target."

"An outlaw who strikes fear into every king?" King Magnus said darkly.

"The Harbinger of Death would be more apt. Like his namesake, Thanatos."

"And you think his next target is us?"

"We."

"Thanatos coming after us? He sounds dangerous," Aria gasped, her first time hearing about Thanatos, though it was enough to make her father worry.

"Much more terrifying than you can imagine. We don't have enough forces to defend against his million-strong army," Hawk said.

"Then we must seek aid from allies," Aria suggested softly.

"That's a good suggestion, little princess," Hawk smiled. "But no allies are willing to help us. They can't break their oaths as allies, yet they don't wish to march to their deaths. We've sent hundreds of requests, but they only delay. No one will come."

"Don't they have blood ties?"

"Aria, you don't know who we're dealing with."

"Hawk, about what we discussed earlier," King Magnus spoke slowly, thoughtfully seated on his throne. "I've made up my mind. As my emissary, you shall request aid from the demigods. If they're as legendary as they say, they won't stand idly by."