Avatar of the Frozen Behemoth: Volume 1

Chapter 20: The Turning Hour

Steeling himself, Sinclair walked through the dimly lit corridors of the castle, his footsteps echoing softly on the stone floors. The cold seemed to seep into the very walls, a constant reminder of the Frozen Behemoth's presence in their land. Reaching a door adorned with intricate carvings, he hesitated for a moment before raising his hand and knocking gently.

"Evie," he called softly, his voice a low rumble, "may I come in?"

Inside, Princess Evie was seated at her vanity, combing her long, flowing hair. The strands caught the light, shimmering like spun silver. She glanced toward the door, her light brown eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and concern. "You can come in, Father," she replied, setting down the comb and folding her hands in her lap.

King Sinclair entered the room, closing the door behind him. For a moment, he simply looked at his daughter, taking in the sight of her. She was the very image of her mother, with the same gentle grace and quiet strength. But tonight, there was something different in her eyes-a shadow of worry that had no place in someone so young.

"Evie," he began, his voice calm but laced with the weight of his burden, "there's something I need to tell you. Something important."

Evie straightened slightly, her heart beginning to beat faster. She had seen the look on her father's face before-one of deep contemplation, a look he wore when the weight of the kingdom pressed heavily upon him. "What is it, Father?" she asked, her voice steady, though her hands gripped the edge of her seat.

Sinclair moved closer, taking a seat beside her. "Reports have come in from the borders of Spadia. Some of our civilians have seen...strange symbols. Black and orange, burning hot, seared into the snow at the very edges of our land and apparently increased the normal temperatures in the environment."

Evie's brows furrowed in confusion. "Symbols? What kind of symbols? And who would do such a thing?"

"That is what we don't know," Sinclair admitted, his tone grave. "But these symbols-they're unlike anything we've seen before. They don't match any known language or markings from any of the neighboring regions, nor from our own history. And more troubling still...there's an unease growing among our people, a sense that something is coming."

"A sense?" Evie echoed, her voice dropping to a whisper. "You mean...a potential invasion?"

The king nodded, though he hesitated before speaking again. "It's a possibility. But that's the troubling part, Evie. Spadia has been isolated in peace for so long. The Frozen Behemoth's protection has kept us safe, hidden from the world. We are far from any known civilization, and our land is harsh, difficult to traverse. For someone to invade Spadia...it wouldn't make sense. And yet, these symbols-they seem like a warning, a sign of something approaching."

Evie's mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation. "But who would do this? And why now? Spadia has always been a place of peace, of isolation. We've had no type of conflicts, no enemies that we know of."

Sinclair looked into his daughter's eyes, seeing the same concern that had plagued him since the reports began. "I don't know, Evie. I truly don't. But I fear that we may be facing something unlike anything we've encountered before. Something that even the Frozen Behemoth's power might not deter."

Evie felt a cold shiver run down her spine. The thought of Spadia-a kingdom that had known only peace-being threatened was almost unimaginable. "Father," she said softly, her voice trembling slightly, "what if...what if we can't stop it? What if this is something beyond our control?"

King Sinclair reached out, taking her hands in his. "Evie, I don't know what the future holds. But I promise you this-I will do everything in my power to protect you, to protect our people. I will not let Spadia fall into ruin. Whatever this threat is, we will face it together. And I will be by your side, no matter what comes."