World Phenomenon

Eldora Continent, Duskhaven Capital City of the Alucard Kingdom

In the bustling Capital City, the narrowed and winding streets and even the alleyways that twisted and turned like serpents were filled with people as they collectively gazed in the direction of the imposing silhouette of the Royal Castle. Its majestic, eerie form rose into the sky casting shadows down onto the city below. Its black, impenetrable walls were marred with various colorful dried splotches of blood, and adorned with grotesque, eerie life-like statues. 

Yet, instead of ruining the grandeur, the macabre decorations only served to deepen the awe and trepidation that gripped the citizens of the Kingdom. 

The Royal Castle's appearance was a reminder to the inhabitants of the Kingdom. For if anyone dared to even have thoughts of rebellion they would only be adding themselves to the collection of statues.

Within the bustling city, the streets were filled with people as the cheerful noise made by them could be heard everywhere.

The hotels, restaurants, bars, and food stalls were all full, and every corner of the Capital City echoed with the sounds of celebration as the population celebrated the momentous occasion: the impending birth of the Prince.

Seven days ago, rumors spread that Princess Elizabeth was going to give birth.

At first, the Kingdom's populace was unsure of the validity of the rumors. They were aware that Prince Hujarar had married an elven woman; however, news regarding the Royal Family was almost impossible to obtain.

Yet, once the rumors were confirmed by King Vlad, the city exploded into celebration 

The Capital City, which was usually quiet, exploded into fervor, and even the coming and going of people increased as people from other cities and towns rushed over to welcome their Prince.

—----------------------

At the heart of the city, in front of a hotdog stand.

"Could this be an omen?" A tall, muscular man remarked as his gaze shifted away from the castle to what used to be the sky.

What used to be a beautiful blue expanse full of clouds and the everpresent radiant sun was now hidden by rolling pitch-back darkness. It was as if a curtain was laid across the Heavens, casting an eerie, eternal shadow across the landscape.

The longer he looked at the darkness that billowed like waves of the ocean, the more the unease gripped him by the throat. He felt a chill creep up his spine forcing him to look away.

The bystanders around the tall man shivered in fear. Their faces contorted in horror as they scrambled away, muttering curses under their breath. They did not even wait for their orders to be finished. Compared to the four Denarius, their lives mattered more to them.

"If you want to die, don't drag others with you."

"To think he's lived for so long."

"It was nice knowing you, Brian." A short, black-haired man anxiously said from behind the hotdog stand. He hastily began to put away the condiments and hot dog ingredients. If not for the fact, that his and his family's livelihood depended on the stand, he would have run away, leaving his stand behind.

The tall, muscular man frowned as he gazed at the fleeing people before turning to his friend, who was looking at him as if he were a dead man walking.

Brian blinked, confused at their reactions "Gabe, what are they talking about?" His slightly tanned skin flushed red from annoyance as he continued, "Also, stop looking at me as if I'm about to die. I've never been healthier."

Gabe, who was about to push his stand back home, hesitated. He gritted his teeth, looked around for prying eyes and ears after seeing no one present, walked over to his friend, bent down, and whispered in his ears, "...Haah, Brian you couldn't have picked a worse time to visit the Capital."

The darkness began precisely seven days ago, just as the rumor of Princess Elizabeth was due for birth.

When the rumor was spread no one connected the appearance of the darkness to the soon-to-be-born baby; however, a spark of doubt had remained until someone voiced out the possibility.

After all, the World Phenomenon started from above the Duskhaven Royal Capital. If that was not enough evidence for doubt to seize the masses, the rumor of the Prince's birth coinciding with the darkness was more than enough evidence for more people to start believing the unborn Prince was the cause of the darkness.

Until now, a World phenomenon like the darkness above them was unheard of.

And as the rumors continued to be spread by the masses, more people began to believe the child was the cause of the World Phenomenon. 

That he was the herald of the end.

Many even began rioting and demanding his death, not caring that he was still an unborn child.

However, those who voiced their complaints were only the weak, who held insufficient Power to force the Royal Family.

The former King was just too powerful.

He alone could defend against other similarly Ranked opponents.

Brian furrowed his brows as worry started to seize him. Why was his friend acting strange and speaking like that? Though it only increased his worries. He remembered his friend's weird behavior started after he spoke about the eerie phenomenon in the sky. The people who were celebrating earlier had run away in fear, his friend had hastily begun closing his stand, despite the booming success he was having, and now his odd behavior was frightening him.

He gulped, his eyes widened, and his body began to shake in fright.

'I'm not going to die am I?' He knew of the rumors. The Royal Family did not tolerate people even cursing their members… no they weren't mere rumors, they were cold-hard facts. Instinctively, his gaze turned in the direction of the castle walls, precisely toward the statues situated on the walls, causing him to shiver in fright. Those statues were more than enough evidence to know he might have screwed up.

"You might still be alright. Had it been a few days ago, before the Angels arrived, your life would have gone for good." Gabe said as he headed back to his stand. Just as he was about to start pushing his stand, he stopped, and waved his hand, "If you do die, know I will miss you, my dear friend."

Brian snorted. He could practically see the Denarius symbol in his supposed friend's eyes.

"If it is an om-" He paused, trying to find a better word, "Why is everyone celebrating?"

Gabe dryly chuckled. He looked at his friend as if he were an idiot, "If the Royal Family is throwing a celebration, who dares not to attend? Everyone in the know about… well, I won't say it out loud, but you probably know what I'm talking about. We are just keeping up appearances. We are too weak not to attend the so-called celebration. If I had been stronger, I would have left the Kingdom with my family on the first day the darkness started." Gabe remarked bitterly

"And then there are people like you who live underneath a rock not knowing the truth… or more like have rocks for brains! Hahaha!" He laughed and then left, pushing his cart back home.

Brian watched Gabe for a moment before his gaze shifted from his friend to the sky above.

Brian was not the only person who felt the darkness that loomed over his head was a bad omen.

Everyone in Arcadia felt that a looming threat was on the distant horizon.

Conversations similar to Brian and Gabe's occurred multiple times. Thankfully for the ignorant people, the Royal Guards were preoccupied.