Chapter 37

The night was dark and moonless, the only light coming from the dying embers of the campfires scattered across the battlefield. Seraphina's sleep was restless, plagued by dreams of the day's battle, of the faces of those she had lost, and of Kael, his image slipping away from her no matter how hard she tried to hold on. She tossed and turned, unable to find peace, her mind a tangle of thoughts and fears.

Suddenly, she was jolted awake by the sound of hurried footsteps outside her tent. She sat up, her heart pounding in her chest, instinctively reaching for the sword she kept by her side. The air was thick with tension, and she could feel that something was wrong.

A moment later, the tent flap was pulled back, and a soldier burst in, his face pale with fear. "Your Highness," he gasped, struggling to catch his breath. "There's something you need to see. It's urgent."

Seraphina was on her feet in an instant, her exhaustion forgotten as adrenaline surged through her veins. "What is it?" she demanded, already moving toward the exit.

"The scouts-" the soldier began, his voice trembling. "They've found something... or someone. We're not sure. But it's bad, Your Highness. Really bad."

Seraphina's heart skipped a beat, dread settling in her stomach like a stone. She didn't wait for the soldier to explain further; she grabbed her cloak and sword, and followed him out into the night.

The camp was a hive of activity, soldiers moving quickly and quietly, their faces etched with concern. Seraphina could feel the tension in the air, the fear that something was very, very wrong. She pushed through the crowd, following the soldier as he led her to the outskirts of the camp.

They reached a small clearing near the edge of the forest, where a group of scouts had gathered. They were huddled around something on the ground, their expressions grim. Seraphina's breath caught in her throat as she approached, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and anticipation.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her.

One of the scouts looked up at her, his face pale in the dim light. "Your Highness... you need to see this for yourself."

The scouts stepped aside, revealing what they had found. Seraphina's blood ran cold as she took in the sight before her. There, lying on the ground, was a body-one of her own soldiers, his face twisted in pain, his eyes wide and unseeing. But it wasn't the fact that he was dead that sent a chill down her spine. It was the markings on his body, dark symbols etched into his flesh, glowing faintly in the darkness.

Seraphina knelt beside the body, her hands trembling as she examined the markings. They were unlike anything she had ever seen before, intricate and ominous, pulsing with a dark energy that seemed to seep into the very air around them.

"What happened here?" she demanded, her voice tight with fear and anger.

The scout who had spoken before shook his head, his expression haunted. "We don't know, Your Highness. We found him like this, just outside the camp. No one saw or heard anything. It's as if he was... taken, marked, and then left here as a warning."

"A warning," Seraphina repeated, her mind racing. "From the Shadowborn?"

"It must be," the scout replied, his voice trembling. "But this magic... it's darker than anything we've encountered before. It feels... wrong, Your Highness. Like it's not just meant to kill, but to curse."

Seraphina's stomach churned with a mix of fear and revulsion. She had faced the Shadowborn's dark magic before, but this felt different, more personal. This wasn't just an attack; it was a message, a declaration of intent. The Shadowborn weren't just coming for Verran-they were coming for her.

She stood up, her mind racing with the implications of what she had just seen. "We need to get this body back to the camp," she said, her voice firm despite the fear gnawing at her insides. "I want our mages to examine it, to find out exactly what we're dealing with."

The scouts nodded, quickly moving to carry out her orders. As they lifted the body, Seraphina turned to the soldier who had brought her here. "I want the camp on high alert. No one sleeps until we know more. And I want the perimeter secured. If there's anything else out there, I want to know about it."

The soldier saluted and hurried off to relay her orders, leaving Seraphina standing alone in the clearing. The darkness seemed to press in around her, the weight of the night's events settling heavily on her shoulders. The Shadowborn were escalating their attacks, using magic that was darker and more dangerous than anything she had encountered before. And now, it seemed, they were targeting her directly.

As she made her way back to the camp, Seraphina couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The Shadowborn were sending a message, and she had no doubt that it was meant for her. They wanted her to know that they were watching, that they were coming for her. And they wouldn't stop until they had destroyed everything she held dear.

When she reached her tent, she found Lady Elara waiting for her, her expression filled with concern. "Seraphina," she said quietly, her voice tinged with fear. "What's happening?"

Seraphina sighed, running a hand through her hair as she tried to find the words. "The Shadowborn," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "They've killed one of our soldiers, but this... this is different, Elara. It's darker, more sinister. They're using magic we've never seen before, and it feels like they're sending a message."

Lady Elara's eyes widened, her face pale. "What kind of message?"

"A warning," Seraphina replied, her voice tight. "Or maybe a threat. Whatever it is, it's clear that they're targeting us directly now. And I have a feeling this is just the beginning."

Lady Elara's expression hardened, her fear giving way to determination. "We need to find out what this magic is, how it works, and how to counter it. We can't let the Shadowborn have the upper hand."

Seraphina nodded, her mind racing with a thousand different thoughts. "I've already ordered the mages to examine the body. We need answers, and we need them quickly. If the Shadowborn are using this kind of magic, we need to be prepared."

Lady Elara reached out, placing a comforting hand on Seraphina's arm. "We'll get through this, Seraphina. We've faced dark magic before, and we've survived. We'll survive this too."

Seraphina wanted to believe her, but the fear that had taken root in her heart was hard to ignore. The Shadowborn were growing bolder, more dangerous, and now they were coming for her directly. She couldn't afford to be complacent, couldn't afford to let her guard down.

"We need to be ready for anything," Seraphina said, her voice filled with resolve. "We can't let the Shadowborn catch us off guard again."

Lady Elara nodded, her expression determined. "We'll do whatever it takes to protect Verran. You're not alone in this, Seraphina. We're all in this together."

Seraphina managed a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Elara. Your support means more than you know."

As Lady Elara left the tent to oversee the preparations, Seraphina sat down at the table, her mind still racing. The Shadowborn were escalating their attacks, and she knew that this was only the beginning. The war was far from over, and the darkness was closing in around them.

But she wouldn't give up. She couldn't give up. Verran needed her to be strong, to be vigilant. And she would do whatever it took to protect her people, to protect her kingdom.

Even if it meant facing the darkness head-on.

Because she knew that the Shadowborn wouldn't stop until they had destroyed everything she held dear.