Kael steadied his breath in the cool dawn air, grounding himself against a familiar feeling—a quiet, creeping urgency he couldn't quite name. The first light of morning filtered through towering trees, casting a faint glow over the ancient training ground, a place hidden within the heart of Astridale, untouched by time yet haunted by the echoes of the past. This secluded sanctuary was a world away from the bustling city, where technology thrived in secret and where the people of Astridale and Lumira lived unseen, forgotten by the six kingdoms beyond. They were not meant to be remembered, not meant to exist in the minds of those who had lost their connection to the truth of the world.

Kael rooted himself in a steady stance, feeling the strength of the earth beneath his feet as he inhaled the crisp, pine-laced scent of the forest. He let his body settle into the familiar rhythm of discipline and focus, his training a silent vow to the guardians who had come before him, to the legends who had once wielded the Celestial Blades in a battle that had been wiped from history. He raised his arm, feeling the flicker of heat unfurl in his palm, and with a focused exhale, flames ignited along his forearm, spiraling upward in controlled arcs. This was pyrokinetics—the raw, untamed force of fire, bound only by his will. The fire obeyed him, not as a weapon of destruction but as an extension of his very being, a part of the power that marked him as something more than just a royal of Astridale.

He moved, each strike and turn honed through years of relentless training, the fire trailing him in seamless synchronization, burning with an intensity that spoke of the purpose buried deep within him. His heart pounded in rhythm with the flickering flames, the heat surging through his veins as he wove fire into form, shaping it as effortlessly as breath. Every motion was deliberate, his body shifting with precision as he unleashed a burst of flame, watching as it spread outward before dimming to embers at the edge of the clearing. The warmth faded but did not disappear, settling beneath his skin like a reminder of the duty that had been carved into his bloodline.

The Celestial Blade shimmered into existence in his grasp, its ember-like core pulsing with an ethereal glow, a silent heartbeat of light within the cool morning air. The blade was more than a weapon; it was a tether to a past long buried, a fragment of a story no longer spoken, one tied to the legacy of the Guardians who had come before him. The weight of it was familiar, its presence a constant, a reminder that his destiny was not one of choice but of necessity. He wove the blade into his pyrokinetic movements, the flames arcing along the edge as he struck forward, the energy surging through him in waves, amplifying the raw force of his fire. He had learned to control it, to keep his power from consuming him, but the weight of expectation pressed heavily against his shoulders, a force stronger than even the flames he wielded.

Finishing his sequence, he let the blade dissolve into a soft shimmer, the last embers fading into the quiet morning light. He barely had time to exhale before the faint chime of his communicator echoed in the stillness. Glancing down at his wrist, he saw the soft glow of a message from Maia flash across the screen:

"We're summoned. Looks like duty calls. Hope you didn't set anything on fire this time."

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he rolled his eyes, the teasing familiarity of Maia's words grounding him, though beneath them lay the unspoken truth they both understood—their summons was never just a formality. It meant something was shifting, something was happening that they would not yet be told in full, because the history of their world was built upon silence and buried truths, and even as Light Guardians, they were only just beginning to uncover the depths of what had been lost.

Kael cast one last glance at the statues that stood in solemn watch, the guardians who had wielded the Celestial Blades before him, warriors whose names had been erased but whose presence still lingered in the carved stone. They had once fought for a world that no longer remembered them, just as Kael, Maia, and Finn were preparing to do now. The thought sat heavy in his chest as he turned away from the training ground, making his way back toward the palace where duty awaited, relentless as always.

The corridors of Astridale's palace stretched before them, bathed in the soft morning light that spilled through towering stained-glass windows, casting shifting patterns across the polished marble floors. Nature and refinement coexisted in perfect harmony, the walls adorned with sprawling vines woven seamlessly into the architecture, their emerald leaves reaching toward the golden glow of the sun. The air carried the crisp scent of fresh blossoms, mingling with the subtle hum of magic that pulsed through the very foundation of the palace.

It was beautiful, serene even, a sanctuary untouched by the burdens of the world beyond. But Kael could feel the illusion fraying at the edges.

He walked in step with Maia, his sister's posture poised but attentive, her expression unreadable as they neared the royal chambers. They had been summoned without explanation, and experience had taught them that such calls were never without reason. Though their lives had been spent training, preparing, and upholding their duties as royals, there was always an unspoken weight behind their parents' words—the quiet knowledge that they were being shaped for something greater, something far beyond their thrones.

The doors to the royal chambers opened with a quiet creak, revealing their parents seated at a long table strewn with maps, documents, and softly glowing communication screens. The tension in the room was subtle but present, lingering in the crease of King Arion's brow as he set down the tablet he had been studying, in the way Queen Lira's fingers traced the edges of an aged parchment, as though weighing the weight of history itself.

"Kael, Maia," King Arion greeted, his voice even but laced with something unreadable. "How are you both? Is training going well?"

Kael inclined his head in acknowledgment. "I was just finishing my morning drills," he replied. "Refining my control over pyrokinetics and the Celestial Blade. Everything is as it should be."

Maia crossed her arms, a knowing smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "My hydrokinetics and healing techniques are coming along fine, too. Not that I need fire to make a point," she added, her tone light but laced with curiosity. "We're keeping up with our training, as always, but something tells me that's not why you summoned us."

Queen Lira lifted her gaze, studying them for a long moment before speaking. "Your training is important," she said, her tone steady but edged with something unspoken. "We wouldn't have called you here if it weren't necessary. I know we ask a great deal of you, that we have given you many responsibilities in preparation for the future, but..." She hesitated, her voice trailing off, something uncharacteristically cautious in her expression.

Kael's jaw tightened slightly. He had expected another routine assignment—security updates, border patrol assessments, diplomatic briefings—but something about his mother's tone, the way her gaze lingered on the map before her, the shift in his father's posture, made him reconsider. His eyes flickered toward the table, narrowing as he caught sight of the faint markings near Astridale's borders, markings that had not been there before.

King Arion exhaled, his voice measured but carrying the unmistakable weight of something more. "There have been disturbances near the outer watchtowers. Shadows moving where none should exist."

The words sent a chill through the air.

Kael felt his pulse quicken, his mind racing through possibilities. Shadows? What did they mean by that? Every day followed the same pattern—training, ruling, preparing for something that never came. Their parents had always been careful with what they told them, always kept certain truths veiled behind diplomacy and patience, but now, they were being summoned for this.

He exchanged a glance with Maia, a silent understanding passing between them.

"So, that means we can—"

"Not so fast, Kael," Queen Lira cut in smoothly, her expression calm but betraying a flicker of concern. "Just because we have seen movement does not mean you or Maia will fight—not yet."

Kael's fists clenched at his sides. "But, Mother, with these sightings—"

"We are aware," she interrupted, holding up a hand to silence him. "You, Maia, and Finn have trained for this, and your strength is undeniable. But this is not a matter of skill—it is a matter of numbers. There are only three of you, and we do not yet know the strength of what lies beyond our borders."

King Arion nodded in agreement. "Your mother is right. If the Grimshrouds are truly stirring, we do not yet know what they are capable of. And I will not send you into battle when we do not even understand the enemy we face."

The Grimshrouds.

The name sent a ripple of tension through the room, a weight pressing upon them like a silent storm brewing just beyond sight. The very mention of them was enough to set Kael's blood alight with the embers beneath his skin, an instinctive reaction that came as naturally as breathing. The Grimshrouds—the darkness that had once fractured the Eight Kingdoms, the force that had stolen the Light Guardians from history, the reason Astridale and Lumira had been erased from the world's memory.

A war that had never truly ended.

Only been forgotten.

Kael's grip tightened at his sides, his mind flickering back to the moment everything had changed. The day he, Maia, and Finn had been chosen. They had been ten years old, restless and reckless, sneaking away from the palace in search of adventure, lost in the depths of a forbidden forest for hours. Their parents had found them, just as the sun began to set, just as the first flickers of light appeared before them—glowing orbs that descended from the sky and settled in their hands, solidifying into the weapons they had wielded ever since.

The Celestial Blades had chosen them.

But no one knew why.

Not even their parents.

Their entire lives had been shaped by that moment, by the silent truth that they were different, that their role as royals was secondary to the power they had been given. No one outside the palace knew—not their people, not their allies, not even the hidden kingdom itself.

But if the shadows were returning, that secrecy would not last much longer.

Kael exhaled slowly, steadying his thoughts. "Then what do we do?" he asked finally. "We cannot just sit here and wait."

King Arion's expression was unreadable. "You will continue to train. You will remain vigilant. But you will not act until we are certain of what we are dealing with."

Kael wanted to argue, but Maia placed a hand on his arm, a silent reassurance that this was not the time.

Their parents were afraid, and for the first time in years, they weren't trying to hide it.

The six kingdoms did not remember.

But Astridale and Lumira did.

And if the Grimshrouds were truly awakening, it would not be long before the rest of the world did too.

And when that day came—

There would be no hiding.

The heavy doors of the royal chamber closed behind them with a quiet finality, but the weight of their parents' words still lingered, unshaken and heavy in the air. Kael walked in measured strides, his mind restless even as his expression remained unreadable. Beside him, Maia's steps were sharp and deliberate, her fingers curling at her sides, tension rolling off her in quiet waves. Further down the corridor, Finn leaned casually against a stone column, arms crossed over his chest, though the glint in his eyes betrayed his usual easygoing demeanor.

"Well," Finn broke the silence first, pushing off the column with a sigh. "That went about as well as expected. You ask for answers, and they give you riddles wrapped in parental concern."

Maia exhaled sharply, rubbing the bridge of her nose before glancing at Kael. "This is different. They're scared."

"They should be," Kael muttered, his voice edged with frustration. "They've kept us in the dark for years, and now we're supposed to just sit back and 'prepare' while shadows creep toward our borders?" His fists clenched at his sides, the heat beneath his skin simmering, his pyrokinetics responding to his rising anger. "That doesn't feel like a coincidence."

Maia and Finn exchanged a knowing glance, the same unspoken thought passing between them.

The halls of Astridale's palace were still at this hour, the morning light filtering through tall arched windows, casting streaks of gold across the polished marble. Once, this place had felt boundless, filled with the quiet hum of magic and the comfort of knowing they were hidden, protected. Now, it felt smaller—more like a gilded cage than a sanctuary.

"Let's go somewhere we won't be overheard," Maia murmured, already turning toward one of their usual hiding spots.

Kael didn't argue. Neither did Finn.

The trio stepped onto a secluded terrace, tucked away among the palace's highest towers, overlooking the gleaming city below. From here, Astridale's spires stretched toward the sky, their golden rooftops reflecting the sunlight, an echo of a forgotten past. Beyond the magical barriers, the unseen borders of the world separated them from the six kingdoms that had been left behind, ignorant of their existence.

They shouldn't have been able to hear it, but Kael swore he could feel the silence beyond those borders—a world that had long since erased them, a world that no longer believed in Light Guardians.

Finn leaned against the stone railing, eyes sharp as he scanned the city. "So. What do we think? Are we actually supposed to believe our parents don't know anything, or are they just deciding when they'll let us in on the secret?" His voice was lighter than the weight of his words, but Kael caught the tightness behind it.

Finn sighed, shaking his head. "That's actually why I came to see you guys. My parents said the same thing—stay out of it, focus on training, trust them to handle it. Which, sure, would be fine if we weren't the ones holding the Celestial Blades."

Maia perched on the edge of the stone bench, arms crossed as she gazed out over the rooftops. "They're not just hiding the truth—they don't want to admit that the Grimshrouds are back. If they acknowledge it, they have to acknowledge what that means." Her voice was quiet but steady, the weight of realization settling over them. "If they're here, it won't be long before our two kingdoms are shattered into darkness. And once that happens, it'll spread to the other six."

Kael ran a hand over his jaw, exhaling sharply. "That's the problem. If this started here, how did they get to us first? Why now?"

His thoughts were a tangled mess of frustration and suspicion, and with a flick of his wrist, he pulled out his phone, scrolling through news feeds out of habit. Nothing out of the ordinary. The world remained blissfully unaware, the headlines filled with politics, entertainment, and the usual diplomatic updates from the six kingdoms. Not a whisper of unrest.

Of course not.

The public knew nothing—because their parents had ensured it stayed that way.

"Astridale and Lumira control the information," Kael muttered, more to himself than the others. "Luna's the one managing the tech, and she's good. Too good. If there were any sign of disturbance, she would've buried it before we even got wind of it."

Finn exhaled, dragging a hand through his hair. "I hate to play the voice of reason here, but... what if they're right? If it's just us, we're outnumbered. We've trained, sure, but we have no mentor, no real experience fighting a war, and no idea how powerful the Grimshrouds actually are." He met their gazes evenly, his usual smirk absent. "What if they're right? What if we're not ready?"

Kael shook his head. "Then why did the Celestial Blades choose us? Why give us these abilities if we weren't meant to use them?" He turned away from the view, pacing slightly, his jaw tight with unspoken frustration. "Training, sparring, elemental techniques—it's all been useful, but the light abilities haven't come to us yet. And maybe that's the real problem."

"Because we don't have a mentor," Maia finished, her voice laced with realization.

The words hung between them, the weight of truth settling into place.

"The six kingdoms don't even know we exist," she continued, tracing an absent pattern against the stone beside her. "Astridale and Lumira were erased from history. Maybe the Grimshrouds were, too." Her voice dipped lower, edged with quiet urgency. "But if they were forgotten, who remembered enough to bring them back?"

Kael stilled.

That was the real question, wasn't it?

The Grimshrouds hadn't simply reappeared. Something—or someone—had awakened them.

Finn's expression darkened, his gaze flicking between them. "So, what are we saying? That someone out there has been unraveling whatever magic kept them sealed? That this isn't just history repeating itself, but someone actively rewriting it?"

Maia exhaled slowly, her fingers tightening over the stone. "That's exactly what I'm saying."

Silence stretched between them, filled with the unspoken realization that this—whatever this was—was bigger than them.

Kael inhaled, forcing his thoughts into order, his fingers clenching into fists before releasing. They didn't have enough pieces yet. But they would.

And if the world was remembering its darkness—

Then it was time the world remembered its Light Guardians, too.

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A/N: Hey guys, this was another book I had in mind as well and this one was a different approach than my other book. I will update this as well and my new book. :D