MTLNOVEL Chapter 9: Chapter 9: The Ancient Threat
The symbols were unlike anything Auron had ever seen. They were carved deep into the rock, their lines sharp and precise, as though etched by a hand that had long since turned to dust. The air around them hummed with an eerie energy, and the Crown of Shadows pulsed softly on Auron's brow, its power reacting to the ancient magic.
"What do you think they mean?" Saria asked, her voice tight with unease.
Auron didn't answer immediately. His mind was racing, trying to make sense of the strange carvings. The Monarch System's voice echoed in his mind, its tone colder and more mechanical than usual.
"Analyzing symbols… Partial match found. Language: Ancient Eldar. Translation: 'Beware the Harbinger.'"
Auron's jaw tightened. "The Harbinger? What is that?"
"Insufficient data. Threat level: High. Recommend immediate action."
Auron clenched his fists, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. The system had always been a reliable source of information, but now it was as blind as he was.
"We need to find out more," he said finally. "If this 'Harbinger' is a threat, we can't afford to ignore it."
Saria nodded, her expression grim. "I'll send scouts to search the area. Maybe they'll find something."
As Saria left to relay his orders, Auron turned his gaze back to the symbols. The Crown of Shadows hummed softly on his brow, its power urging him to act, to dominate, to crush this new threat before it could grow.
But he couldn't. Not yet.
That night, Auron found himself standing in the throne room once again. The shadows swirled around him, their whispers growing louder and more insistent.
"You cannot win," one hissed.
"The Harbinger is coming," another sneered.
Auron clenched his fists, his chest tightening with rage. "I'm not weak," he growled, his voice echoing in the emptiness.
But the shadows didn't stop. They pressed in on him, their voices merging into a deafening roar.
"You're losing yourself," they whispered. "The crown is changing you."
Auron woke with a start, his heart pounding and his body drenched in sweat. He looked down at his hands, half-expecting to see them stained with blood.
But they were clean.
For now.
The next morning, the scouts returned with news. They had found a cave hidden deep in the forest, its entrance marked by the same ancient symbols. Inside, they had discovered a series of murals depicting a great battle between light and shadow, and a figure shrouded in darkness—the Harbinger.
Auron studied the murals, his mind racing. The Crown of Shadows hummed softly on his brow, its power reacting to the ancient magic radiating from the cave.
"This is it," he said finally. "This is what we're up against."
Saria stepped forward, her eyes wide with fear. "What do we do?"
Auron didn't answer immediately. His gaze shifted to the horizon, where the dark clouds were growing thicker.
"We prepare," he said, his voice low and grim. "And we fight."