Twin moons loom above the blooming palace. Thunderous storms rise beneath the moons. Winds howled like ancient beasts, and rain poured in sheets. It's bright everywhere like a divine blessing.
Tiara Palace, one of the biggest palaces in the Aethera Empire, is only second to the Royal Palace. Surrounded by shadowed mountains, dense forests, and towering noble houses, it radiated light as if defying the gloom.
The palace grounds buzzed with movement. Soldiers patrolled, servants rushed, and order reigned amidst the storm.
Then, a young man clad in full armor strode calmly toward the palace outskirts. The metallic clink of his steps commanded attention. Guards and servants bowed as he passed.
Reaching the entrance gate, he paused, then ascended the stone steps of the watchtower. The sentries stiffened at his presence but said nothing.
The guards on duty straightened instantly, alert. His eyes lifted to the sky, drawn to the unsettling phenomenon.
"I feel strange about this", he mumbled to himself so that nearby guards could hear him.
One of the guards, caught off guard by the remark, hesitated. Then quickly nodded.
"Yes! Vice Captain.....The sky is unusual...."
The vice captain nodded slightly. He looked at the sky with stern expression.
Smiling inwardly, "Purple moon and Red moon, huh?", With a small pause, he said again.
"It feels like some ancient myths or legends will come true."
A heavy silence followed his words. Even the storm seemed to hold its breath for a moment, as if acknowledging the gravity of the Vice Captain's voice.
One of the younger guards beside him whispered, eyes fixed on the sky,
"My grandmother used to tell stories… about the twin moons. That when they bleed red and weep violet, the old gods stir."
The Vice Captain didn't respond immediately. His eyes narrowed, scanning the far-off horizon where lightning danced through the clouds like ghostly serpents.
"Old gods, huh?" he muttered. "Or something worse."
Suddenly, a faint tremor passed beneath their feet—so subtle it could've been missed, but not by him. He turned his gaze toward the mountains beyond the forest, his instinct screaming.
"Send word to the Captain-General," he ordered, his voice calm but firm. "And alert the Royal Court Astronomers. I want reports on this celestial shift within the hour."
The guards saluted and hurried down the tower.
Just as he turned to descend, a small messenger bird—its feathers shimmering faintly with enchanted runes—landed on the edge of the tower.
The Vice Captain raised an eyebrow.
"From the northern general?"
He untied the scroll sealed with a black wax crest—the insignia of the Valor Duke.
His eyes scanned the contents. His expression darkened.
"A huge number of corrupted beasts are heading toward the valor capital. Reason: Unknown. Secure duches safety and protect the palace at any cost. Duke is on his way to the capital"
His breath caught for a split second.
"Corrupted beasts?"
Generally, corrupted beasts appear only once in two or three years. The last time they appeared was last month. That's why Duke and Captain are not in the capital. And they generally come from the eastern sea. But this time, they appeared in northern border and breached the security. It's definitely not normal.
He looked to the twin moons once more. The red one pulsed faintly . The purple one swirled with unnatural clouds.
"So, It's because of you..."