My little one is the daughter of the main characters

Kailan remained in the throne room with Lord Derrington, who held a scroll detailing reports on animal behavior. The candlelight illuminated their faces, reflecting the tension hanging in the air.

"Lord Derrington," Kailan began, leaning his hands on the table, "these anomalies with the animals you've described... How localized are they? Is it only happening in the northern forests?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Derrington replied with a slight nod. "So far, all recorded cases are confined to areas near the northern borders. There's no evidence yet of it spreading further."

The Emperor thoughtfully ran his hand along his chin, his eyes closely studying the map spread out before him.

"Then it's a localized threat for now. But who knows how far they're willing to go?" he muttered. "Perhaps this is only the beginning."

Lord Derrington carefully adjusted the scroll on the table. "Your Majesty, I am deeply concerned about these events," Derrington began, his voice firm but tinged with worry. "There are reasons to believe this is connected to groups using magical stones. These artifacts are extremely dangerous, and in the hands of skilled mages, they can become weapons of unparalleled power. They might be testing their influence in isolated areas to avoid drawing attention. But if we don't act, this threat could become global."

Kailan nodded in agreement. "That's a reasonable assumption. But the question is, why now? What has driven them to start acting?"

Derrington remained silent, unable to provide an answer.

Kailan straightened, clasping his hands behind his back. His voice became softer, but its firmness remained. "Dark magic... It has always been this world's curse. How many years has it been since we last faced its manifestations? Five? Ten?"

"About ten years, Your Majesty," Derrington replied, his gaze clouded with memories. "The last time we encountered anything like this was during the war with the southern mages. Back then, magical artifacts decimated entire garrisons, and it took years to reclaim the lost lands. But now... I fear this is just the beginning of something greater."

Kailan frowned. "And now it returns. Perhaps its resurgence is tied to something bigger."

His voice sharpened as he turned to the lord. "Prepare the troops. Fortify the northern garrisons and increase patrols. If these mages think we'll let them act with impunity, they are gravely mistaken."

Derrington bowed and headed toward the exit, but paused as he heard the Emperor continue speaking: "And remind everyone: this is not the time for panic. If rumors start, they'll reach the capital faster than we can contain them."

"Understood, Your Majesty," Derrington said before leaving the hall.

Kailan was left alone in the silence. His mind wrestled with itself, teetering on the edge between rationality and a growing emotional response. The throne room felt incredibly empty despite the grandeur of its marble columns and heavy tapestries adorned with the royal family's symbols. The candlelight flickered, casting unsteady shadows on the walls, amplifying the tension in the air. He looked at the map again. His hands trembled slightly, but he clenched his teeth, trying to focus. "I need to think logically. The anomalies in the northern forests and this warmth—are they connected? Or am I just hoping they are?" he pondered.

***A Phantom from the Past

Suddenly, he froze.

Warmth began to spread slowly through his chest, like a flame awakening from the depths of his soul. It wasn't scorching, but it felt unnatural, like a call coming from within his very being. The Emperor's eyes widened as he realized this feeling was familiar. "Why now?" the thought flickered in his mind. "It's been six years since her disappearance."

All this time—silence. Not a single sign. And now—this call, stronger than ever. What had changed? Who could be behind it? His thoughts raced, trying to find a connection between the flare and the anomalies in the world.

"No..." he whispered, clutching the edge of the table. Logic screamed at him: "This could be a coincidence!" But his heart, seemingly captivated by the warmth, refused to listen. His breathing quickened, his heart pounded faster, as though answering the call.

Memories flooded back to him: the day Ellie was born, and he first felt this spark. Weak, yet bright, like a star in the night sky. Back then, he was by her side, protecting her tiny body from any threat. Now... this sensation felt a thousand times stronger. "Could she have been trying to reach me all this time? Or is this a sign that she's in danger?" These thoughts echoed painfully in his heart. Each guess only heightened his anxiety.

He pressed a hand to his chest, as if trying to keep the warmth inside. His breathing grew heavy, and his ears pounded with a loud pulse. "What was that?" Kailan's thoughts swirled like a storm, grasping at fragments of guesses. The room around him seemed unreal, and suddenly, before his eyes, a phantom silhouette of a girl flashed. Her fragile figure, seemingly woven from light and shadow, stirred a storm of emotions within him. A soft glow surrounded the girl, reminiscent of ancient magical glyphs Kailan had seen in sealed tablets. "Aurelia? Is that you? Why now?" His mind sought answers, but his heart suggested only one thing: this was no coincidence. The light emanating from the phantom was mesmerizing and captivating, yet carried an inexplicable threat. Her delicate figure, barely discernible in the flickering light, reached out a hand toward him. Her eyes reflected both fear and hope. He froze, unable to believe what he saw. But before he could do anything, a black hand emerged from the shadows. Its surface shimmered as if reflecting the stars of the night sky, its movements fluid yet menacing. It wasn't just a shadow—it was a living entity imbued with ancient magic. The hand grasped the girl's wrist, and the glow around her began to fade, as if the darkness was consuming her light. "What does this mean? Who controls this darkness? Is it a threat or a warning?" the thought raced through his mind. The silhouette disappeared as suddenly as it appeared, leaving the Emperor in shock and even greater confusion. The dark energy still lingered in the air, leaving a chilling trail behind. "If this is a warning, who is it for? Me? Or her?"

"Aurelia..." he whispered her name, his voice filled with hope and pain.

The Emperor straightened abruptly, his gaze sharp as a blade. This was not just a spark—it was a blazing fire breaking through space. She was alive. And perhaps, somewhere close.

Barely containing his emotions, he headed for the doors. One thought echoed in his mind: "I will find you." The tower—the only place where he could find answers. If anyone knew what was happening, it would be its keepers.

***The Call of Aurelia

Kailan strode quickly through the corridors of the imperial palace, his footsteps echoing loudly in the empty halls. The silence of the night felt unnatural, amplifying every sound and heightening his unease. Inside, his heart pounded relentlessly, demanding immediate action. The vision was still vivid in his mind—the phantom of a girl and the black hand dragging her into darkness. He knew this wasn't just an illusion. It was Aurelia's call, the daughter who had disappeared six years ago. Or perhaps it wasn't a call but a desperate signal?

His thoughts were chaotic, but one question echoed clearly in his mind: "Why now?" For six years, he hadn't stopped thinking about where she might be. Was she alive? Who had cared for her? Or, worse, who had kept her captive? Strange occurrences in the northern forests, waves of dark magic that, according to Lord Derrington's report, were beginning to seep into the kingdom… it all seemed like more than just coincidence. What if dark magic had left its mark on her over the years? What if she had become a weapon in the hands of his enemies, now using her power against him and the kingdom? Everything pointed to the awakening of dark forces being somehow connected to Aurelia—or to who she had become after all these years away from him.

"Damn it," the Emperor muttered, quickening his pace. The magic tower was the only place where he could get answers, even partial ones. He knew it housed numerous artifacts and that the court mages understood such phenomena better than anyone.

At the end of a long corridor loomed a massive door of black wood. Its surface was adorned with intricate carvings resembling ancient symbols. Kailan's heart raced. Behind that door lay the bustling life of mages, who studied the nature of magic, its secrets, and phenomena day and night. Two guards, upon spotting the Emperor, hurriedly opened the doors. The creak of the hinges shattered the silence, as if announcing his arrival.

Inside the tower, the familiar dimness prevailed. Tall shelves lined with ancient manuscripts and scrolls stretched up to the ceiling. The faint smell of burning herbal oil lingered in the air, mingling with the aroma of old parchment. Magical lamps hung high under the arches, flickering and dimming intermittently, responding to fluctuations in energy flows.

Kailan stopped at the center of the main hall, glancing around in search of the senior mage who oversaw the tower. But the first to approach him was a young apprentice dressed in a robe trimmed with gold.

"Your Majesty," the apprentice said, bowing deeply, his voice trembling slightly with nervousness. "It is a great honor to see you in the magic tower at such a late hour. Shall I inform the chief mage of your visit immediately?"

"Yes," the Emperor replied curtly. "Tell him I'll wait here."

***Preparation

The apprentice disappeared behind the heavy curtain, leaving Kailan to once again delve into his thoughts. He felt a faint warmth in his chest—it hadn't entirely subsided, as if the trace of his daughter still pulsed within his heart. He struggled to maintain his composure, but inside, a storm raged.

No more than a minute passed before a young man in his late twenties, perhaps slightly older, emerged from behind the curtain. His dark hair was neatly tied back in a small ponytail, and his eyes burned with the fire of passion and a deep understanding of magic. This was Abel Lafaris—one of the most talented mages in the kingdom, who had recently taken over the tower.

"Your Majesty," Abel said, bowing. "What brings you here at such a late hour?"

"Don't call it 'service,' Lafaris," Kailan's voice was tense, almost breaking. "I need answers. Now. Every second counts."

The archmage nodded and gestured for the Emperor to follow him into a quieter room behind the main hall. There, away from prying eyes and ears, Kailan could speak freely.

Once inside, Abel shut the heavy door behind them, placing his hand on it adorned with a thin ring. Magical symbols flared to life around the edges of the door, sealing the room from external noise and whispers.

The room was dimly lit. At its center stood a carved round table surrounded by several chairs. The walls were lined with shelves holding the rarest and most valuable books on magical research. Abel gestured for Kailan to sit and took a seat opposite him.

"So, Your Majesty, what has happened?"

The Emperor took a deep breath, trying to articulate what he had seen and felt:

"I... I felt my daughter's presence. Again. For the first time in six years. It was vivid, powerful, like a call. I even saw her phantom figure. But a shadow, resembling the manifestation of dark magic, grabbed her and took her away. Tell me, what could this mean?"

The archmage lowered his gaze momentarily, deep in thought.

"I recall our desperate searches, Your Majesty," Laurens said, lowering his voice as if revisiting painful memories. "We tried everything: telepathic bridges, clairvoyance, astral journeys by mages. But it was all in vain. Back then, we assumed she was under the influence of a powerful magical barrier that completely blocked any detection."

"That's right. It explained why we couldn't find a trace," the Emperor nodded. "But now... it feels like that barrier has faltered or weakened. Do you think she's sending me a signal?"

Abel furrowed his brow.

"Perhaps. Or someone deliberately allowed this signal to emerge, wanting you to find her."

"But why?" Kailan clenched his fists tightly. "To lure me into a trap?"

"I won't rule out that possibility, Your Majesty. However, there's a simpler explanation: she's grown, and her power—the power of the aura and divine nature—is awakening, unintentionally breaking old restraints. If dark magic surrounded her with a barrier, the emergence of her abilities might have caused it to crack."

Silence filled the room. Only the faint crackle of magical torches broke the stillness. Kailan pondered the archmage's words. Everything he had seen recently—the unrest in the northern forests, Lord Derrington's reports of unusual animal behavior, the dark mages, and now this pulsating feeling in his chest—seemed like pieces of a single puzzle.

"If her powers are awakening, it could also explain the anomalies around us," Laurens continued, sensing that the Emperor awaited further analysis. "Strong surges of magic or aura can influence living nature, especially if there are sorcerers nearby capable of redirecting those flows for their purposes. Perhaps they're feeding off that energy and using it for their rituals."

"So my daughter..." Kailan's voice faltered but quickly turned cold and firm, "has become their hostage? A source of power for those scoundrels? What have they done to her?"

"It's possible," Abel sighed heavily, his tone filled with evident concern. "But if the dark mages have discovered and harnessed her power, it could mean they're nearing the completion of their rituals. These sorcerers are not just cunning—they are ruthless. If they've subjugated her abilities, they might have turned her into a tool for their most dangerous plans. And clearly, she's trying to reach out to you, but the price she's paying for it may be unbearable."

Kailan gripped the armrests of his chair, his gaze burning with determination.

"Then we cannot let this stand. I won't allow them to use my daughter in their schemes."

The Emperor rose from his chair, and Abel politely stood as well, ready for further orders.

"What do I need to do to find her?" Kailan asked. "Do you have anything that can amplify this... signal?"

The archmage thought briefly.

"There is an old ritual for tracking an aura, but it's dangerous and complex," Abel said, his voice growing quieter but more intense. "To perform it, we'll need something connected to your daughter—an item that retains her magical signature. However, you must know: the dark mages may sense this ritual. They will attempt to disrupt it if they suspect we're searching for her."

Kailan averted his gaze, recalling the image of a tiny rattle he had given Aurelia shortly after her birth. Or the hair ribbons Evelina had brought back from the sacred lands. Six years had passed since then, and many things had been lost, especially during the chaos surrounding his daughter's disappearance.

"I'll look. Perhaps there's something valuable left in her room," the Emperor said. "And you prepare everything needed for the ritual. If blood or part of my aura is required, I'll provide it. But we must act swiftly."

"Your Majesty," Laurens bowed slightly. "I understand your urgency and share it. But I ask you—not to act alone. This may be far more dangerous than it seems."

"And what do you suggest?"

"Gather a group of trusted knights and mages to accompany you. Once we determine where the princess is, we will have to face not only dark magic but also those who wield it. You'll need all the strength and support you can get."

Kailan understood that the archmage was right. But the thought of waiting, coordinating orders and organizing squads, was unbearable. His fatherly heart demanded immediate action. Yet common sense told him that venturing alone into the unknown was reckless.

"Very well. I'll issue an order to recruit the best knights. But keep in mind—they'll be my personal guards, whom I trust unconditionally."

"Of course, Your Majesty," Laurens bowed. "I'll also involve several council mages. Perhaps we can establish a protective barrier or at least neutralize some of the dark sorcerers' attacks."

The Emperor cast a quick glance at the shelves filled with books and scrolls. "How many secrets are hidden within these walls," he thought. But even all this knowledge could not bring him peace until he brought his daughter back.

"Then waste no time. Begin preparing the ritual."

"As you command."