The grand hall still buzzed faintly with leftover chatter from the ball, the glittering chandeliers casting fractured light over the polished marble floors. Keal's eyes narrowed as the woman darted through the crowd—white hair shimmering like moonlight against her dark cloak. Without hesitation, Zack pushed past nobles and servants alike, his laughter cutting through the tension.
"Come on, Keal! This is more fun than the dance!" Zack grinned wildly, dodging a surprised maid and nearly tripping over a silver platter.
Keal's sharp gaze followed the noblewoman, calculating every step. "Stop treating this like a game, Zack," he muttered, but a reluctant smirk tugged at his lips.
"She's slippery," Zack chuckled, "but I'm faster.
Keal's eyes flickered—left one glowing faint purple, right burning a deep red. The Shadow Eye's gift: piercing into secrets, reading emotions, sensing hidden weaknesses. Through the swirling mass of nobles, he saw it all—fear, deceit, the woman's growing panic.
Suddenly, the woman slipped through a side door, disappearing into the palace's winding corridors.
"Here we go," Zack sighed dramatically, stretching his arms wide. "Let's see who's playing cloak-and-dagger in the queen's palace."
They moved swiftly through dim hallways, their footsteps echoing softly. The palace was a labyrinth, ancient stones humming with old magic. Zack's usual cocky grin faded slightly. "You know, Keal, chasing mysterious women is usually a bad idea. Most of the time, it ends with you getting stabbed."
Keal's lips twitched, but he said nothing. His mind was sharp, weaving through possibilities. Why was she here? What secrets was she carrying?
"Wait up!" Zack called, suddenly slowing as a figure stepped out from a shadowed alcove.
Veltric.
The first prince, his expression calm but icy, eyes like steel blades cutting through the dark. His presence was like a cold gust of wind—commanding, untouchable.
"Are you following my trail?" Veltric's voice was low, clipped, laced with unmistakable irritation.
"We're just… taking a stroll," Zack replied, hands raised in mock surrender. "Chasing a runaway noble. No big deal."
Veltric's gaze hardened. "I suggest you don't make a spectacle in the palace."
Keal studied him quietly. The prince's aura was sharp and precise, calculating every move. He wasn't a man to be crossed lightly. But beneath that controlled facade, Keal sensed something else—pressure, perhaps fear of failing expectations.
Before tension could escalate, a soft voice interrupted.
"Enough, both of you."
Zackline stepped into the corridor, her presence soothing yet firm. The queen's sister and a peak-ranked general, she held an air of authority that demanded respect.
"Keal, Zack, Veltric," she said smoothly, her dark eyes flickering with unspoken knowledge. "The war to the east simmers still. But now is not the time to fight each other."
Zack relaxed, flashing a grin. "See? Told you it'd be better if you just chilled."
Keal's gaze softened slightly. "War?" he echoed.
Zackline nodded, stepping closer. "The eastern kingdoms covet Weton's resources. Our alliances are fragile, and every shadow hides a dagger. We must be prepared."
Veltric's eyes narrowed but he said nothing. Zackline's calm masked the tension beneath.
The noblewoman's footsteps echoed again, a faint whisper through the stone corridors.
"She's close," Keal murmured, and with renewed focus, they moved again.
Zack cracked jokes even as they raced. "Bet she didn't expect to be chased by the kingdom's most annoying duo."
Keal ignored the comment, shadow eyes piercing the darkness ahead. "Zack, focus."
Zack grinned but complied, slipping into the shadows with ease.
Suddenly, the woman rounded a corner, only to halt abruptly as a figure blocked her path. A dagger gleamed in the dim light.
Keal's heart tightened.
Before he could act, the woman spoke softly, eyes fierce with desperation.
"They want him dead."
The words hung heavy in the air.
Keal's mind raced.
Zackline's voice echoed in his memory, "Every shadow hides a dagger."
Veltric's stoic facade cracked briefly, his concern flickering before he masked it.
The chase had led them deeper into the palace's hidden web of secrets.
And now, the game was far from over.
Absolutely. Here's Chapter 16: Whispers Before the Storm in full — revised to meet your request of at least 1000 words, while keeping the mystery, betrayal, and plot tension strong:
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Chapter 16: Whispers Before the Storm
The moonlight cast a soft glow on the palace towers of Weton, but inside Prince Veltric's chamber, shadows twisted unnaturally—thick, silent, almost sentient. The fire in the hearth flickered with unease, and two figures stood in quiet conversation.
Veltric, the First Prince of Weton, leaned against his desk, arms folded, his cold gaze fixed on the flickering flames. His golden eyes glowed faintly beneath the weight of his ambitions. Across from him, a woman—his confidant, his hidden lover—stood with arms crossed, her face veiled by darkness.
"Tomorrow, the Queen and Zackline leave for the border." Her voice was calm, yet her words dripped with restrained excitement.
Veltric nodded. "Perfect."
"She trusts Keal far more than expected. She even placed Zack in his care."
He smirked, though his eyes remained cold. "That boy is a tool. Just like Zackline. Just like the nobles dancing at her feet. When the war breaks her, the people will cry for strength. And I will answer."
The woman stepped closer. "And the noblewoman? "
"Handled." Veltric's voice turned sharp. "She was weak. She knew too much, and she panicked. Had she simply waited... but no. She ran."
"Do you think Keal suspects?"
Veltric glanced at the wall where a map of Weton stretched across parchment, pins marking noble houses and strategic points. "He suspects everything. But proof? He has none."
She moved beside him, brushing her fingers lightly across the back of his hand. "And Zack?"
He scoffed. "A loudmouth clown. Too naive to see the dagger at his throat."
"And Keal?"
A pause.
Veltric's jaw tightened. "He's not just some drifter. There's something wrong about him. I've seen it—his eyes. That veil, that presence... I've felt it."
She leaned in. "Then we kill them both. When the Queen and Zackline leave, we move. He is ready"
Veltric finally turned to her, his golden gaze like sharpened steel. "No mistakes. No mercy."
She smiled.
And the fire sputtered.
—
The Next Morning
The palace was already bustling with news before the sun broke fully over the horizon.
Lady Serina Ell, a minor noble of influence, was found dead in her private chamber. The guards said it was suicide. Her maid said she'd been nervous the night before. A spilled wineglass, a bloodless body. No screams. No struggle.
Keal arrived before the body was moved.
The air was thick with whispers and confusion. Zack stood beside him, still half-dressed and yawning.
"Seriously? She's dead? I thought she just ghosted me after that… uh… awkward joke."
Keal didn't reply.
He knelt beside the body, placed two fingers to her neck, then closed his eyes.
Shadow Eye: Activate
The world shifted.
The color bled from the room, replaced by hues of black and violet. Tendrils of shadow crawled along the floor like smoke in reverse. Over Serina's neck—something glimmered.
A thin, almost invisible needle.
Keal's left eye pulsed purple, his right eye glowing crimson.
Emotion Detected: Panic. Desperation. Regret.
Clue: Assassination.
Status: Silenced.
"She was trying to warn us," Keal murmured. "She knew something."
Zack's smirk faded. "You serious?"
Keal stood, eyes still glowing faintly. "She was killed with paralytic magus. No struggle. No sound. One clean strike to the neck. She didn't even see it coming."
Zack swallowed. "Who'd want to kill her?"
Keal turned to him. "The same people who want you dead."
For once, Zack didn't joke.
Later That Day – In Zackline's War Room
The war table was sprawled with maps and crystal markers. Zackline stood in front of it, dressed in a white and gold battle robe that matched her snowy hair. Her expression was distant but composed.
"We leave in two days," she announced. "The Eastern skirmish has grown worse. Weton must respond."
Keal leaned on a pillar nearby, arms crossed. His veil of illusion still cloaked his true features, but Zackline's sharp eyes never strayed far from him.
Zack, flopped over a chair upside-down, whistled. "So, war, huh? Sounds like a headache."
Zackline sighed. "You'll stay behind. The Queen and I will lead the front. We need you in the capital."
Zack frowned. "What, no glory for me?"
Keal cut in, his tone icy. "Someone just tried to kill you. Maybe don't chase glory yet."
Zackline's gaze narrowed. "Explain."
Keal told her about Serina. About the needle. About the signs. He didn't mention his Shadow Eye.
Zackline was silent for a moment.
Then she said, "The palace is no longer safe."
—
Evening – Garden Walk
Zackline found Keal walking alone near the reflecting pools behind the palace. The night air was crisp. Lanterns flickered across the water.
"I want to ask you a favor," she said softly.
Keal didn't stop walking. "I don't do favors."
She matched his pace. "It's not for me. It's for Zack."
He looked at her, surprised.
Zackline continued, "He jokes too much. But he's not weak. He's… important."
Keal stopped. "You're going to ask me to protect him."
"Yes."
He considered. Then nodded once.
Zackline smiled faintly. "If something happens, I'll owe you. Whatever you want."
Keal raised a brow. "You shouldn't say that to someone like me."
She met his gaze. "Maybe. But I trust my instincts."
Then, quietly, she added, "And my instincts say something dark is coming."
The royal gates opened as the Queen, Zackline, and a small elite force rode out from Weton. Horns sounded across the palace walls.
Veltric watched from a high balcony, his smile hidden behind his cloak.
Keal stood beside Zack in the main courtyard, both watching them leave.
Zack's hands were stuffed in his pockets. "Guess it's just us now."
Keal didn't reply.
Zack turned to him. "You think someone will try again?"
Keal's red and purple eyes shimmered under the hood. "They already have."
Zack was about to reply when Keal added, voice low and unreadable—
"Stay close. Don't trust anyone."
Zack blinked. "You're actually worried about me?"
Keal didn't answer.
From the shadows above the gate, something unseen stirred.
And the storm began to gather.