Outside the Dome, Deltou Colossale Forest
Nobles, soldiers, and royal knights gathered at the edge of the transparent mana dome, their voices a low buzz of concern as they gazed at the glowing barrier that had materialized just moments before.
Earlier a fiery arrow exploded in a bright flash into the sky, the forest was silent. A few minutes later, a surge of mana formed the dome, enclosing a portion of the hunting grounds.
A curious soldier moved forward and touched the dome's surface, brave in the eerie silence. With a crackling burst, a sharp pulse of mana pushed him back and flung him into the crowd. Knights scrambled to drag him to safety, his armor charred but intact, and there were gasps and shouts.
The emperor stood at the front, his grand cloak flowing in the cool breeze, his sharp eyes narrowed as he studied the dome. "What is this sorcery?" he demanded, his voice strong, silencing the murmurs around him.
