Arthur watched the red-eyed assassin carefully, blood still running down his neck.
The standoff had frozen everyone in place—Sylrathi with silver magic glowing around her hands, Hawklight with his flaming sword half-raised, and the assassin trapped in a magical prison.
"Secure the prisoner," Arthur ordered. "I want answers before tonight is over."
Krag Stonefist stepped forward with a grunt. "I'll handle this one personally. No one escapes dwarven bindings."
The sounds of fighting echoed through the castle. Arthur turned to Hawklight. "Status report?"
"Three entry points breached. Eastern Wing, North Tower, and Kitchen Quarters. My Heroes are fighting them, but they're S-rank fighters."
"How many?" Arthur asked.
"At least twelve," Sylrathi cut in, her violet eyes never leaving Arthur's face. "All Crimson Empire specialists."
```
[Combat Analysis: Active]
[Castle Defense Priority:
1. Royal Family Protection
2. Secure Escape Routes
3. Contain Assassin Movement]
[Energy Reserves: 200/300]
```
"We need to coordinate our defense," Arthur said. "Krag, take three guards and secure Prince Gareth in the infirmary. The assassins will target all Lionheart blood."
The dwarf nodded, seemingly impressed with Arthur's quick grasp of the situation.
"Zephyr," Arthur continued, addressing the shadow mage who had reappeared at the edge of the room, "patrol the hidden passages. They'll likely use them to bypass our defenses."
The hooded figure slightly bowed. "Smart observation, Your Highness."
"Commander Hawklight, coordinate with Captain Reiner to set up defensive positions at each stairwell. Force them to funnel through predictable routes."
As Arthur gave commands, he noticed Sylrathi watching him with interest. Her ancient eyes seemed to look through him rather than at him.
```
[Anomaly Detection: Passive]
[Target: Sylrathi Moonwhisper]
[Analysis: Subject possesses ability to detect magical signatures]
[Risk Level: Moderate - Possible detection of incubus energy]
```
Arthur turned toward the hidden passage. "Lady Moonwhisper, I need your help to reach the Command Chamber. We need to activate the castle's emergency wards."
"Of course, Your Highness," she replied. "Though I'm surprised you know about the Command Chamber. Few princes learn about it until after coronation."
Arthur hesitated briefly. "My father believed in being prepared," he improvised.
As they moved toward the hidden door, Royal Mage Thorne stepped forward. "Your Highness, I should go with you. The ward activation requires specific magical sequences—"
"Which I'm sure Lady Moonwhisper knows," Arthur interrupted coldly. "You, Lord Thorne, will explain later how assassins got through your supposedly impenetrable magical defenses."
Thorne's face remained blank, but Arthur noticed a tightening around his eyes.
Before they could leave, a guard burst into the room, his armor splattered with blood. "The assassins have reached the Great Hall! They're cutting through our men like wheat!"
"How many?" Hawklight demanded.
"At least five, sir. They move like nothing I've ever seen."
Arthur made a quick decision. "Change of plans. Hawklight, take Krag and secure the Great Hall. Sylrathi, you're still with me." He turned to the remaining guards. "Captain, get Queen Isolde to the Royal Sanctuary."
As the room emptied, Sylrathi moved closer. "You command with surprising authority for someone so young."
"Crisis reveals character," Arthur replied. "Now, shall we?"
She gestured toward the hidden passage. "After you, Prince Arthur."
As they slipped into the narrow corridor, torches lit up automatically along the walls. The passage sloped downward, leading deep into the castle's foundations.
"I should warn you," Sylrathi said, "I sense something unusual about your magical signature."
Arthur kept his expression neutral despite his alarm. "Oh?"
"It's not entirely consistent with traditional Lionheart magic. Almost as though it's been influenced by something else. Something older."
```
[Warning: Detection Risk]
[Subject: Sylrathi Moonwhisper - Transcendent rank detection abilities]
[Countermeasure: Partial admission strategy suggested]
[Energy Consumption: -10 to suppress incubus aura]
[Energy Reserves: 190/300]
```
Arthur decided a partial truth might be safer than an obvious lie.
"The Trial of Arcane Mastery changed something in me," he admitted. "When I defeated my brother, there was an energy transfer I didn't anticipate."
Sylrathi's eyes narrowed slightly. "Interesting. That might explain part of what I'm sensing, though not all."
Before Arthur could respond, a shadow detached itself from the wall ahead, forming into a humanoid shape with glowing red eyes.
"Behind me!" Sylrathi shouted, her hands already tracing silver patterns in the air.
But Arthur had already activated Combat Mode.
```
[Combat Mode: Activated]
[Physical Enhancement: +25% strength, +20% reflexes]
[Energy Cost: -20]
[Energy Reserves: 170/300]
```
The assassin struck with blinding speed, a curved blade slicing toward Arthur's throat. With enhanced reflexes, Arthur swayed backward, the edge missing him by inches. Sylrathi's spell hit the assassin squarely in the chest, sending them flying backward.
Despite the impact, the assassin flipped midair, landing in a crouch.
"Impressive," the masked figure hissed. "Most nobles would be dead already."
"I'm not most nobles," Arthur replied, looking for a weapon.
The assassin laughed coldly. "No, you're not. That's why the Master wants you alive."
Arthur frowned. "The Master? Not the Eastern Coalition?"
The assassin's red eyes widened slightly—a sign that Arthur had hit a nerve.
"Enough talk," the assassin snarled, drawing a second blade.
Sylrathi stepped in front of Arthur, silver energy gathering around her hands. "You will not touch him."
"The ancient elf protects the human prince," the assassin mocked. "How the mighty First Folk have fallen."
"Not as far as you're about to," Sylrathi replied, unleashing a torrent of silver energy.
The assassin dodged most of the attack but was thrown off balance. Arthur saw his opportunity. With enhanced reflexes, he grabbed a ceremonial dagger from a wall sconce and lunged forward.
The assassin twisted, but Arthur's blade still caught them across the shoulder. Black blood tinged with red dripped onto the stone floor.
```
[Anomaly Detection: Active]
[Analysis: Assassin blood contains magical enhancers]
[Non-human biological components identified]
```
The assassin touched their wound, looking at Arthur with newfound respect. "The reports of your combat incompetence were clearly exaggerated."
"I'm full of surprises," Arthur replied, maintaining a defensive stance.
The assassin stepped back. "Indeed. The Master will be pleased."
Without warning, the assassin threw something to the ground. A blinding flash of red light filled the passage. When Arthur's vision cleared, the assassin was gone.
"Dimensional pocket," Sylrathi explained, looking troubled. "That's not Crimson Empire technology."
Arthur frowned. "What do you mean?"
"The Crimson Empire doesn't have dimensional magic. That was western magic. Very advanced."
"So either the Eastern Coalition has new allies, or..." Arthur left the implication hanging.
"Or someone else is manipulating events from behind the scenes," Sylrathi finished. "You suspected as much in the king's chamber, didn't you?"
Arthur nodded. "The timing is too convenient and somehow get through defenses that should have detected them."
He picked up the assassin's discarded blade. "And now we have Eastern assassins using Western magic. None of this adds up to a simple Eastern Coalition attack."
Sylrathi studied him with newfound respect. "You're more perceptive than appearances suggest, Prince Arthur."
"A useful quality in these times," Arthur replied, continuing down the passage. "The Command Chamber is just ahead."