The silence that followed Revyn's dramatic intervention was thick with awe and confusion. The citizens of Arkonia, moments before gripped by terror, now erupted in cheers, hailing him as a savior. They didn't know the truth. They didn't understand the price of his power. They only saw the spectacle, the miraculous disappearance of the monstrous serpent.
Queen Sylvara, her face a mask of carefully controlled emotions, watched the scene unfold. She knew the implications of what had just happened. Revyn's display of power had changed everything.
The whispers about the Serpent Clan, once hushed and fearful, would now become a roar. His actions had revealed a secret, a truth that had been buried for generations: the ancient serpent's power resided within the bloodline of the Serpent Clan.
The three heirs, Raviel, Vaelen, and Liora, stood together, their expressions a mixture of shock and understanding. They had suspected Revyn possessed some hidden ability, but the sheer scale of his power, the effortless way he had banished the ancient beast, was beyond anything they could have imagined. And they knew, instinctively, that this was just the beginning.
"He's one of us," Veyra repeated, her voice barely audible above the cheers of the crowd. "He has the power of the Serpent Clan."
Raviel nodded, his gaze fixed on the spot where Revyn had stood moments before. "The prophecy," he murmured. "The serpent will fall… but perhaps not in the way we thought."
Liora, her brow furrowed, looked at them both. "But what does it mean? What is the curse?"
Veyra's eyes met theirs, a flicker of understanding in their depths. "The curse… it wasn't just about death. It was about power. The power to control the ancient magic, the power to protect… or to destroy." She paused, her voice dropping to a whisper. "And Revyn… he carries that curse. He's the serpent of the prophecy."
The revelation hung in the air, heavy with unspoken implications. They knew that Revyn's actions had exposed him, had made him a target. Queen Sylvara, ever mindful of her own power, would not tolerate such a powerful force operating outside her control.
The cheers of the crowd began to die down, replaced by murmurs of speculation. People were starting to realize the significance of what they had witnessed. The whispers about the Serpent Clan's curse, once dismissed as superstition, now seemed chillingly real.
"He'll die," a voice whispered from the crowd.
"The curse… it demands a sacrifice."
The whispers spread like wildfire, fueled by fear and superstition. The savior of Arkonia was now seen as a doomed hero, a vessel of ancient power destined for destruction.
Queen Sylvara, sensing the shift in public opinion, stepped forward, raising her hands to silence the crowd. "The ancient beast has been vanquished," she announced, her voice ringing with authority. "The city is safe. We owe a great debt to… the one who intervened." She deliberately avoided mentioning Revyn's name, a subtle indication of her displeasure.
"But let us not forget," she continued, her gaze sweeping across the crowd, "that the power that saved us is also a dangerous force. It is a power that must be controlled, lest it consume us all."
Her words were carefully chosen, designed to quell the growing unease while simultaneously asserting her authority. She knew she had to control the narrative, to shape the public's perception of Revyn and his power.
That night, as the city began to recover from the attack, Veyra sought out Raviel and Liora. She found them in the palace gardens, their faces etched with concern.
"We have to find him," she said, her voice urgent. "We have to warn him."
"Warn him?" Liora asked. "About what? The curse?"
Veyra nodded. "The curse… it's more than just a prophecy. It's a part of him.
It's connected to his life force. If he unleashes the ancient serpent's power again… he'll die."
Raviel's eyes widened. "How do you know this?"
Veyra hesitated, then spoke, her voice filled with a mixture of fear and resignation.
"I… I've seen it. In a vision. I saw him… consumed by the power, his life force draining away."
The three of them exchanged a look of grim understanding. They knew they had to find Revyn, to protect him from the curse, from Queen Sylvara, from the whispers of the crowd that now saw him as both savior and sacrifice. The serpent had revealed his power, and now, the prophecy was about to claim its due.