AT NIGHT
the grand hall was full of joy. Laughter bounced off the tall ceilings. Nobles and soldiers raised their cups to cheer for the win. Music played happy tunes. The air was loud with the sound of cups clinking and people talking fast. In the middle of the room, the heroes of Atlas stood among the crowd. Each one smiled as people praised them.
Through all the noise, a soldier in armor walked quickly down the corridor. His boots made loud sounds, louder than the far-off party. He stopped at the big doors of the banquet hall. He took a deep breath and then went inside.
When he stepped in, his eyes moved fast over the crowd. They stopped on Hiyori. She was by a long table with food and drinks. She held a cup of wine and laughed at something a nobleman said. The soldier walked to her quickly. He bowed a little and spoke.
"Great Hero, Mrs. Hiyori," he said. His voice was strong but sounded worried. "The emperor wants all the heroes in the conference room right now. It's important."
Hiyori stopped smiling. She saw the soldier looked tense. Her eyes got serious. She put her cup down carefully. She didn't say anything. She looked around the room and called to her friends. Her voice was loud over the noise.
The heroes came together fast. They stopped feeling happy and got serious. They followed the soldier through the twisty halls of the palace. They reached the conference hall.
Inside, King Arthur sat at the end of a long table. His face looked dark and sad. Next to him was General Renford, an old leader with a hard face like the king's. When the heroes walked in, the room went quiet. The king waved his hand for them to sit down.
When they all sat, Arthur leaned forward. He put his elbows on the table. His sharp eyes looked at each hero one by one. Then he spoke.
"The prophet," he said, his voice low and heavy, "gave a new prophecy." The room felt cold when he said that. His words made everyone feel heavy. Arthur stopped for a moment. He usually looked strong, but now he seemed worried. "And this one…" He stopped again. His jaw got tight. "This is a bad one."