The grove was quiet. Too quiet. Selene stood on the castle's balcony, gazing out over her ever-growing territory. The shimmering Fae Queen’s Wall encircled her domain, the teleportation circles pulsed faintly in the distance, and her Fae Lords carried out their duties without flaw. Yet something felt… wrong. A strange, pulsing energy reverberated through the air, faint but insistent. It wasn’t hostile, but it was persistent, almost like it was calling to her.
"Do you feel that?" Selene asked, turning to the Fae Lady of Dreams, who was standing nearby.
Dreams tilted her head, her ethereal form shimmering faintly. “Yes, my Queen. The energy is… ancient. It does not come from within the grove.”
“Then where?” Selene asked.
Dreams closed her eyes, her form flickering as she attuned herself to the strange energy. After a moment, she opened them, her expression serene but serious. “To the north. It is distant but growing stronger.”
Selene frowned. The northern border of her grove was uncharted territory, a dense forest that no one—not even her frost sprites—had dared to explore. Yet now it seemed that something within was calling to her.
---
She gathered a small force: Snow, for his defensive prowess, and the Lord of Mists, whose concealment abilities would help them navigate the unknown. Together, they ventured into the forest, moving cautiously as the trees grew denser and the air colder.
The strange energy grew stronger with every step, and Selene couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched. Mists’ foglings darted ahead, their ghostly forms disappearing into the shadows. Snow’s frost wolves padded silently beside them, their icy breath visible in the chill air.
After what felt like hours, the forest opened into a clearing. At its center stood a crumbling stone shrine, overgrown with moss and vines. Its surface was etched with runes that pulsed faintly, the same rhythm as the energy that had called to her.
《System Alert: Forgotten Shrine Discovered!》
《This ancient structure is tied to Fae magic. Claiming it will grant unique benefits but may attract unwanted attention.》
Selene stepped closer, her hand resting on the cold stone. The runes flared brightly, and a new prompt appeared.
《Claim the Forgotten Shrine?》
《Yes》《No》
Selene hesitated. The warning was clear—claiming the shrine would make her a target. But the power radiating from it was undeniable. She pressed 《Yes》, and the shrine erupted with light.
---
The energy surged outward, flooding the clearing and shaking the ground beneath her feet. Snow growled low in his throat, his frost wolves bristling as the air crackled with magic. Mists stepped closer to Selene, his foglings swirling protectively around them.
The light dimmed, and a new system prompt appeared.
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《System Alert: Forgotten Shrine Claimed!》
《Benefits: Passive boost to magical resource production and the ability to summon Elemental Guardians.》
《Warning: Nearby lords and creatures have sensed the shrine’s activation. Prepare for potential conflict.》
Selene’s heart sank as a distant howl echoed through the forest. Snow’s wolves tensed, their ears flattening as the sound grew closer. Mists’ glowing eyes narrowed, his foglings huddling defensively.
“Prepare yourselves,” Selene said, her voice steady despite the tension. “We’re not alone.”
---
The first wave hit hard. A pack of monstrous beasts emerged from the trees, their glowing red eyes locked on the shrine. Snow’s frost wolves leapt to intercept them, their icy bites slowing the creatures while Mists’ foglings darted in and out of the shadows, sowing confusion.
Selene focused on the shrine, channeling its newly awakened energy. The runes flared, and a group of Elemental Guardians materialized—beings of pure magic, their forms shifting between fire, water, and stone. They surged forward, slamming into the second wave of beasts with devastating force.
The battle was chaotic but brief. The guardians’ raw power, combined with Snow and Mists’ coordinated tactics, overwhelmed the attacking creatures. By the time the clearing fell silent, the ground was littered with the bodies of the fallen.
---
Selene surveyed the battlefield, her breathing steady but her mind racing. The shrine’s power was immense, but the warning in the system prompt had been clear—this was only the beginning.
As if on cue, another system prompt appeared.
《System Alert: Incoming Hostile Forces》
《A nearby lord has detected the activation of the Forgotten Shrine. Scout forces are en route.》
Selene’s eyes narrowed. Another lord? This was her first direct encounter with one, and she intended to make an impression.
“Snow, fortify the clearing. Mists, conceal the shrine with everything you have. I’ll return to the grove to bring reinforcements.”
Both Fae Lords bowed, immediately setting to work. Snow summoned a frozen barrier around the shrine, while Mists enveloped the clearing in dense fog, making it nearly impossible to navigate without his guidance.
---
Back at the grove, Selene gathered her forces. Ember’s fire foxes and Lady Gems’ crystal sprites would provide offense, while the Lord of Iron’s steel golems would reinforce the defenses. She also activated the teleportation circle, summoning Forest from one of her vassal territories to provide additional support.
The forces moved quickly, arriving at the shrine just as the enemy scouts entered the clearing. Selene stood at the forefront, her Fae Lords flanking her as the fog parted to reveal the intruders—a group of soldiers clad in green and gold, their banner marked with a serpent.
The leader stepped forward, a tall man with a confident smirk. “So you’re the one who claimed the shrine,” he said. “I’ll give you one chance—leave now, and I’ll let you live.”
Selene raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “You’re mistaken if you think this belongs to anyone but me.”
The man’s smirk faded. “Then you’ll regret this.”
He raised his hand, signaling his forces to attack. Selene didn’t hesitate.
---
The battle was fierce. Ember’s fire foxes and Gems’ crystal sprites clashed with the enemy soldiers, their combined firepower overwhelming the attackers. Forest’s root-bound defenders emerged from the ground, entangling and crushing the invaders, while Iron’s steel golems held the front line.
Selene watched the chaos unfold, her gaze steady. The enemy forces were well-trained, but they were no match for the synergy of her Fae Lords and their abilities. By the time the last of the soldiers fell, the clearing was eerily silent once again.
---
《System Alert: Enemy Defeated!》
《The Forgotten Shrine is secure. Nearby lords will think twice before challenging you again.》
Selene exhaled, the tension finally leaving her shoulders. She turned to her Fae Lords, their expressions triumphant.
“Good work,” she said. “Let this be a warning to anyone else who thinks they can take what’s ours.”
The Fae Lords bowed, their loyalty to her unwavering. Selene gazed at the shrine, its runes glowing faintly once more. It was a powerful addition to her grove, but it had also painted a target on her back.
As she returned to the grove with her forces, Selene’s mind raced with plans. The trial was approaching, and now, more than ever, she needed to ensure her strength was unmatched. The Boundless Continent would know the power of the Queen of Balance.
