The days flew by as we settled into a routine at the palace. Sabrina was practically vibrating with excitement about her encounter with Duke Eamon, and Jeanna and I were focused on deciphering the prophecy and preparing for whatever lay ahead. Despite the looming uncertainty, there was a strange comfort in the palace's rhythm, and it had become our makeshift home base.

Meanwhile, the child we'd rescued during our first run-in with shadow beasts—now affectionately known as Jay-Jay—had been taken in by one of the palace's caregivers. Apparently, the kid had run off, terrified after an unfortunate encounter with the palace jester. But now, he was back, and the palace nursemaid, an elderly woman with a no-nonsense attitude, had quickly won him over. He wasn’t much of a talker, but he had a knack for showing up just when you thought he was out of sight.

One morning, as we gathered for breakfast, a flurry of activity swept through the palace. Courtiers and servants bustled about, casting nervous glances toward the grand hall.

“What’s going on?” I asked, trying to flag down a passing servant.

“The Seer of Lunaris is arriving today,” the servant replied breathlessly. “The court is in quite a tizzy. Everyone’s eager to hear her predictions.”

Sabrina’s eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. “The Seer? She’s famous for her prophecies! She might know more about ours!”

Jeanna groaned. “Because we definitely need another cryptic fortune-teller.”

“Well,” I said, “it can’t hurt to see what she has to say. Let’s check it out.”

The grand hall was packed when we arrived, buzzing with anticipation. The Seer was a striking figure, draped in deep indigo robes with silver hair cascading down her back. Her eyes, a piercing violet, seemed to see right through you. She greeted the court with a graceful nod as the prince welcomed her.

“The threads of fate are woven with both light and shadow,” she said, her voice echoing through the hall. “Change is upon us.”

Sabrina, of course, was captivated. “Does this mean we’re on the right path with the prophecy?”

The Seer’s eyes lingered on Sabrina before she smiled faintly. “The path is not always clear. Trials await you.”

Jeanna leaned over, muttering, “Great. More cryptic mumbo-jumbo.”

The Seer continued, her voice more intense, “The prophecy speaks of three who come from beyond, destined to restore balance. But the road ahead will test your resolve.”

Sabrina practically bounced on her heels. “That’s us! We’re the chosen ones!”

Before Jeanna could respond with another snarky comment, a familiar voice piped up from the back of the hall, cutting through the tension like a splash of cold water.

“Are you going to the dungeon too?”

Everyone turned. Jay-Jay stood near the entrance, his wide eyes staring at us innocently, completely oblivious to the weight of the Seer’s words. His timing, as usual, was impeccable.

Sabrina blinked, her intense focus on the Seer’s prophecy faltering. "Dungeon? Sweetie, that sounds a little dangerous."

Jeanna cracked a grin. "Kid’s got good taste in adventure."

Alice sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Jay-Jay... where did you even come from?"

The Seer, seemingly unbothered by the sudden interruption, merely smiled. "Perhaps the child sees a path you do not. The dungeons may yet hold answers."

Jay-Jay nodded earnestly. “My brother says there’s a portal at the bottom. If you find it, you become a great hero.”

Alice, who had been quiet until now, suddenly perked up. “Wait, a portal? This sounds familiar.” Her eyes gleamed with excitement. “This is just like my books!”

I groaned. “Please don’t say that.”

Jay-Jay’s eyes lit up. “Yeah! There’s monsters, magic, and really scary stuff. But if you’re brave, you can beat the big bad boss at the end.”

Jeanna, ever the skeptic, squinted at him. “And how does a six-year-old know all this?”

“Six and a half,” Jay-Jay corrected, puffing out his chest. “My brother’s a dungeon scout. He knows everything.”

“Well, we’re not about to drag a kid into a dungeon,” I said firmly.

But Jay-Jay was already ahead of us, his grin wide. “I’ll show you the secret entrance!”

Before we could protest, he darted toward the dungeon’s entrance, disappearing into the shadows. Sabrina was the first to react, running after him, her voice echoing down the corridor. “Jay-Jay! Wait!”

“Here we go,” Jeanna sighed, following close behind.

The air grew colder as we descended into the dungeon. The stone walls seemed to close in, the sound of dripping water echoing in the distance. This was no cozy palace anymore.

“This place gives me the creeps,” I muttered, glancing around.

Alice, on the other hand, was positively glowing with excitement. “This is exactly like a dungeon-crawling adventure! Traps, monsters, treasure—it’s perfect!”

“Every time you say something like that, bad things happen,” I warned.

Jay-Jay led us deeper into the labyrinth of corridors until we reached a massive door covered in glowing runes.

“This is it,” he whispered. “The portal’s inside. But be careful—the monsters don’t like loud noises.”

Sabrina looked concerned. “Jay-Jay, maybe you should sit this one out.”

“No way!” he said. “I’m good at being loud. I can help!”

Jeanna chuckled. “Kid’s not wrong.”

With a deep breath, Alice placed her hand on the door. It creaked open, revealing a cavern filled with shimmering crystals and the low growl of something lurking in the dark.

“Oh boy,” I muttered.

Jay-Jay grinned. “Welcome to the dungeon, heroes!”

We exchanged uneasy glances. This wasn’t just any adventure. With Jay-Jay in tow and the portal in sight, it felt like the stakes had just gotten a whole lot higher—and more chaotic. But, with a mix of determination and a pinch of humor, we stepped into the unknown, ready for whatever came next.