Sitting in the command room, everyone is sitting at the table with their Shadows behind them. All except Mira, who has Aurelia behind her, swaying her tail back and forth in anticipation. "Princess Mira, what do you think of what Alexander said? Do you truly believe our family is working with these Demons?" Asha says as she leans back into her chair.

Mira sighs a bit as she places her hands together. "I don't believe every royal is working with them. It could be a ploy to scare them into doing their bidding. The Iron Kingdom definitely has its hands dipped into this. From what Ishan said that Xeriah and his cohorts did to the members of the Gold Kingdom..."

`Asha finishes Mira's words for her. "That means we are definitely at a disadvantage. When Kai's scout returns, we will hopefully have the location of the Gold or Iron castles. Either or will work for us." Nuri chimes, "I'd prefer to have the location of the Gold Castle. Prince Xeriah is currently eccentric when it comes to how he operates." Kai nods in agreement, wiping sweat from his brow as he still bleeds from the wound on his arm. "We must be wary. What if my Shadow doesn't return? Ironically enough, the only safe zones are the areas around the castle themselves. They aren't constantly shifting and morphing like the lands beyond them. We need to have a contingency in case."

Mira shakes her head. "We walk." She looked up at the other royals, who all looked at her confusedly. "What?" Kai questions, leaning up in his seat. "We walk; if your Shadow doesn't return, we walk and find it ourselves. I will not sit here much longer and wait for the Iron Prince to come and take my head." Aurelia looks at Mira and feels something from her words. "Once Alatar returns with the beast by his side or carrying its head, we will discuss plans moving forward. I nominate my Shadow to take the lead point as well." Zephyr, listening, raises an eyebrow. "I understand your Shadow is mighty, but having him lead royals is an insult to us royals."

Mira just chuckles to herself. "Then you do it, lead us forward. Show us the way and encounter every magical anomaly." Mira raises her hands, gesturing to the lands beyond the Bronze Castle. "Every creature and test that comes forth. If you genuinely believe in your abilities and powers, then Lady Zephyr." Zephyr looks away, a bit embarrassed. "I don't really care that much..." Nuri and Asha softly chuckle at her.

Mira closes her head as she leans back into her chair. "Then it's settled..." Clearing her throat, Asha interjects. "Ah ah ah! I want to have one of my men beside Alatar, preferably Ishan." Mira agrees as Aurelia notices that Kai looks a bit hurt by Asha's suggestion.

A sound rings out, an eerie howl. Then another, and another, and another until thirty to fifty howls ring out in harmony, seemingly surrounding the entire castle. Aurelia and the Shadows are the first ones to go outside. The sun is setting around them as they look around and see countless Wolves standing on the walls, looking down at them. Their bodies are grotesque looking and leaking a purple puff as they look at them with a choking growl. The Shadows nod at each other as they prepare spells. Calmly, one by one, they cast their spells. "Conjuration: Splintering Trees."Greenlight begins to spread across the land into the trees as they morph and shape into humanoids. "Abjuration: Protective Barrier." One of the other Shadows places their hands on the castle's steps as a barrier flows over it. "Enchantment: Healing Rays." The last Shadow aims towards the sky as rays from the sun hit them and Aurelia as they feel themselves become rejuvenated.

Aurelia looks at them. "You work in unisons? What are your names?" They shake their head. "We are the Royals Shadows, nothing more, nothing less." "Alatar is the exact opposite of these Royals...Mira listens to him more than he does her." She thinks to herself as she gets ready herself. "Let's do some crowd control." She takes a deep breath as her throat glows blue. "Inferno's Embrace!" A blue fire vortex is shot outwards toward the wolves, and some of them are instantly scorched. The vortex is more controlled to avoid burning the Shadows. So, it's slower and more straightforward to dodge. The wolves start moving across the bronze wall, jumping back or toward the side. Capitalizing on this, two Shadows dash and leap to the walls.

One reaches into their tunic and pulls out a dagger, while the other clenches his fist. Two wolves run in a straight line toward them; the wolf in the back uses the wolf in front of him as a stepping stone and launches itself into the air. The Shadows mimic their movement, as the one with the dagger jumps at the wolf in the air as they collide. The wolf attempts to bite into the Shadow's flesh but narrowly evades it as he slaps him away mid-air, "Destruction: Heat Metal." The dagger, now inside the wolf's chest, sizzles as smoke begins to exit the wound. The Shadow on the ground grabs the mouth of the other wolf, and he sees purple goo dripping from his mouth. He twists the mouth of the wolf, causing it to fall on its back. He quickly delivers four debilitating strikes to its head, killing it. The two Shadows back up as the third one on the ground uses the trees to attack the remaining wolves. Their twisted branches wrap around and crush them. Some of the wolves swipe the trees down with a single blow. "Don't let them hit you, not even once. They aren't as fast as us, but they are stronger!!" The Shadow screams to the others.

Aurelia files up, engaging the wolves directly with the trees. Taking them out with ease. She notices some movement in the rocky cliffs above. Seeing more and more wolves appearing, she knows this is a full frontal assault. She looks at the Shadows while effortlessly killing the wolves around her. "Make sure the royals are okay. I'm going to create an extra layer of protection around the castle. Aurelia files towards the rocky cliff, firing her Vortex more wildly, catching most wolves leaving the cavern. Some of the rocks become molten as they drip down slightly. "Now...I'm going to make a firewall around the outside part of the walls protecting the castle. The fire should stop the wolves for now, but no telling when-". She hears a deep howl. To her, it sounds like something trying to mimic the sound of a wolf. She looks back while flying and sees a wave of air that instantly extinguishes the flame. "What?!" Stopping, she sees a wolf-like creature exit the cave. "Who's been cooking my pups?!" The creature stands roughly ten feet tall. His skin is too tight on his skin, seemingly stretching from his muscles and straining from every movement. Runic Carving glows and pulsates on the fur coat. His red eyes catch Aurelia as he roars. "The Dragon from the peak?! What are you doing here?! This is my castle!! Did you already destroy yours?" Aurelia glares at him. "No! I have not, and you're not destroying this one-" The trees behind her are cut clingy in half as she feels blood on her face. "What...I didn't..." She feels her face and then looks at the blood on her hand. "I didn't sense any magic from the swing. That was from pure physical strength alone?!"

"You can call me Alpha! You do not deserve my actual name." He says, howling, "Wrathful Roar!" All the wolves begin to contort and grow in size, busting out of their skin from the rapid growth. Leaking purple blood, they hop down the cliffside towards the castle. Aurelia flies towards Alpha at full speed; he laughs manically as he lunges towards her. Their clash causes a shockwave that shakes the entire area around them.

Meanwhile,

Mira watched as she placed her hand on the barrier. "The wolves, they've changed." Asha looks as well. "They've gotten faster and more powerful. The shadows won't be able to keep up much longer." Nuri looks a bit panicked. "What do we do now?" Kai punches the barrier as it warbles. "Damnit! If I was out there, I'd-" Zephyr cuts him off. "You'd just get in the way. We all would. They'd be too worried about protecting us." Feeling the shockwave, they all stumble for a second. "What the hells was that?!" Asha says, looking up. "It was similar to when Alatar fought Aurelia on the mountain," Mira says, fixing her dress. "Right now, we can only wait and prepare for when the barrier drops...Nuri, you mainly use healing spells, correct?" Mira asks, looking at Nuri. She nods in response, "I have a few destruction spells on my belt as well, though."

Mira nods at her. "Zephyr? What do you use?" "I use wind-based spells." Mira looks at Asha. "And you?". Asha looks outside at the Shadows fighting for their lives. "I can conjure creatures from nature." Kai looks over. "I have water spells I can use at my disposal." Mira nods. "Perfect, I have some healing magic, but my main arsenal of spells is supporting ones. Let's get ready...The command room will be our base of operations." She says, heading back to the command room. "Alatar...hurry back, don't be dead."