The Unicorn's Blessing | #ONC2025 ?

Oskar found himself surrounded by the generals, and faithful guards who appeared from thin air. The king was also surrounded, protected by those remaining loyal to him. General Corrin and his two guards were outnumbered, and yet their weapons remained drawn.

"Choose your actions carefully, General," Father said.

The prince's heart pounded in his chest, racing faster than Thiago's swiftest gallop. His breath came in shallow, ragged gasps, each inhale a struggle as the weight of the moment pressed down on him, squeezing the air from his lungs.

Breathe, Your Highness.

The familiar voice entered Oskar's mind as warmth spread through him. He slowed his breathing, and his heart soon followed suit.

"The magic that comes from the horn is worth more than anything in the palace vault," the general explained, baring his teeth like a wolf. "The power to heal in one's own hand..."

Corrin's words faltered as a fit of coughing seized him. The two guards flanking him shifted uneasily, their weapons lowering just slightly, as if unsure of their next move. Oskar observed their stances, wishing he could move to stand closer to his father. The tension in the air thickened with every passing second, and he could almost feel the pressure building around him.

"You sent your men after the bookkeeper," Oskar said, holding tight to the book still in his hands. "You wanted her to give you the edict regarding the revoke of Queen Delia's law against the hunting of Unicorns. You didn't want the information coming to light because it would put an end to your criminal actions."

"The girl," Corrin sneered, his voice dripping with disdain, "is of no importance. Only the power of the Unicorn matters. Her value is in the knowledge she holds. It was a simple matter of getting her out of the way."

The words were sharp, but they only seemed to make the air more brittle, as though the room itself was waiting for something. Oskar's grip tightened on the book. The truth was spilling from his lips now, and the shock on the general's face only fueled the fire of his conviction.

But just as Oskar opened his mouth to say more, something shifted—a crackling sensation, like the stillness of an impending storm. The hairs on his neck stood on end, and the tension in the room doubled.

A faint electric charge buzzed in the air, seizing the space around them with an unspoken command.

The general's face paled, his eyes darting around. He was suddenly unsure, his hand tightening on his sword, but unable to pinpoint the source of his unease. The guards at his side shifted, uneasy, their stances faltering for the first time.

Then the faint crackling intensified, prickling the skin, making the air feel heavier, charged with unseen power. A bolt of lightning shot out from the shadows, striking General Corrin and his two guards. The air around them vibrated with the surge of power, the sizzling crackle of the bolt reverberating off the walls. Their clothes smoldered from the strike, and they stumbled back, weapons dropping from their grasp.

The room seemed to freeze for a moment, the charged atmosphere thick and heavy.

Oskar's heart pounded in his chest. He knew exactly what had happened and who was responsible. Without missing a beat, he turned to the loyal guards standing at attention.

"Seize them," Oskar commanded, his voice cutting through the moment with the finality of a sword. "Now."

The following moments passed in a blur. The traitorous men were arrested as Father moved swiftly to Oskar's side. Silence enveloped the prince, though his pulse pounded in his ears anew, and the weight of what had just transpired hung heavily in the air.