Erythro: The Prophecy Unveiled

As the Prince, Madeline, and Larry strolled through the bustling city streets towards their carriages, the lively chatter and vibrant energy of the market enveloped them. The prince turned to Madeline with a gentle smile, his eyes reflecting a quiet resolve. "I will accompany you to the market," he remarked, his voice carrying a hint of anticipation. Madeline's brow furrowed slightly, her thoughts immediately turning to Betty. "But what if Betty is already at the palace?" she questioned, her concern evident in her tone.

The prince paused, contemplating Madeline's worry. After a moment, he responded thoughtfully, "Well, in that case, we will visit the market first and then head back home afterwards. Besides, the market is on the way, so it won't be much of a detour." His reassurance seemed to ease Madeline's concerns, and she nodded in agreement. 

Their conversation was abruptly cut short by the arrival of a pair of guards. Relief washed over the guards' faces as they spotted the prince. "Your Highness," one of them exclaimed, his voice laced with relief, "we've been searching everywhere for you!" Larry, ever the vigilant attendant, stepped forward. "There's no need to worry, gentlemen," he assured them. "I've been with the prince the entire time. "However, the guard's expression remained unconvinced. "A single attendant simply isn't enough to ensure the prince's safety," he declared, his narrowed gaze conveying his concern.

Larry bristled, ready to retort at the guard's implication, but his response was cut short. Another guard materialized beside them, his voice firm. "Your Highness," he announced, "the King requests your immediate return to the castle. We will escort you back safely."

Moments later, a jarring cacophony of music shattered the relative calm of the street, drawing immediate attention from everyone nearby. Heads snapped towards the unexpected noise; brows furrowed in confusion. The townspeople halted their bustling activities, their murmurs rising into a collective wave of curiosity. "Another parade?" Madeline overheard someone whisper. "I thought the Helios festival ended already this year?"

The sudden burst of music sparked a flurry of questions, leaving everyone—from the prince's entourage to the ordinary citizens—momentarily bewildered. Conversations died mid-sentence as people strained to make sense of the unexpected interruption. The air buzzed with speculation and surprise, the once peaceful street now alive with a mixture of intrigue and anticipation.

While the music held a festive quality like the previous parade, there was a distinct difference this time. This melody was slow and ominous, weaving a heavy atmosphere through the city streets. The lively chatter died down, replaced by a hushed anticipation. People instinctively moved aside, creating a path for the unseen procession. Larry, his brow furrowed in confusion, echoed the collective thought, "Another parade? I wasn't aware there was another scheduled." A murmur of agreement rippled amongst the guards. "Indeed," another guard chimed in, his voice laced with curiosity, "there wasn't anything mentioned about a second procession."

The festive air that had been momentarily disrupted by the unexpected music curdled into something far more unsettling. The source of the sound finally emerged, and it was unlike anything Madeline, Larry, or the guards had ever witnessed. This wasn't a parade of vibrant colors and joyous celebration. This was a procession bathed in an ominous crimson. A sea of figures cloaked entirely in red flooded the street, their faces hidden beneath deep hoods that cast long, eerie shadows. The only light came from flickering candles held in each cloaked hand, their flames casting an orange glow on the scene.

An unsettling melody thrummed through the air, a stark contrast to the cheerful music of the Helios festival. It was a slow, rhythmic chant that seemed to vibrate in the bones, sending shivers down spines. The cloaked figures moved in a hypnotic dance, their movements jerky and unsettling. But the most unsettling aspect of the parade were the creatures that danced amongst the red figures. Black wolves, crafted meticulously from costume and fur, moved with a terrifying realism. Their glowing red eyes, the work of skilled artisans, scanned the crowd, sending shivers down the spines of even the bravest adults.

Children, especially, clung to their parents, whimpering in fear. Some of the cloaked figures danced with swords held high, their polished metal catching the flickering candlelight. The combined effect was a chilling display of macabre beauty and raw power. The townspeople, usually boisterous and welcoming, shrank back in fear, their excited murmurs replaced by a tense silence. The air crackled with nervous energy, a stark contrast to the joyous atmosphere that had dominated the city just moments before. Then a song was heard, the cloaked figure sings together with a slow melody.

In an empire cursed by ancient lore,

Where shadows whisper of a fate in store.

A prophecy foretold in whispers old,

Of a girl in red, brave and bold.

Madeline's eyes widened in surprise as the familiar melody reached her ears. "This song... I know it," she murmured, her voice filled with a mix of nostalgia and disbelief. She remembered how her mother used to sing this very tune to her whenever she struggled to fall asleep, the comforting lullaby a cherished memory from her childhood. Sebastian noticed her reaction and looked at her with a questioning expression.

The girl bathed in blood.

Marks of the curses flood.

Beware the wolf with eyes of night,

In the forest deep, where darkness bites.

The wolves moved with frenzied energy, their bodies twisting and turning in a wild dance. Meanwhile, the red-cloaked figures sang hauntingly melodic tunes that filled the air with an eerie atmosphere. Some of the wolves broke away from the group and prowled into the crowd, their menacing presence causing people to scream and scatter in terror. The combination of the wolves' feral movements and the cloaked figures' unsettling songs created a chaotic scene, sending waves of fear and panic through the gathered onlookers.

The villagers must fear and fled,

Leave their towns, for their head.

The wolf's howl echoed in their head,

Started by the girl in red.

One of the red-cloaked figures locked eyes with Madeline while singing the haunting song, sending a chill down her spine. The intensity of the stare made her feel increasingly uncomfortable, a creeping fear causing goosebumps to rise on her skin. Sensing her distress, Sebastian quickly stepped in front of Madeline, positioning himself as a protective barrier between her and the unsettling spectacle of the parade. His presence offered a small measure of comfort amidst the chaos.

With despair in her heart and reddened eyes,

A bringer of death and obscenities.

The girl in red dared to defy, ventured into the unknown,

To face the wolf king and consume it whole.

The wolf king, he roamed with hunger keen,

Together with the girl who intervene.

With a swift strike and a fearless cry,

The empire was vanquished beneath the sky.

The girl in red come to destroy,

With a bunch of monsters in tow.

In the empire deep, fright was steep,

To shed a blood, the wolf king vowed.

Oh, sing this tale of curses old,

Of death, the red, and a prophecy foretold.

To break the curse, a sacrifice must hold,

And kill the enemy that was foretold.

Prince Sebastian looked at his attendant with concern. "What's going on? This is my first time seeing this parade."

Larry hesitated before replying, "I'm not entirely sure, Your Highness, but I believe this song is forbidden."

"Why?"

"Because it is cursed," Larry explained, his voice filled with unease.

Suddenly, a squad of guards rushed into the parade, their leader shouting commands, "Get them, seize them!" The parade descended into chaos, and the crowd erupted in panic. Larry turned to the prince urgently, "Your Highness, you need to return to the castle immediately."

"And what about Madeline?" Sebastian asked, his worry evident.

"She will ride with the castle guards in a separate carriage," Larry responded sharply. "Servants are not permitted in the same space as the royals."

Without further delay, the guards formed a protective circle around Prince Sebastian, ushering him away from the chaotic scene. Madeline followed closely behind, her heart pounding with anxiety. The guards were relentless, apprehending anyone who appeared suspicious, with a particular focus on those wearing red cloaks.

Amidst the confusion, many of the parade participants hastily discarded their robes, attempting to blend into the panicked crowd to evade capture. The scene was a frenzy of movement, with the once-organized parade disintegrating into a mass of fleeing figures and determined guards. The air was thick with shouts and the sound of running feet as the guards pursued their targets, the red-cloaked individuals desperately seeking to disappear among the townspeople.