The chamber's silence was suffocating. Dust swirled through the air, carrying the weight of every unspoken truth.
Ravian tilted his head, his smirk cruel. "You want answers, Nyra? Then listen well. You weren't born out of chance. You were chosen… before you even drew your first breath."
My blood ran cold. "Chosen… by who?"
He bared his teeth, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "By me. And by the one who gave you life."
Celeste's sword dug deeper against his throat. "Don't play games."
"Oh, but this isn't a game," Ravian said smoothly, his eyes never leaving mine. "Nyra… your mother was one of mine. My brightest, most loyal. She died so you could live. And your father… ah, he was the perfect vessel. Strong. Untouchable. A king who never knew he was a pawn."
My knees weakened. The ground seemed to tilt beneath me. "You're lying…"
Kai stepped closer, his hand brushing mine, steady but trembling. "Nyra… the records I saw—there was a woman. A code name: Aurelia. She disappeared just before you were born."
The name cut into me like glass. Something inside me stirred, a memory I couldn't place. A faint lullaby. A warmth that had always been just beyond reach.
Ravian's smile widened. "Yes. Aurelia. She gave you her blood, her will, her fire. But she was foolish. She thought you could be more than my weapon. And so… she had to die."
Celeste's fury exploded. With a scream, she slashed her blade—Ravian staggered, blood splattering across the stone floor.
"You bastard!" Celeste roared. "You turned her into this? You stole everything from her!"
But Ravian only laughed, even as blood poured from his side. "And yet she stands here stronger than any of you. My creation. My triumph."
My chest heaved, torn between rage and despair.
If Aurelia was real… if she was truly my mother… then I wasn't just fighting Ravian.
I was fighting the legacy he carved into my blood.
And for the first time, I didn't know if I could survive it.
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