Kael stood from his seat and bowed respectfully.
"Your Majesties, I plead to be excused."
"No."
The word escaped Seraphina's lips before she could stop herself.
The entire room fell silent.
Realizing how quickly she had reacted, she immediately composed herself and dropped her hand by her side.
"I apologize," she said softly. Then she turned toward Kael. "May I have a word with you?"
Kael glanced briefly toward King Alaric before nodding.
"Of course, Princess."
The two quietly left the throne room and moved toward a secluded corridor away from the council members and servants.
Once they were alone, Seraphina released a deep breath.
"Why do you wish to leave me alone with that prince?" she asked, concern clear in her voice.
Kael studied her expression carefully.
"Because I trust you."
Seraphina frowned.
"Trust me?"
"I trust that you can handle yourself," he explained. "And I trust that you can control your emotions even when I am not there."
Her eyes lowered toward the floor.
"But it has been reacting since he arrived."
Her fingers lightly touched the Crimson Amulet that rested on her gown.
"You saw it yourself."
Kael remained quiet for a moment.
The concern was persistently still in her voice and he understood what it meant. The amulet had never reacted so strongly before, and neither of them knew what its response truly meant.
"If it continues like this, I do not know what will happen," Seraphina admitted.
Kael leaned against the stone wall, thinking carefully before answering.
"I do not believe anything will happen."
She looked at him.
"What makes you say that?"
"The peace you found at your mother's resting place."
Seraphina's expression softened slightly.
"What do you mean?"
Kael looked away briefly, searching his memory.
"I cannot remember the exact words from the ancient texts, but I remember enough."
He paused.
"The Crimson Amulet does not only respond to power. It responds to the emotions of its bearer. There are rare moments when it creates a balance within the person carrying it."
Seraphina listened carefully.
"A balance?"
Kael nodded.
"When grief becomes too heavy, when emotions threaten to consume the bearer, the amulet can temporarily calm them. It allows them to breathe again."
"Temporary?" Seraphina repeated quietly.
"Yes. Temporary."
The word stayed between them.
"So I am only borrowing this peace?"
Kael hesitated.
"Perhaps. The records are incomplete. Very few people have experienced it, and those who did, left behind little information."
Seraphina looked away.
"What happens when it fades?"
"Nothing is guaranteed to happen," Kael replied quickly.
"But there is a possibility that I could lose con...."
"You will not."
The certainty in his voice made her meet his eyes.
"How can you be so sure?"
Kael gave a small smile.
"Because I know you."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Kael quickly looked away.
"What I mean is... you have survived things that would have broken many others. You are stronger than you realize."
A faint smile appeared on Seraphina's face.
"That almost sounded like encouragement."
"It was."
For the first time that day, a small laugh escaped her.
But before she could respond, another voice interrupted.
"Forgive me."
They both turned.
Prince Darius stood at the end of the corridor, watching them calmly.
Neither of them had noticed him approach.
"Your father sent me to find you," he explained. "The council wishes to begin discussing the alliance. Your presence was requested."
His gaze briefly moved toward Kael.
"I appear to have interrupted something."
"You did," Seraphina replied honestly.
A faint amusement crossed Darius's face.
"My apologies, Princess."
At that moment, the Crimson Amulet pulsed again.
Stronger than before.
Seraphina felt the warmth spread through her chest, and her expression changed slightly.
Darius noticed immediately.
"Is something wrong?"
"No."
The answer came too quickly.
Kael noticed.
So did Darius.
The prince studied her for a moment but said nothing.
"Shall we return?"
Seraphina glanced back at Kael.
He gave her a small nod.
A silent reassurance.
Taking a slow breath, she turned and walked back toward the throne room with Darius beside her.
Behind them, Kael remained still for a moment, watching the prince carefully.
Something about him unsettled him.
And he intended to discover what it was.
Meanwhile, deep within the witch's tower, chaos consumed the tower.
The ancient orb trembled violently upon its pedestal, surrounded by burning candles and endless waves of dark energy. Maryse stood before it, her eyes fixed on the swirling light within.
After what the Crimson Amulet had done, they had lost their connection to both Altheris and Rynvale. They could no longer see what had happened.
They needed answers.
They needed Lorin.
"Maelrin, keep chanting," Maryse commanded as she swiftly moved both hands around it gently. "The orb needs more energy. We must feed it until it reveals what we need."
Her husband continued the incantation, his voice growing heavier with every word.
Slowly, he stepped closer to the orb, extending his hand toward it as though forcing his power into its depths.
The tower shook.
The flames surrounding them flickered wildly.
"I see him," Maryse suddenly shouted. "Lorin… but only faintly."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Continue."
Maelrin pushed himself further, pouring every bit of strength he had into the spell.
"Ya lewa sa cam brew yee!!
Is VAR LA humo lo sacram!!
Iy socrum pee la sau om brela DOM DOM la faue LORIN!!" with that Maelrin collapsed to the ground from exhaustion.
The orb flashed.
The darkness inside it twisted and shifted until the image became clearer.
There he was.
Lorin.
The sight of him sent a satisfied smile across Maryse's face.
"You did it," she whispered, stepping closer to the orb. "There he is. Our power."
For a moment, Maryse did not even look back.
Only when he slowly forced himself to his feet did she acknowledge him.
"Wife," he said, breathing heavily, "how long will we continue waiting and watching?"
Maryse remained focused on Lorin's image.
"However long it takes to gain the power we need."
She finally turned toward him, a cold smile appearing on her face.
"It will never be easy, but it is not impossible. Not after everything we have planned."
A deafening thunderclap shook the tower.
The sound echoed through the chamber as Maryse looked back at the orb.
"Now…"
Her smile widened.
"i think the time is right, don't you?"