A sharp, rhythmic knock at the balcony door shattered the heavy silence. Azeal let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. For him, the interruption was a blessing; it saved him from having to find the words to explain his sudden silence to Vaelora.
"Prince Azeal, Princess Vaelora," a maid's voice drifted through the door. "King Aetheron requests your immediate presence in his private study."
The two of them exchanged a quick, uneasy glance before heading toward the King's chambers. The corridors of the palace felt colder than usual, the shadows clinging to the walls as if they knew what was coming. When they entered the room, it was empty save for the King, who sat behind a massive desk covered in ancient scrolls.
"Sit," the King commanded, his voice devoid of its usual warmth.
Once they were seated, King Aetheron leaned forward, his eyes flickering like dying embers. "The Zarethian Trial begins tomorrow. And you both will be entering the ShadowAbyss together."
Vaelora gasped, her hand instinctively flying to her chest. Azeal's brow furrowed in confusion. "Together? Father, the law states—"
"The law has changed," Aetheron interrupted, his tone final. "I have issued a royal decree to all seven kingdoms. This year, every Prince shall be accompanied by a chosen companion—a Shadow Guardian. Vaelora, you have been by Azeal's side since childhood. You know his strengths and his shadows better than anyone. You are the only one I trust to go with him."
The King stood up and walked toward them, his expression hardening. "But listen closely. The Gates of the Abyss do not open for the unworthy. To enter, you both must stand before the threshold and spill your blood simultaneously. Only when your life essences mingle will the path be revealed."
Vaelora felt a chill run down her spine, but Azeal's reaction was instantaneous. He stood up abruptly, his chair screeching against the stone floor.
"No!" Azeal barked, his eyes blazing with a mixture of fury and fear. "I will not do it. Change the law back, Father! Send a battalion of soldiers, send your strongest generals, but you will not send her. The Abyss is a death trap, a realm of madness. I can face it alone, but I will not lead Vaelora into a place where the shadows eat the living."
He turned to Vaelora, his hand trembling slightly with rage. "I won't let your blood be the price for my crown."