The palace gardens were quiet at night.
Moonlight spilled across marble paths and silver fountains, turning the entire courtyard into something calm and almost peaceful.
Almost.
Aria walked beside Selene without speaking.
Behind them, the council chamber doors had long since closed.
For the first time that night, there were no frightened nobles watching.
No politics.
Just two women walking through shadows.
Selene stopped beside a stone fountain in the center of the garden.
Water flowed softly over carved statues of ancient kings.
She studied the moon's reflection for a moment before speaking.
"You handled them well."
Aria leaned lightly against the fountain edge.
"The council?"
"Yes."
"They made it easy."
Selene smiled faintly.
"That's because they're afraid."
"Most people are tonight."
Selene turned toward her.
"Not me."
Aria studied her carefully.
"That makes you either brave or foolish."
Selene's eyes gleamed.
"Or prepared."
The word lingered between them.
Aria crossed her arms.
"You didn't come here just to admire my survival skills."
"No."
Selene walked slowly around the fountain.
"Tell me something."
Aria waited.
"When did you realize your power had awakened?"
"Tonight."
Selene paused.
"Completely?"
"Enough."
The Verenth princess nodded thoughtfully.
"That explains the air pressure in the palace."
Aria raised an eyebrow.
"You felt it."
Selene laughed softly.
"Everyone felt it."
She stepped closer again.
"But very few understood what it meant."
Aria watched her.
"And you did?"
"My family studies rare abilities."
Selene's tone grew more serious.
"Especially ones capable of destabilizing kingdoms."
Aria didn't react.
"That sounds like a polite way of saying you hunt people like me."
Selene didn't deny it.
"Sometimes."
The honesty was unexpected.
Aria tilted her head slightly.
"And yet you're standing here alone."
Selene shrugged lightly.
"I prefer conversations before wars."
Aria almost smiled.
"That's refreshing."
Selene leaned against the opposite side of the fountain.
For a moment both women simply watched the water.
Then Selene asked quietly,
"Do you know what happened to the last Valen?"
Aria's gaze hardened slightly.
"I saw fragments."
"Fragments aren't the full story."
Selene's expression changed.
Less playful now.
More serious.
"The last Valen didn't lose power because of the council."
Aria frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Selene's voice lowered.
"She lost control."
The night air seemed colder suddenly.
Aria said nothing.
Selene continued.
"The power your bloodline carries… it's not ordinary magic."
"I know."
"It bends atmospheric pressure, gravitational flow, and storm systems."
Aria's eyes sharpened slightly.
"You've studied this."
"For years."
Selene met her gaze directly.
"And history shows one consistent pattern."
"What pattern?"
Selene's answer was simple.
"Valens eventually lose control."
Silence stretched across the garden.
The fountain continued flowing quietly between them.
Aria finally spoke.
"And that's why your family hunts them."
Selene nodded.
"Yes."
"Because you think we're dangerous."
Selene didn't smile this time.
"Because we know you are."
Aria studied her for several seconds.
Then she said calmly,
"I'm still in control."
"For now."
The words weren't cruel.
Just factual.
Aria's expression didn't change.
"Is that why you came here tonight?"
Selene shook her head.
"No."
"Then why?"
Selene stepped closer again.
"Because the council is about to make a catastrophic mistake."
Aria's eyes narrowed.
"What kind of mistake?"
"They're planning something bigger than assassination."
That got her attention.
"Explain."
Selene glanced briefly toward the palace towers.
"The empire has a hidden military division."
Aria frowned slightly.
"I know about the royal guard."
"Not them."
Selene's voice dropped further.
"The Null Division."
The name meant nothing to Aria.
Selene noticed immediately.
"Good."
"That means the secret still works."
Aria waited.
Selene continued.
"They're soldiers trained specifically to neutralize supernatural threats."
The words felt heavy.
"Neutralize," Aria repeated.
"Yes."
"And you believe they'll send them after me."
Selene nodded.
"Almost certainly."
Aria considered that calmly.
"That sounds unpleasant."
Selene laughed quietly.
"You're remarkably calm about potential execution."
"I survived tonight."
"That was four assassins."
Selene's eyes hardened slightly.
"The Null Division wiped out the last Valen."
The garden fell silent again.
The fountain water suddenly seemed louder.
Aria looked up at the night sky.
Dark clouds were drifting slowly across the moon.
Her wrist tingled faintly.
The power responding to her thoughts.
Finally she asked,
"Why are you warning me?"
Selene answered immediately.
"Because if they kill you…"
She paused.
"…I lose the chance to see what you become."
Aria laughed softly.
"That's an unusual motivation."
Selene shrugged.
"I'm a curious person."
Aria looked back at her.
"You're also hiding something."
Selene's smile returned.
"Of course."
"What?"
"That depends."
"On what?"
Selene stepped closer until they stood only a few feet apart.
"On whether you plan to fight the council…"
Her voice lowered slightly.
"…or burn the empire down."
Aria considered the question seriously.
Then she answered.
"I plan to survive."
Selene nodded slowly.
"Good."
"Why?"
"Because survival is the first step to revenge."
Aria's eyes flickered slightly.
"You're assuming I want revenge."
Selene laughed again.
"You're a Valen whose family was hunted by the council."
She tilted her head.
"Of course you want revenge."
Aria didn't answer.
Instead she looked toward the palace towers again.
Somewhere inside those walls—
Powerful men were deciding her future.
Planning her death.
Preparing soldiers designed to destroy her bloodline.
Her voice was quiet when she finally spoke.
"If the Null Division comes…"
Selene waited.
Aria finished calmly.
"…they'll regret it."
The air pressure in the garden shifted slightly.
Leaves rustled across the marble path.
Selene's smile widened slowly.
"There it is."
"What?"
"The storm."
For the first time that night—
Selene looked genuinely excited.
"Now this," she said softly,
"is going to be interesting."