The palace did not sleep that night.
After the assassination attempt, Noctaryn was locked down completely.
Guards filled the corridors. Magic barriers shimmered faintly across entrances. Even the sky above the palace was patrolled more heavily than usual.
But none of that mattered to Liora.
Because she couldn't stop thinking about what she saw.
Not the assassins.
Not even Cairis.
But the memory.
The fragment that refused to leave her mind.
A battlefield.
A burning sky.
And a man with crimson eyes standing beside her
Like he had always been there.
"You're thinking too loudly."
Liora didn't turn.
"You're standing too quietly."
Cairis stepped into the chamber behind her.
This time, she wasn't on the balcony.
She stood in one of the palace's inner halls a long, quiet corridor lined with ancient carvings.
The walls were covered in murals.
Old.
Worn by time.
But still glowing faintly with preserved magic.
Liora had found this place by accident.
Or maybe not.
Something about it had pulled her here.
Cairis walked closer.
His gaze flicked briefly to the murals.
Then back to her.
"You shouldn't be wandering alone."
"You keep saying that like I listen."
"…You don't."
She smiled faintly.
Then her expression shifted again.
More serious.
"I saw something."
"I know."
She turned to face him fully.
"No you don't."
That made him pause.
Liora stepped aside slightly.
Revealing the mural behind her.
Cairis's expression changed the moment he saw it.
For the first time
He looked caught off guard.
The mural was massive.
Carved directly into the stone wall.
It depicted a war.
An ancient one.
Dark creatures filled the battlefield.
Massive shadows twisted across the sky.
And at the center
A woman stood.
Surrounded by light.
Her hair flowed like silver fire.
Her hand was raised, magic exploding outward in waves of starlight.
The Star Witch Queen.
Liora's chest tightened slightly.
"…That's her."
Cairis didn't answer.
But his silence said enough.
Liora's gaze shifted slightly to the right side of the mural.
"That's not what surprised me."
Cairis followed her line of sight.
And froze.
Because standing beside the Star Witch Queen
Was a man.
Tall.
Wings spread wide behind him.
Dark energy wrapped around his body like flames.
His face was carved in sharp detail.
Cold.
Beautiful.
Terrifying.
And unmistakable.
Liora's voice dropped.
"…That's you."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Cairis didn't deny it.
Didn't move.
Didn't even try to pretend otherwise.
Liora laughed softly.
But there was no humor in it.
"Okay."
"That's… not normal."
Still no answer.
She turned to him slowly.
"So let me get this straight."
She gestured toward the mural.
"A thousand years ago…"
"The Star Witch Queen was fighting some ancient nightmare…"
"And you were standing right next to her."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Why?"
Cairis finally spoke.
His voice was quieter than usual.
"Because I made a mistake."
That wasn't the answer she expected.
"…What kind of mistake lasts a thousand years?"
His gaze moved back to the mural.
"To trust someone I shouldn't have."
Liora frowned.
"That sounds vague on purpose."
"It is."
She crossed her arms.
"Try again."
He didn't respond immediately.
And for a moment, Liora thought he wouldn't answer at all.
Then
"She wasn't supposed to die."
The words landed heavily.
Liora stilled.
"…What?"
Cairis's expression didn't change.
But something in his voice had.
Something buried.
"She sealed Azhrael."
"She ended the war."
"And then…"
His jaw tightened slightly.
"…everything collapsed."
Liora's heart beat faster.
"You're skipping details."
"Yes."
"Why?"
His eyes met hers again.
"Because you're not ready to hear them."
That irritated her.
"I just blew up an ancient crystal and got attacked by assassins."
"I think we're past 'not ready.'"
For a moment
Something almost like frustration flickered across his face.
But it disappeared quickly.
"She trusted someone."
Liora tilted her head.
"…Who?"
Cairis didn't answer.
And suddenly
The silence felt heavier than before.
Because this time
It felt intentional.
Liora studied him carefully.
"You're hiding something."
"Yes."
"About me?"
"…About the past."
She stepped closer.
"Which involves me."
He didn't deny that either.
Her chest tightened.
"Did I die because of that mistake?"
Cairis's eyes darkened.
"Yes."
The answer came too quickly.
Too directly.
Liora's breath caught.
For a moment
The world felt strangely distant.
"…And you were there."
"Yes."
"And you couldn't stop it."
His voice dropped.
"…No."
Something inside her shifted.
Not just curiosity anymore.
Something deeper.
Something emotional.
"Were we…" she hesitated.
"…close?"
That question
That was the one that mattered.
Cairis didn't answer right away.
But when he did
His voice was almost too quiet to hear.
"Yes."
Liora swallowed.
Her chest felt tight again.
But she didn't understand why.
She had never met him before.
Not really.
So why did that answer feel like it mattered so much?
Before she could ask anything else
A voice echoed down the corridor.
"Well…"
Both of them turned instantly.
Lord Vael stood at the far end of the hall.
Watching them.
His expression calm.
But his eyes
Sharp.
Knowing.
"…This is a much more interesting conversation than the court meeting."
Liora's stomach dropped slightly.
"How long have you been standing there?"
Vael smiled faintly.
"Long enough."
Cairis stepped slightly in front of her.
Subtle.
Protective.
"Leave."
Vael didn't move.
Instead, his gaze shifted to the mural.
Then back to Liora.
"…It's fascinating, isn't it?"
His voice was soft.
Almost thoughtful.
"To see history repeating itself."
Liora narrowed her eyes.
"You talk like you were there."
Vael's smile deepened slightly.
"Who says I wasn't?"
The air in the corridor changed instantly.
Colder.
Heavier.
Cairis's expression hardened.
"Enough."
But Vael ignored him.
His eyes stayed locked on Liora.
"…Do you remember how you died?"
Liora felt a chill run through her.
"No."
Vael tilted his head slightly.
"…Would you like me to remind you?"
Cairis moved instantly.
"Don't."
But Vael spoke anyway.
His voice dropped.
Low.
Dark.
"She trusted someone…"
Liora's heart started pounding.
"…and that someone betrayed her."
The words echoed through her mind.
Fragments.
Memories.
Pain.
A blade.
Darkness.
Her breath hitched.
Vael's eyes gleamed.
"…Would you like to know who it was?"
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Cairis's voice cut through it.
Cold.
Sharp.
"If you say another word…"
The corridor trembled slightly under the pressure of his power.
Vael smiled.
Unbothered.
"…You'll do what?"
For a moment
The two of them stood facing each other.
Power building in the air.
Clashing silently.
Liora looked between them.
And realized something terrifying.
This wasn't just tension.
This was history.
Whatever had happened a thousand years ago
Vael knew.
And Cairis was trying to stop him from saying it.
Which meant one thing.
The truth…
Was far worse than she thought.