The palace felt different.
Not louder.
Not quieter.
Just… distant.
Like everything around Liora had moved a few steps away, leaving her standing alone in the middle of something she no longer understood.
She didn't remember how long she had been walking.
Corridor after corridor.
Stone walls. Flickering lights. Passing servants who quickly lowered their heads and avoided her gaze.
No one stopped her.
No one spoke.
Good.
She didn't think she could handle it if they did.
Eventually—
She found a door.
An empty chamber.
Small compared to the rest of the palace.
Bare walls. A single window. No decorations.
It felt… neutral.
Safe.
She stepped inside and closed the door behind her.
The silence settled immediately.
Liora stood there for a long moment.
Not moving.
Not thinking.
Just breathing.
Then slowly—
She slid down against the door.
Her knees pulled in slightly.
Her fingers curled into the fabric of her dress.
And everything she had been holding back—
Broke.
A shaky breath escaped her.
"…This is insane."
Her voice cracked.
"I don't even know what's real anymore."
Her head dropped forward.
Memories flashed again.
The battlefield.
The power.
The moment the blade pierced through her chest.
But now—
It wasn't just pain.
It was context.
It was understanding.
And that made it worse.
"…You killed me."
The words came out softer this time.
Less like an accusation.
More like something she was trying to process.
Her chest tightened.
"But you didn't want to."
Her fingers clenched tighter.
"That's the problem."
Tears slipped down quietly.
Not dramatic.
Not loud.
Just… there.
Because now she understood something she hadn't before.
It hadn't been betrayal.
It had been a choice.
A terrible, impossible choice.
And somehow—
That hurt more.
Because it meant she hadn't been wrong to trust him.
And that made everything so much more complicated.
"…I hate this."
She laughed weakly.
"I hate this so much."
Her shoulders trembled slightly.
"Why does it feel like I'm grieving something that hasn't even happened yet?"
Her voice dropped.
"…Or maybe it already did."
The room stayed silent.
There was no answer.
Only her own thoughts echoing back at her.
After a while—
The tears stopped.
Not because the pain was gone.
But because she had run out of energy to keep crying.
Liora wiped her face slowly.
"…Okay."
She inhaled deeply.
Exhaled.
"Think."
She leaned her head back against the door.
"Cairis killed the Star Witch Queen."
"Because she was losing control."
"Because she was going to destroy everything."
Her eyes closed briefly.
"…And now I'm her."
The words felt strange.
Heavy.
But undeniable.
Her hand lifted slightly.
Silver light flickered faintly around her fingers.
Unstable.
Restless.
"…And I'm already starting to lose control too."
That thought scared her.
Not in a dramatic way.
But in a quiet, creeping way.
The kind that sat in the back of your mind and refused to leave.
She stared at her hand.
"…No."
Her voice was soft.
But firm.
"I'm not doing that again."
The light flickered.
Stronger this time.
Her chest tightened.
But she didn't look away.
"I don't care what I was before."
Her fingers curled slowly.
The magic resisted.
Like it didn't want to be contained.
"I'm not destroying anything."
Her breathing steadied.
"I'm not becoming that version of myself."
The silver light surged—
Then—
Stilled.
Not completely gone.
But quieter.
Controlled.
For now.
Liora exhaled slowly.
"…Okay."
"That's something."
She let her hand fall back to her side.
But the exhaustion hit her immediately after.
Like her body had just realized how much energy she had used.
She leaned back again.
Closing her eyes.
"…I need to figure this out."
"No help."
"No distractions."
Her voice softened.
"…No him."
The words lingered.
Longer than she expected.
Because even now—
Even after everything—
A part of her still wanted to go back.
To ask him more questions.
To understand.
To… stay.
She opened her eyes again quickly.
"…No."
"Bad idea."
She stood up slowly.
Her legs felt a little unsteady.
But she pushed through it.
"I need control."
"Before anything else."
She looked around the empty room.
Then toward the window.
The night sky stretched endlessly beyond it.
Dark.
Unfamiliar.
But steady.
"…Fine."
She moved toward the center of the room.
Took a slow breath.
And raised her hand again.
This time—
Deliberately.
"Let's try this properly."
Silver light appeared again.
Stronger.
More responsive.
But still unpredictable.
The air around her shimmered faintly.
Her heart beat faster.
But she didn't stop.
"Slowly…"
The magic pulsed.
Flickered.
Resisted.
Then—
For a brief moment—
It obeyed.
The light gathered neatly around her fingers.
Controlled.
Contained.
Not perfect.
But better.
Liora blinked.
"…Okay."
A small smile tugged at her lips.
"Progress."
It didn't last long.
The light flickered wildly again and nearly slipped out of control—
But she forced it back down.
Breathing harder now.
"…Still progress."
She lowered her hand.
This time, the magic faded without exploding.
Without breaking anything.
Without hurting anyone.
And that—
That felt like a victory.
Even if it was small.
Even if it was temporary.
Even if everything else in her life was currently falling apart.
She exhaled slowly.
"…I'll get stronger."
Her voice was quiet.
But certain.
"Stronger than before."
"Stronger than her."
Because this time—
She wasn't alone in the dark without understanding.
This time—
She knew the consequences.
And she would not repeat them.
No matter what it cost her.
Outside the chamber—
Unseen.
Unheard.
A shadow lingered in the corridor.
Watching.
Waiting.
Lord Vael.
His expression calm.
Interested.
"…Good."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"She's starting to break away from him."
His eyes flickered faintly silver again.
"…That makes this much easier."
He turned slowly.
Disappearing back into the darkness of the palace.
And far away—
The Crimson Gate pulsed again.
Another crack spreading across its surface.