The palace did not recover.
Not fully.
Cracks still lined the walls of the inner chambers. Guards moved in tighter formations. Whispers spread faster than orders.
And at the center of it all—
Her.
Liora.
She woke slowly.
Her body felt heavy.
Like something had drained everything out of her.
The ceiling above her was unfamiliar—but calmer than before. No broken stone. No flickering light.
Someone had moved her.
Of course they had.
Her fingers twitched slightly.
"…Cairis."
The name came out instinctively.
Quiet.
Unsteady.
"He's not here."
Liora froze.
Her eyes snapped open.
And immediately—
She sat up.
Too fast.
Her vision blurred for a second before stabilizing.
The room was different from before.
Larger.
Cleaner.
But empty.
Except for one person.
Vael stood near the far side of the room.
Watching her.
Of course he was.
Liora's expression hardened instantly.
"…You again."
Vael smiled faintly.
"Good. You're awake."
"How did you get in here?"
"That's not the right question."
She swung her legs off the bed.
Ignoring the slight dizziness.
"Then what is?"
Vael stepped forward slowly.
Calm.
Measured.
"Why did I come?"
Liora didn't answer.
She didn't trust anything about this situation.
And after everything—
She trusted him even less.
"…If this is another attempt to confuse me—"
"It's not."
His voice cut in smoothly.
"For once, I'm being honest."
That didn't make her feel better.
Vael stopped a few steps away.
Close enough.
Not threatening.
But not distant either.
"You felt it, didn't you?"
Liora's fingers curled slightly.
"…Felt what?"
"Azhrael."
Silence.
Her chest tightened.
"…Yes."
Vael nodded.
"Good."
"That's not a good thing."
"It means the seal is weakening."
"That's worse."
"Yes."
He didn't even try to soften it.
And somehow—
That made it more unsettling.
Liora stood fully now.
Steadying herself.
"…Why are you telling me this?"
Vael studied her for a moment.
Then—
"…Because you're the only one who can stop what's coming."
Liora let out a quiet, humorless laugh.
"That sounds familiar."
"That's because it's true."
"Last time it ended with me dead."
"Yes."
"And you don't see the problem with that?"
"I see the pattern."
That answer—
That answer made something in her chest go cold.
"…What pattern?"
Vael didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
He lifted his hand slightly.
And for a brief moment—
Silver light flickered at his fingertips.
Liora froze.
Her eyes widened.
"…No."
The light disappeared instantly.
But it was enough.
Enough to confirm it.
"You—"
Her voice dropped.
"…That's not possible."
Vael's gaze didn't waver.
"It is."
Liora took a slow step back.
Her mind racing.
Trying to connect everything.
The memories.
The war.
The betrayal.
The way he spoke—
Like he had been there.
Because he had.
"…Who are you?" she asked again.
This time—
Her voice wasn't just suspicious.
It was cautious.
Careful.
Because now—
She knew the answer wouldn't be simple.
Vael exhaled slowly.
And for the first time—
His expression shifted.
Not amused.
Not distant.
Something else.
Something older.
"…A mistake," he said quietly.
"That refused to disappear."
The air in the room changed.
He stepped closer.
And the pressure followed him.
Subtle.
But undeniable.
"You remember the war."
Liora didn't answer.
But her silence was enough.
"You remember Azhrael."
"…Yes."
"You remember the Star Witch Queen."
Her chest tightened.
"…I was her."
Vael nodded.
"Yes."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"…And I was the one who made her possible."
Silence.
Everything stopped.
Liora stared at him.
"…What?"
Vael's voice dropped.
Colder now.
More honest.
"I was the one who gave her that power."
Her breath caught.
"That's—"
"Impossible?"
He smiled faintly.
"That word again."
Her heart started pounding.
"No."
"You're lying."
"Am I?"
He stepped even closer.
Now—
Too close.
"You've been asking the wrong questions this entire time."
His gaze locked onto hers.
Sharp.
Unavoidable.
"You're asking why Cairis killed you."
Her chest tightened.
"You should be asking…"
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"…why you became something that needed to be killed."
The words hit harder than anything else.
Because now—
It wasn't just doubt.
It was perspective.
And it was dangerous.
"…I didn't ask for that power."
"No."
Vael's expression darkened slightly.
"You didn't."
Silence.
Liora's thoughts spun.
"You're saying—"
"That I created the Star Witch Queen."
The words landed cleanly.
Cold.
Final.
"I gave you that power."
"I shaped it."
"I guided it."
Her chest tightened.
"…Why?"
Vael didn't answer immediately.
But when he did—
There was no hesitation.
"To destroy Azhrael."
That part made sense.
But—
"…Then what went wrong?"
Vael's smile faded.
Completely this time.
"…You became too strong."
The room felt colder.
"You weren't just defeating him anymore."
"You were surpassing everything."
His eyes flickered faintly silver again.
"You were becoming something no one could control."
Liora's breathing slowed.
"…So you're saying I was the problem."
"I'm saying you were the solution that went too far."
That distinction—
It mattered.
But it didn't make it better.
"…And Cairis?"
Vael's gaze sharpened.
"He did what he thought was necessary."
Liora's voice dropped.
"…And you?"
Silence.
Then—
"I let it happen."
The honesty was brutal.
Unfiltered.
"I could have stopped it."
Her breath caught.
"…But you didn't."
"No."
"Why?"
Vael looked at her.
And for the first time—
There was something almost like regret in his eyes.
"…Because I wanted to see how far you would go."
Silence.
The words settled slowly.
Horribly.
"You used me."
"Yes."
"You turned me into that—"
"Yes."
Her hands trembled slightly.
"…And now?"
Vael stepped back.
Giving her space again.
But the tension didn't leave.
"Now…"
His voice softened.
"…we're back where we started."
Liora's chest tightened.
"…No."
"I'm not doing that again."
Vael tilted his head slightly.
"…You don't have a choice."
The words were calm.
But absolute.
"Azhrael is coming back."
"The seal is breaking."
"And your power—"
His eyes flickered again.
"…is the only thing that can stop him."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Liora looked down at her hands.
The silver light flickered faintly again.
Uncertain.
Unstable.
"…And what happens this time?"
Her voice was quiet.
But steady.
"Do I die again?"
Vael didn't answer immediately.
But when he did—
His voice was colder than before.
"…That depends."
Her eyes lifted slowly.
"On what?"
Vael met her gaze.
"…On whether Cairis chooses the world again."
Silence.
The tension snapped.
Because now—
Everything was clear.
The past.
The present.
The pattern.
And the inevitable choice waiting at the end of it all.