The palace had changed.
Not in structure.
Not in appearance.
But in the way it felt.
Eyes followed her now.
Every step.
Every movement.
Every breath.
Liora walked through the corridor alone, her expression calm, unreadable—but she could feel it.
The tension.
The fear.
The judgment.
Servants bowed quickly and moved away.
Guards stiffened as she passed, hands tightening on their weapons before they forced themselves to relax.
No one spoke to her.
No one approached her.
Good.
She preferred it that way.
"…This is going to be exhausting."
Her voice was quiet.
Mostly to herself.
But the truth of it settled in quickly.
This wasn't just about control anymore.
This was about survival.
She pushed open the doors to an empty training chamber.
Large.
Reinforced.
Isolated.
Clearly prepared for someone dangerous.
"…At least they're honest."
The doors closed behind her with a heavy thud.
For a moment—
She just stood there.
Breathing.
Letting the silence settle.
Then—
Her hand lifted.
Silver light flickered to life.
"…Let's start."
Time passed.
Slowly.
Painfully.
Liora pushed herself harder this time.
Not just controlling small bursts—
But sustaining it.
Shaping it.
Forcing the power to respond to her intent, not her emotions.
The air shimmered.
Light bent unnaturally around her fingers.
She exhaled slowly.
"…Hold."
The magic trembled—
Then steadied.
Not perfect.
But better.
A thin arc of silver light formed in front of her.
Clean.
Sharp.
Controlled.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Okay."
She moved her hand.
The arc followed.
Precise.
Obedient.
A small smile tugged at her lips.
"Progress."
For a moment—
It almost felt normal.
Like she could actually do this.
Like she could win.
Then—
A sound.
Soft.
Behind her.
Liora froze.
The magic flickered slightly.
"…Who's there?"
No answer.
The room stayed silent.
Too silent.
Her eyes narrowed.
Slowly—
She turned.
Nothing.
The chamber was empty.
Just like before.
But—
Something felt wrong.
Her instincts sharpened.
"…This isn't funny."
Still nothing.
The silver light around her hand brightened slightly.
Not out of fear—
But readiness.
Then—
A whisper.
Barely audible.
From behind her again.
"…still fragile…"
Her entire body went still.
That voice—
It wasn't Azhrael.
It wasn't Vael.
It was something else.
Something unfamiliar.
Something… closer.
"Show yourself."
The air shifted.
And suddenly—
A figure stepped out of the shadows near the far wall.
Not a guard.
Not a noble.
A man.
Dressed in dark combat attire.
Face partially obscured.
But his eyes—
Cold.
Focused.
Liora's expression hardened instantly.
"…You're not supposed to be here."
"No."
His voice was calm.
Unbothered.
"I'm not."
The silver light around her hand sharpened.
"…Who sent you?"
The man tilted his head slightly.
"…Does it matter?"
Yes.
It did.
Because that would tell her everything she needed to know.
This wasn't random.
This wasn't an accident.
This was planned.
"…You're here to test me."
"Something like that."
Her jaw tightened.
"…Or kill me."
The man didn't deny it.
Instead—
He moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
A blade flashed in the air.
Dark energy wrapped around it.
Liora reacted instinctively.
The silver arc snapped forward—
CLANG—
The blade collided with her magic.
The impact sent a shockwave through the room.
She stumbled back slightly.
"…So it's that kind of day."
The man didn't respond.
He attacked again.
Faster this time.
More aggressive.
Liora raised her hand—
The silver light expanded into a barrier—
The blade struck it repeatedly.
Cracks formed.
Her breath hitched.
"…Not good."
She pushed harder.
The barrier reinforced slightly—
But the pressure kept building.
The man's attacks were precise.
Relentless.
He wasn't testing her.
He was pushing her.
Hard.
Too hard.
Liora's chest tightened.
"…Who are you working for?!"
Still no answer.
Only another strike—
Stronger this time—
The barrier shattered.
The force threw her backward.
She hit the ground hard.
The air knocked from her lungs.
Her vision blurred for a second—
Then cleared just in time to see him moving again.
Closing the distance.
Blade aimed directly at her.
Her heart slammed—
The silver light exploded outward—
Wild—
Uncontrolled—
The man was thrown back.
Crashing into the far wall.
But he didn't stay down.
He pushed himself up immediately.
Blood at the corner of his mouth.
But his expression—
Still calm.
"…Unstable."
He wiped the blood away.
"Good."
That word—
That word made something in her snap.
"…You're enjoying this?"
No answer.
He attacked again.
This time—
Faster than before.
Liora forced herself up.
The silver light flared wildly around her.
"…Focus—"
Too late.
Her emotions were already rising.
Frustration.
Fear.
Anger.
The magic reacted instantly.
The room trembled.
The light twisted.
Unstable again.
The man saw it.
Of course he did.
And this time—
He smiled.
"…There it is."
The pressure in the room spiked.
Liora's breathing became uneven.
"…No—"
She tried to pull it back.
Tried to control it.
But it was slipping again.
Faster this time.
Because now—
She knew what failure meant.
Execution.
Death.
And that fear—
Fed the power even more.
The silver light surged violently.
Cracks spread across the floor again.
The man didn't retreat.
He stepped forward.
Straight into it.
"…Show me."
Her eyes widened.
"What—?"
The blade came down—
She reacted instinctively—
Their powers collided again—
The impact exploded outward—
—
And then—
CRASH—
The doors burst open.
Cairis.
He took in the scene instantly.
The destruction.
The attacker.
Liora—
Losing control again.
His eyes darkened.
"…You."
The man turned slightly.
Just enough to acknowledge him.
"…Crown Prince."
Cairis stepped forward.
Slow.
Dangerous.
"…You shouldn't be here."
The man smiled faintly.
"…Neither should she."
That was enough.
Crimson energy erupted violently.
Filling the entire chamber.
The pressure shifted instantly.
From chaos—
To domination.
"…Leave."
The command hit like a physical force.
The man didn't move.
"…Not yet."
That was his last mistake.
Cairis moved.
Faster than before.
Faster than anything in the room.
Their clash shook the entire chamber.
Dark against crimson.
Precise against overwhelming.
Liora could barely follow it.
Her vision blurred again.
The silver light around her flickered—
Weakening—
Fading—
Her knees buckled.
"…I—"
The world tilted.
Her strength gave out.
And everything went dark.
The last thing she saw—
Was Cairis standing between her and the attacker.
Again.