Outside, Liliya had already vaulted over the balcony and landed gracefully in the royal gardens. She settled on a white rustic bench beneath the glow of the smallest moon.

  Kai exhaled and followed, taking a seat beside her. “Why did you run off like that?”

  “I felt like sitting here. So what?” Her voice was sharp, but quiet.

  “You seem… bothered. What’s wrong?” Kai asked gently.

  “Mister hero trying to save the day again?” She scoffed; eyes fixed on the moonlight. “Not everyone needs saving, you know.”

  “I’m no hero,” Kai said with a faint smile. “I just do what feels right. Sometimes that means talking to a drunk, funny mage.” He nudged her playfully.

  “Is that all I am to you?” Her cheeks flushed from wine, and her eyes shimmered with tears.

  “What do you mean? You’re a good friend. Honestly, I’ve never had female friends before, so I might say stupid things sometimes. But you’ll always be a friend… as long as you don’t betray us for the glorious Eldari Empire.” He grinned, then froze as the words sank in.

  “How dare you!” Her voice cracked through the garden like a whip. “After everything we’ve been through, you still think I’d betray you?”

  Kai reached for her hands, pulling her gently back to the bench. “I’m sorry. That was a stupid joke. I trust you, truly. You proved that to me long ago. Okay?” His voice softened to a whisper.

  “Hmph. Stupid jokes.” She crossed her arms, then muttered, “Fine, buddy . I trust you.”

  “What’s with the tone? You don’t think we’re friends?”

  “We are… but…” Her words faltered. Even in her drunken haze, she couldn’t bring herself to say what she meant.

  “But what?” Kai pressed, confused.

  “Nothing. Forget it. Maybe one day… We’ll talk about it.” She smiled faintly; her face bathed in silver moonlight.

  Kai’s chest tightened at the sight. She’s incredible. One smile and I’m a mess. His hands trembled as he pulled them back, staring longer than he realized.

  “What? Is there something on my face?” she teased.

  “I just thought… You can be really cute sometimes,” he whispered, not even realizing he’d said it aloud.

  She shot up from the bench. “Did you just call me cute? Calm down, ladies' man, I’m not one of your fans from upstairs.” Her voice was light, but her heart raced. She couldn’t let this go further, not now.

  “Oh, sorry! I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just… the light, the garden, everything. That’s why I said it.” He stumbled over his words, desperate to explain.

  “Sure, sure.” She laughed and sat back down, chuckling softly.

  “Well, doesn’t seem like you hate compliments either,” Kai teased.

  “Fool.” She laughed again, the tension melting away.

  Saved, Kai thought, unaware that his simple words had made her night. She’d never been this close to a man, not since her old party, and that was different. She wanted to tell him what she felt, but she couldn’t. Not when it could put him in danger. Being half Eldari meant enemies, and she wouldn’t risk anyone dying like her father did.

  She would keep it all inside until she was strong enough. At least, she hoped that.

  ***

  Within the dance hall, Xarion and Zara moved slowly across the floor, smiling at each other.

  “Did you see her? Drunk again,” Zara chuckled softly.

  “Eh, we’re used to it,” Xarion replied with a sigh. “She never handled strong liquor well. But honestly, I think she uses it to loosen up. Her mind’s always racing, learning, crafting new spells, pushing toward Arch Magus and then Archon. Vengeance fuels her.” His voice dropped to a whisper.

  “I see… You’d never guess that about her, the way she acts,” Zara murmured, a trace of worry in her tone.

  “Yeah. She loves magic, loves being carefree, but she’s chained to what happened.” Xarion’s expression darkened.

  Xarion squeezed her hand gently. “And you? We’ve fought so much lately. Are you okay?”

  “I feel great,” she said with a warm smile. “The baby’s still very small; I can sense him. He’s connected to me in ways I never imagined. Even feeding on my mana. Hopefully, he doesn’t turn vicious like his mother.” She laughed lightly.

  “He? It’s a boy?” Xarion stopped mid-step, staring at her.

  “Yeah, it’s a boy. A strong one.” She hugged him and urged him to keep dancing.

  “We need to visit my tribe soon. The elder dragon’s blessing will strengthen both of you,” Xarion said, concern etched in his voice.

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  “You worry too much. We’ll go in a few weeks. You wanted to bring Kai along, anyway, didn’t you?” Zara smirked knowingly.

  Xarion chuckled. “Well… yeah. I’d earn a lot of merit from the elders if I brought a dragon’s inheritor to bless us with his presence.”

  “You’re hopeless,” Zara teased. “But you’d better talk to him soon. He doesn’t have much time before the tournament, less than two months.”

  “He’ll be fine,” Xarion said confidently. “He’s stronger than any early Master Knight I’ve ever seen.” Pride gleamed in his eyes as Zara laughed at her crazy man.

  ***

  As the night wore on and the party dwindled, Theodor and Nerva quietly excused themselves, heading toward the western wing, the chambers of Jacob Sorgaz, Theodor’s uncle and father of Jacob the Second, Jake.

  Jacob sat hunched at his desk, hair disheveled, fingers pressed against his temples. Think, Jacob, think. What does he know? I left no traces. Francis is dead. Nobody should know. I’m certain.

  His thoughts shattered at the sound of knocking.

  “Open up. It’s me,” Theodor’s voice cut through the silence, cold and commanding.

  Jacob exhaled sharply, straightening his collar before unlatching the door. He barely had time to step back before Theodor and Nerva stormed in, slamming it shut behind them.

  Theodor struck without warning. His fist crashed into Jacob’s jaw, hurling him across the room. The desk splintered beneath his weight, sending shards and dust into the air.

  “What the hell, Theo!? Why attack your own uncle?” Jacob shouted, desperate for someone, anyone, to hear.

  “Nobody can hear you,” Theodor replied, his tone like ice. “This entire wing is empty. No one will hear you scream.”

  “Why are you doing this? I’ve done nothing to you!” Jacob’s voice cracked with panic.

  “Oh, but you have,” Theodor growled, his aura radiating heat until the room felt like a furnace. “Years of betrayal. Leaving my father to die, surrounded by Lordan’s forces. But that’s nothing compared to what you did to James.”

  “I did nothing to James! He left for Ilun!” Jacob stammered, unaware that Theodor already knew about the attack.

  “We know you helped Francis plan it,” Nerva snarled, his metal aura clinging to him like armor. “You gave them James’s location and travel plans.”

  Jacob forced a laugh. “Where did you hear such nonsense?”

  “Well, lucky for you, Francis liked to overshare with his sons,” Theodor said, voice dripping with venom. “They’re bound to me now by a Death Contract. They confessed everything, showed me the documents, the logs of your contacts. Seems they were planning to betray you once this was all over.”

  Jacob’s face drained of color. “Impossible…”

  Theodor came closer and grabbed his left arm. He produced a small blade of pure heated aura and cut off a pinky finger from Jacob's left hand.

  “AAAAARGH!” The man’s scream tore through the chamber as Theodor’s aura surged into his wound, searing flesh from the inside. His arm burned like molten iron. Then, another finger cut off. And another. And another.

  “Now…” Theodor’s voice was low, seeping madness. “Tell me, Uncle. Why? Why, you bastard?” His hand cracked across Jacob’s face again and again, splitting skin, shattering teeth, breaking his nose.

  Jacob spat blood, words tumbling out in a fevered rant. “It was unfair! My foolish brother inherited the crown only because he was older! I was the stronger one, me , not him! And you two… one soft, the other a monster. Who could bow to such fools? Then the League reached out while I traveled north, finally giving me a chance to correct my father’s mistakes!”

  “What happened to Cecily? Did they kill her, too?” Nerva’s voice cut through the chaos, his aura glinting like steel.

  “I don’t know!” Jacob coughed, spraying blood across Theodor’s cheek. “All I know is she was their main goal. They never cared about two petty nations!”

  Theodor’s boot slammed into Jacob’s chest, hurling him into the wall with a thunderous crack. Stone shattered, dust billowed, but the Master Knight’s body still held.

  “Cecily? Why her? She was just a noble from Ilun,” Nerva pressed, his tone sharp.

  “I don’t know!” Jacob roared, eyes blazing with hate. “Now end this torture, you monster!”

  Theodor’s lips curled into a chilling smile. “Oh, my poor Uncle… I’ve barely started. You’ll pay first. Then my healers will patch you up, so I can break you again.” His laughter was cold, echoing through the empty wing as he stalked toward the screaming man.

  Yes, scream all you want,” Nerva said with a cold chuckle, his gaze hardening as he watched. His mind raced. Why Cecily? Who was she? Is she still alive?

  The torture dragged on until dawn. When it finally ended, the healer, a robed woman long accustomed to the king's cruel methods, bowed silently and left.

  “Well then, Uncle,” Theodor said, voice like steel. “You’ll be executed tomorrow, so the entire nation knows your treachery. Your son will be stripped of his royal name and serve as a common soldier. If he proves himself, he can earn it back. If he tries anything…” Theodor’s eyes burned. “He’ll die like his father.”

  With a gesture, shadows slithered across the floor as his spies appeared, wrapping shadow chains around Jacob’s broken body and dragging him toward the castle dungeons.

  “Are you okay?” Nerva asked quietly.

  “I don’t know what to think anymore,” Theodor admitted, his voice heavy. “I knew he was greedy, but to betray his own blood? His brothers’ family? Such foolishness. I just wonder… if they’d known sooner about my rank, would James still be alive?” His words cracked under the weight of guilt.

  “Stop,” Nerva cut him off sharply. “It’s not your fault. You know that.”

  “When can I see his body? He’s with you, right?” Theodor asked, eyes hollow.

  “We’ll prepare the funeral today,” Nerva said gently. “You can see him when you’re in a better state of mind. Okay?”

  Theodor nodded, defeated. “Fine. Thank you, Nerva. I owe you a lot.”

  “You owe the boy more,” Nerva replied with a faint smile.

  “Today we meet with all of them,” Theodor murmured, staring at the rising sun through the jagged hole he’d smashed in the wall. “We owe them everything. Who would have thought a boy from the jungle and a beast would prove more human than my own family? What a world…”

  “Come,” Nerva urged, worry etched across his face. “You need rest.”

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