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Chapter 28 - Chapter Twenty Eight: The Light Within The Dark

Previously on The Veiled Prince:

Kael unleashed his hidden power, annihilating the serpent summoned by Lord Varyn. Liora was saved, but the true purpose of the "offering" remains unclear. Eryndor now knows the blind prince sees more than anyone imagined.

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Echoes Through Calderis

The city of Calderis never slept, but today, its streets pulsed with unease. Whispers spread faster than wind — the prince had fought a creature no one could comprehend.

Inside Fortress Valtheron, the grand hall remained in shambles. Chandeliers lay shattered, the obsidian council table split in two, and scorched marks streaked the stone walls. Servants and guards worked feverishly, tending to the wounded.

Kael stood at the heart of the chaos, his veil torn aside, eyes glowing faintly like molten gold. Each breath seemed to ripple through the air. He felt every vibration, every heartbeat in the palace — yet the silence after the battle was heavier than the roar of the serpent.

Liora approached cautiously, her armor scuffed, her sword still in hand. "Kael… you did it. But —" Her voice faltered. "The serpent… it wasn't just Varyn's tool, was it?"

Kael shook his head slowly, eyes scanning the room. "No. It was meant to expose me… to the court, to the king, to everyone. The serpent's awakening was only the first act."

He turned toward the rubble where King Valtheron now appeared, flanked by his closest guards. The king's gaze was sharp, his crown tilted as if shaken by the tremors of the chamber.

"Kael," the king said, voice calm but cold, "the city speaks your name already. They speak of power, of visions… of seeing."

Kael's eyes narrowed slightly. "And yet, they do not understand. They see only what they want — fear, awe, maybe envy. But what they do not see… is who truly wields it."

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The King's Uneasy Counsel

The council was gathered once more, though the tension was palpable. Kael entered, the golden pulse of his awakened vision flickering faintly with each step.

King Valtheron spoke first. "This… display of power, Kael, has unsettled more than our enemies. My people are talking. My council… questioning. Even allies doubt your control."

A murmur ran through the chamber. Kael kept his expression unreadable, letting the silence stretch.

"You saved Liora," the king continued, his tone sharper. "But at what cost? How many lives were risked for the sake of showing us what you are capable of?"

Kael's hand clenched around his cane, the hidden blade now sheathed. "If by revealing what I am, I protect this kingdom and those I care for… then the cost is mine to bear."

The king's gaze flicked toward Liora, and Kael noticed her tight grip on her sword, her jaw set. She had seen the edge Kael walked — the brink between light and devastation — and she knew it better than anyone.

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A Rising Fear

Outside the palace, Calderis buzzed with rumors. Merchants whispered in the market, guards muttered in the barracks, and children pointed at the palace windows as if expecting fire to fall from the sky.

Rylan approached Kael, his armor still scorched, his expression unreadable. "They'll be watching you now," he said quietly. "Every move. Every breath. The serpent was only the beginning. Whoever sent Varyn… they won't rest until they've broken you."

Kael's lips curved into the faintest smile. "Then let them try. Let them come."

Liora stepped closer. "Kael… this power… it's magnificent, but it changes everything. You can't just walk into the court like before. People will fear you… or worse, want to control you."

He looked at her, golden eyes flickering. "I have never been afraid of fear, Liora. But I will protect you — and Eryndor — no matter what it costs."

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Whispers of Rebellion

Word of Kael's awakening reached even the highest echelons. Noble houses sent spies, merchants spread tales of a "golden-eyed prince," and even distant cities wondered if Eryndor's future had shifted overnight.

In a shadowed chamber far from Calderis, a cloaked figure listened to reports. Eyes glinting, fingers tracing the serpent sigil carved into the wood.

"The blind prince sees," the figure whispered. "And now, everyone else will know he does not belong in the shadows… not as they thought."

The figure's lips curved into a sinister smile. "It is time to move the pieces… the board is set."

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Kael and Liora, After the Storm

Back in the palace, Kael and Liora walked through the ruined halls, their steps echoing in the aftermath of chaos.

"I underestimated them," Kael admitted. "And I underestimated what I carry… what I am capable of."

Liora's gaze softened, yet remained serious. "Then we prepare. Whatever comes next… we face it together. But Kael, you must remember — the more they fear you, the more dangerous you become to them… and to yourself."

Kael reached for her hand, brushing away a strand of hair that had fallen across her face. "I know. And yet, with you here, I do not feel the weight alone. Not now, not ever."

They paused in the grand hall, staring at the shattered chandelier, the scorched stone, the evidence of power unleashed. Silence hung between them — not the suffocating kind, but the one that followed storms, the one that promised both reckoning and renewal.

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Foreshadowing the Next Battle

Outside, night fell over Calderis. Lanterns flickered, shadows stretched across walls, and a chill wind whispered secrets.

Kael looked to the horizon, golden light in his eyes reflecting faintly across the broken city. "The serpent is gone," he murmured. "But the war… is just beginning."

Liora's hand tightened on his arm. "Then we rise together."

And as the palace settled into uneasy quiet, distant voices murmured in the dark. Allies uncertain, enemies scheming — and the blind prince, now seeing more than anyone, stood at the heart of it all.

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