Elarys ran.
Her skirts gathered in her hands as she rushed through the castle corridors, breath uneven, heart pounding so loudly it drowned out everything else. Servants flattened themselves against the walls as she passed. Whispers followed in her wake, but she heard none of them.
Only one thought filled her mind.
Vlad.
Seraphiel followed a step behind her, his expression rigid, jaw tight. He said nothing. He didn't need to. The urgency in Elarys's movements told him everything.
They reached the physician's chambers.
Aldric stood outside the doors.
The moment Elarys saw him, she hurried forward, hands trembling as she grabbed his sleeve.
"Brother—" Her voice broke. "What happened to my child? Is he okay?"
Tears streamed freely down her face now, no effort made to stop them.
Aldric steadied her gently, his grip firm and careful.
"Calm down, Elarys." he said softly. "There's no need to worry."
She searched his face desperately.
"He was chased by a monster," Aldric continued, his tone even. "Luckily, Kaira sensed him in time. She found him before anything worse could happen."
Elarys's breath hitched.
"He's unconscious because of the shock," Aldric added. "That's all. His life is not in danger."
Her knees nearly gave out.
"Can I see him?" she asked immediately, voice shaking. "Please—just for a moment."
Aldric shook his head gently.
"Let's not disturb the physician," he said. "Give them a little more time. Vlad will be fine."
He gestured toward the bench along the wall.
"Why don't you sit down and calm yourself for now? By the time you've rested, the physician should be finished treating him."
Elarys hesitated, then nodded weakly. She sat, pressing a hand to her mouth as she wiped her tears with trembling fingers.
Aldric straightened and turned his gaze to Seraphiel.
Their eyes met.
Aldric gave a subtle nod toward the far end of the corridor.
Seraphiel understood immediately.
"Lucas," Seraphiel said quietly, without looking away from his brother, "stay here with Elarys."
"Yes, my lord," Lucas replied at once, stepping closer to her side.
Seraphiel followed Aldric down the corridor, their footsteps echoing softly against the stone.
The doors to the physician's chambers remained closed behind them.
And inside, unseen by all of them
A child lay on the bed, drenched in blood.
Wounds marked his small body, some shallow, others frighteningly deep. Dried crimson stained his hair and skin.
Aldric knew, without question, that Elarys would not have been able to endure the sight.
The physician and his assistant worked in silence. Warm water washed the blood from Vlad's body, cloth by cloth. The assistant healed what he could minor cuts, torn skin but his expression darkened as his magic probed deeper.
"The internal damage is severe," he murmured. "His body tried to channel power far beyond what it can withstand."
Sylvie's power.
With an immature body, the backlash had torn through him.
Vlad did not stir. Not once.
Outside the window, Kaira stood motionless, her massive form casting a shadow over the chamber. Her eyes remained fixed on the child within. Though faint—so faint—it was still there.
The presence of her old friend.
Aldric stood at the far end of the corridor, gaze lifting briefly to the dragon before turning as Seraphiel approached.
"Brother," Seraphiel said quietly, his voice tight, "what really happened in the forest?"
Aldric did not soften the truth.
He told him everything.
When he finished, Seraphiel said nothing. His breath caught, chest tightening as the weight of it all pressed down on him. He leaned back against the wall, one hand braced at his side.
For the first time, the Patriarch of House Dravenir looked shaken.
"Are you certain about what you saw, brother?" Seraphiel asked quietly. "Did Vlad truly attempted the Tempest form?"
"I wouldn't mistake it for anything else," Aldric replied. His voice was heavy. "I was the one who gave him the book. He tried to imitate what he saw inside it."
Seraphiel's breath hitched.
"But Tempest is far too powerful. Channeling its force with an untrained body—especially a child's—is suicidal."
"I know." Aldric's hands curled into fists. "I never should have given him that book. I gave him hope he wasn't ready to bear."
Seraphiel grabbed Aldric by the front of his coat. His grip trembled.
"He'll be alright… won't he, brother?"
Aldric didn't answer.
Seraphiel's hand slowly loosened and fell away. He lowered his head, teeth clenched. He wanted to scream—wanted to tear the corridor apart but Elarys was just beyond the doors. He couldn't let her hear.
After a moment, he spoke again, forcing control into his voice.
"You said you sensed a spirit's mana within him."
Aldric nodded.
"Kaira sensed it first. That presence is the only reason she found him in time."
Footsteps approached.
Cassian and Maelis came into view, worry clear on Maelis's face.
"Father," she asked softly, "what happened to Vlad?"
Seraphiel's gaze shifted—settling on Cassian.
"Maelis," he said, voice firm, "go stay with your mother."
She hesitated, then nodded and walked away.
Seraphiel stepped closer to Cassian, looking down at him.
"Is there something you want to tell me?"
Cassian swallowed.
"I—I didn't think anything bad would happen, Father."
The stone wall beside Cassian cracked as Seraphiel's fist slammed into it.
"You knew he was still a child!" he snapped. "How dare—"
"Seraphiel!" Aldric shouted. "That's enough. Cassian—go back to your room."
Cassian turned away without another word.
His steps echoed down the corridor, sharp and uneven, anger coiling tighter with every breath. He didn't head toward his chambers. The thought of being alone only fed the pressure building in his chest.
He needed an outlet.
Down a side passage, two familiar figures came into view.
Riven and Maeric stiffened as Cassian approached.
"Which one of you ratted me out?" Cassian asked coldly.
"I—I never said your name, Young Master," Riven said quickly.
Cassian stepped forward.
"So it was you."
His fist buried itself into Riven's stomach. Riven collapsed with a cry.
"Lord Cassian, please—stop!" Maeric pleaded.
"Shut up," Cassian snapped. "Unless you want the same."
Maeric froze, helpless, as Cassian vented his fury with kicks and blows. Only when his breathing steadied did Cassian stop.
He straightened his clothes and looked down at Riven.
"Never show your face in front of me again."
Then he turned and left.
Later, Erik returned to the castle and found Aldric and Seraphiel still in the corridor.
"How is Young Master Vlad?" he asked.
"The physician hasn't finished yet," Aldric replied.
"Did you search the forest?" Seraphiel asked.
"Yes, my lord. The entire area. There were no remaining intruders. That was the last of them."
Before either could respond, Lucas approached, bowing.
"The treatment is complete."
They moved at once.
Elarys was already inside, seated beside the bed, clutching Vlad's arm as tears fell silently onto the sheets.
The physician approached Aldric and Seraphiel.
"All external wounds have been fully healed. There is no need to worry about that."
He paused.
Seraphiel's chest tightened.
"And the rest?"
"There is internal damage," the physician admitted. "I treated what I could, but even I have limits. He forced his body to channel a power far beyond his capacity."
"Will he recover?" Seraphiel asked.
"I cannot say yet. His condition is stable—but his consciousness has not returned."
Aldric turned to Seraphiel.
"Stay with Elarys."
Seraphiel nodded and moved to her side, his voice low as he spoke to her, gentle despite the fire burning in his eyes.
"His mind has taken a great shock. He just needs time. He will wake up."
As he stood there, watching his son, Seraphiel's jaw tightened.
"Valeren," he murmured under his breath, "had better pray my son opens his eyes."
High above the castle, a falcon took flight—wings cutting through the sky. A sealed letter was bound to its leg as it crossed borders, racing toward the Kaishen Dynasty.
Toward Lysera Dravenir.
The eldest daughter of the Patriarch.
Who was on a mission to hunt down an Ashveil Drake.
The Ashveil Drake lunged.
Heat crashed over the clearing as its jaws snapped shut inches from Lysera's face. She stepped in, bare-handed, her palm striking its neck with a burst of mana that sent the beast skidding through scorched earth.
It roared, fire spilling from its mouth. Lysera pushed through the flames and drove a fist into its chest. Scales cracked. Bone groaned.
The drake circled, then dove.
A letter fell from above.
Lysera caught it out of reflex, fingers closing around the familiar seal. She broke it open mid-step, eyes flicking over the ink.
Her breath hitched.
Her feet stopped moving.
Vlad's name stared back at her.
Injured. Unconscious. Greywood Forest.
The sounds of the battlefield dulled, as if the world itself had been pushed underwater. Her grip tightened until the paper crumpled in her hand.
Behind her, the drake surged forward, sensing the opening. Hot breath washed over her neck. Its jaws opened wide.
Lysera did not turn.
She raised her hand.
"Hellfire"
The hellflames swallowed the drake whole, erasing it in a heartbeat. No roar. No struggle. Only ash drifting where it once stood.
Lysera stood motionless, staring at the letter.
"…Enough."
She closed her fist.
Her patronage ended there.
Lysera turned back toward Draven.