---
Some went mad. Some begged for death. Others simply vanished into the wilds, too ashamed to return to their clans.
This truth wasn't a secret—it was etched into every kingdom's, every clan's history, whispered by every master to their disciple.
And now… the Queen herself was attempting it. On the dais, the glow of her aura was steady, but even that couldn't quell the tide of panic laced beneath reverence.
"She's risking everything…" an elder court lady murmured, her mandibles trembling.
"If she dies… who will take the throne?" another hissed.
"She has no heir. Her daughters are strong, but still too young to command war and diplomacy alike…"
The murmurs grew louder, fed by decades of suppressed fear, admiration, and ambition.
A collective gasp echoed through the grand stone chamber.
