Vireth swooped down from the sky, wings cutting through the silence, and darted into the command tent without so much as a bow. The raven landed squarely on the center of the table, scattering parchments beneath its talons.
"Master said—" Vireth's voice was sharp, echoing unnaturally in the confined space. "Open the gates of earth and hold them for a few seconds, so I can send Sir Alwin to the princess. Do it on the signal."
Caisson and Theo exchanged tense glances before both turned toward Liam—the crown prince, the one who bore the rare green aura.
"I will," Liam said, his voice calm but firm despite the faint tremor in his hands.
Vireth cocked its head, eyes gleaming like shards of obsidian, and immediately passed the message back to Icarus through the bond of mind-speech.
"Now," the raven screeched, wings spreading wide in a burst of urgency.
Liam raised his hand, summoning the power that coiled deep within him. The green aura spilled forth, vibrant and raw, and the ground trembled violently in response. Pain lanced through his injured body, threatening to break him, but he gritted his teeth, forcing the earth itself to obey.
Cracks split across the soil like veins of emerald light. The very forest quivered as the barrier of the seal strained.
"That's enough—it is open!" Vireth shrieked, and launched itself back into the night sky toward its master.
Liam staggered, the color draining from his face. He barely kept his balance, his body swaying before Theo's hand shot out to steady him.
The earth shuddered, the seal's rigid shell cracking open just long enough to allow a single breath of passage.
"Go," Icarus's voice rang with urgency. His hand lifted, weaving threads of dark magic to hold the cursed barrier back for mere seconds.
Alwin did not hesitate. The old war hero's aura surged around him—steel-strong, resolute—and he leapt into the fissure. The green glow from Liam's power wrapped the ground, guiding his descent like a living tunnel.
Stone and root shifted aside, forming a path. The deeper he went, the heavier the air became, thick with poison and dread. For an instant, he thought the earth would crush him. But the crown prince's aura held true, keeping the path open.
"Sir Alwin," Icarus's voice echoed faintly in his mind, carried by Vireth, "once you reach her, protect her. No matter what. I'll break the lock from here."
Alwin clenched his jaw and pushed forward, boots striking uneven earth until the last wall of soil gave way.
There—huddled in the darkness, shivering against the cold stone—was Aria. Her golden light had flickered out, leaving only the faintest glow clinging to her skin.
"Princess," Alwin whispered, his voice breaking with relief. He dropped to his knees, pulling her into his arms. Her body was cold, but her pulse was still there—fragile, trembling, alive.
When Selene woke, the room was eerily quiet. No one was nearby. Her eyes drifted to the person lying beside her, breathing steady in sleep—Kaelen.
"He is in a deep sleep," Argyran said quietly, but something else caught their attention—a faint, glowing connection between Selene and him.
"He's done a soul oath," Argyran added, surprise lacing his voice. "And that's what kept you alive."
Selene placed a hand on her head, letting the realization sink in. "He's always like that… putting himself in front of me."
She stood, feeling a sudden tremor through the earth. "It's Liam," she whispered, tracking the aura that shot toward the forest.
Without another moment's hesitation, Selene moved to the old wardrobe she hadn't used in years. She pulled out a dress—the one she wore as the princess, not as a duchess—and dressed swiftly, determination hardening in her eyes.
As Selene moved through the palace corridors, the soft shuffle of her steps barely made a sound. From the grand hallways, whispers floated like shadows, though the nobles themselves seemed oblivious to the gravity of the situation.
"Have you heard? The knights are returning… some injured, but no one will say why," one lady murmured, worry creeping into her voice.
"Something must have happened in the forest," another whispered, her tone nervous, yet speculative. "But they keep it quiet. Odd, isn't it?"
"Do you think the Crown Prince—?" a third began, only to trail off as curiosity overtook caution.
Selene's heart tightened. She could feel it too—the faint echo of chaos, the tremor of energy in the air. The forest… something had happened. Something serious
Without hesitation, she quickened her pace, the rustle of her dress blending with the distant murmurs.
"It's working," Liam said, feeling the ground respond beneath him.
"Sir Alwin can keep Aria safe from inside while Icarus works on the lock from outside," Theo explained, understanding the plan at a glance.
"Keep Aria safe…" a sudden voice cut through the tent, making everyone turn in surprise. Selene stepped forward, eyes sharp and resolute.
"Sister!" came a chorus of voices, full of relief and astonishment.
"Woah… it's been a long time since anyone called me that," Selene said, a small smile tugging at her lips despite the tension in the air.