In seconds the chains that held him snapped, and a swirl of black smoke swallowed Abigel as Umbros carried them away. When the darkness cleared, Icarus was already there—waiting, as if he had expected him.
Abigel's face shifted, a hard, hurt edge cutting through the fog of grief. "You knew this would happen," he accused.
Icarus said nothing. If he'd warned him beforehand, Abigel would have never let events unfold this way. Icarus had been a Tower Master since he was twelve—master of two familiars, a man who learned to carry impossible knowledge. He was the perfect choice for the late duke, but power had always come with weight.
"Abigel—when she comes out, make sure she doesn't lose consciousness," Icarus said at last.
"Why?" Abigel answered quickly, confidence returning as Umbros fed him the faint, certain thread of Aria's presence. "I can feel her. Sir Alwin's with her. She'll be fine."
"I'm unlocking the seal," Icarus warned, eyes like steel. "Be ready." He said to Alwin as well, every word a command.
Vireth leapt from Icarus's shoulder, his tiny body unraveling into a stream of light before reforming into the slender obsidian staff the Tower Master always carried. The air grew heavy, trembling with unspoken dread. Kirael circled high above, her pale wings shimmering faintly, waiting for the moment to strike.
Icarus lifted the staff, his expression carved in steel. The incantation left his lips like a low hum at first—then deepened into a resonance that seemed to vibrate through the bones of the earth itself.
The ground buckled. Trees bowed. His aura ignited.
A surge of purple flame erupted around him, so dense it warped the very air, bending the light into fractured colors. The sky bled into shades of purple and black, as if night itself had been dragged down over the forest. The pressure was suffocating; even shadows seemed to flinch and curl away from him.
With a guttural crack, the first seal began to split. From its surface spilled a crawling darkness, thick and oily, writhing like it was alive.
"Now," Icarus whispered, though his voice was nearly lost in the roar of power.
Kirael dove. Her wings flared open, bursting into purple fire that seared against the demon's barrier. The air screeched as flame and curse collided, sparks showering like stars torn from the heavens.
The clash was unbearable—one side pulsing with ancient, hateful energy, the other with Icarus's furious will. For a breathless moment, it seemed the two would devour each other.
But Icarus slammed his staff down, runes igniting along its length. His aura exploded outward, a tidal wave of purple force that drowned the seal in pure destruction.
The barrier screamed. Cracks splintered through it like glass under a hammer. Then, with a deafening snap, the demon's lock shattered into nothingness.
The storm receded. The ground steadied.
But the victory came at a cost. Icarus staggered, his breath ragged. Blood streamed from the corners of his eyes and ears, staining his pale skin as his knees buckled under the weight of his own magic.
And in that sudden silence—rubble still settling, dust swirling like ghostly mist—Sir Alwin surged upward, breaking through the last of the debris with Aria cradled tightly against him. Her small frame pressed to his chest, her silver hair streaked with dirt, but she was alive.
Alive, and finally free.
ARIA AND ALWIN POV
The air inside the cage grew heavier with every second. It pressed on Aria's chest until each breath came sharp and shallow, her ribs aching as though the stone itself was crushing her. The walls pulsed faintly, veins of red light crawling through the black surface like molten blood.
Aria pressed her trembling hands to her heart. The golden spark flickered in her palm—so small, so fragile it barely chased away the dark.
"It feels like the walls are alive," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Alwin stood firm beside her, one hand braced against the shuddering wall, the other clutching his sword though both knew steel would be useless against this kind of magic. Still, the weight of him there steadied her.
"Stay behind me," he said, voice low but steady. "Whatever happens, don't let go of that light."
The ground split beneath their feet. Jagged cracks glowed crimson, spilling heat and foul whispers that slithered into Aria's ears—
You don't belong here… You will never leave… You are already mine.
Aria's knees buckled. She clapped her hands over her ears, but the voices wormed straight into her mind. Panic clawed at her throat until Alwin's arm wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her close, shielding her body with his own.
"Don't listen," he growled, his own voice cutting through the storm. "They're lies. Just lies. You're stronger than this, Aria."
The cage shuddered violently, as though struck from the outside. Dust and shards of black stone rained down. For a heartbeat, Aria thought it would all collapse on them.
BUT somewhere beyond the walls, she felt it—another presence calling to her, fierce and unyielding.
"Icarus…" she whispered, tears pricking her eyes.
The walls cracked, light—purple and furious—searing through.
"Hold on," Alwin shouted over the roar, wrapping his arms around her as the world split apart. "It's breaking!"
And then the cage erupted in a storm of fire, smoke, and shattered stone.
..................…..
The royal tent was suffocating with silence. Even the flutter of the banners outside seemed to have stilled, as though the entire camp held its breath.
Selene stood at the center, her hands folded tight before her skirts, though the silver aura curling faintly at her fingertips betrayed her calm mask. Every pulse of magic in the distance cut through her like a blade—Aria's heartbeat, faint and fragile, but still there. She had never felt so powerless.
Theo paced like a caged wolf, boots grinding against the carpet. His jaw was clenched so tight the veins stood out in his neck. "Why is it taking this long? Icarus should have broken it by now."
Liam sat rigid, one hand pressed to his bandaged side. Sweat beaded at his brow, but his eyes blazed with green light each time the ground trembled. "It's not just a seal—it's a curse anchored into the earth itself. He's untying it strand by strand. If he makes a single mistake…" His voice caught, and he didn't finish.
"Then don't say it." Selene's voice cracked like thunder, silencing both men. She turned toward them, silver eyes fierce. "Aria is alive. Do you hear me? She will return. My daughter is not someone who falls to shadows."
Caisson, seated at the head of the table, had been the only one who hadn't spoken. His fingers drummed once against the armrest, then stilled. "Faith in her is not enough. Whoever laid this trap breached the sacred wards of the forest. That means a traitor walks among us—one with knowledge of royal seals." His gaze swept the tent, cold and sharp. "Until we unmask them, every ally is a possible enemy."
The words landed heavy, and for a long moment no one spoke.
Then—the earth quaked. The torches guttered, flaring wildly as a pulse of purple light split the horizon.
Selene's breath caught. "That's Icarus."
Theo's hand flew to his sword hilt. "Then the seal is breaking."
And Liam, despite the pain ripping through him, pushed himself upright. His green aura sparked at his fingertips, ready to steady the ground the moment the final lock shattered.
Selene closed her eyes, feeling the thread of her daughter's presence grow brighter, golden warmth cutting through the storm. A tear slipped down her cheek before she could stop it.
"Aria… come back to me."
And that was the same moment Sylphira barged into the tent, uniform is mess and hair disheveled as though she had been running through the camp without pause. Her chest heaved, but her eyes burned like fire.
"I found the culprit…" Her words dropped like stones into the heavy silence. "…but she is missing."