Lucian stood beside the desk in his study, his fingers resting against the cold wood while Sebastian remained before him, expression tight with quiet frustration.
"My lord," Sebastian said, shaking his head slightly, "I cannot trace her soul."
Lucian didn't respond right away.
"She severed too much of herself during the escape. Her spiritual thread is unstable… scattered. It's like trying to find smoke in a storm."
Lucian's jaw clenched.
"So she's gone."
Sebastian hesitated. "Not gone. Just… unreachable. For now."
Lucian turned his gaze toward the window, frost curling lazily across the glass.
"Keep searching," he said finally. "Every hour. Every corner of this realm. I want even a shadow of her presence reported to me."
Sebastian bowed. "Yes, my lord."
He had just turned to leave when a soft knock sounded at the door.
Both of them froze.
Lucian frowned. "Enter."
The door opened quietly.
Two servants stepped in first, moving carefully.
