"Fool. You push like a man sprinting toward death… but your path still leads up."
She knelt beside the bath, trailing a finger along its edge.
"It took over many years for you to face the first gate of your potential… but now that it's cracked, the flood won't stop." Her tone dropped lower, more to herself than anyone else. "I see it clearly now—the one they feared. The one she tried to silence."
She closed her eyes, voice soft. "Let's see if the world is ready for the true star of Vareldis… the third son who was never meant to rise."
And in the golden bath, Fenric stirred faintly—his heartbeat syncing to a rhythm not of pain… but of awakening.
Mavis stood, brushing the edge of her robe before turning away.
"Healing will take time," she said calmly. "Keep an eye on him. And if he wakes up, tell him he needs to remain in the water for at least another six hours."
The maids bowed respectfully.
