The morning sun rose slowly over the northern mountains, casting golden light across the endless sea of snow-covered peaks. Cold wind swept through the ancient pine forests surrounding Eldrin's sanctuary, carrying with it the scent of frost and old magic.
Inside the sage's cottage, silence lingered heavily in the air.
Seraphina stood near the large circular window, her silver eyes fixed on the distant mountains. Since completing the Divine Beast's trial, something inside her had changed. Her senses had become sharper. The flow of magic around her felt clearer, almost alive.
But along with that awakening came questions.
Too many questions.
Questions about her parents. Questions about the kingdom. Questions about the story she once believed was true.
Behind her, Eldrin carefully placed an enormous leather-bound book on the wooden table. Dust rose into the air as the heavy cover opened with a low creaking sound.
Kaelen glanced at the pages, brows furrowing. "What is that?"
Eldrin's expression darkened slightly.
"The Chronicle of the Divine Bloodline."
Lucien, leaning against the wall with crossed arms, immediately straightened. "I thought that record was destroyed during the royal purge."
"So did the kingdom," Eldrin replied quietly. "That was intentional."
Seraphina slowly turned toward the table.
Ancient golden letters glowed faintly across the pages. Strange symbols surrounded the text, pulsing with protective magic.
Eldrin gestured toward the book.
"Come here, Empress."
Seraphina approached carefully.
The moment her fingertips brushed the edge of the page—
—the room exploded with light.
A sharp gasp escaped her lips as visions flooded her mind.
---
Flames.
The royal palace burning beneath a crimson sky.
Soldiers screaming.
Blood staining marble floors.
And at the center of it all—
her mother.
Beautiful. Powerful. Terrified.
"Take her and run!" her mother screamed.
Her father stood beside her, sword covered in blood, desperately holding back wave after wave of attackers.
But the enemies weren't foreign invaders.
They were nobles. Priests. Royal guards.
People the kingdom trusted.
Then Seraphina saw her.
A young Evelyne.
Dressed in pure white.
Smiling.
"No…" Seraphina whispered.
The vision shifted violently.
A sacred ritual chamber appeared before her. Ancient priests surrounded a glowing crystal while Evelyne stood at the center, hands covered in silver light.
"She carries both darkness and light," one priest whispered fearfully.
"She cannot be allowed to ascend the throne," another said.
Evelyne's lips slowly curved upward.
"Then let the kingdom fear her."
The vision shattered.
---
Seraphina stumbled backward, breathing heavily.
Kaelen immediately steadied her before she could fall.
"What did you see?" he asked.
Her fingers trembled.
"The rebellion…" she whispered. "It wasn't about saving the kingdom."
Lucien narrowed his eyes.
"It was planned."
Seraphina slowly looked up.
"Evelyne manipulated everything from the beginning."
The room fell silent.
Eldrin closed the Chronicle carefully.
"For generations, your bloodline maintained balance between dark and light magic. Your ancestors were never corrupted rulers. They were guardians."
Seraphina clenched her fists.
"Then why rewrite history?"
"Because people fear power they cannot control," Eldrin answered calmly. "Especially power born from both light and darkness."
Kaelen leaned against the table.
"So the kingdom branded her family as monsters to justify stealing the throne."
Eldrin nodded.
"And Evelyne used the church to spread those lies."
Lucien's expression darkened.
"That explains the purge."
Eldrin looked toward Seraphina.
"Your parents discovered the truth too late. By the time they realized the church and nobles had sided with Evelyne, betrayal had already spread through the palace."
Seraphina lowered her head.
For years she had blamed herself.
She thought her family fell because they were weak. Because they were hated. Because they truly became villains.
But now she understood.
They were hunted.
Framed.
Erased.
A painful ache tightened in her chest.
Kaelen noticed immediately.
"Seraphina…"
"I hated her," she whispered shakily. "In my old life, I hated the villainess. I believed every lie written about her."
Lucien's gaze softened slightly.
"But now you know the truth."
Seraphina laughed bitterly.
"Yes."
Her silver eyes slowly lifted.
"And the truth is far uglier than the story."
Outside, thunder echoed through the mountains.
The Divine Beast suddenly growled from somewhere beyond the forest.
Eldrin's expression instantly changed.
"That's impossible…"
Kaelen reached for his sword.
"What happened?"
Eldrin moved toward the window.
"The seals protecting the northern ruins…"
A violent pulse of dark magic shook the entire cottage.
Books crashed from shelves. Candles flickered wildly.
Lucien cursed under his breath.
"Someone activated forbidden magic."
Seraphina immediately felt it.
A familiar energy.
Cold. Cruel. Twisted.
Evelyne.
"She found something," Seraphina whispered.
Eldrin's face became pale.
"There's only one thing hidden beneath the northern ruins powerful enough to release that much magic."
Kaelen frowned.
"What is it?"
Eldrin turned toward them slowly.
"The Crown of Eclipse."
The room fell silent.
Lucien's eyes widened slightly.
"The forbidden crown?"
Eldrin nodded.
"The original artifact of your bloodline. The source of the first Empress's power."
Seraphina's heartbeat quickened.
She had heard whispers about it before.
A cursed crown. A divine relic. A symbol of destruction.
But according to the original storybook, the crown was destroyed centuries ago.
Another lie.
Eldrin looked directly at her.
"If Evelyne reaches it first, she won't just control the kingdom."
His voice lowered.
"She could control the Divine Beast itself."
A heavy silence settled over the room.
Then Seraphina straightened.
The hesitation in her eyes disappeared completely.
No more confusion. No more fear.
Only resolve.
"Then we move tonight."
Kaelen smirked slightly.
"There's the Empress I know."
Lucien gave a quiet nod.
"I'll prepare the horses."
As they moved quickly through the cottage, Eldrin stopped Seraphina before she left.
"There is one more thing you must know."
She turned.
Eldrin's gaze was unusually serious.
"The closer you come to reclaiming your full power… the closer you come to the fate written for you."
Seraphina's expression darkened.
"The prophecy."
Eldrin nodded.
"In every version of history… the Empress dies within seven years."
Cold silence filled the room.
But Seraphina only smiled faintly.
Then she reached for the silver pendant hanging around her neck.
"In my first life," she said softly, "I watched the villainess die."
Her silver eyes slowly began glowing.
"But this time…"
Dark and light magic swirled around her like flames.
"I'll rewrite the ending myself."
Far away, hidden beneath the ruined northern temple, a crimson eye slowly opened in the darkness.
And somewhere in the capital—
Evelyne smiled.
The real war had finally begun.
---
End of Chapter 42