The king allowed a moment of silence to pass, his gaze still fixed on me. For a brief second, it felt as if the entire world in that chamber had stopped breathing. Then, slowly, he inclined his head, and a faint smile played around his lips. A smile that somehow felt comforting, though its calm and power were nonetheless unsettling.
"I believe you, Ilana," the king finally said, his voice now much softer, yet laced with an authority that could silence even the wisest of sages. His words echoed through the hall, filling it with an unobtrusive but powerful presence. "The truth always reveals itself, and it's clear that you are more involved in this situation than you realize."
The seven sages exchanged glances, their eyes sharp and scrutinizing. The old man with the white beard, who had remained silent until now, raised a hand to object, but the king lifted his hand quietly, silencing him. It was a gesture even the wisest respected. The authority he commanded was undeniable.
"Your Majesty," the white-bearded man began hesitantly, "the magic we sense in her is unusual. A normal student, as she claims to be, should not possess such a powerful aura."
The king looked at the sage with a faintly mocking smile. "And you believe that an innocent girl would endanger herself and others? That's what you learned from the tales of ancient magic, isn't it? But surely, you've also heard that not everything powerful is inherently evil."
The king's words hung heavy in the air. He stepped forward, stopping just in front of me. With a gaze that was both protective and commanding, he continued, "Ilana has done nothing she's accused of. It is obvious that she has been drawn into this against her will."
The sages remained silent. The tension in the room was palpable as they began to reconsider their positions. But the king's words carried weight. They knew there was little they could do to defy his authority.
I exhaled in relief as the crushing pressure finally eased. The king had stood up for me. But I also knew this was only the beginning. The situation was far from simple, and I sensed that many secrets still lay ahead.
"You will release her," the king commanded with a final gesture. "For now, Ilana is not an accused she is someone trying to protect us from a threat."
The soldiers hesitated only briefly before they released my restraints. I took a step back, my eyes still locked on the king. A mixture of gratitude and caution welled up within me. He had helped me but what else was he planning?
"You are free, Ilana," the king said as he turned away.
The magical energy that had bound me to the platform began to flicker. With a soft crackle, the glowing pattern beneath my feet unraveled, as if an invisible thread had snapped. The shimmering lines faded until nothing remained but the cool stone floor.
Hesitantly, I took a step forward. Nothing held me back anymore. Relieved yet still tense, I stepped down from the platform. My legs felt oddly heavy, as if the magic had not only restrained my body, but also numbed my powers. Still, I forced myself to stand tall.
The soldiers who had once surrounded me stepped back respectfully. No words were spoken. Only the faint echo of my footsteps filled the grand hall.
—
Third-Person POV
In the crisp night air, the king slowly stepped onto the balcony. The moon hung heavily over the city, casting rooftops in a silvery hue. He stood there for a while, hands resting on the cold stone, until a voice pierced the stillness.
"Are you satisfied?"
The king turned his head slowly.
At the edge of the balcony, casually leaning against a column, stood a man with long white hair that shimmered like snow in the moonlight. His red eyes gleamed ominously, and a mocking grin curled his lips promising more than mere provocation.
It was the same man the one who had brutally sealed Ilana's fate in her past life.
"Reynold Kusana," the king said quietly, without surprise in his voice. His gaze remained alert, his posture tense yet composed.
Reynold smirked. "You did what I asked," he said. "You released her. Under your command."
The king was silent for a moment, then replied coolly, "Only because of our agreement."
Reynold laughed softly a dark, malicious sound that held no true amusement. "Of course. Our deal. You let Ilana go... and in return, I stay away from your precious kingdom."
His eyes narrowed as he studied the king. "Don't forget who's really pulling the strings."
The king turned fully to face him, his voice low but sharp as a blade. "I'm keeping my end of the bargain. But if you so much as reach for her, our pact ends sooner than you'd like."
For a moment, their eyes locked two mighty forces held together by a fragile promise.
Then Reynold pushed off the column with a nonchalant shrug. "Only looking out for you, Your Majesty," he mocked, before vanishing into the shadows of the night, as if he'd never been there.
The king remained alone on the dark balcony. The night spread around him like a heavy cloak, but the burden on his shoulders weighed more than any crown he had ever worn.
His eyes wandered into the endless darkness of the city, while one question echoed relentlessly in his mind:
"Who is Ilana really... and what is her connection to the Kusana?"
The wind whispered faintly, as if even the night knew the answer and refused to reveal it.