The Throne Room Splits
While Raven spent her day helping her mentor, unaware of the storm gathering, the palace was already trembling under the weight of betrayal.
The Throne Room — Minutes Before the Fall
The King, Queen, several council members, and among them Lord Cassian—one of the conspirators—gathered in the throne room, discussing aid for nearby villages.
Suddenly—
The doors burst open.
A soldier rushed in, dropped to one knee, and bowed deeply.
Soldier:
"Your Majesty—there is a large force of mercenaries advancing toward the palace. Our men attempted negotiation—they killed everyone who approached."
The King immediately rose to his feet, voice booming:
King:
What , who are they
"Gather every soldier! Defend the palace and the kingdom and every citizen.! We fight to the death!"
But the soldier hesitated.
Soldier:
" but Half our forces… were sent to the city borders last night, by yours and lord cassian order."
The King's face hardened .
Behind him, Cassian hid a wicked smile.
He wasn't planning to reveal himself—
not yet.
Battle sounds erupted outside—shouts, steel clashes, screams.
Princess Lyria burst into the room, pulling her little sister close. Her guardian, Kara, unsheathed her sword, standing protectively before them.
Lyria:
"Father—what's happening? Who is attacking us?!"
King:
"We don't know. They attack everything in their path."
The nobles reacted in two ways:
Some trembled in fear.
Others… watched with twisted anticipation, waiting for the King to fall.
Cassian stood among them—
smiling.
The King ordered two knights to stand by him So that he can use his power on them and increase their strength , sword raised as the noise outside grew louder and louder.
Lyria clutched her sister tighter, fear gripping her heart.
And despite everything, one thought repeated in her mind:
Lyria (whispering):
"Raven … Where are you? Please… help."
⸻
One minute the voice was so loud
And then—
Everything stopped.
No screams.
No battle cries.
No steel.
Silence so deep it felt unnatural.
Everyone stiffened.
The only thing they could hear…
…was the pounding of their own hearts.
Then—
BOOM!
A massive explosion ripped the throne room doors from their hinges, sending them flying like paper.
The King braced himself, ready to strike—
But the figure stepping through wasn't a mercenary.
It was Raven .
⸻
She walked into the throne room slowly, surrounded by a massive, suffocating black aura—so strong that several nobles collapsed to their knees, unable to breathe under the pressure.
Her face was unreadable.
Emotionless.
Terrifying.
Her black sword dripped blood.
Lyria froze.
She had never—never—seen Raven like this.
Raven spoke inside her mind:
Raven(telepathically, to Morivain):
"Show me the council members who met with Cassian that night."
Morivain marked them.
Without hesitation—
without a word—
Raven vanished.
In the blink of an eye, six nobles dropped dead, their throats and hearts pierced so fast no one even saw her move.
The King, Queen, and all who remained stared in stunned horror.
What was she?
What had she become?
Lyria felt her knees tremble.
This wasn't the Raven she knew.
This was something darker.
Raven 's steps echoed like a death sentence as she walked toward Cassian, who stood behind the King.
Her voice came out low, dangerous, vibrating with fury barely held in place:
Raven :
"I told you.
Everyone in that orphanage… is my family.
I warned you—touch them, and I will kill you. Without hesitation ."
Her sharp golden eyes were , gleaming with rage ,She spoke in a threatening voice.
How dare you touch what's mine ? Now you must pay the price.
With each step she took, her aura pressed heavier, forcing nobles and soldiers alike to back away in fear.
The King's hand trembled.
He didn't understand.
He didn't know who she was speaking to—
But when Raven passed him, he exhaled with relief.
Then he turned his head—
And saw her grab Cassian by the collar and hurl him through the room like a rag doll.
She sheathed her sword.
Her hand glowed with swirling black energy.
Cassian tried to rise but collapsed to one knee, trembling.
Raven crouched before him, gripping his collar.
Raven (cold as ice):
"Do you recognize this magic?"
His eyes widened.
Raven :
"Yes the Spirit Magic.
The same magic used by the assassin you sent after me."
She placed her glowing palm against his chest.
Her smile twisted—dark, cruel.
Raven:
"I won't kill you.
I'll destroy your spirit.
Erase you from existence."
Morivain watched with delight inside her.
Everyone else?
Frozen in terror.
Was Raven a savior…
or a monster?
Even Lyria stared in horror.
The girl she thought she knew now felt like a stranger born from the abyss.
Just as Raven prepared to obliterate Cassian—
King (shouting):
"Stop! Raven—what are you doing?!"
She lifted her head slowly, golden eyes dull and emotionless.
The king froze for a second .
Raven :
"Do not try. Do not attempt to stop me."
King:
"I'm not stopping you—I'm asking why.
Why did you kill half my council?
Why are you trying to kill my right hand?"
Raven stared at him, face blank.
Raven:
"You truly don't know?
Even now?"
King:
"What are you talking about? Explain yourself!"
She sighed.
Then dragged Cassian forward and threw him at the King's feet.
Raven :
"Fine. I'll tell you everything."
She turned to Cassian.
Raven:
"If I'm wrong, correct me."
" And try to use your magic " She leaned towards him and whispered, "I will tear your heart out before your eyes."
Cassian said nothing—too terrified to move.
Raven:
The one how behind all this is lord cassian .
" but Cassian didn't plan a coup at first.
His plans were far worse."
The entire room held its breath.
Raven:
"When Princess Lyria was born, he hired an ancient sorcerer.
He placed a curse on her—a curse so perfectly hidden no one could ever detect it."
Gasps spread across the hall.
Raven :
"Once she reached adulthood, the curse would activate.
She would die within a year or two—
before becoming Queen."
Lyria covered her mouth, eyes wide.
Raven :
"Then, not long after, a 'tragic accident' would claim the lives of the King and Queen."
Raven :
"That would leave only the little Princess.
Alone. Young. Easy to manipulate.
Cassian would raise her as his puppet—
a Queen in name only."
The Queen clutched her youngest daughter tight, trembling.
Her gaze darkened.
Raven :
"But things didn't go as he wanted.
Lyria survived the curse.
Someone managed to erased it—something impossible even for royal magicians."
She pointed to herself.
Raven :
"That someone was me , strong and powerful ."
A wave of whispers filled the room.
Raven :
"And because the King began trusting me,and I have no ill intentions towards them. Cassian realized his original plan had collapsed.
So he changed strategies."
Her voice deepened, venomous.
Raven :
"He tried to assassinate me.
Many times, but that didn't work .
So Then he tried to assassinate princess Lyria."
Lyria was silent the whole time ,but her eyes never left Raven .
Raven :
"After that,the king began investigation.
That put pressure on him—and the nobles siding with him.
Eventually, they decided on their final plan: the coup."
The King clenched his fists.
Raven :
"But I was in their way. they had to get me out of their way.
So they targeted the orphanage."
Therefore, they kidnapped mother Mary and some children and hid them in a village far from the city
A spike of killing intent leaked from her.
Her voice broke into a cold whisper:
Raven :
"And that was their final mistake."
She grabbed Cassian by the collar again.
Raven :
"You messed with the wrong person.
You never understood the limits of my power , but that didn't stop you from messing with me.
Cassian fell apart completely.
Cassian:
"Please—please forgive me! I won't do it again! Show mercy—please!"
Raven(dead cold):
"Did you show mercy to the children you hurt?
Did you show mercy to a woman who spent her life caring for kids without blood ties?"
She raised her hand again—
But the King shouted:
King:
"Cassian! Why?! Why betray me? I trusted you!"
Cassian's face twisted with hatred.
Cassian:
"I despise the way you rule.
And your daughter—Lyria—would've become just like you.
Too soft. Too gentle.
But the young Princess—
I would've trained her to be a ruthless Queen under my hand."
He kept rambling—
And then—
SWISH—
The King swung his sword.
Cassian's head rolled across the floor.
The hall went silent.
⸻
When Raven saw his body in front of her , she was little despondent that she didn't kill him herself , but the important thing is that he is dead.
She turned her back and walked away, but paused halfway to the door.
Raven :
"The families allied with Cassian are the same ones who funded the mercenaries.
Lady Varna, Lord Halden, Lord Evrin."
And She continued walking.
King:
"Raven —where are you going? We must talk!"
Raven (cold, without turning):
"Many children were injured today.
They need care."
And without another word—
She left the throne room.