Kael moved like a shadow storm.
Aria's arms tightened around his neck as he carried her through endless corridors.Walls blurred. Floors trembled.The red torches flickered violently as they passed.
Aria whispered, breathless,"Kael… how far is it?"
His jaw clenched."Farther than I want. The Forbidden Wing is sealed from the rest of the palace."
"Sealed? Why?"
Kael didn't answer immediately.
Instead, the air around him grew colder.
Finally, he said,"Because even demons fear what sleeps inside it."
Aria stiffened.
"Kael… are you taking me to something worse?"
He tightened his hold around her protectively.
"No. I won't let anything harm you. Not the council… not the shadows… not the past."
Aria swallowed hard.His voice wasn't just protective.
It was broken.Like he knew the Forbidden Wing too well.
Before she could ask, Kael stopped abruptly.
A huge door rose ahead — ancient, cracked, chained with runes that glowed faint blue.
The chains rattled when Kael stepped closer.
Aria whispered,"What is this place?"
Kael set her down gently.
"This," he said quietly, "is the boundary between the realm… and the forgotten."
Aria's voice trembled."Forgotten?"
Kael placed his palm on the cold stone.
The runes reacted instantly, glowing crimson instead of blue.
"Yes," he said."The part of my past even Ezren fears."
Aria's breath hitched.
He wasn't talking about danger—He was talking about himself.
Before she could speak, the chains snapped.The huge doors groaned open, releasing an icy wind.
Aria shivered. "Kael… I don't like this."
Kael took her hand firmly.
"You don't have to like it. You only have to stay with me."
The door opened fully.
Darkness swirled inside.Whispers floated out.Shadows coiled like snakes on the floor.
Aria took a step back.
"Kael… this place hates me."
Kael stepped in front of her, aura burning brighter.
"If it hates you, then it hates me too."
She blinked, startled.He had never spoken so honestly.
He squeezed her hand and walked forward.
Aria hesitated…then followed him inside.
Inside the Forbidden Wing
The corridor stretched endlessly, lit only by pale blue flames.The walls were cracked stone, carved with old writings.
Aria glanced around."Kael… these symbols… they look older than the palace."
Kael nodded.
"They are. This wing is older than the kingdom itself."
Aria frowned. "Then why are we allowed inside?"
Kael's expression darkened.
"Because I opened it once before."
Aria stopped walking.
Something in his voice—a shadow deeper than the darkness around them—made her chest squeeze.
"You opened it?" she whispered."Why?"
Kael didn't turn.
"Because I was trying to save someone."
Aria felt her throat tighten painfully.
"Did… did you save them?"
Kael finally met her eyes.
"No," he whispered. "I failed."
Silence fell heavy.
Aria moved closer and gently touched his arm.
"Kael… I'm sorry."
He didn't pull away.
For a moment, he looked like a prince carrying the weight of centuries.
Then—
Voices whispered from deeper inside the hall.
"Kael…""Kael…""You brought another…"
Aria froze."What was that?!"
Kael's aura flared instantly.
"The Forbidden Wing remembers the dead," he said softly."They whisper the names of the living."
Aria's heart pounded."It whispered your name."
He nodded."It always does."
"And… it said you brought another."
Kael stepped close, placing himself between her and the shadows.
"They are speaking of you."
Aria shivered violently."Why me?"
Kael's voice lowered.
"Because you carry the only mark the ancient shadows recognize."
Aria's voice cracked."Kael… is this really safe for me?"
Kael touched her cheek gently, forcing her to look at him.
"No," he said honestly."But it is safer than letting assassins reach you."
Before Aria could respond, a thunderous boom shook the corridor.
Kael snapped his head upward.
Aria grabbed his arm."Kael—what was that?!"
His eyes narrowed.
"The assassins have found the palace wing. They'll break through soon."
Aria's stomach dropped.
"Then we have to hide deeper—"
Kael shook his head.
"No. If we go deeper, the Wing will trap us. It feeds on fear."
Aria trembled."Then what do we do?"
Kael took both her hands in his.
And for the first time—his voice trembled too.
"Trust me again, Aria."
Aria stared at him.His eyes — burning, desperate, protective — held everything he couldn't say out loud.
Slowly…she nodded.
"…I trust you."
Kael exhaled shakily.
"Then I will keep you alive."
He pulled her close, wrapping his cloak around her as the shadows screamed—and the assassins broke through the outer palace.
The danger was coming.
And Kael had only one thought left:
He would rather destroy his realm…than lose her.