Seraphina approached the table gracefully, expecting to find only her father waiting.
Instead, he was there too.
Kael.
The moment she took her seat, a frown settled on her face, sharp enough to undo all the careful work the maids had done. Silk and jewels meant nothing when anger pulled her lips into a pout.
"We may begin," King Alaric announced.
Seraphina's chair scraped softly against the floor as she shifted. "Why, Father," she said sharply, "is he dining with us?"
"Yes, Seraphina," the king replied evenly. "Do you have a problem with that?"
"Yes," she said without hesitation. "In fact, I have a very big problem."
Alaric's brow lifted. "And that is?"
"We don't know who he is," she said, her voice rising despite herself. "Each time we ask, he just gives simple answers that mean nothing."
At her chest, the amulet stirred—glowing faintly.
"Listen to me," the king said firmly. "Kael may keep his identity hidden, but he has his reasons."
"Oh, just like he has reasons for knowing everything about the amulet?" she shot back. "Where has he been all these centuries, Father? If he was mother's guardian why haven't I seen him before" she continued
And now he simply appears at Mother's funeral, begins teaching me, and I'm supposed to accept it without question?"
She turned to Kael, frustration breaking through her restraint. "I don't know who you are!"
The hall was filled with the crimson light bright enough to blind anyone's eyes, But it faded a little.
"SERAPHINA!"
The king's voice thundered through the hall.
"Control yourself!" Alaric snapped. "How many times must you be reminded of the power you carry? His identity is not the issue. From this moment on, Kael is your personal guardian. He will train with the guards, stand beside you, and protect you. This kingdom is under threat—so stop acting like a little child! you are old enough to understand the situation you are in"
The words struck deeper than any blade.
Seraphina's eyes filled with tears. Without another word, she pushed back from the table and fled the chamber.
Kael rose instantly and followed—before something worse could happen.
Far beyond the palace walls, Lorin moved towards the guards, his thoughts twisting into something dangerous and unfamiliar.
He approached one of the guards, lowering his gaze, his voice trembling as he played the part of a helpless commoner.
"I heard something in the bushes," he said. "Please… I think someone's in there."
The guard followed Lorin into the bushes. When the guard searched and didn't find anything. The guard turned— It was already too late.
A swift strike. A fallen iron rod.
Silence.
Moments later, Lorin stood over the fallen man, breathing heavily. He reached down, removing the guard's armor piece by piece — the crest, the cloak, the leather straps — until the disguise was his.
When he looked into a puddle on the ground, the reflection that stared back at him no longer belonged to a common blacksmith's helper. It was a man cloaked in deception, his eyes sharper and colder.
The sky darkened as clouds gathered overhead.
"Forgive me," Lorin whispered, voice trembling. "But destiny waits for no one."
Rain began to fall—soft at first, then relentless.
He mounted the horse, the guard's cloak heavy on his shoulders, and rode toward the palace as the storm swallowed the road behind him.
Seraphina collapsed onto her bed, sobs shaking her frame. She heard a gentle knock.
"Who is there" she asked.
"It's me, princess" kael said then opened the door.
"Why are you here?" she cried when Kael entered. "You're the reason Father raised his voice at me!"
"Princess," Kael said gently, sitting beside her, "I am here to help you."
Her tears spilled faster. "I woke up to my mother's cold embrace on the day of her death," she whispered. "Where were you then? Why weren't you there to help her?"
The amulet flared violently.
Glass shattered.
"Seraphina, please," Kael urged. "Control yourself."
"I don't know how!" she cried. Curtains tore free. The room trembled beneath her grief.
"Remember," he said quickly, pulling her into his arms trying to coax her into calming down. "Remember anything that makes you happy. Your mother—her smile, her love for you, her words."
Slowly, her breathing steadied.
The amulet dimmed.
Somewhere far away, the Order felt it.
So close. But not enough.
"What if the Order was right?" Seraphina whispered weakly. "What if this power was never meant for me?"
Kael stilled. "They came into your dream?"
She nodded. "Two nights. The first night mother gave me the amulet that was my first encounter with them, and when I told mother she said they cannot harm me if I learned. After mother's death they didn't disturb my sleep not until last night"
"What did they say to you last night?"
"They said they didn't want the amulet," she said quietly. "That they only wanted to listen. To understand me."
Kael's expression hardened.
"Do not confide in them," he said firmly. "I will tell you everything about the order when you are calm—but do not trust their words, the same way you distrusted me to the point of this chaos." he said as he pointed around and despite everything, a small laugh escaped them both.
But as the false guard rode through the storm, Seraphina — in that instant— felt a sudden, unexplainable chill crawl down her spine.
The amulet pulsed once, sharply, like a heartbeat skipping.
Kael looked up. "Did you see that?"
She pressed her fingers to the gem. "It's never done this before."
His jaw tightened.
"He is close," Kael said quietly. "The one the amulet remembers."
Outside, thunder rolled.
Fate drew tight its final threads—binding two souls destined to meet. But neither of them knew whether that meeting would save Altheris…
…or destroy it— not even the mysterious kael.