''Because she broke the promise . ''
The words hit like a blade . she was meant to return to me , Kael said . '' To serve as part of the balance . But she Ran . Hid you . Tried to bury what she had done . ''
Elara s hands trembled . So you took her instead .
''Yes . ''
''And now ? ''
Kael stepped closer , close enough that she could see the faint scars etched along his collarbon marks that looked eerily similar to the symbol on her pendent .
''Now the debt remains unpaid , '' he said softly . '' And the promise …has found a new bearer . ''
Elara took a step back . '' No . I did not make any promise . ''
Blood remembers , Kael replied . The curse does not care for choice .
The pendant burned again , brighter this time . The symbol spread faintly across her skin , glowing like fire beneath flesh .
What is happening to me ? she cried . You are becoming bound , Kael said . just as she was .
Fear gripped her chest, tight and suffocating . "I won't do it. I won't serve you." You do not have to serve me , he said , his voice lowering . you only have to fulfil the promise . '' And if I do not ? ''
Kael's expression darkened , the faint trace of something dangerous slipping trough his calm .
Then the curse will take everything from you , he said . Slowly . Painfully . Until there is nothing left .
Tears stung Elara's eyes, but she refused to let them fall.
"There has to be another way."
Kael hesitated.
For the first time , something uncertain flickered in his gaze .
''There is always another way , '' he said quietly . '' But it comes with a cost far greater than the original promise . ''
Elara met his eyes , her fear hardening into something stronger .
Tell me . The crimson sky above them pulsed, as if reacting to her words.
Kael stepped back into the shadows, his form beginning to blur with the darkness.
Find me when you are ready to choose , he said . But be warned , Elara …every choice you make from this moment on will pull you deeper into the curse . ''And my mother ? '' she called .
A pause .
Then , from the darkness . '' She is waiting . '' The forest fell silent once more .
And for the first time in her life , Elara understood that the truth was far more dangerous than the unknown . Clutching the burning pendant, she turned toward the village—but something told her she would never truly return.
Because the promise had already begun to claim her.