The capital of Aldelorne was nothing like Kaelin had imagined. Towering white walls gleamed under the midday sun, and spires spiraled toward the sky like spears meant to pierce the heavens. Banners fluttered with the emblem of the twin phoenix—one in flame, the other in frost.
It looked majestic.
But the tension in the air was undeniable.
Guards stood at every street corner, eyes sharp, armor polished but battle-worn. Whispers filled the cobblestone roads. Murmurs of disappearances. Of shadowy figures seen vanishing into the sewers. Of a king who once ruled the dark.
---
The Summons
Kaelin and her companions were led into the palace under heavy guard. Jericho protested. Mira kept a hand on her dagger. Ayla simply observed, her expression unreadable.
Inside, the throne room stretched wide like a canyon of crystal and stone. Gilded chandeliers floated by unseen magic. Every step echoed, deliberate and cold.
And there, seated upon a throne of thorns and silver, was Queen Seralyne.
Tall. Imposing. Hair like woven moonlight. Eyes like sharpened glass.
"So," she said without rising, "the Flameborn arrives at last."
Kaelin bowed stiffly. "I didn't come to kneel."
A faint smirk touched the queen's lips. "Good. I despise weaklings."
---
A Dangerous Alliance
The queen dismissed the guards with a wave, leaving only her and Kaelin.
"You've seen him, haven't you?" the queen asked. "The Soulbound King."
Kaelin hesitated. "Yes. In a dream."
"That was no dream. That was a warning."
Queen Seralyne stood and descended the steps, her cloak trailing behind like a living shadow. "He's gathering forces across the Ashmar border. Dark sorcerers, corrupted clans, ancient beasts once believed extinct. My spies say he seeks an artifact hidden beneath the Crystal Catacombs."
Kaelin frowned. "And you want me to stop him?"
"I want you to get there first."
She leaned closer. "Do this, and I'll declare you a royal protector. You'll have the resources of a kingdom. An army. Access to the Forbidden Archives."
Kaelin stared at her. "And if I refuse?"
The queen's voice dropped to a whisper. "Then you'll be alone when he comes for you."
---
Court Intrigues
Outside the throne room, political tensions brewed. Nobles murmured as Kaelin passed. Some with curiosity. Others with hatred.
"She's a stray," one sneered. "The fire chose a child."
"She has no bloodline," another hissed. "No claim. No loyalty."
But among them, a new face stepped forward.
Lord Thorne, a tall man in dark green robes, offered Kaelin a cryptic smile. His eyes gleamed with secrets.
"You've awakened more than just a weapon," he said softly. "You've stirred the balance. And balance... is a fragile thing."
Kaelin didn't trust him. But something about his presence made her skin crawl—and not just from fear.
---
Beneath the Palace
That night, Jericho led the group into the palace library.
"The queen's offer changes everything," he whispered. "We'll need maps, sigils, ancient routes—"
Ayla interrupted. "You mean, we're accepting her help?"
"She's offering us a lifeline," Mira muttered, arms crossed. "I say we take it."
Kaelin didn't respond.
Instead, she approached an old tapestry hanging behind the shelves. It depicted a woman cloaked in fire, surrounded by runes. The words beneath it read:
"When flame meets shadow, the world shall bleed or bloom."
She touched the fabric—and felt it hum with warmth.
A prophecy, perhaps?
Or a curse?