I turned, and my breath caught. Amelia’s gaze was fixed on Cassius, not with the surprise I expected, but with a profound, knowing stillness. Her eyes, which seemed to hold the wisdom of ages, softened, and a gentle smile touched her lips. Only then did she turn that smile to me.

“You already knew,” I murmured, the accusation softened by my own relief.

“I knew the destination,” she replied, her voice a low hum as her attention drifted back to him. “Not the journey. It’s one thing to see the breaking of a curse in a vision, no matter how vivid. It is another to witness the man who emerges from the other side.” She glided toward my desk, settling into a vacant chair beside Cassius. “I can see how much the world has reshaped him in your absence.”

My eyes met Cassius’s, a silent acknowledgment passing between us before we both looked back at her. “The world has reshaped us both,” I confirmed, leaning my shoulder against the cool stone wall.

Amelia shifted, her posture radiating a quiet intensity. “Your last message was before Coral Bluffs. Tell me what transpired.”

“Eventful,” Cassius said, his voice a low grim rumble. “The locals were less than welcoming.”

“But we found who we were looking for,” I interjected. “Seraphiel. The judgment passed against her was a lie. She was blinded for a crime she didn’t commit.”

A flicker of cold fury hardened Cassius’s features. “A judgment I will see rectified. When my people return to Aelindoria, she will have a place of honor, if she so desires it.”

A memory surfaced, warm and bright against the grimness of our tale. “It was beautiful, though,” I found myself saying, a soft smile on my lips. “We helped her create a potion from a Moonless Blossom. To watch her see for the first time… to see the colors of the world she’d only dreamed of…” I trailed off, the moment too precious for words. “She showed us our next path.”

Cassius took up the narrative, his tone somber. “To the Magic Tower, to consult its Master.”

Amelia’s eyebrows arched. “The Tower Master? Few have been granted audience.”

“Seraphiel insisted,” I said. “She was certain they would know the location of the ancient city… Oakhaven.”

At the name, a shadow passed over Amelia’s face, an expression so fleeting. It wasn’t surprise, but something deeper, something far older. She gave a slow, deliberate nod, her silence a confirmation that Oakhaven held secrets even we had yet to uncover.

“We went to Oakhaven,” I continued, my voice steady despite the tremor I felt inside. “We found what looked like an old temple, a place of ritual.” I glanced at Cassius, unable to voice the next part.

His voice was quiet, yet it filled the room. “Thalia had to stop my heart.” He said it so simply, as if discussing the weather. “She shielded my mind as the curse, seeking a new host, consumed my physical form. With no living vessel to claim, it devoured itself.” His eyes, dark and intense, found mine. The warmth in them was a physical force, a deep and abiding heat that stole the air from my lungs. “The strain on her was… immense.”

Amelia’s gaze flickered between us, a silent understanding dawning in her expression. She cleared her throat. “What matters is that you are both whole. The curse is broken.” Her focus shifted to me. “Your mana has deepened, Thalia. It will continue to grow.” She then turned to Cassius. “And yours? Has it returned?”

A genuine, breathtaking smile transformed Cassius’s face. He lifted his palm, and a brilliant, white-gold energy bloomed in the center. It didn’t just swirl; it pulsed with life, washing a warm, ozone-scented breeze through the room before vanishing as quickly as it came.

“It has,” he confirmed.

“Good,” Amelia said, her smile fading as gravity returned to her voice. “You are both going to need every ounce of it.” The words hung in the air, a stark reminder that this victory was but a single battle in a long war. “K’tthar’s shadow lengthens, the coin holders remain hidden, and the elves are still scattered to the winds.”

Cassius leaned forward, his focus absolute. “Our people must be gathered. Aelindoria is a ghost town without them. Have you heard any rumors of elves?”

“No elves,” she mused, tapping a finger on the polished wood of the desk. “But… there are whispers from the region around Glens Crossing. They speak of a shrouded traveler who trades with locals, yet never shows their face. That is all I know.”

“Then Glens Crossing is where we go next,” I declared, and Cassius nodded, his jaw set with purpose. I turned back to Amelia. “And here? What news from Tirilla?”

“The king and Blair have been deceptively quiet,” she answered, her lips thinning. “They impose cruel new laws, enforce a city-wide curfew, and make brutal public examples of any who defy them. A shroud of fear has fallen over this city.”

A sharp pain lanced through me for the people trapped under their tyranny. I will end this, I vowed, the promise a hot coal in my chest. I will stop them.

Amelia let out a sigh of profound annoyance. “And then there is Dolion. The man is a menace, preying on the palace staff and stirring dissent for sport. He delights in the public executions. I am no longer certain who is more dangerous—the tyrant on the throne or the viper aspiring to it.”

“I knew he was trouble,” I said, crossing my arms. “The last thing I need is him digging into my affairs.”

“Dolion should be put into place,” Cassius stated, his voice flat and cold.

“My father or Blair will deal with him if his ambition outweighs his usefulness,” I countered calmly. “If not, another duke will, to secure the position for their own heir. For now, he is a distraction. Our purpose lies elsewhere. We find the elves, and we forge an alliance.”

“I agree,” Amelia said. 

I perched myself on the edge of the desk. “That is our priority.” My thoughts shifted. “Amelia, what of Lyra and the other coin holders?”

“Nothing,” she reported. “She remains sequestered in her workshop, emerging only for herbs and mana crystals from the nearby woods.”

I ran a hand through my hair in frustration.

“They require a help,” Cassius observed, his gaze on me. “What was the plan you mentioned?”

“I think,” I said, meeting his gaze, “we need to stage a break-in at her home.”

Cassius stared, his expression a mask of disbelief. “Thalia, that’s madness. You risk terrorizing an ally and driving her further into isolation.”

“You would think so,” I acknowledged, my voice firm. “But this is a calculated risk. Lyra is proud. A violation of her sanctuary won’t make her hide; it will make her seek answers. It will push her straight to the Information Guild, where Noctis can ensure Adrix brings her in.”

While Cassius still looked deeply concerned, Amelia gave a single, decisive nod. “I trust your judgment. I will arrange it. It will happen in three days.”

“Thank you,” I said softly, grateful for her unwavering faith. My mind jumped to another potential obstacle. “Since we leave tomorrow night, do you know Kaelen’s whereabouts? I’d prefer to avoid a… confrontation.”

“He traveled south this morning,” Amelia replied with a dismissive wave. “You are in the clear.”

A small measure of relief washed over me. “Good. In that case, I should spend the afternoon in the grand library. It’s time I made a public appearance.” The thought of navigating the sea of gossiping maids made me inwardly groan, but maintaining my cover was paramount.

“A wise decision,” Amelia agreed, her expression turning solemn. She looked from me to Cassius, her gaze lingering on us both. “This next journey will test you in ways you cannot imagine. The bond between you is your greatest weapon. Do not let anything fracture it.”

“I trust her with my life,” Cassius answered instantly, a protective fire in his eyes.

I heard the unspoken vow beneath his words, a pledge so absolute it made my heart ache. Amelia’s warning was no casual remark. A trial was coming, designed to tear us apart. I didn’t know its shape or form, but a new resolve hardened within me, turning my fear into steel.

Let it come. We would face it. Together.