"Bring the royal physicians immediately!" the king roared, his voice cracking through the silence like thunder. The guards outside the royal chamber snapped to attention and raced off, the sound of their armored boots echoing down the marbled hallways. Inside the massive room lit by golden chandeliers and flaming torches, the king’s eyes remained fixed on the young man standing before him. Elias, inside the prince’s body, stood in careful posture. His face showed confusion, just enough to match their expectations, but behind his calm expression, his mind was racing. Within minutes, three elderly men in long blue robes entered the chamber. Each one carried scrolls, leather satchels filled with healing herbs, and strange metallic instruments that clinked softly with every step. The head physician, a man with a snow-white beard and eyes as sharp as eagle talons, stepped forward and bowed deeply. "Your Majesty," he said with reverence, "we have examined the prince thoroughly." The king

"You're the angry type... I see, I was just checking something," Elias said, wiping the red mark on his cheek from the slap. His voice held a calm, teasing edge, but his eyes flickered with something deeper, thoughtfulness, or perhaps a hint of satisfaction.Seraphina didn’t say a word. Her lips were tightly pressed together, her cheeks still flushed from the confrontation. She turned sharply and left the room, her long gown sweeping behind her like a stormy wave. Her footsteps echoed fast and filled with emotion. The soft click of the door closing behind her was like a final punctuation mark to her anger.Elias scoffed and ran his hand through his dark hair, the strands falling messily back over his forehead. “Tch... Sensitive,” he muttered under his breath, casting one last look at the closed door before sighing.He walked to the window, his footsteps soft against the polished marble floor. Outside, the sky was a dull gray, and soft sunlight filtered through the thin clouds like a w

When Elias opened his eyes, the warm sunlight was already spilling through the tall windows of his room. The sun cast a soft golden glow on the walls, making the whole chamber look peaceful. A faint breeze came in through the slightly open window, carrying the scent of blooming lilies from the royal garden.Beside his bed sat a middle-aged man with gentle eyes. He was carefully removing thin acupuncture needles from Elias’s arm. The man looked relieved when he saw Elias awake."You're awake, my prince," the physician said kindly.Elias blinked a few times, trying to sit up, but the physician gently stopped him."You need rest. The poison in your system has been neutralized, but your arm is still healing. Don’t overuse it for now."Elias gave a small nod. "Thank you."The physician packed his tools, bowed, and left quietly. Elias turned to his loyal servant, who stood near the doorway, waiting patiently."What about the princess?" Elias asked."She's in her chambers, my prince. She ref

The wind howled quietly outside as Elias, Helen, and Seraphina crouched inside a small, dusty store tucked between two closed market stalls. It was late. The streets outside were dark, empty, and tense with silence. Shadows danced as the moonlight poured through cracks in the wooden walls. Inside the store, old baskets, torn fabric, and sacks of rice lay piled in corners. They were hiding, breath held tight, waiting for the sound of boots outside to fade. Helen's eyes slowly drifted upward, to the slanted wooden roof above. A small hole was carved out at the top corner. Through it, the pale light of the full moon shone, casting a silver beam across her face. "What are you staring at?" Elias asked, keeping his voice low. Helen smiled softly, her voice calm. "It's the full moon. It's beautiful." Elias turned his eyes upward, but the moment he saw the moon, his heart dropped. The full moon... The image of the dead priestess flashed in his mind. Her last words echoed like thunder: "

"How could it be there? That’s not possible!" the priestess's assistant gasped, her voice shrill with disbelief. Her eyes widened as she stared up at the high wooden ceiling of the ceremonial hall. A hushed murmur swept through the gathering of nobles and palace officials like wind over water.Helen stood rooted at the center of the hall, calm and composed, her gaze lifted to the ceiling. The surrounding noise began to fade, replaced by a steady rhythm in her ears , like a heartbeat. She drew in a slow breath, her lashes lowering."As long as I have seen where it lies…" she whispered under her breath, "I can summon it."Then she raised her hand toward the sky and began to chant ancient words lost to most of the world. Her voice was soft but strong, wrapping around the room like a gentle storm. The crowd fell silent, frozen in anticipation.A faint shimmer of light appeared above, glimmering with the same pale hue as moonlight. Then, in a flash, a radiant beam of blue light burst throu