The remaining two royal executioners stepped back in pure surprise, their boots grinding heavily against the slick rocks of the roaring riverbank. They stared with wide eyes at the tall, powerful woman whose pale skin was now flushing with a vibrant, healthy warmth. The absolute impossibility of the sight sent a jolt of pure terror through their veins, shattering their confidence. The cold midnight rain slammed against their heavy iron armor as they tried to process how a dying slave woman was suddenly standing before them like an awakened god."How on earth is this possible?" the second guard stammered, his hands shaking slightly as he looked at the floating corpse of his leader in the dark water. "The stasis disease should have dissolved her internal organs and stopped her heart by now! She was supposed to be completely dead in that tree hollow!" He gripped his weapon tighter, his knuckles turning white as he looked from the dead captain back to the fiercely breathing woman who held

The cold wind blew hard through the mountain pass, pushing thick snow all over the road. Kael walked slowly through the deep ice, his legs hurting with every single step he took. On his back, he carried his mother, Elara, who was completely unconscious and wrapped in an old piece of canvas to stay warm. He could feel her weak breath against his neck, and that small movement kept him moving forward. He looked up through the white fog and saw the large stone wall of the Northern Gate blocking his way out of the empire.The checkpoint was full of King Alden's best soldiers, who stood behind iron spikes with their weapons ready. Captain Vance stood on the high watchtower, wearing a thick fur coat and looking down at the path with a mean smile. The moment Kael stepped into the open area, the captain looked closely at his face and recognized him from the royal bounty posters. The guards immediately lifted their heavy iron crossbows, their armor making a loud noise as they prepared to follow

The armored carriage stood still in the deep silence of the northern canyons. Kael carefully lifted his mother, Elara, onto his aching shoulders, grinding his teeth to fight the stinging pain from his freshly treated wounds. He stepped down into the thick snow, his boots sinking into the white drifts as he followed Kira toward the dark mouth of the cavern. Every muscle in his body felt completely drained, but his heart remained burning with an unyielding desire for justice.They walked deep into the shadows of the stone cavern, where the heavy, crushing pressure of the atmosphere immediately made it difficult to draw a deep breath. Kael felt an invisible weight pushing down on his head and shoulders, forcing him to bend his knees slightly just to keep from collapsing under the force. He looked down the dark, rocky pathway, noticing how the air seemed to ripple with a faint purple light that came from the very core of the mountain.Kira led them to a small, dry stone chamber located ri

The morning sun had barely risen when Kael marched into the courtyard of the royal treasury. His face was hidden behind the realistic mask of Vance, and his armor felt tight against his chest. He stood in a straight line with five other low-ranking guards, his hands holding a heavy wooden spear. The morning air was cold, but his mind was sharp and fully focused on the mission ahead. He knew that Duke Logan would arrive at any moment with the rare Moon-Lotus flower."Listen to me, you worthless blocks of wood!" the head treasury guard shouted, walking down the straight line of men. He stopped right in front of Kael, poking his finger hard into Kael's leather chest plate. "Duke Logan is bringing a legendary tribute to the King today, and you are his escort. If any of you idiots drop a single box, I will personally skin you alive and feed your flesh to the palace hounds!""Yes, Captain!" Kael and the other guards replied in unison, their voices sounding loud, plain, and perfectly submiss

The sudden, terrifying explosion from Duke Logan's body had barely settled when a sharp, deafening crash shattered the high roof of the grand imperial hall. The large stained-glass windows blasted inward into a thousand glittering shards as a brutal rain of heavy iron arrows poured from the dark sky. Kira had secretly deployed a rogue faction of powerful northern archers to launch a massive ambush on the palace courtyard, explicitly timed to dismantle the ceremony. The chaotic assault tore through the tables, sending plates and heavy golden pitchers flying across the polished marble floor."Rebels! The northern traitors have breached our outer defenses!" King Alden roared at the top of his lungs, his face turning completely red with a terrifying fury as he drew his glowing golden sword. He rushed down the steps of the royal platform, waving his blade frantically toward the panicked crowd. "Guards! Form a defensive wall around the royal table right now! Mages, activate the palace shiel