Mr. Zen slowly stood from his seat."Elijah...""Before anything else...""Thank you."Cassian looked at him."You've done more for us than we could ever repay.""You gave us shelter.""You protected us.""And you even offered to take us safely to Noctharis."Mr. Zen lowered his head respectfully.We'll never forget your kindness.Cassian smiled faintly."You don't have to thank me."I'm only doing what I believe is right.Mr. Zen hesitated before speaking again."However...""We won't be continuing to Noctharis."Cassian's smile froze for the briefest moment.Inside...His patience snapped.What?After everything I've done...Now you decide to change your minds?Even so...Not a trace of that anger appeared on his face.Instead, he calmly asked,"May I know why?"Jessica stepped forward."My mother.""We got separated while searching for her and It was during that search that Scott was captured by the elves."She lowered her head."We can't leave her behind."Cassian folded his arms.

Later that night...Cassian made his way to the palace clinic where Sarah was being kept.Several powerful magic users surrounded her bed.They examined her body from every angle, using different forms of magic to study the strange markings covering her skin but every time they tried something more invasive...Something strange happened.The moment a sharp object touched Sarah's skin, a powerful bolt of electricity burst from her body.Lightning spread across the room.The magic users were forced to jump back as the electric force pushed them away.And the wound on Sarah's body immediately healed."Again?" one of the magic users muttered."Don't use that blade!""I wasn't even the one holding it.""Then stop standing so close!"Another mage sighed."We're trying to study her, not get ourselves killed."Cassian stood quietly at the side, watching everything.His eyes narrowed slightly.So even while unconscious...Her body protects itself.He slowly approached the bed.One step.Then a

Kol…The name escaped Diana’s lips before she could say anything else.Kol deliberately walked toward them, his steps slow and steady.“You have grown quite well,” he said, his eyes settling on Diana. “And you’re looking more beautiful than ever.”Despite the compliment, there wasn't even the slightest smile on his face.His cold expression had become so natural that nobody could tell when he was happy or angry.Diana opened her mouth to reply.But Kol suddenly stopped.His expression changed.He had sensed something.“Mother…”The word escaped his lips quietly.Then his eyes slowly shifted toward Scott.His gaze locked onto him.“Siren…”His voice was barely above a whisper.Scott’s eyes widened.Before he could even react, Kol vanished.Whoosh!In the next instant, he was already in front of Scott.Scott barely had time to blink before Kol’s hand clamped around his neck.Bang!His back slammed against the wall.Kol lifted him effortlessly, leaving his legs dangling above the ground.

Elena walked deeper into the Noctharis forest, her footsteps quiet against the damp earth as Cassian's message kept replaying in her mind.Three days.That was all the time her brother had given her.If she didn't return to Drakenhold, he would tell their father where she was and exactly what she was doing.Elena sighed."Of course you had to threaten me."She kicked a small stone from her path."Cassian..."She knew her brother well enough to know he wasn't bluffing.If he had already gone as far as sending her that message, he would have no problem exposing her.Her thoughts then shifted to Diana.Elena's expression tightened."That woman..."Diana had been watching her closely for some time.Now she had even followed her into the garden and fired an arrow at the raven.If Diana caught her alone again, there was no doubt she would start asking questions.And Elena wasn't exactly known for being patient when someone kept poking into her secrets.She sighed again."She is definitely g

King Ricard did not bother hiding the reason for calling Elena."I want you to do something for me."Elena raised an eyebrow."That sounds suspicious already."Kael snorted."Everything sounds suspicious to you.""Because everything you people do is suspicious."King Ricard ignored their exchange."There is a girl I brought in from Azra.""She is unconscious.""I want you to read her memories."Elena blinked."Which girl?"Kael stepped forward."The girl with the strange tattoos."Elena looked at him."That explanation is terrible."Kael sighed."A mysterious man fell from the sky in Azra. He was badly injured, then disappeared.""A young woman named Sarah somehow absorbed his power.""Those strange ancient markings appeared on her body afterward.""She's been unconscious ever since."Elena's expression slowly changed."Interesting."Kael smiled."See? Even you think it's interesting.""I think you're finally capable of explaining something without sounding completely useless."Kael's