Nuru returned to the tower silently. No guard saw him. No servant sensed him. It was as if grief itself had swallowed his presence.

  He entered his chamber, stripped away the sweat and blood of his journey in a steaming bath, then dressed in the Watcher’s garments — dark robes threaded with ancient sigils. He covered his face, then removed the masking spell, letting the air recognize his presence again.

  He sat before the mirror, staring at his reflection. Outside, the world looked peaceful — mountains, rivers, and sky glowing under the fading light. A stark contrast to the storm inside him.

  The door opened.

  “Nuru,” a calm voice said. “Where is Lord Tavari?”

  Arie stepped inside, his presence measured, confident, but careful.

  Nuru let out a humorless laugh. “Don’t worry. I will bring him here.”

  Arie moved closer. “Sometimes it’s alright to let others see your grief. Showing sadness doesn’t make you weak.”

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  Nuru’s eyes hardened. “You cannot comfort someone,” he said quietly, “if you have never walked in their shoes. If you try… you only deepen the wound.”

  Arie nodded slowly. “I’ll be outside. Call me if you need me.”

  He left.

  Nuru poured a glass of wine and drank it in one gulp. Silence filled the tower as the storm of his grief pressed in, leaving only the quiet hum of the room around him.

  Meanwhile, Tavari, Matt, Serena, and Sarah walked toward Sag in silence. The forest seemed heavier, as if the loss of Stephen lingered in the air.

  Serena finally spoke. “Tavari… when Matt tried to attack Nuru… the fire didn’t reach him. Like it hit something.”

  Sarah looked at her brother closely, concerned. “That wasn’t normal…”

  Tavari’s jaw tightened. “I… don’t know,” he admitted softly. “Maybe that’s why the Watcher wanted me.”

  “Forget it,” Serena murmured. “It’s over.”

  But it wasn’t.

  Before they could reach the forest’s edge, a young man stepped into their path. Beautiful, calm, about nineteen, smiling.

  “Hello,” he said pleasantly. “I’m Vaelis. It’s very nice to meet you all.”

  Something about him was wrong.

  Before anyone could react, a strike hit from behind.

  Matt’s fire flared instinctively. Serena and Sarah ignited theirs. Tavari’s threads shot out.

  For a moment, the forest glowed with effort…

  Then Vaelis shifted.

  The fire twisted. Compressed. Returned. Stronger. Overwhelming.

  The ground cracked. Their strength wasn’t enough. They were thrown to the ground, exhausted and vulnerable.

  Vaelis tilted his head, watching quietly.

  “Strong blood indeed,” he murmured.

  Darkness swallowed them.