Matt walked through the long corridors of the tower, his boots echoing softly against polished stone. Servants moved quietly along the walls, heads bowed.

  He stopped one of them.

  “Where are my brother and sisters?”

  The servant hesitated. “My lord… the whereabouts of Lord Tavari are to remain undisclosed. He is under punishment.”

  Matt’s jaw tightened. “Punished? For what?”

  Before the servant could answer, a calm voice sounded from behind.

  “You may go. I will take care of this.”

  The servant bowed deeply and left.

  Matt turned.

  The young army commander stood there—the same man who had appeared beside the Watcher during their rescue. His presence was calm but commanding.

  Matt straightened. “Greetings, sir.”

  The man nodded slightly.

  “Your brother will be released tomorrow. Do not trouble yourself seeking him. I will take you to your sisters.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Matt followed him down the corridor.

  “What is your name, sir?”

  No answer.

  They continued walking.

  “I’m looking for someone named Nuru,” Matt pressed. “I have unfinished business with him. Where is he?”

  Silence again.

  They stopped before a grand door adorned with silver carvings.

  “This is their chamber,” the commander said. “Training begins tomorrow. You may join if you wish. If not, you are free to return to Sagittarius with your sisters.”

  And without another word, he left.

  Matt entered.

  Sarah and Serena rushed toward him, smiling brightly.

  “What are you celebrating?” he asked.

  “The Watcher gifted us a house,” Sarah said excitedly. “In the rich quarter! And gold! We’re not going back to that hut.”

  Matt forced a smile. “Wow… congratulations.”

  He looked around the luxurious chamber.

  “But I’m staying,” he said quietly. “Tavari needs me. Things aren’t easy for him here.”

  The sisters hugged him tightly.

  “We understand, brother.”

  Tavari’s Chamber

  Cold stone.

  Silence.

  Tavari lay asleep on the floor.

  And he began to dream.

  He saw himself split in two.

  One Tavari stood tall, draped in power. The world bowed before him. He was rich, unstoppable, understood by all.

  But his eyes were empty.

  The other Tavari was the present one—scarred, uncertain, still learning, still fragile.

  Between them stood a shadowed figure.

  The man walked toward darkness.

  Tavari felt the world twist.

  Stars spun around him.

  He saw himself starving.

  Alone.

  Forgotten.

  The powerful version reached out—but everything shattered.

  Tavari gasped.

  He woke.

  Blood streamed from his mouth.

  But there were no wounds.

  He blinked.

  The room vanished.

  He woke again—

  Still on the cold stone.

  No blood.

  No pain.

  Just silence.

  And the faintest vibration of threads in the air.

  Something had shifted.