Even from miles away, the heat of the roaring fire reached Kael, its sheer force almost impossible to comprehend.

  He turned abruptly, his features still gripped by panic, and looked at Cassandra. She stood frozen, both hands pressed to her mouth. She was equally speechless at the sight of the inferno staining the horizon.

  "Why..." he murmured, more to himself than to her. He turned back again and stared at the fire, which continued to devour the night.

  Despite his promise, the Unspoken had carried out their plan.

  They didn’t trust me.

  The thought burned sharper than the flames themselves, and Kael clenched his fists until his knuckles ached.

  He faced Cassandra once more.

  "I have to go. Maybe I can still stop what’s coming if I show them the sword.”

  Cassandra’s gaze remained unfocused, and her voice was hollow. "They really attacked the Empire...the palace—"

  Her breath caught.

  "No, my parents."

  Kael rushed to her, gripping her shoulders and forcing her to look at him. “Don’t assume the worst. This was meant to be a distraction, not a massacre.”

  Even as he said it, the words sounded fragile, almost dishonest.

  Still, he didn’t stop. "Go back to your room. Lock the door. Stay there. You’ve done enough.”

  At that, her eyes finally met his. They were sharp and trembling, filled with grief and fury.

  "I know you tried to do this without bloodshed," she said quietly. "But if anything happens to my parents, I swear I will hunt your group down until only you are left."

  She turned to leave.

  Kael grabbed her arm. "Wait—" His voice faltered. "You won't alert the knights about us?"

  For a moment, she looked torn between rage and sorrow. Then she shook her head.

  "I wish I could," she whispered. "But I can't. Not if you’re among those who are punished.”

  She leaned in and pressed a light kiss on his cheek. A single tear followed, warm against his skin.

  "Just don't get caught," she said softly. "And never forget the cruelty of the people you chose to stand with."

  Then she walked away, disappearing into the white night.

  Kael watched her for a moment longer before turning in the opposite direction.

  As he broke into a run, he let out a sharp whistle. Ausma descended from the night sky and landed on his outstretched arm.

  "Show me the way," Kael said, his eyes fixed ahead.

  The falcon studied him briefly, then spread his wings and soared upward just far enough to remain in sight.

  As Kael followed, he noticed something unsettling: no guards, no knights, and no other usual patrols.

  The distraction had worked, he realized.

  But there was no triumph in the thought.

  He followed Ausma through the deserted streets and gardens of the academy and quickly realized that the falcon was deliberately guiding him along paths devoid of students or staff.

  After a while, Kael spotted a small group slipping into a narrow alley positioned precisely between the tunnel’s entrance and where the sword had been stored.

  His expression hardened.

  Without making a sound, he closed the distance, seized Sylas by the shoulder, and slammed him against the wall.

  "I told you I'd handle this," Kael hissed, ignoring the others as they instinctively raised their weapons, believing they were under attack.

  With a sharp, frustrated motion, Kael pulled the white scabbard from beneath his robes and thrust it into Sylas’s view.

  "Everything went exactly as I planned," he said coldly. "Until you decided not to trust me."

  At the sight of the sword, everyone froze. Sylas said nothing. His gaze shifted slowly to his right.

  To Astra.

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  She stared at the sword, surprise flickering across her features. It was less shock than the others displayed, but it was still unmistakable.

  Kael followed Sylas’s gaze.

  When their eyes met, the fury drained from Kael's face. His grip loosened, and he released Sylas entirely. The words caught in his throat.

  "It was...you?" Kael asked hoarsely. "You did this?"

  Astra hesitated, then nodded. She looked calm and almost resigned, but when she saw the betrayal in Kael’s eyes, a faint shadow of guilt passed over her face.

  "I'm sorry, Kael. Truly,” she said quietly. "But I couldn't allow the plan to change because of someone like Cassandra—someone who could betray us at any moment."

  That was when Kael snapped.

  “Betray?” he shouted, shoving Astra back. “She’s the reason we have that cursed sword in the first place.”

  He stared straight into her eyes, his own now as cold as hers.

  "You're the one who betrayed me."

  He gestured violently toward the distant glow staining the sky.

  "Bereos and Varen are sacrificing themselves for nothing."

  When he turned to the others, he was met with silence. Even Sera was speechless.

  "Is this what they wanted?" Kael demanded. "They wanted to die for a purpose." His gaze returned to Astra.

  "Now they'll be remembered as traitors who slaughtered their own people."

  Astra met his glare without flinching.

  "They knew exactly what they were doing, just like we did," she replied, her voice wavering for the first time. "This was never just a distraction. It was meant to strike the king where it hurts most.”

  Kael frowned.

  "What are you implying?"

  She shook her head. "They wanted to tell you. I stopped them. You’re still too righteous and na?ve. You never would have agreed.”

  Kael’s expression hardened further, then he smiled.

  "Oh, I can do more than agree," he said softly. "I can use my ability, leave this place, and return the sword to Cassandra. Then you and your so-called rebellion can come up with a new plan.”

  Astra moved instantly.

  She pinned him against the wall, their bodies barely an inch apart. Her eyes were like ice, and her voice was low and merciless.

  “No, you won’t,” she said.

  "You and I were never meant to choose differently. This is happening, with or without your consent.”

  "I am the Unwritten," Kael declared, his voice steady and his eyes burning with resolve.

  "Not even fate can bind me to you. Tell me the plan, or I walk away.”

  Astra sighed, clearly irritated, as if she were dealing with a stubborn child who didn't understand an order yet.

  "Fine," she said curtly.

  She gestured to the others. They turned away and spread out at once, guarding the alley. Only then did Astra step back, giving Kael some breathing room, though her black eyes never left him.

  "Bereos and Varen are moving toward the palace," she began. "The ball is nearly over. We’ve observed the palace long enough to know the prince’s habits."

  Kael stiffened.

  "The prince leaves the palace every time," Astra continued. "To visit a noblewoman in secret. His mother forbids relationships, so she cannot come to him—but the king knows. He assigns a large escort of knights to protect his son.”

  Realization hit Kael like ice.

  Astra nodded at his expression.

  "Exactly. They ambushed the prince and his escort. Bereos uses the Word of Fire to bypass the Monoliths of Motarith and immobilize the knights. Varen executed the prince."

  Kael stared at her.

  "That's impossible. The Power of Words can’t be used here.”

  "In theory," Astra replied calmly. "But there is one exception."

  She stepped closer.

  "You can do it by turning yourself into a vessel for the Word."

  Kael’s breath caught.

  "The result is always death," she continued evenly. "But for as long as the body endures, it becomes living fire."

  Why didn’t Nora tell me this? Kael thought bitterly.

  “But why?” he demanded. “To provoke the king? To satisfy your revenge?"

  Astra’s composure shattered.

  "It was for us!" she shouted. "The death of the prince will force the king to turn inward and protect his empire. That gives us time. Time to vanish. Time to survive.” There was a moment of silence. "Can't you understand that?" she added quietly.

  She closed the distance again and pointed at him. Her voice cracked.

  "And don't speak to me of betrayal. I heard about your engagement to that woman. Don’t insult me with talk of strategy. You told her the plan. You trusted her."

  Her voice dropped to a venomous whisper.

  "Trusting your enemy is pathetic."

  "I don't know who the enemy truly is anymore," Kael replied calmly, meeting her gaze.

  "But I'm still coming."

  Then he shook his head.

  "Not for you. Not for your revenge. I’m doing this for the people I can still save—and for myself. I’m doing this to find where I truly belong.”

  He wasn’t staying because he believed in them anymore. He stayed because leaving now would make him the same kind of coward he despised.

  Astra studied him for a long moment. Then she nodded once.

  "That's how it should be."

  Kael raised his sword toward her.

  "Take it. I won't use it."

  She shook her head.

  “I can’t. You have to.”

  Seeing his questioning look, she exhaled slowly.

  "What did Nora teach you?" she asked.

  Kael remained silent.

  "Every sword forged from Motarith is immensely powerful," Astra said. "But, like the Power of Words, it exacts a price."

  She glanced at the blade.

  "Every emotion you feel is amplified. Fear. Rage. Despair. Until you can no longer think—only fight. If you lose control, the sword will break you.”

  Her eyes met his.

  "That is the trial every knight must overcome. It only begins the moment you touch the blade."

  Kael stared at the sword, still unable to comprehend how something so seemingly simple could hold such devastating power.

  "I'll take it once we're outside the empire," Astra said after a brief pause. "Where my emotions are stable."

  Kael exhaled slowly, his gaze still fixed on the blade.

  My emotions aren't exactly calm either, he thought. But before he could voice his objection, a piercing alarm rang through the academy.

  The sound tore through the night.

  Everyone froze.

  From the rooftop of a nearby building, Marco shouted down to them, his voice tight with urgency.

  "They know we're here! We have to move—now!”

  Astra’s eyes snapped back to Kael, sharp and accusing.

  "I knew it," she said coldly. “Cassandra betrayed you.”

  Kael’s breath hitched.

  "No," he said instinctively. “She wouldn’t—”

  “Look around you,” Astra cut him off. “Who else could have warned them?”

  She turned to the others. Weapons were drawn. Their faces hardened. Each of them already knew what this meant.

  "You know your tasks," Astra said. "Delay them. Distract them."

  For just a moment, a look of sadness crossed her face.

  "Try to survive."

  No one argued. No one hesitated. No one promised they would.

  They scattered into the darkness, each disappearing down a different path. Each of them had already accepted what this night might demand of them.

  Astra turned back to Kael. He leaned against the wall, staring at the ground. The weight of everything pressed down on him.

  Her lips curved into a cold, resolute smile.

  "Don't let their sacrifice be meaningless," she said softly.

  "Unwritten."