Shadows Within

The torches lining the grand corridors of the castle flickered, their warm golden light casting long, twisting shadows across the walls. Aerondrion's footsteps echoed softly as he moved through the silence of the halls, his sharp eyes scanning every corner, every alcove. His instincts had been prickling all day, a subtle but persistent warning that something was wrong.

He stopped at an intersection of hallways, his gaze narrowing. The air here was colder, unnaturally so. His breath fogged in the dim light, a faint mist swirling around his feet. Slowly, Aerondrion placed a hand on the hilt of his sword, his knuckles tightening.

And then he saw it.

A shadow moved, slithering across the wall like a living thing. It wasn't the shadow of a servant or a guard—its shape was wrong, unnatural. It twisted and writhed, expanding and contracting like it had a mind of its own. Aerondrion's pulse quickened as he stepped closer, his sword half-drawn.

"Show yourself," he commanded, his voice cutting through the stillness.

The shadow froze, clinging to the wall like a stain. For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Then, with an almost taunting slowness, the shadow began to retreat, sliding away down the hall and disappearing into the dark.

Aerondrion didn't relax. His eyes followed the direction it had gone, his jaw tightening. This wasn't the first time he had seen something like this in the castle, but tonight, the presence felt different—stronger, bolder.

"Vaylen," he muttered under his breath, his voice laced with disgust.

The realization struck him like a blade. If Vaylen's influence had reached this far, it meant only one thing: someone inside the castle was helping him. A spy.

Aerondrion straightened, his mind racing. He couldn't let this fester. If the spy was working for Vaylen, it was only a matter of time before they tried to harm Elara—or worse, use her to further Vaylen's plans.

He turned on his heel, heading toward the council chamber. This had to be addressed immediately.

---

The Council Chamber

The council chamber was bathed in the soft, golden light of the massive crystal chandelier hanging above. The polished crystal table reflected the light like a mirror, its surface flawless and cold. Aerondrion arrived first, his mind still racing from what he had seen. He stood at the head of the table, his hands braced against its edge as he tried to gather his thoughts.

Moments later, Loceran entered, his golden eyes narrowing as he took in Aerondrion's tense posture.

Aerondrion glanced at his brother, he straightened as the doors opened again, admitting their parents.

The king and queen entered with their usual regal grace, their presence commanding even in silence. Aerondrion inclined his head in respect as they took their seats at the far end of the table.

"What is this about, Aerondrion?" the king asked, his deep voice calm but firm.

Aerondrion took a breath, his gaze sweeping over the three of them. "There's a spy in the castle," he said bluntly.

The queen's eyes narrowed, her lips pressing into a thin line. Loceran stiffened, his teasing demeanor replaced with sharp focus.

"A spy?" the queen repeated, her tone icy. "What proof do you have of this accusation?"

"I saw it," Aerondrion said. "Shadows moving where they shouldn't be. The air was colder, darker. It's Vaylen's presence—I'm certain of it. Someone here is working for him."

The room fell into a tense silence.

The words hung in the air like a blade. Loceran stiffened, and the queen's eyes narrowed further.

"Aeron, if this is some excuse to justify your reckless behavior—" the queen began, but Aerondrion held up a hand.

"This isn't about my choices, Mother. This is about Vaylen. His reach is extending further than we anticipated. And now, someone within these walls is aiding him."

The king finally spoke, his voice low and commanding. "If you've identified a threat, Aerondrion, speak plainly. Who do you suspect?"

Aerondrion hesitated. "I don't have a name yet. Someone is feeding information to Vaylen, and if we don't act quickly, it could cost us dearly."

The queen scoffed softly, her gaze icy. "And your solution to this problem is what? Bringing that mortal girl deeper into our affairs? If there's a spy, the last thing we need is her presence complicating matters further."

Aerondrion turned to face his mother, his expression hardening. "Elara is not the problem. She's the reason we even know Vaylen is making moves. If anything, her presence is a distraction to whoever the spy is. They'll focus on her instead of our real plans."

Loceran crossed his arms. "You mean to use her as bait?"

"No," Aerondrion snapped, his voice low and sharp. "I mean to protect her. She's tied to the realms, whether we like it or not. Which is why I'm taking her with me to Lumenar. I will keep her there until everything is over"

The room erupted into chaos.

"You can't be serious," Loceran said, his voice rising in disbelief. "Lumenar is dangerous for mortals. She'll be more vulnerable there than she is here."

The queen's voice was cold and cutting. "Aeron, this is reckless, even for you. Lumenar's creatures won't tolerate a human among them. They'll see her as an anomaly, a threat."

"Let them," Aerondrion shot back, his eyes blazing. "I can protect her there better than I can here. The castle isn't safe."

Loceran's jaw clenched. "And your solution is to keep her locked in Lumenar? That's not protection, Aeron. That's imprisonment."

"It's strategy," Aerondrion corrected, his voice firm. "Lumenar's light will shield her from Vaylen. He can't reach her there."

The queen rose from her seat, her voice rising in anger. "Aeron, you're letting your emotions cloud your judgment. This is not about strategy—it's about her. You're endangering the entire realm for a mortal who doesn't belong here!"

Aerondrion stood as well, his posture commanding. "This is about the realms, Mother. All of them. If Vaylen gains control of her, he'll have access to the orbs in every realm. That's a risk I'm not willing to take."

The king's voice cut through the tension, silencing the room. "Enough." He looked at Aerondrion, his gaze heavy with authority. "If you truly believe this is the best course of action, then you have my blessing. But you will bear the consequences of your decision, Aerondrion. Protect her, and ensure your mission in Lumenar is not compromised."

Aerondrion inclined his head. "Thank you, Father."

The queen's glare burned into him, but she said nothing. Loceran, however, looked less convinced.

"This isn't over," Loceran muttered as the meeting ended.