Chapter - 4

"The oldest in this village."

Kaito frowned. "Huh? The oldest? What do you mean?"

She looked around cautiously, as if the shadows themselves were listening.

"His name is Mr. Senzi. He’s lived more lifetimes than the trees. They say he’s older than even the first temple stone. If anyone remembers who escaped the Queen’s lust... it’s him."

Kaito stepped forward, intrigued. "Where can I find this Senzi?"

Rose nodded toward the northern cliffs, where a crooked tree stood beside a hollow hut built from darkwood and broken memory stones.

"He lives alone, far from the village center—by choice. People avoid him. They say he speaks with dead winds... and sometimes, he screams in his sleep the name of someone Morrivha lost."

The air thickened at the mention of the Queen’s name.

Kaito’s grip on the book tightened, his cursed mark glowing faintly beneath his shirt.

"Then it’s time I meet this old man. If he knows anything about the Hollow Flame, he’s my key into the palace."