Buried in Ink and Dust

The royal library was silent at this hour, its towering shelves casting long shadows. Seraphine slipped inside, careful not to draw attention.

The sigil had to be recorded somewhere. If the scholars had known about it, there had to be more.

She traced her fingers over the spines of ancient tomes, searching for anything connected to warding magic or imprisoning dark forces. Then, tucked in the farthest corner, she found it—a book so worn its title had faded.

She pulled it free and flipped through the pages.

And then she saw it.

The same sigil, drawn in careful detail. Beneath it, the words sent a chill through her veins.

"A binding forged in blood may only be undone by the same."

Blood magic.

Her fingers tightened around the book. The Shadowborn's prison wasn't just sealed—it was locked by a sacrifice.

And to break it, someone was willing to spill royal blood.

To be continued…

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