Shadows of Betrayal

Seraphine moved swiftly through the dim corridors, her heart pounding with the weight of her discoveries. The sigil she had uncovered in the ancient manuscripts was no mere relic—it was a seal, one that had been tampered with, its magic fraying at the edges. Someone was working to break the prison that held the Shadowborn.

The thought sent a chill through her. She had to act quickly.

Kaelith's guards were stationed near the western hall, but she had learned their patterns well. Disguised as a servant, she slipped past them with practiced ease, her cloak concealing her identity. The eastern wing held answers, and she would not leave until she had them.

As she neared the grand chamber, a flickering torchlight revealed something unexpected—two figures in whispered conversation. She pressed herself against the cold stone wall, straining to listen.

"…the prince suspects too much. If we delay any further, it will be too late."

A hushed reply followed, the voice just familiar enough to unsettle her. "Then we accelerate the plan. The lost heir must remain hidden until the moment is right."

Seraphine's pulse quickened. The lost heir. The name whispered through the darkest corridors of forgotten history. A descendant of a fallen dynasty, imprisoned to erase their claim. And now, someone sought to unleash them.

Gathering her resolve, she waited until the figures departed before stepping forward. The chamber doors loomed before her, bound with wards of old magic. If she crossed this threshold, there would be no turning back.

But she had already chosen her path.

Bracing herself, she pushed the heavy doors open and stepped inside.

To be continued…