Return to Solmere

The fortress was unnervingly quiet as Evelyne stood at the balcony, gazing into the abyss beyond the Underworld's borders. Somewhere in the distance, a storm brewed, dark clouds rolling over jagged peaks. It felt like a warning—a shadow cast over the path ahead.

A cold wind stirred her hair, sending a shiver down her spine. She wasn't sure if it was from the chill or the reality of what lay ahead. Solmere. Her homeland. The place that had sent her into the hands of the Demon King with a pact written in blood.

Behind her, Azrael's presence was a steady force. "You're hesitating."

Evelyne turned, meeting his golden gaze. "I'm not."

Azrael arched a brow, unconvinced.

Evelyne exhaled sharply. "It's just… I don't know what will be waiting for me there. My father—if he truly knew about the pact's true nature—what will he do when he sees me alive?"