[It's starting]

It was a rainy day.

Since morning, the sky had been smothered in clouds—thick, unmoving, like a warning etched across the heavens.

A bad omen.

Kael stood by the window, silent.

Raindrops raced down the glass, blurring the world beyond like smeared ink.

Just one day.

That's all that remained before the Divine Doctor would arrive to treat his father.

And Kael… Kael was ninety percent sure Veyran would choose today to rebel.

There were movements in the capital.

Restless shifting beneath the surface.

Veyran was cracking.

The pressure of the Devil possibly siding with Aerik—it was just a rumor, but the seed had been planted.

A black seed lodged deep in his chest.

It kept him awake at night.

Kept his blade half-drawn.

He had one option left: kill Aerik before the Duke recovered.