CHAPTER 5:THE NEW ROLE

The gates of the Draeven royal palace loomed ahead, carved from obsidian and etched with twin dragon crests—one coiled in flame, the other in shadow.

The guards stepped aside the moment they saw Duke Lucien's crest. His carriage rolled through without a word. I sat across from him, hands folded, still unsure if this was the beginning of something or the end of whatever I had left.

"Are you sure about this?" I asked.

Lucien looked at me. "You could stay hidden. But what kind of life is that for someone like you?"

I said nothing.

> Because I didn't want to stay hidden.

I wanted to become something stronger.

The throne room was colder than Virellia's. Stone and steel dominated the space. Long banners of crimson and black hung from the ceiling, and the throne itself sat atop a platform surrounded by armored guards.

King Veyr Draeven sat upon it, tall and broad-shouldered, his dark gray eyes unreadable beneath a jagged gold crown. There was no softness in his expression, no warmth in his voice when he spoke.

> "This is the girl?"

Lucien bowed slightly. "Sera. She saved my life from a band of thieves near the border. Took down five of them on her own. I've seen soldiers with less control in battle."

King Veyr's gaze flicked to me. "And where are you from, girl?"

I met his eyes. My heartbeat thundered—but I didn't flinch.

> "Nowhere," I said quietly. "I don't belong to any house."

The king studied me a moment longer. "And your name?"

> "Sera."

Just Sera. That was all I would be.

> No Virellia.

No crown.

No fire.

The silence hung heavy, until Lucien stepped forward again.

"She has potential," he said. "And no home. I'd like to recommend her for training with the royal guard."

One of the knights behind the king scoffed. "We don't take in nameless strays. We forge soldiers from steel, not charity."

Before I could speak, King Veyr raised a hand. The room fell still.

His eyes never left mine.

"You handled five men alone?"

I nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty."

"With what?"

I lifted the sword I'd taken from the forest, still scarred and chipped from the fight. "This. And a little desperation."

His mouth twitched, not quite a smile. But something flickered.

> "Then let's see how you do when you're not desperate. Captain Ren, assign her to the sixth division. Let her prove herself."

The scoffing knight stepped forward, clearly displeased. But he nodded.

Lucien exhaled—barely a breath.

I bowed stiffly.

> "Thank you."

That night, they gave me a bunk in the eastern barracks.

No windows. No tapestries. Just stone walls, cold sheets, and steel training weapons hung in rows.

I sat on the edge of the cot and stared at my hands.

Calloused. Scratched. Still shaking faintly.

I had no magic.

No name.

But I had a blade.

> And a place to sharpen it.

As the moon rose over Draeven, I laid back against the stiff pillow and whispered my new name to the ceiling:

> "Sera."

Not Seraphina.

Not Princess.

Not traitor.

Just Sera.

> For now.