Chapter 78 – The Rescue of a Threatened Ally

Kaelian's breath hitched as the torchlight flickered against the cold stone walls of the palace's undercroft. The distant murmur of footsteps echoed faintly, but here, in the shadowed recesses beneath the throne's glittering halls, time seemed suspended between danger and decision.

His mind raced, calculating each possibility — every angle, every risk. The message had come just hours ago: Lyssa was in grave peril. Accused once more of espionage, this time by a faction more brutal and less restrained than before. Rumors whispered that she was to be removed permanently, her fate sealed in the depths of the dungeons.

Kaelian's lips curled in a bitter smile. The court was a cage of vipers, and his closest friend was now prey.

The Price of Loyalty

Since his earliest days at the academy, Lyssa had been the one tether keeping him from sinking into total isolation. A lowborn healer with sharp eyes and an unwavering spirit, she had earned the dangerous trust of Kaelian despite the chasm of status between them. Now, that trust was a liability — and a weapon wielded against both of them.

"Do you truly believe they will hesitate to silence her?" Dorn Valek's voice sliced through the shadows, drawing Kaelian's attention. The royal counselor stepped from the darkness, his expression inscrutable as always.

Kaelian stiffened. He had agreed to meet Dorn here, away from prying eyes, but the presence of the manipulative statesman always grated against his instincts.

"She is more than just an ally," Kaelian said quietly, eyes fixed on the torch flames. "Lyssa is a key piece in this game. Losing her now would unravel too many threads."

Dorn's smile was slow, almost cruel. "And yet, keeping her alive places a target squarely on your back. Do you not see the risk?"

Kaelian's jaw tightened. "If I don't act, I lose her — and that means losing my advantage. The factions tightening their noose around us are growing reckless. I need to send them a message."

A silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken truths. Finally, Dorn nodded. "Very well. But this rescue must be swift and clean. No mistakes."

A Plan Born of Shadows

Kaelian moved swiftly through the twisting corridors, his footsteps muffled by the thick carpets of the servants' quarters. Every step was a calculation—how many guards, what patrols, where were the blind spots? His sharp gaze dissected every detail.

He thought back to the small chamber where Lyssa was likely held—a dank cell beneath the old armory, a forgotten corner of the palace where whispers and shadows intertwined. The dungeons were a labyrinth of misery, designed to crush hope as efficiently as bones.

Using the stolen keys procured through a grateful servant, Kaelian slipped inside the cell block. The stench of mold and despair was suffocating. But what caught his attention was not the smell, but the faintest rustle from behind a cracked iron door.

"Lyssa," he whispered.

The voice was barely audible but unmistakable. He pressed his ear against the door. The silence that followed was thick, as if the walls themselves were holding their breath.

Kaelian's mind raced. A direct assault would spell disaster. Instead, he carefully picked the lock, every second stretching taut with danger.

The Rescue

The door creaked open just enough for him to slip inside. Lyssa's eyes, wide but resolute, locked onto his.

"Kaelian," she breathed, voice hoarse. "You came."

"No time for explanations," he said, scanning the corridor. "We have to move."

She nodded, swallowing fear behind a mask of calm. Her hands trembled as she rose, but her gaze burned with fierce gratitude.

Together, they crept through the dungeon's serpentine hallways, evading patrols with whispered commands and calculated pauses. Every corner seemed to harbor death, every shadow a waiting assassin.

At one narrow passage, a guard rounded the corner abruptly, his hand on the hilt of his dagger. Kaelian's heart pounded. Without hesitation, he darted forward, grasping the man's wrist and twisting it with precision born of countless battles in his past life.

The guard's cry was stifled as Kaelian silenced him quickly, dragging the unconscious man into the shadows.

Lyssa's breath was ragged. "You're reckless," she whispered.

Kaelian smirked. "Reckless is a luxury we can't afford, but boldness… that's our weapon."

Betrayal and Revelation

Just as they neared the stairway leading back to the surface, a sudden clang echoed through the corridor—a signal. Lyssa froze, eyes wide in alarm.

"Someone else is here," she hissed.

Before Kaelian could respond, armored footsteps thundered from above. Dozens of soldiers poured into the corridor, blocking their escape.

Kaelian's mind surged. There was no way out — not with so many enemies. The only option was to fight or be captured.

"Lyssa, run," he ordered.

"No," she said fiercely, planting herself beside him. "I'm not leaving you."

A cold voice called from the front of the guards. "Kaelian, the King's will is clear. You are to be detained for conspiring with traitors."

Kaelian's eyes locked with the speaker—a tall figure clad in the sigils of the royal guard, but with an unmistakable cruel smile. Prince Théor.

So, the bastard prince's nemesis had chosen this moment to strike.

With a bitter laugh, Kaelian stepped forward, hand crackling with forbidden magic.

"This ends now."

Battle in the Shadows

The corridor erupted into chaos as Kaelian unleashed a surge of magical energy, sending soldiers reeling. Lyssa moved swiftly, using her healing magic to shield Kaelian from a barrage of poisoned darts.

The fight was brutal, every moment a desperate gamble. Kaelian's mind worked furiously — the magic he wielded was powerful but draining. He had to end this quickly or risk losing everything.

Théor advanced, sword gleaming. "You will never claim what is not yours, bastard."

Kaelian met his strike with a parry, their blades sparking under the dim light.

"You mistake me," Kaelian said coldly. "I don't seek a crown. I seek survival — and the power to change the game."

Their duel echoed through the halls, a clash not just of steel but of wills. Each blow Kaelian delivered was laced with the cunning of a strategist who had been betrayed once and vowed never to be caught again.

With a sudden feint, Kaelian disarmed Théor, sending his sword clattering to the ground.

"Yield," Kaelian demanded, breathing heavily.

Théor's glare was icy, but defeat flickered in his eyes.

Aftermath and Foreshadowing

Kaelian turned back to Lyssa, who smiled faintly but with relief.

"We're not safe yet," he said grimly. "This was only a glimpse of the battles to come."

As they slipped away through hidden passages, the distant sounds of alarms began to swell — the palace was awakening to the storm that had just begun.

Behind them, unseen, a shadow watched from a rooftop — the queen's eyes cold and calculating.

"Let them try," she murmured. "He thinks he can play the game. Soon, I will show him the price of treason."

**

End of Chapter 78.

**

Kaelian risks everything to save Lyssa from a deadly palace conspiracy, igniting open conflict with Prince Théor and escalating the deadly game of survival within the royal court.

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