THE PUNISHMENT HALL

After what seemed like hours of silence, they dragged Velma and Lucian through the shadowed corridors of the Underworld palace, their chains echoing against the ancient stones. Neither of them spoke. The weight of their capture settled like fog in their hearts.

They were brought to the infamous Punishment Hall, a grand yet grim place reserved for the harshest judgments. The hall was cavernous, its high ceiling lost in darkness. Torches burned with blue flames along the walls. In the center stood a wide circular platform, surrounded by towering seats where the judges sat robed in their crimson garb.

Azarel sat high above on the throne, still cloaked in silence. His face bore no emotion, but his eyes flickered with something restless. A gnawing confusion pulsed behind his gaze. Something within him was stirring, something he couldn't yet name.

The judge stood and raised a scroll.

"We gather here today to execute judgment upon Lucian—accused of treason against the King of the Underworld."

Velma's heart thudded. She looked to Lucian. He remained silent, his gaze steady.

The judge stepped forward. "Lucian, royal guardian and commander of the King's guard. You are hereby sentenced to 200 strokes of the magical whip, for high betrayal."

Gasps ran through the gathered spectators. Evelyn stood at the edge of the hall, eyes wide, trembling. Her heart broke as she saw them rip open Lucian's shirt and bind him against the stone pillar.

The executioner stepped forward with the magical whip. It glowed in hues of red and silver—enchanted to cut deep into the flesh and burn through immortality. Each lash tore through the air with a crack of thunder.

"One!"

The whip landed with a brutal slash. Lucian clenched his teeth, refusing to cry out.

"Two!"

The burns ignited his back, but he remained strong.

"Three!"

From the shadows, Evelyn let out a muffled sob. She tried to run forward, but Velma grabbed her hand.

"Don't," Velma whispered. "He's strong. You must be too."

"But he—he doesn't deserve this," Evelyn cried. "He didn't do anything wrong."

Velma nodded. "And I'm going to prove that,besides if they found out you also knew I was human,it won't be good ".

"Twenty-nine!"

"Thirty!"

Velma's fists tightened at her sides. Then, with her heart hammering in her chest, she stepped forward.

"Enough!" she shouted.

The whip paused midair. The room fell silent.

Azarath stood, eyes blazing. "What do you think you're doing?"

Velma lifted her chin. "Let me speak."

Azarel raised a hand, stopping Azarath. His eyes were now fixed on Velma.

She turned toward the throne. "Your Majesty," she said. "How can you allow this?"

Her voice cracked with emotion. "Lucian has done nothing but protect you. From the beginning, he watched over you, even when you didn't remember who you were."

Azarel narrowed his eyes. "And what is it that I don't remember?"

Velma stepped closer. "That you are Daniel. That you were my husband in the human world. That you once loved me."

A murmur ran through the hall.

Azarath's voice cut through. "Lies! She's trying to deceive you!"

Azarel's hand silenced her again.

Velma's eyes filled with tears. "If you had truly loved me, you would have remembered. But even if you didn't—Lucian did. He remembered your loyalty, your soul. And he did everything to protect you, even at the cost of himself."

Azarel frowned, a hand rising to his temple. "Daniel…"

The name echoed inside his mind like a whisper from another world.

"You were Daniel," Velma whispered. "You married me. You gave me a ring. You called me your everything. And you disappeared. Four years I waited, and then you came back—but you didn't remember me."

Azarel trembled. The torchlight flickered around him. Slowly, he stood.

"Why… do your words feel real?" he asked, his voice low.

Velma looked at him with all the love and hope she had. "Because they are."

She turned to the crowd. "And more than that—Azarath and Zamiel are the real traitors. They have conspired together. They're lovers. They want your throne. They want you dead."

Gasps erupted in the hall.

"You lie!" Azarath screamed.

"Then deny it," Velma challenged.

Azarath froze.

Zamiel tried to speak, but the weight of the moment held him still.

Velma turned back to Azarel. "Please. Don't punish the one man who truly protected you. Let Lucian go."

Azarel looked down at Lucian, broken and bleeding. And then to Velma, desperate and determined.

And slowly… something shifted in his eyes.