ANMELDENDarkness swallowed the Well of Reflection once more. Killian stood alone—no sword, no crown, no title. Only a son about to learn the truth about his mother.Nyx watched him carefully. For the first time since he had met her, she wasn't smiling. She wasn't mocking him. She almost looked... sad.Killian frowned. "What did my mother do?"Nyx remained silent, then raised a hand. The darkness around them shifted slowly.A palace appeared, elegant and grand. Silver banners fluttered in the wind, moonflowers bloomed in crystal gardens, and children laughed in distant courtyards. Killian recognized it immediately."Mooncrest Palace."Nyx nodded. "Thirty years ago."A woman stood near a fountain, beautiful and graceful, her silver hair cascading down her back and her golden eyes sparkling with warmth. Killian felt his chest tighten."Mother..."Queen Elara Blackthorn. She looked younger than he remembered—alive, happy, unburdened. And beside her was another woman: Lyssandra, only much younger,
Darkness swallowed everything. Killian stood alone. No palace. No throne. No kingdom. Only endless blackness—and Nyx.She circled him slowly, her six wings trailing shadows across the ground. "You wanted answers." She smiled. "So let's give you one."Killian's hand instinctively moved toward his sword. It wasn't there. Of course not. The Well of Reflection didn't allow weapons. Only truth.Nyx lifted a finger. The darkness trembled, then shifted.A room appeared: the late King's chambers, exactly as Killian remembered them. The carved oak desk. The silver goblet. The half-burned candles. The medicine bottles lined against the wall.Killian's breathing slowed. This was the night. The night everything changed. The night his father died. The night Seraphina lost everything.The memory unfolded. King Aldric Blackthorn sat near the fireplace. Older. Weaker. Yet his eyes remained sharp, proud, and stubborn.Someone knocked. "Enter."The door opened. Killian leaned forward, desperate, needin
The Heartspring was silent. Even Nyx stopped smiling, because everyone knew what came next. Killian would enter the Well of Reflection. Alone. And if the Well judged him unworthy—he would never return.Seraphina stood motionless. Her eyes remained fixed on him—not angry, not crying, just... disappointed. And somehow, that hurt more than hatred ever could.Killian couldn't look at her because Nyx had exposed the one truth he had spent years trying to bury. She was right. A small part of him had still doubted Seraphina. Not because of evidence, not because of logic, but because doubt had become familiar. Comfortable. Safe.The Guardian raised her hand. The waters of the Heartspring parted, revealing a circular pool hidden beneath. Black water. Perfectly still. The Well of Reflection."Once you enter," the Guardian said softly, "the Well will strip away titles. It will strip away pride. It will strip away excuses. It will leave only truth."Killian nodded. "I understand.""No." The Guard
The Hollow Realm became unbearably still. No wind. No mist moving. No distant whispers. Only silence—and one sentence hanging over everyone like a death sentence: *"The child cannot be healed."*Seraphina felt her knees weaken. "No." The word escaped her lips before she could stop it.The Guardian stood upon the shimmering waters of the Heartspring. She was breathtaking, made entirely of flowing silver light and crystal-clear water—ancient, timeless, merciless. Her eyes settled on Aiden, filled not with cruelty, but sorrow."I am sorry. His condition has progressed too far."Killian tightened his hold around his son. "Then why bring us here?"The Guardian looked at him. "Because healing and saving are not always the same thing."Morwen stepped forward. "What does that mean?"The Guardian raised her hand. The waters beneath her rippled, and images appeared: Aiden, smiling, laughing, growing weaker, golden cracks spreading beneath his skin. One fragment pulsed softly. The other burned v
The Hollow Realm trembled. Mist churned violently around them. The memories faded. The crying children vanished. The nursery dissolved.Only Killian remained kneeling on the ground, broken, breathing heavily, unable to erase the sound of dozens of little voices asking the same question: *Where were you?*Aiden quietly walked over, then hugged him. Killian froze. The boy pressed his cheek against his father's shoulder. "I'm here now."Killian closed his eyes, tears slipping down his face. "Yes. You are. And I don't deserve that."Aiden pulled away. "Mom says people who know they're wrong can become better."Kael raised an eyebrow. "Your mother says very wise things."Aiden nodded proudly. "She also says Uncle Caelan snores like a dying goat."From behind them, Caelan looked offended. "I snore gracefully.""You snore aggressively.""That's subjective."Morwen sighed. "Can we survive the cursed dimension first?"Unfortunately, the Hollow Realm had other plans. A cold laugh echoed around
The Hollow Realm was silent. Too silent. No birds sang. No wind stirred. No footsteps echoed. Only mist—endless white mist stretching in every direction.Killian tightened his grip around Aiden. Seraphina stood beside him. Kael remained close, and Morwen walked ahead, guiding them toward the Heartspring. Or trying to. Because the Hollow Realm didn't believe in straight paths. It believed in pain, and pain always found its way home.Suddenly, the mist shifted. Twisting. Darkening. Changing.Until Seraphina was no longer standing in the Hollow Realm. She was standing in a throne room with black marble floors, golden banners, and tall windows. And at the center was a younger version of herself: twenty years old, pregnant, terrified, and crying.Seraphina's breath caught. "No..."Morwen closed her eyes. "It has begun."Killian looked around. "What is this?"Kael's expression darkened. "The Realm chose her first."Seraphina couldn't move because she remembered this day. Every second. Every
The council meeting ended in chaos.Nobles argued.Commanders demanded answers.The elders whispered prayers to the Moon Goddess.And throughout it all, one question lingered.Why had the wolves come?Seraphina left the chamber before anyone could stop her.Something deep inside her was pulling her
Seraphina did not sleep.After Aiden's strange words, sleep became impossible.He isn't dead.The boy had spoken with such certainty.Such conviction.As though he hadn't guessed.As though he somehow knew.The moonlight streamed through the chamber windows, casting silver patterns across the floor
The wolves did not leave.By nightfall, they still circled the settlement.Watching.Waiting.Silent shadows moving between the trees.No attacks came.No growls.No signs of aggression.Yet somehow that made them even more terrifying.The entire settlement had gathered around the perimeter walls.
The silence inside the healer's hut stretched long after the guard lost consciousness.No one spoke.No one moved.Even the crackling fire seemed hesitant to break the tension that had settled over the room.Seraphina stared at the unconscious messenger."The heir is awake."The words echoed throug







