THE CROWN THEY HID FROM ME
However, between her and the crown, three obstacles manifested:
1. A pit of illusions, presenting every failure she dreaded—Astryss engulfed in flames, friends lost, the Veil triumphant.
2. A mirror of betrayal, compelling her to confront her own potential for cruelty.
3. A test of loyalty, wherein Kael and Liora’s shadows were employed to entice her into selecting them over the crown.
Aera’s breath caught in her throat. She comprehended that this was the very essence of the seal: it possessed the power to kill, crush, or awaken her—not through violence, but through judgment.