The corridors of the palace stretched long and elegant, lined with deep blue tapestries embroidered with gold. The faint scent of incense clung to the air, mingling with the distant hum of servants moving about their duties.
A butler guided us through the lavish halls, showing each of us to our assigned quarters.
When we reached Elaris's room first, I felt her fingers tighten briefly around mine before she reluctantly let go.
She didn't say anything—just gave me a lingering glance, her lavender eyes filled with quiet concern.
I hated being separated from her, even if it was just for a night.
But I forced a small smile, squeezing her hand one last time before she disappeared into her quarters.
The butler continued leading me down the hall, past several more polished doors, before finally stopping before a large, ornately carved one.
"This will be your chamber for the night, Sir Noctis," he said, bowing slightly. "If you require anything, simply pull the bell rope near the fireplace."
I nodded, barely acknowledging the grandeur of the room as I stepped inside. It was large—larger than any room I had ever stayed in before. The four-poster bed sat in the center, draped with sheer curtains of deep navy. A fireplace crackled softly, casting flickering shadows along the walls. The floors were polished marble, and an intricate Myran crest was woven into the enormous rug beneath my feet.
I closed the door behind me, letting out a slow breath.
Something about this place felt… off.
Not in a sinister way. More like a trap being set.
I moved toward the window, pulling back the heavy curtains. The city of Myra sprawled out below, bathed in moonlight, its golden lanterns shimmering like stars against the dark streets.
Then—
A knock at the door.
I frowned. That was fast. I hadn't even had time to sit down.
I turned back just as the door creaked open.
A woman stepped inside, moving with the fluid grace of someone born into royalty.
Princess Lysara.
She closed the door behind her without a word, her sharp blue eyes locking onto mine.
My muscles tensed instinctively.
"My apologies for the intrusion," she said smoothly, not sounding the least bit apologetic. "I thought I'd take the opportunity to speak with you alone."
I exhaled slowly, folding my arms. "You could've just invited me for tea instead of sneaking into my room, Your Highness."
She smirked, unfazed. "Where's the fun in that?"
I studied her carefully. Up close, she was even more striking than she had been in the throne room. Her silver-blonde hair framed her delicate features perfectly, and her icy blue eyes were filled with something I couldn't quite place. Calculation? Curiosity? Amusement?
She wore a deep blue silk gown, embroidered with golden accents. It hugged her form elegantly, but it was the way she carried herself that struck me—the air of someone who never heard the word no.
"You intrigue me, Noctis Grevant," she continued, stepping further inside. "I imagine you're used to people saying that by now."
I gave her a dry look. "You'd be surprised how often that phrase comes before trouble."
She chuckled. "Perhaps. But tell me, do you trust everyone in your little party?"
My expression hardened. "Why are you asking?"
She tilted her head slightly, as if she were testing me. "Because you are being watched. More closely than you realize. And not just by my family."
A chill ran down my spine.
"Careful, darling," Veylara's voice purred in my mind. "She plays the game well. But you're better."
I straightened slightly, my eyes narrowing. "You speak in riddles, Princess."
"And you speak like a man who has seen more than he lets on," she countered smoothly. "Tell me, Noctis—do you know what you are?"
I felt my jaw clench. "I know what people think I am."
Her gaze flickered with something—understanding? Pity? No, not pity.
"You hold the power to shape history," she said quietly, stepping even closer. "People like my father see you as an asset. A weapon, perhaps. Others might see you as a threat."
I exhaled sharply. "And you? How do you see me?"
Lysara's lips curled slightly.
"I see a man standing at a crossroads. One path leads to glory. The other to ruin."
The air between us felt heavier now, thick with something unspoken.
"And which path do you want me to take?" I asked.
She leaned in slightly, close enough that I could catch the faintest scent of roses and something sharper—like steel.
"The one that benefits Myra, of course."
There it was.
A game of politics. Of manipulation.
But I had played this game before.
I smirked. "Then I suppose you'll just have to wait and see, Your Highness."
She studied me for a moment, then let out a soft laugh. "Clever."
Stepping back, she turned toward the door, placing her hand on the handle.
Before she left, she glanced over her shoulder.
"I do hope you make the right choice, Noctis."
And with that, she was gone.
The door clicked shut behind her, leaving me alone in the heavy silence.
I let out a slow breath, rubbing the bridge of my nose.
"She is dangerous," Veylara murmured in my mind. "And yet… I rather like her."
I scoffed under my breath. "Of course you do."
I moved back to the window, looking out over the city once more.
The night suddenly felt much longer.
The door had barely clicked shut before I let out a slow, measured breath, running a hand through my hair. Princess Lysara's words lingered in my mind, her voice coiling around my thoughts like a serpent.
"You hold the power to shape history."
"People like my father see you as an asset. A weapon, perhaps. Others might see you as a threat."
"Which path do you want me to take?"
Even now, I wasn't sure if she was testing me, warning me, or simply playing her own game.
"She is dangerous," Veylara's voice slithered into my mind, smooth as silk. "But she sees the truth in you, doesn't she? How fascinating…"
I exhaled sharply, pushing off the windowsill and pacing toward the fireplace. "She sees what she wants to see."
"Perhaps," Veylara mused. "But it doesn't change the fact that you're at a crossroads, my dear. You have been since the moment we met."
I clenched my jaw. "And you know which path I should take, don't you?"
There was a pause, the faintest hum of amusement before she answered.
"Of course I do. But I wonder—do you?"
I hated how she did that. How she never gave me a direct answer unless it served her purpose. How she always knew the right words to make my mind spiral deeper.
"The princess is a clever one," she continued, her voice smooth. "She understands the weight of power. The question is—do you?"
I turned my back to the fire, arms crossing over my chest. "I didn't ask for any of this."
"Ah, but fate doesn't ask, does it?" Veylara's tone turned almost playful, but there was a dark edge beneath it. "Noctis Grevant. The Voidbane Seraph. A name that will either be whispered in reverence or cursed in fear. And the best part?"*
Her voice dropped to a low whisper, curling around my thoughts like a gentle caress.
"It is entirely up to you which one it will be."
I swallowed hard, my fingers tightening into fists.
No matter how many times I pushed the thoughts away, they always came back. The weight of what I had done. The reality of what I had become.
I could still feel the Vampire King's presence, the moment his body decayed beneath my blade. The void-scarred remnants of his existence, fading into nothing.
And yet… I felt nothing.
Not satisfaction. Not triumph.
Just emptiness.
The silence in the room grew heavy, pressing against me like an unseen force.
I needed air.
I turned on my heel, striding toward the door.
The palace halls were eerily quiet at this hour, the flickering candlelight casting elongated shadows along the stone walls. My boots barely made a sound against the polished marble as I moved, hands tucked into my coat pockets.
I wasn't sure where I was going—just that I needed to move.
Think.
It was strange. A week ago, I had been just another adventurer, carving a name for myself through sheer force of will. And now?
Now, I was an enigma. A symbol. Something that people watched.
I reached a balcony overlooking the palace gardens and leaned against the stone railing, letting the cool night air wash over me. Below, the vast gardens stretched in every direction—hedge mazes, fountains that shimmered beneath the moonlight, statues of long-forgotten heroes standing solemn in their silent vigil.
I closed my eyes.
The wind brushed through my hair, tugging lightly at the strands that framed my face.
How much longer could I pretend to be normal?
"Not much longer," Veylara answered in my mind, her voice softer this time.
I opened my eyes, gripping the railing. "What do you want from me, Veylara?"
There was a pause. A shift in the air, like a whisper through the void.
"To set you free."
I frowned. "I'm not trapped."
"Aren't you?"
I didn't answer.
"You fight so hard to be what they expect of you. A leader. A protector. A lover. But what about you, Noctis? What do you want?"
I exhaled sharply, running a hand down my face. "You think I have an answer to that?"
"Not yet," she murmured. "But you will. Soon enough."
Her presence faded slightly, but the weight of her words lingered.
I turned my gaze back toward the palace gardens.
In the distance, I saw a lone figure walking among the hedges.
Princess Lysara.
She moved with a slow, deliberate grace, her silver-blonde hair catching the moonlight.
For a moment, I debated turning away. I had enough to deal with.
But something told me this wasn't just a coincidence.
With a quiet sigh, I pushed off the railing and started down the steps toward the gardens.
Toward her.
The night air was crisp, carrying the scent of jasmine and damp earth as I descended the stone steps leading into the palace gardens. The distant sound of flowing water echoed softly from a fountain, blending with the rustling leaves overhead.
Princess Lysara moved like a ghost among the hedges, her steps deliberate but unhurried. She hadn't noticed me yet—or if she had, she hadn't acknowledged it.
I debated turning back.
But then she stopped, tilting her head slightly.
"You walk with the silence of a man who doesn't want to be found," she mused without looking back. "But your presence is hard to miss, Noctis Grevant."
I exhaled sharply, stepping onto the gravel path behind her. "And you walk like someone expecting company."
She turned, a faint smile gracing her lips. "Perhaps I was."
Her icy blue eyes studied me in the dim light, searching for something. If she found it, she gave no indication. Instead, she gestured toward the stone bench by the fountain.
"Walk with me."
I hesitated for a moment before falling into step beside her. The gentle crunch of gravel beneath our boots filled the silence.
For a while, neither of us spoke. The quiet stretched between us, not uncomfortable but heavy with expectation.
Finally, she broke it.
"The way my father looks at you," she said, her tone unreadable. "He's intrigued. But intrigue can be dangerous in a place like this."
I glanced at her, keeping my expression neutral. "And what about you? Are you intrigued too?"
Her lips twitched slightly. "Curiosity is a dangerous thing, Noctis. But yes… I find you interesting."
I scoffed lightly. "That's one word for it."
She stopped walking, turning to face me fully. The way she held herself, poised yet unreadable, reminded me of someone who had been raised to play the game. The politics. The manipulation.
And yet, there was something else beneath it.
Something genuine.
"The stories about you," she murmured, watching me carefully. "They don't add up. You're not just some adventurer. You're something else entirely."
I didn't answer.
I didn't need to.
She took a step closer, her gaze sharp. "The way you killed the Vampire King—the way the void lingered after his death. It wasn't just magic, was it?"
I clenched my jaw. "You already have your suspicions."
Lysara's eyes flickered with something—satisfaction, maybe.
"My father isn't the only one keeping an eye on you," she admitted. "There are others who would see you as either a threat… or an opportunity."
I tensed slightly. "And which one are you?"
She tilted her head, studying me like a puzzle she was slowly piecing together.
"I haven't decided yet," she said finally. "But I do know this—whoever you are, whoever you become, will change this kingdom."
I exhaled slowly. "No pressure, then."
She smiled faintly. "None at all."
Silence stretched between us again, this time heavier.
Then, she took a step back, straightening. "You should be careful, Noctis."
I arched an eyebrow. "You sound almost concerned."
"Concerned?" she echoed, amusement flickering in her eyes. "No. Just… curious to see where your path leads."
With that, she turned, walking back toward the palace.
I watched her go, my thoughts a tangled mess.
Then—
"She knows more than she lets on," Veylara purred in my mind. "Be careful with that one, darling. She plays the long game."
I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose. "That makes two of us."
Turning away from the fountain, I started back toward the palace, my mind buzzing with more questions than answers.