[: 3rd POV :]
Right after Maiya had unsealed herself from her self-inflicted chains of guilt, Melira wasted no time.
She summoned her most trusted companions, those she knew would never falter in the face of danger, and gathered them in a quiet, candlelit chamber deep within the palace.
The air was tense, each of them sensing the gravity of the summons.
"As all of you know," Melira began, her voice firm but shadowed with grief, "I can sense that my son is still alive… but I cannot tell where he is."
Her words weighed heavily on every soul in the room.
"And worse… I can feel that he is in danger."
Seated around the long oak table were the pillars of her reign's strength.
Luke, captain of the Twilight Knights—the strongest elite force sworn to protect the Empress at all costs while his armour gleamed faintly even in the dim light.
Maiya, leader of the Sacred Valkyries—the finest warriors ever chosen from among the palace maids, wielders of both grace and unyielding strength.
