Queen Eleysa's heels echoed sharply through the marble corridor as she made her way toward the palace dungeons.
The air grew colder the deeper she went, and the guards standing outside the final cell bowed stiffly as she passed.
Inside, her twin sister sat chained to the wall, the same face as hers—only harder, more weathered by years of confinement and bitterness.
Gorgon lifted her head slowly, amusement flickering in her narrowed eyes.
"To what do I owe the honor, dear sister? Decided to finally execute me?"
Queen Eleysa's tone was sharp.
"Have you ever heard of an outsider crossing the temple's holy shield?"
Gorgon raised an eyebrow.
"No. No outsider ever has. Not once in Callexian history."
Eleysa's voice tightened.
"But could it happen? Theoretically?"
Gorgon leaned back with a slow smile.
"The gods don't always think like us. If someone met a god's criterion, it's possible—even an outsider might be welcomed."
Eleysa's jaw clenched.
