Years Prior.
———
Serina stood on the balcony of her mother's castle, the cool evening breeze ruffling her dark hair, brushing against her elegantly tailored robes. The world below bustled with life, but she felt detached—like a ghost watching over a vibrant artwork she could no longer touch.
The laughter of children sang in the distance, mingling with the faint sounds of merchants closing their stalls, but none of it reached her heart.
From her perch, she could see the towering spires of the Valerian Mage Academy piercing the sky—it stood on the outskirts of Vahgra, the mage coalition settlement—where her mother ruled as leader.
Serina turned away from the view, stepping back into the warmth of the room. The air felt clustered, heavy with incense and swallowed words. She glanced at the wall where portraits of her ancestors stared down, their expressions carved in stone yet somehow alive with expectations.
