Amelia stood there for a moment, staring at the closed door.
Her heart felt heavy, her mind moving with unease.
Sophie came closer. "That was weird," she whispered. "He came back early, and he's injured, also he's definitely hiding something."
Amelia nodded slowly, her hand brushing the glove on her wrist again. The faint warmth in it felt stronger — as if reacting to something close.
"I know," she murmured. "But he won't tell us anything."
Sophie frowned. "Then maybe… we'll have to find things out ."
Amelia looked toward the study door again. when she was sitting near her father she felt it , she felt the same feeling when she was in the enchanted forest, or when the fairy came to visit . That feel of magic.
In Amelia's Room...
" .....You know Sophie I had thought I would question him the moment he returned home tell him about everything that happened the mark the drams , forest everything and ask him to tell me the truth "
Amelia said quietly her voice felt like she was sad and in pain.
She continued"but the moment I saw he was injured and pale. His voice filled with sorrow his please to not ask him questions I .....I really couldn't gather my courage to ask him anything "
"And when I found my strength and encouraged myself to ask him a question him he... ran to the study room "
"Do you think I am weak and too emotional "
Sophie 's eyes softened
"You did what was right, even..... Even If I would have been in your place , even I wouldn't have been able to question my father about his past if he came injured and broken like that trying to look fine in front of me to ensure me and telling me to not ask him questions in such a sorrowful voice "
"Even I would have stopped for a Moment "
She hugged her gently and said
"We will find out what is happening and everything will be fine.and I will be always there with you."
Amelia also hugged back quietly.
Outside, the wind pressed against the windows — a low, humming sound like it was also listening.
Away from the Enchanted Forest, in the Forbidden valley.
In a large dark Castle of realm of darkness—
The air was thick with smoke and whispers.
Through that darkness, something crawled.
A shape half-broken, its body shivering as it's pieces moved away like dying flame . It dragged itself across the dark ground until it reached the great hall — where pillars rose endlessly towards upward, moving with the little light that remained.
At the center, upon a dark throne , sat a figure dressed in dark cloak. His eyes burned faintly red, like coals waiting to burn.
The creature collapsed before him.
"My Lord… we failed."
The voice of the Dark Force leader was soft — too soft.
"Failed?"
The word echoed through the hall, the words felt like they would stung just like poison.
"He—" the shadow croaked, trembling
"Alaric came back !!he was there to protect her . His powers were greater than us we were not able to defeat him . He destroyed us"
For a Moment the darkness itself seemed to freeze.
Then the air split open with a sound like tearing metal.
" Just like his parents a thorn in my way …" the Master whispered. His voice filled with amusement and fury mixed together. "Always creating trouble".
He stood, and the throne behind him melted into black smoke. Around him, the mist twisted into the shape of a girl — Amelia sitting on the bed .
Her wrist glowed faintly with a mark of light.
"She doesn't even know who she is," the Dark Lord murmured. "Half human , half light "walking near the mist he continued " That innocence will be her downfall."
He lifted his hand. The image of Amelia vanished, replaced by a storm of whispering shadows.
"Send the illusions," he commanded, his voice deep and dark. "Ones that she will welcome. Ones she will trust."
The mist moved again — this time forming two figures.
One was a woman with silver hair, eyes gentle, her presence warm like sunlight through glass — a perfect reflection of comfort.
Then someone came young man cloaked in blue and gray, his expression calm, his eyes filled with quiet sorrow.
The Dark Lord's gaze lingered on the man.
"You," he said. "You will play the guide. You will lead her from safety to silence. When she trusts you, bring her to me."
The young man bowed his head, though a flicker of pain crossed his face. "As you command."
The Dark Lord's form leaned closer, his voice dark and icey . "Do not forget, Sorcerer… your freedom lies on the other side of her light."
The man's jaw tightened. "I remember."
For a moment, he looked like he wanted to speak — perhaps to defy him — but the mark on his wrist pulsed black, binding his silence.
Then the Dark Lord turned his gaze to the trembling creature still kneeling before him. "You failed to destroy him. Let your punishment serve as a lesson to everyone today"
A sound of wind slicing through glass filled the hall.
The creature screamed once — then crumbled into dust.
The throne reformed from the smoke. The Dark Lord sat again, his fingers tracing patterns in the air — old signs that glowed faintly red.
"Go," he said. "And do not return until she stands at the edge of the forest."
The illusions bowed.
The woman's form dissolved into a faint form of silver light.
The sorcerer turned back , his eyes cold but full of unspoken grief. Then he too vanished — slipping through the veil between worlds.
"Now the real chapter of your life will start Amelia, you won't be able to hide for long " he said coldly.