Jade

  The corridors of the Belfour Kingdom's infirmary were eerily quiet, save for the faint echo of my boots against the polished stone floors. Outside, the city hummed with activity, but in here, it felt as though the world had paused, holding its breath for the recovery of my teammates.

  Two Guar Knights flanked me as I walked, their polished armor glinting faintly under the flickering lanterns. They'd been assigned to me for protection—more of a formality than a necessity, in my opinion, but I didn't argue. After everything we'd been through, it wasn't hard to believe that danger could strike again.

  Thornton and Hue had been unconscious since the incident in the arena. Their injuries had been severe—burns, fractured bones, and severe mana exhaustion. Even now, the thought of their collapsed bodies, battered and lifeless, sent a pang through my chest.

  When we reached the infirmary room, the knights stepped aside, allowing me to enter alone. Thornton and Hue were lying in separate beds, their bodies covered in bandages and surrounded by faint traces of mana residue lingering from their outburst during the battle. I approached Thornton first.

  He looked peaceful, almost serene—an illusion betrayed by the shallow rise and fall of his chest and the faint bruises marking his face. His hands, usually so steady, were limp against the white sheets. I sat beside him, my fingers brushing against his as I whispered, "You're too stubborn to let this keep you down."

  I stayed there for a moment longer before turning to Hue. He looked even smaller than usual, his slender frame nearly disappearing under the covers. I still couldn't reconcile the raw, terrifying power he'd unleashed with the quiet, shy boy I'd come to know. And the eyes—the glowing purple eyes. I shivered just remembering it.

  A soft knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. I turned to see King Belfour entering, his towering frame filling the doorway. His presence was overwhelming, as always, but today, there was a heaviness to his expression—a hesitation that wasn't like him.

  "Jade," he said, his voice low and measured. "Walk with me."

  I hesitated, glancing back at Hue and Thornton, but the King's eyes left no room for argument. With a final glance at my teammates, I followed him out into the hall. The Guar Knights trailed a respectful distance behind us as we walked in silence.

  When we reached a secluded balcony overlooking the city, King Belfour turned to face me. The wind tugged at his cloak, but his expression remained steady, save for the faint furrow in his brow.

  "I owe you an explanation," he said finally, his deep voice carrying a weight that made my stomach tighten.

  "An explanation?" I asked, my brow furrowing.

  He nodded, his gaze distant. "About Hue."

  I didn't respond, waiting for him to continue.

  "I adopted Hue as an infant," the King began. "He was left on the steps of the palace—no note, no indication of where he'd come from or who had left him there. My wife and I couldn't bear the thought of leaving him to fate, so we took him in. Raised him as our own."

  I blinked, the revelation settling over me like a heavy fog. "So... he's not—"

  "He has no royal blood," the King said, his tone firm. "None at all. His power... it doesn't come from me or my lineage."

  My mind raced, piecing together the implications. If Hue wasn't of royal blood, then the purple glow—the raw mana—could only mean one thing.

  "He's Liche," I whispered, the words barely audible.

  The King's gaze met mine, and for the first time, I saw uncertainty in his eyes. "It seems so. But I didn't know—none of us did. If I had, I would have told him."

  The weight of his confession settled heavily in my chest. Thornton and I were supposed to be the last of the Liche Clan. Our family had been hunted to extinction—at least, that's what we'd believed. To discover that Hue carried the same blood, the same power... it changed everything.

  "Does he know?" I asked.

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  The King shook his head. "Not yet. And I don't know how he'll take it."

  Neither did I. Hue had always idolized the King, believing himself a part of the royal family. To find out otherwise... it would shatter him.

  "I'll tell him when he wakes," the King said. "But until then, I need you to keep this between us. The world doesn't need to know—at least, not yet."

  I nodded slowly. "I understand."

  The King placed a heavy hand on my shoulder. "Thank you, Jade. I know this isn't easy, but you've proven yourself time and again. I trust you."

  He left shortly after, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I returned to the infirmary, but the silence of the room felt oppressive, so I left again, wandering through the castle grounds until I found myself at the training yard.

  I drew my weapon—a sleek, curved blade—and began to move through the forms, letting the rhythm of the motions calm my mind. The weight of the day's revelations hung over me, but I pushed it aside, focusing on the flow of my movements.

  By the time I finished, the sun was beginning to set, casting the yard in hues of gold and orange. I sheathed my blade and sat on the edge of a stone bench, letting the cool evening air wash over me.

  Thornton. Hue. The Liche Clan. The King's words played over and over in my mind, each revelation adding another layer to the tangled web of secrets surrounding us.

  One thing was certain: when Thornton and Hue woke, nothing would ever be the same.

  The streets of Belfour City were alive with activity as I wandered through them later that evening. The Guar Knights—despite my protests—trailed behind me, their presence a constant reminder of the dangers lurking in the shadows. Every corner of the city buzzed with life, from merchants hawking their wares to street performers drawing cheerful crowds.

  But even amidst the vibrant atmosphere, I felt restless. My thoughts kept drifting back to the King's words and the heavy truth about Hue's lineage.

  As I turned a corner near the city's central fountain, a hooded figure brushed past me, slipping a small piece of parchment into my hand. The movement was so subtle that the Guar Knights didn't notice. I glanced down at the note, my heart skipping a beat.

  Meet me at the edge of the western gardens at nightfall. Come alone.

  I should have dismissed it immediately. It was reckless, dangerous even. But something about the note—about the faint, familiar scent on the parchment—made me hesitate.

  When nightfall came, I slipped out of my room, leaving the Guar Knights behind. It wasn't easy—years of training had made them sharp and attentive—but I was sharper. I moved through the shadows, my steps silent, until I reached the western gardens.

  The air was cool and still, the moon casting long shadows across the neatly trimmed hedges. I gripped the hilt of my weapon tightly, every sense on high alert.

  Approaching the meeting spot, my breath caught as I noticed a figure standing beneath an ancient oak tree. Their features were obscured by a hood, their posture casual yet exuding a quiet intensity.

  "You came," they said, their voice low and even, with an edge of familiarity that set my nerves alight.

  "I don't trust strangers," I said, stepping closer, "but something about your note made me curious. You've got one chance to explain yourself."

  The figure chuckled, their voice soft yet carrying a weight that silenced the night. "Curious is good. It's how we uncover the truth, Jade."

  "Then start talking."

  The figure raised a gloved hand, extending a small object toward me. In the moonlight, I caught the glint of something metallic—a pendant etched with a sigil I didn't recognize.

  "This belonged to your ancestors," they said. "To the Liche Clan."

  I froze, staring at the pendant. My fingers twitched, but I didn't take it. "Who are you?"

  "Someone who knows the real history of the Liche. Not the story the King or his scholars tell."

  I narrowed my eyes, taking a step closer. "What are you talking about? The Liche Clan was wiped out—betrayed from the inside by their own."

  The figure laughed bitterly. "That's the story they want you to believe. But the truth? The Liche weren't destroyed because of betrayal. They were destroyed because they were too powerful. Too united. The other clans—King Belfour's ancestors among them—saw them as a threat. So they waged war, spreading lies to divide and conquer."

  My pulse quickened, but I kept my voice steady. "Why should I believe you?"

  The figure stepped closer, and for the first time, I could see their face—a woman, her eyes alight with a passion that bordered on desperation. "Because the Liche power is awakening again. First in you and Thornton. And now, in Hue. The King's fear of that power will outweigh his loyalty to you."

  I shook my head. "King Belfour adopted Hue as his son. He's never shown anything but care for us."

  Her expression darkened. "The King is a ruler first and a father second. Hue doesn't have royal blood, and that terrifies him. You think he's told you everything? You think he's on your side? Don't be so naive."

  My grip tightened on my weapon, but I couldn't deny the seed of doubt her words planted. "What do you want from me?"

  "To be ready," she said, her voice firm. "To trust yourself, not the King. To question everything you've been told. The Liche legacy isn't just about power—it's about survival. And if you don't learn that now, you'll be the next to fall."

  I swallowed hard, my mind spinning. "If what you're saying is true, why tell me this now?"

  "Because the storm is coming, Jade," she whispered. "And when it does, you'll need to choose a side."

  With that, she placed the pendant in my hand and stepped back. This time, I didn't stop her. I stood rooted to the spot as her figure melted into the shadows, her words echoing in my mind.

  The weight of the pendant felt heavier than it should have. For a long moment, I stared at it, the sigil glinting faintly in the moonlight. The air around me felt charged, like the calm before a battle.

  I turned and made my way back to the palace, her words lingering in my thoughts:

  "Trust yourself, not the King."