The council room was ice cold.
12 elders. 12 faces that hadn’t smiled in 40 years.
All staring at Lisa.
*Arnold Valerius* stood beside her. Fire barely under his skin.
“Empress Lisa Hart,” the head elder said. “Yesterday, lightning struck inside the cathedral.
Water rose from stone. The wind moved on its own.
We require a test. To confirm your power level.”
Lisa’s hands were in her dress pockets. Fists clenched.
The black ring was ice.
“Test for what?” Arnold asked. Flat.
“For fire and water,” the elder said. “Those are the powers we recognize.
If she has them, she can be trained. If not...”
He didn’t finish.
Arnold knew what he meant. _If not, we cage her._
“Fine,” Arnold said. “One test. Here. Now.”
A stone pillar was rolled in. 6 feet tall. Carved with runes.
“Water first,” the elder said. “Make it move.”
Lisa looked at the fountain in the corner.
She thought of the guards grabbing her.
Water jumped from the fountain and circled the pillar once.
Then fell.
The elders nodded. “Acceptable. Low level, but strong.”
Lisa exhaled.
“Now fire,” the elder said.
Lisa looked at Arnold.
He gave the smallest nod.
She held out her hand.
Orange flame appeared. Small. Controlled.
It danced over her palm.
Murmurs. “Stronger than most.” “The Emperor’s match.”
Arnold relaxed. Just a fraction.
“Test complete,” the elder said. “She is fit to be Empress.”
Everyone stood to leave.
And that’s when one elder, the oldest one, stopped.
He looked at Lisa. Really looked.
“You caused the lightning yesterday,” he whispered. “Didn’t you?”
The room froze.
Lisa’s heart stopped.
She didn’t answer.
Arnold stepped forward. “She did not. Lightning is a myth. Obeila is dead.”
He said the word like a curse. “There was a gas leak. The chandelier fell.
That’s all the court will say.”
The old elder stared at Lisa’s hand. At the black ring.
Then at the window. Where clouds were gathering again. Out of nowhere.
He said nothing.
But he bowed to her. Deeper than he bowed to Arnold.
As they left, he whispered so only Lisa could hear:
*“Serena’s daughter.”*
Lisa didn’t breathe until they were out of the room.
---
That night. Palace roof.
Lisa and Arnold.
No guards. Just rain.
“Did he know?” Lisa asked.
“No,” Arnold said. “He suspects. But he can’t prove it.
Because lightning doesn’t exist. Not officially.”
Lisa pulled her knees up. “Arnold... what happens if someone finds out?”
Arnold looked at the city. Still rebuilding from the blackout.
“They’ll call it a miracle. Or a curse.
Then they’ll try to lock you in a tower. Or marry you off to breed more of it.
Or kill you before anyone else can.”
Lisa was quiet.
Arnold’s fire came out. Small. It warmed her hands.
“My father died to keep you secret.
I’m not going to let them take you now.”
Lisa looked at him. “Why do you care?”
Arnold didn’t answer for a long time.
“Because my fire bowed to you,” he said finally.
“And fire doesn’t bow to anyone.”
Lightning flashed far away.
Only Lisa saw it.
Only Lisa made it.
*END EP 7*
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