episode 4

"The truth was always hidden in the shadows. The question was whether she was ready to face it."

The abandoned cathedral stood at the edge of the kingdom.

Forgotten.

Broken.

Silent.

Moonlight spilled through the shattered stained-glass windows as Seraphyne stepped inside.

Nyx walked beside her, alert and watchful.

The air felt wrong.

Too quiet.

Too empty.

Someone had definitely been here.

Seraphyne tightened her grip on the dagger hidden beneath her cloak.

"Show yourself."

Her voice echoed through the ruined cathedral.

No response.

Only silence.

Then—

Footsteps.

A hooded figure emerged from the darkness.

Their face remained hidden.

"You came."

Seraphyne's eyes narrowed.

"You sent the note."

The stranger nodded.

"I know what happened to your parents."

Her heart stopped for a second.

Finally.

After eighteen hundred years.

An answer.

"Tell me."

The figure stepped closer.

"The night your family died wasn't what you think."

The words struck her like a blade.

"What does that mean?"

"Someone changed the story."

Seraphyne's expression darkened.

"Who?"

Before the stranger could answer—

An arrow shot through the darkness.

THUD!

The hooded figure collapsed.

Blood spread across the floor.

Seraphyne's eyes widened.

Someone had attacked them.

From outside.

"Nyx!"

The black panther immediately leapt forward.

A shadow darted across the cathedral roof.

The attacker was escaping.

Seraphyne ran after them.

Faster than human eyes could follow.

Through broken hallways.

Across ancient stone walls.

She finally caught a glimpse of the figure.

A man dressed in black.

His face hidden behind a mask.

Then he disappeared into the night.

Gone.

As if he had never existed.

"Damn it."

Seraphyne returned to the cathedral.

The hooded stranger was dying.

Blood stained their clothes.

Their breathing was weak.

"Who sent you?" Seraphyne demanded.

The stranger grabbed her wrist.

Their hand trembled.

"The answer..."

They coughed blood.

"...is in the palace."

"What answer?"

"The person you trust..."

Their eyes slowly closed.

"...is the person you should fear."

And then...

Nothing.

The stranger was dead.

Seraphyne stared at the body.

Anger boiled inside her.

She had been so close.

So close.

Yet once again, the truth slipped through her fingers.

Suddenly—

A familiar voice echoed behind her.

"You shouldn't be here."

Seraphyne froze.

Slowly turning around.

Kael stood at the cathedral entrance.

Moonlight illuminated his silver eyes.

His expression was unreadable.

But there was something else there.

Concern.

Real concern.

"How did you find me?" she asked coldly.

Kael's gaze shifted toward the body.

His jaw tightened.

"I'm more interested in why someone wanted this person dead."

Silence filled the cathedral.

Neither trusted the other.

Yet both wanted the same thing.

Answers.

For the first time, Seraphyne wondered if she should work alone.

Or if the only way to uncover the truth...

Was to work with the man she was supposed to hate.

The wind howled through the broken cathedral.

Somewhere in the distance, thunder rolled across the kingdom.

And in the palace, someone was already waiting.

Watching.

Smiling.

Because the game had only just begun.

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