Episode: WHAT SERENA LEFT BEHIND

The dungeon smelled like wet stone and fear.

*Richard Hart* was chained to a wall. Dripping.

Across from him: *Arnold Valerius.* No crown. No guards inside. Just fire, small, hovering over his palm.

“Last chance,” Arnold said. “Did you hire them?”

“I didn’t!” Richard spat water. “I was trying to _warn_ her! Someone’s after her. The same people who—” He cut off.

“The same people who what?” Arnold’s fire flared.

Richard looked at the door. “Where’s Lisa?”

“Safe. Because of me.” Arnold stood. “You have 10 seconds before I hand you to the interrogators.”

The door opened.

*Lisa.*

Wet hair. Bare feet. Still in the dress from the garden.

The black ring was glowing faint blue.

“Dad,” she said.

Arnold turned. “Lisa, you shouldn’t be—”

“I need to hear it from him.” She walked in. Water dripped from her sleeves. She didn’t notice.

Richard’s face broke. “Baby. I’m so sorry.”

“Did you hire them?” Lisa asked. Quiet.

“No. Never.” Richard yanked against the chains. “Lisa, listen. Your mom... Serena... she had all of it.”

Arnold froze. “All of what?”

“The powers.” Richard looked at Arnold, then at Lisa. “Fire. Water. Lightning. And Weather.

No one was supposed to know. Cedric helped us hide her. Hide _you_.”

Lisa blinked. “What?”

“Fire is the strongest,” Richard said fast. “Everyone knows that. Arnold Valerius has it.

Water is weak. A trick. Most people can make a cup.

Lightning is rare.

But Weather... Weather is gone. Erased 20 years ago.

And you, Lisa... you have the most water I’ve ever seen. And you have Weather.”

The torches in the room flickered.

Outside, thunder rolled. No clouds in the sky an hour ago.

Arnold stared at Lisa. “Is this true?”

Lisa shook her head. “I don’t— I don’t control it. When Eva grabbed me, lightning. When the guards grabbed me, water. I don’t—”

Her hands started shaking.

Blue light. Then orange. Then white sparks.

The air got heavy.

Arnold stepped between her and Richard. “Breathe. Don’t—”

_CRACK._

Lightning hit the ceiling. Not from outside. From Lisa.

Water burst from the drain and circled her ankles.

The temperature dropped 10 degrees.

And the wind... the wind started moving in circles around her.

*Weather.*

Arnold’s fire jumped up to meet it. Instinct.

Fire vs Weather.

His fire bowed.

Again.

Arnold killed the flame. His face was pale.

“Stop,” he whispered. “Lisa. Stop.”

Lisa gasped and the powers died.

She collapsed. Arnold caught her.

Richard was crying. “She’s just like Serena. She couldn’t control it either. Not at first.”

Arnold looked at Richard. Then at Lisa in his arms.

“You knew,” he said. “Cedric knew. That’s why he made me marry her.”

“He said if the world found out she had Weather, they’d kill her,” Richard whispered. “Or worse. They’d try to breed her.”

Arnold stood, holding Lisa. She was light. Too light.

“Get him out of my sight,” he told the guards. “Not the interrogators. A cell. Food.

If he lied, I’ll know.”

He carried Lisa out.

---

Her room.

He laid her on the bed. She was unconscious. Breathing.

He sat on the floor next to her. Stared at her hand.

Four powers.

Fire. Water. Lightning.

And Weather. The one that doesn’t exist.

He touched the black ring. It was warm.

A knock. Captain. “Your Majesty. The wedding is in 2 days. The council wants to know if we proceed.”

Arnold didn’t look up.

“Proceed,” he said. “And double the guard.

No one touches her. Not with hate. Not with love. No one.”

“Understood.”

The captain left.

Arnold looked at Lisa.

“My father died to protect this secret,” he whispered.

“And now I have to protect you from it.”

Outside, the rain started.

But inside, Lisa’s fingers twitched.

And tiny sparks of lightning danced over her knuckles.

*END EP 5*

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