The chamber beneath the palace was older than the kingdom itself.

  Arin felt it the moment he descended the spiral staircase—stone humming faintly, as if aware of his presence. Torches flickered along the curved walls, their flames bending unnaturally inward toward a circular vault door etched with celestial runes.

  Lord Malrec walked ahead of him, composed as ever.

  “Few are permitted to see this place,” Malrec said softly. “It houses the first seal.”

  The vault doors opened with a grinding echo.

  Inside, the chamber widened into a vast dome. At its center hovered a sphere of molten red light suspended between six obsidian pillars. Ancient chains of radiant white energy wrapped around the sphere, anchoring it in place.

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  Arin’s mark burned violently.

  “That,” Malrec said, gesturing toward the suspended sphere, “is what keeps the demon bound.”

  The air thickened.

  From within the sphere, something shifted.

  A voice—deep and layered—rolled across the chamber.

  “You bring me the fracture.”

  Arin staggered.

  Malrec did not react.

  “Be silent,” Malrec commanded, pressing his hand against one of the pillars.

  The chains tightened briefly.

  The presence receded—but did not vanish.

  Arin turned toward Malrec slowly.

  “You said I was the solution.”

  Malrec’s eyes reflected the red glow of the seal.

  “And you are.”

  But his smile did not reach his eyes.