“Moonrise begins the hunt.” Seraphine whispered it while tightening the last clasp of Alessia’s cloak. The sky outside her window glowed silver—moon rising, shadows lengthening across the palace grounds like waiting hands.
 Alessia’s heart beat raced.
 Eryx stood beside the door, armored but silent, his expression cold and lethal. His blue eyes tracked every flicker of movement, every creak of the palace walls. Two elite guards waited behind him—men Eryx trusted with his life.
 And Kael—Kael stood by the far window, looking out over the lesser courtyard below. His black mask reflected the moonlight, turning him into something half-shadow, half-warrior. His dark hair shifted slightly with the night breeze.
 Alessia muttered, “Is it time?”
 Kael didn’t move. “Almost.”
 Seraphine gripped Alessia’s hands. “Princess, please stay close to Eryx. Don’t wander. Don’t open the door. Don’t even go near the window.”
 Alessia nodded, though her throat felt tight. “I won’t.”
 Eryx stepped forward and placed a warm, steadying hand on her shoulder. “Listen to Seraphine. Tonight is dangerous.”
 Seraphine’s voice trembled. “Dangerous” doesn’t even begin to describe this. Assassins are trained to strike faster than thought—”
 “And Kael is trained to strike faster than them,” Eryx said, though even he sounded uncertain.
 Kael finally turned from the window. “Positions.” The single word change the atmosphere.
 Eryx stepped beside Alessia immediately. The guards straightened. Seraphine rushed to stand behind Alessia, clutching her cloak nervously.
 Alessia gulped. “Kael, what exactly are you going to do?”
 Kael approached, stopping just inches in front of her. He lowered his voice to keep the others from hearing. “I will be the shadow inside the illusion.”
 Alessia brows furrowed in confusion, “Meaning?”
 “Meaning I will not be seen,” Kael said. “I will track whoever reacts to the bait. And when they strike…” He leaned slightly forward. “I strike faster.”
 Alessia’s heart clenched. “What if they’re stronger than you? What if they’re not alone? What if they—”
 Kael lifted his hand and lightly tapped her forehead with two fingers. She was stunned.
 “Alessia,” he murmured, “your mind is racing too far. Focus only on now. On staying alive.”
 Her cheeks warmed. “O-Okay.”
 “Good.” He turned toward the door. “We move.”
 Moonlight spilled across the stone floors like liquid silver. Corridors emptied. Guards rotated to night positions. The world slowed—and sharpened.
 Kael walked ahead, cloak whispering along the marble steps.
 Alessia followed with Eryx at her side and Seraphine close behind.
 “Remember,” Kael said without looking back, “the illusion will appear in the lesser courtyard in exactly six minutes.”
 Alessia asked, “And if the assassin notices something wrong?”
 Kael replied, “They won’t.”
 Eryx frowned. “How can you be sure?”
 Kael glanced over his shoulder. “Because I’ve crafted illusions that fooled imperial generals.”
 Seraphine whispered, “That is not comforting!”
 Kael didn’t care. They reached Alessia’s chamber—her official room, not the one she normally stayed in during training. This one was larger, filled with ornamental drapes, gold-trimmed furniture, and a balcony facing the moonlit courtyard.
 “Stay inside,” Kael said. “No matter what you hear.”
 Alessia stared at him. “Kael—be careful.”
 He stopped only for a moment, “I am always careful.”
 Then he slipped out through the balcony and vanished into the shadows below.
 Alessia pressed a hand to her chest. “He’s… gone.”
 Eryx shut the balcony doors immediately. “He’ll handle the assassin.”
 Seraphine rushed to the center of the room. “Princess, sit. Try to breathe.”
 Alessia sat down on the edge of the bed, her mind racing. “I feel like… like I’m waiting to hear my own death.”
 Eryx knelt in front of her, resting a warm palm on her knee. “You’re not going to die. Not while I’m here.”
 The two guards took positions at the door, silent but alert.
 Seraphine placed a steaming cup of herbal tea in Alessia’s hands. “Drink. It will calm you.”
 Alessia exhaled shakily and lifted the cup—a faint vibration echoed through the floor.
 Eryx jerked his head toward the wall. “Did you feel that?”
 Seraphine froze. “What was—”
 A powerful tremor pulsed from below the palace.
 A guard shouted, “Your Highness! The lesser courtyard—something’s happening!”
 Eryx stood instantly. “Kael!”
 Alessia’s breath caught in her throat. “The trap… it’s been sprung.”
 Seraphine rushed to Alessia’s side. “Princess—stay down!”
 Eryx moved to the balcony doors. Alessia grabbed his sleeve. “Don’t open it!”
 Eryx looked back, eyes fierce. “I’m not leaving this room. I’m only checking the shadows.”
 He cracked the doors open just enough to peer through.
 Seraphine clung to Alessia’s hands, trembling. “Please let Kael be safe…”
 Eryx muttered, “He’s fighting someone. I can see flashes—Lux… Ignis… and something else.”
 Alessia stiffened. “Something else?”
 Before Eryx could answer—the entire window shattered inward as a burst of Lux struck the balcony.
 Alessia screamed as Eryx shielded her with his body. Glass exploded across the floor. The room plunged into chaos.
 Seraphine shrieked. “ASSASSIN!”
 The guards rushed to the door—a streak of Eurus slammed one guard into the wall. The other guard drew his blade—a bolt of pure Ignis struck his armor, sending him flying.
 Alessia gasped. “They’re inside!”
 Eryx shoved Alessia behind him. “Stay back!”
 From the broken balcony, steps echoed. A figure stepped through the shattered opening—cloaked in dark fabric, hood low, face masked in polished silver. Their presence filled the room with cold pressure.
 Alessia’s blood froze. The assassin.
 Eryx drew his sword, fury blazing in his eyes. “You won’t touch her.”
 The masked assassin tilted their head. A cold voice echoed behind the mask, “Move, Prince. She is my target.”
 Seraphine screamed, “Stay away from the Princess!”
 Eryx lunged—the assassin raised their hand—a Lux-formed blade materialized along their arm, deflecting Eryx’s strike with terrifying ease.
 Alessia stumbled backward, heart racing. “Eryx, brother!”
 He gritted his teeth, pushing back. “Run, Alessia—RUN!”
 “No!” she cried. “I won’t leave you!”
 The assassin flicked their wrist. A shockwave of Caligo blasted Eryx across the room.
 Alessia screamed. “ERYX!” He hit the wall hard and collapsed, coughing.
 Seraphine rushed to him, sobbing. “Your Highness!”
 Alessia trembled violently. The assassin stepped forward slowly. Lux's blade gleaming. Shadow swirling from their other hand. Two cores. Two powers just like her.
 Alessia whispered, “Y-You… you’re a dual-core…”
 The assassin stopped. Turned their silver mask toward her.
 “Yes,” the cold voice replied. “Because only a monster can kill a monster.”
 Alessia’s heart shattered into pieces. This was no ordinary assassin. This was someone trained like her. Someone with duality. Someone meant to destroy her fate.
 Seraphine screamed, “KAEL! KAEL HELP!”
 The assassin raised their hand. A Lux spear materialized—aimed directly at Alessia’s heart.
 Alessia stumbled backward, hitting the bed frame.
 Her voice broke. “Please—please don’t—”
 The assassin’s tone remained calm. “The prophecy dies with you.” The spear flew—but slammed into a wall of shadow instead.
 Alessia gasped. “KAEL?!”
 A tall dark silhouette materialized from the floor behind her, shadows peeling away like smoke.
 Kael stepped into the room, mask gleaming, cloak swirling behind him. His voice was cold and deadly.
 “Step away from her.”
 The assassin tilted their head. “I wondered when you would arrive,” they said.
 Kael moved forward. He was silent, predatory, and lethal.
 Alessia felt her entire body tremble with relief.
 He came. He came for her. Kael’s voice was a blade. “You will not touch her.”
 The assassin raised their Lux blade again.
 “And who,” they asked, “will stop me?”
 Kael’s mask glowed faintly with runes. “I will.”