Chapter 38: The West Wing

The castle felt unnaturally quiet as night fell. Aelric, Lyra, and Seraphina moved through the darkened halls of the west wing, their footsteps muffled against the stone floor. The air was cold, carrying with it a faint hum of something unnatural.

"Do you feel that?" Lyra whispered, her fingers glowing faintly with magic. "It's like the air is charged with… something wrong."

Seraphina nodded, her hand on the hilt of her sword. "Stay close. We don't know who or what we're dealing with."

They reached the council chambers, the large wooden door slightly ajar. Aelric pushed it open carefully, his heart pounding. The room was dark except for a faint purple glow emanating from the far corner.

Lyra stepped forward, her magic illuminating the space. "There," she said, pointing to a series of runes carved into the wall. They pulsed with the same energy as the symbols on the eastern gate.

Aelric's jaw tightened. "Someone's been using this room. Recently."

A noise behind them made all three spin around. A soft scuff of a shoe on stone. Seraphina drew her sword, her voice sharp. "Who's there?"

The figure bolted, their footsteps echoing down the hall. Aelric and Seraphina sprinted after them, their hearts racing. Aelric rounded a corner and lunged, grabbing the figure's arm and pulling them into the light.

It was a young man, his face pale and his eyes wide with fear. "Please," he begged. "I didn't mean to"

"Who are you?" Seraphina demanded, her sword at his throat. "And what are you doing here?"

The man's gaze darted to the glowing runes on the wall. "They… they made me do it. I didn't have a choice."

"Who?" Aelric asked, his voice sharp. "Who made you?"

Before the man could answer, a cold wind swept through the hall, extinguishing Lyra's light. In the darkness, a voice spoke low and chilling.

"You've come too far, little heir."

When the light returned, the man was gone. All that remained was the faint sound of laughter echoing through the halls.