As the enchanted carriage disappeared down the central path towards the heart of the city, Vera and Sereia remained motionless for a few seconds, as if ti around them had hesitated.
"Did you see how calm he was?" whispered Sereia, still staring at the trail of faelus that stirred slightly as the carriage passed. "Not even the generals of the Lunar Guard speak of the Queen so naturally..."
Vera didn't reply imdiately. Her eyes were fixed on the highest tower of the Palace of the Eternal Moon, now clearly vibrating with pulsating magical energy. It was as if the city itself had noticed that boy's presence - and was adjusting to it.
"He's not just the Queen's grandson..." said Vera at last, in a somber tone. "He's the only direct heir of Scarlet blood, son of that demon..."
rmaid's eyes widened, and she brought her hand to the enchanted necklace she had been wearing since her initiation.
"Yes... the eldest sister of all witches... Elion Scarlet... Besides... the throne of Valebris never had direct succession. Queen Eleonor never nad an heir."
"And now perhaps she's about to," Vera added, turning her eyes to the watchtower. "Maybe... that's the real reason for the fortification. Not an imminent war. But the arrival of sothing... or soone... that changes everything."
They were speculating on sothing that hadn't even been thought of... really, who cared about the throne? He was only here to have so fun and rest with his grandmother, in fact, Kael had simply co for a visit. His grandmother who was obsessed with protection.
High up on the ramparts, the great Arcane Eye of the Outpost blinked briefly in deep blue - a sign that an urgent ssage had been sent to the Palace.
anwhile, inside the carriage, Kael Scarlet watched with childlike curiosity as the city unfolded around him. The magical stained glass windows reflected the street lights, while enchanted towers passed above them, connected by levitating bridges. Small fairy creatures followed the carriage, playing with the runes that lit up at every turn.
But even surrounded by so much wonder, the boy seed calm. His eyes weren't darting from side to side like those of an enchanted stranger. There was recognition in his gaze. Familiarity. As if everything already belonged to him in so way.
At the bottom of the carriage seat, he held tightly a dallion of darkened silver with a crimson stone in the center - a relic he had carried since birth. Engraved on the back, a single word glowed in runic letters: "Promise."
When the carriage passed through the Lunar Gates, the official entrance to the Palace of the Eternal Moon, the Sentinels of the Dawn raised their spears and bowed in silence. Not a word was spoken. No verification spell was conjured. They knew.
From above, at the highest point of the main tower, Eleonor Scarlet, Queen of the Witches, rose from her throne forged from Nightstone. Her long snow-white hair danced lightly, even without the wind, and her eyes - as deep a violet as the darkness between the stars - were fixed on the inner courtyard.
"He's here," she said quietly, although there was no one beside her. But the castle heard. And it reacted.
As if erging from the shadows sewn into the ground itself, dozens of court maids materialized behind her in absolute silence. Each was unique in features and ethnicity, but all wore refined versions of the sa ceremonial costu: a court maid's dress, made from dark satin and enchanted lace, shaped to look both elegant and intimidating.
The fitted bodices outlined the silhouettes with almost magical precision, revealing the sophistication typical of Valebris Haute Couture. The skirts, short at the front and long at the back like cot tails, floated lightly even in the absence of wind, supported by enchantnts of lightness. Black tulle gloves covered their arms up to the elbows, and small half-face masks - adorned with blood pearls and silver threads - partially concealed their identities, reinforcing the mystery of their roles.
Even in silence, their collective presence commanded respect. They were much more than simple maids. They were trained shadows, many with their own magical lineage, who served the sovereign directly.
"I want this palace spotless for the arrival of my dear Kael," ordered the Queen, with a subtle glint in her eyes that mixed tenderness and absolute power.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" they replied in unison, their voices echoing in arcane harmony, like the distant ringing of magical bells. Then they disappeared - like night dust blown away by an invisible wind.
anwhile...
Kael watched everything through the window of the enchanted carriage as it glided silently over the black flagstones of the inner courtyard. He was alone in the compartnt, but he didn't feel lonely. The air around him vibrated with an energy he couldn't explain - as if the very stone of the castle was aware of his presence.
The Palace of the Eternal Moon was gigantic, even more so than he had imagined in the tales his mother, Elion Scarlet, used to tell him. But the stories hadn't done justice to the reality.
The towers rose like spears made of pure obsidian, and the arched windows were adorned with vivid stained glass that changed color according to the mood of the sky. Statues of mystical creatures - jade basilisks, winged harpies and crystal serpents - guarded the corridors outside. The flowers in the gardens not only moved gently as if they were breathing, but so seed to sing in high tones, emitting soft, delicate notes.
Kael rested his chin on his hand, still wide-eyed.
"Yeah... I can't say she was exaggerating," he muttered, more to himself than to anyone else.
As the carriage drove through an inner archway covered in floating runes, he saw a group of apprentice magicians in one of the courtyards. So wore dark blue robes with silver symbols, and manipulated spheres of light with their eyes closed. Others levitated heavy objects under the supervision of a teacher dressed in a costu that seed to be made of solid smoke. A small albino dragon slept on a stone pedestal among them, curled up like a giant cat.
Ever since he was little, he had heard whispers about his blood, about the na he bore. His mother always avoided talking directly about his grandmother: "She's too powerful, Kael, and power takes its toll," but it never stopped him from knowing who she was. But being there... it was different. Very different.
He knew his grandmother, not the Witch Queen. It might seem that the two are the sa person, but they're certainly not. Not least because, despite the brutality of his training with her... Eleonor never said anything about her status as Queen. In fact... she didn't even consider herself that. To him, she just introduced herself as Your Crazy Grandmother.
'Umbra... was my grandmother as scary as you said?' He ntally asked the spirit he was carrying. And she only replied 'Your grandmother is a demon, the worst kind' Smiling of course.
anwhile, another voice spoke up. 'Your grandmother is indeed worthy of being called a demon, but she is certainly the most powerful person in this world when it cos to knowledge. She must already be five thousand years old judging by the energy I'm feeling. She's older than . Ahri said. And Ahri... was a goddess.
Well, at least that's what Yggdrazil said... And if she was saying sothing like that, it ant a lot.
But in the end, nothing mattered as much as seeing her grandmother again.
The carriage passed through a second inner gate - this one smaller, but even more imposing. A silver and glass arch intertwined with golden roots opened just for him, reacting to the presence of his grimoire, tucked away in the side pouch. The gate glowed in response, as if it recognized him.
"Yeah. That was weird." He frowned.
The carriage finally stopped in front of the main entrance to the central building: a dark cathedral with fine curves and asymtrical towers, like a castle carved straight out of a dream. Floating staircases led to the upper floors. Green flas burned in chandeliers suspended in the air.
Outside, three won were waiting in silence. The sa maids who had been summoned earlier. Now they stood motionless like enchanted dolls, positioned next to the main entrance. Their elegant costus still bore the touch of mystery and formality of the Night Court, as if they had stepped out of a ceremonial play.
Kael descended slowly, adjusting the strap of his bag on his shoulder.
"Your Majesty, the Palace of the Eternal Moon welcos you," said one of them, bowing almost perfectly. Her voice was soft as velvet, but had the firmness of a hidden order.
He rolled his eyes, a little uncomfortable with the formality. "You can call Young Master. "Your Majesty" sounds... I don't know, strange."
The woman smiled slightly, as if she knew sothing he didn't. "As you wish, young master."
As he walked behind them through the entrance hall, Kael ran his fingers along the living wall, made of stone and intertwined crystalline roots. The surface was warm. Almost... pulsating.
Magic wasn't just used here. It was the structure. It supported the palace. It breathed with it.
"I wanted to take a vacation, but... I think I'm going to have a lot of problems..." Kael said as he went on his way.
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