{Third Person}
anwhile, back at the King’s palace, the atmosphere beca noticeably more serious.
Sebastian personally led the five visiting mages to a private chamber that had been prepared for the examination.
Alexander followed behind them without complaint. He had gone through similar assessnts countless tis over the years and had long since lost any expectation that they would produce aningful results.
Inside the chamber, several comfortable seats had been arranged around a large table. Records from previous examinations had already been gathered and organized for the delegation’s review.
As soon as everyone settled down, the formalities ended and the questioning began. Mage Elder Seraphina took the lead.
"Your Highness, when was your most recent episode?"
Alexander answered without hesitation. "Three weeks ago."
The elderly mage nodded and made a note. "And the duration?"
"Three days."
The answer caused several of the younger mages to exchange glances. Then, one of them lowered his eyes to the records before him and said, "That remains consistent with previous reports."
Seraphina continued. "Did the transformation progress fully?"
"Yes."
"Wolf form?"
"Most of the ti."
The questions continued steadily. They asked about the bloodlust, the aggression, the emotional instability that accompanied each episode, the loss of rational judgnt and the increasing difficulty of controlling his impulses whenever the curse flared.
Nothing was omitted or softened.
King Sebastian sat quietly throughout the discussion, listening to details he already knew by heart. Even after all these years, hearing them spoken aloud never beca easier.
Eventually, the conversation shifted toward the physical effects of the curse.
Seraphina’s gaze settled briefly upon Alexander’s hair. The strands of white were impossible to miss against the black.
"When did you first notice additional whitening?"
Alexander considered the question before responding, "Several months ago."
"How much progression since then?"
"Very little."
That answer caused the senior mage to pause. She glanced toward another mber of the delegation, then she made another note.
The examination continued for nearly two hours. Physical assessnts followed, and magical evaluations ca afterward.
Ancient instrunts were brought out and carefully used to asure the curse’s activity. Layers of magical energy were examined one after another while the mages quietly compared their observations against previous records provided by the palace.
At first, everything appeared normal. Then the inconsistencies began appearing—small, subtle ones. Enough to attract attention.
One of the younger mages frowned while studying a collection of readings. A second mage checked them independently. Then a third.
Eventually, Seraphina requested the records herself.
The room gradually grew quieter. Even Alexander noticed the shift.
"What is it?" King Sebastian asked as he leaned forward slightly.
The mages exchanged uncertain looks. For several monts, nobody answered. But finally, Seraphina set the docunts down.
"There is... an irregularity."
Imdiately, the King’s attention sharpened. "What kind of irregularity?"
The elderly mage remained thoughtful. "Nothing dramatic."
That was not the answer Sebastian wanted, so he probed further. "Explain."
Seraphina folded her hands together and began. "According to the progression docunted in previous examinations, the curse should have advanced further by now."
Silence filled the room, lasting for a few seconds as Alexander’s expression remained unchanged.
"What exactly are you saying?" The King inquired.
The elderly mage chose her words carefully. "The deterioration appears slower than anticipated."
For the first ti during the entire examination, genuine surprise appeared on Sebastian’s face.
"Slower?" he repeated. The word sounded unbelievable on his lips.
Seraphina nodded in confirmation. "The differences are not large enough to declare any major improvent."
The King’s hope imdiately dimd, but only slightly.
"However," she continued, "they are significant enough for us to notice."
Right then, one of the younger mages spoke up. "The progression rate recorded over the last few years does not perfectly align with the current readings."
Another mage nodded in agreent. "It is as though the curse’s advance has beco less aggressive."
Alexander finally spoke. "Can you explain why?"
The room fell silent again. That single question revealed the problem.
None of them had an answer.
The mages exchanged glances, then Seraphina slowly shook her head. "No."
Alexander’s expression imdiately cooled. It was exactly as he expected.
No explanation. No cure. No solution.
King Sebastian, however, was less willing to dismiss the discovery. "Could it be an error?"
The elder mage considered the possibility, then shook her head again. "We have verified the results several tis."
Another mage added, "If there is an error, it exists in decades of records rather than today’s examination."
That answer left everyone thoughtful.
The curse had not disappeared. It had not weakened.
Alexander remained just as cursed as before. Yet for reasons nobody understood, its progression appeared slower than expected.
It was hardly the miracle Sebastian had hoped for. Even so, it was the first genuinely positive developnt he had heard in years.
Unfortunately, the mages could offer nothing more. There was no theory, explanation, or treatnt. Only questions.
By the ti the examination concluded, even the delegation appeared a little frustrated by the mystery.
Alexander left the chamber unconvinced.
Sebastian left cautiously hopeful.
The mages left deeply confused.
And none of them realized that elsewhere within the palace grounds lived a young woman whose existence might hold the answer they were searching for.
---
As Amara and Barron arrived at the Alpha Prince’s residence, Amara was still thinking about all he had revealed to her.
The mages had not co to cure Alexander. They had co in the hope of finding so way to slow the curse and buy him more ti.
The thought sat heavily in her chest. Eventually, she glanced toward Barron and asked her question.
"What actually happens when the curse appears?"
Barron turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow. "I thought Elowen should have already told you."
"Yes, she did." She admitted with a nod.
Imdiately, the mory resurfaced. She rembered the hunting ceremony before winter and the conversation she had shared with Elowen afterwards.
Elowen had explained that Alexander avoided participating in certain hunts because the excitent could trigger problems with the curse. If it escalated too far, he could beco bloodthirsty and lose control of himself.
"But she only told a little," Amara said to Barron.
Barron’s expression softened with understanding. "That sounds like Elowen." Then, he let out a quiet breath before continuing. "She probably spared you the unpleasant parts."
The amusent disappeared from his face as he spoke.
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