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> "Sorrow, when left untended, does not fade. It hardens, becoming a crown of ice, ruling all it touches."
> — Ancient Lore of the Drowned East
>
The Mirror Expanse shimmered around Ash, its myriad reflections now subdued by the presence of his reunited companions. He still clutched the Core of Binding, its dark weight a constant reminder of the chilling prophecy from the Mirror Sage: a Queen of Sorrow who knew he was coming, a powerful figure wielding the Path of Sovereignty and twisted by grief. The Icefold's brutal cold seemed distant now, replaced by the weight of a new, more insidious threat.
"The Queen of Sorrow," Selene murmured, her twilight eyes distant, as if sifting through forgotten memories. "Her legend is vast, woven into the fabric of many realms. She is said to rule the Sorrowcourt, a domain rumored to be born from profound loss. She gathers fragments of the Crown, not for power alone, but to enforce a perfect, unyielding order, believing it will prevent all future suffering."
"A twisted kind of order, then," Kael grunted, his gaze grim. He was still weak from the Shard of Grief's touch, but his mind was sharp, now accustomed to the constant vigilance. "Like the Voice Keeper, but on a grander scale. She means to silence the world, not just a village."
"She is far more dangerous than the Voice Keeper," Master Elara warned, his voice thin with concern. He carefully unrolled the Chronicles of Dispersion map, its ancient lines shimmering faintly in Ash's sight. "The Voice Keeper merely commanded a localized fragment of Order. The Queen of Sorrow is said to hold multiple shards, and her influence spreads across vast lands, twisting loyalties and freezing hope."
Ash felt the Core of Binding pulse faintly in his hand, and through it, the persistent, powerful pull towards the west—the direction of the Queen's influence. It was as if Lord Valerius's ancient, fragmented ambition of Will recognized a rival, or a kindred spirit, in the Queen's own drive for dominion.
"Does the map show where she is?" Ash asked, his gaze fixed on the western regions, lands of which he knew nothing.
Elara's finger traced a path across the map. "Her primary domain is believed to be the Drowned East, specifically the Tidegrave Isles. A region once vibrant, now said to be swallowed by the sea, filled with drowned relics and overwhelming grief. Her power is strongest there."
Lyra shivered. "Tidegrave Isles? They say not even the gulls fly over those waters anymore. Just the wailing of lost souls."
"She is also said to command a network of agents, collecting fragments in her name," Selene added, her voice low. "Whispers speak of her 'Ashen Choir'—cultists who believe destruction is the path to new order. And there are rumors of her influence reaching into the Netherbridge, a city built beneath a haunted river, where deals are made in whispers and memories are traded for power."
Ash felt a cold dread. The Drowned East was far from the Icefold. Their path, once seemingly clear towards the Shard of Order and Preservation, had veered sharply. The Queen of Sorrow was not a distant threat; she was an active player, already aware of him, forcing his hand.
"We need to avoid Captain Valerius," Kael said, his jaw tight. "He's sensing you too strongly now, Ash. He'll be here soon, chasing the trail of destruction we leave."
"The Ley Lines leading from the Icefold to the Drowned East are complex, unpredictable," Elara observed, his finger still on the map. "They pass through regions of deep magic, forgotten territories. It will be a long journey, fraught with unseen perils. But it is the fastest way to understand the Queen of Sorrow."
Ash looked at his companions. Kael was still recovering, Lyra was wary, Elara was frail, and Selene, though strong, bore her own secrets. He had just faced a terrifying trial of identity, wielded the Core of Binding, and now stood exposed to a new, powerful enemy who knew of his very existence.
"We go to the Drowned East," Ash decided, his voice firm, a new resolve hardening his own Will. "We learn about the Queen of Sorrow. We find out what she means by 'consuming all.' And we prepare. She knows I'm coming. Then I will meet her."
As they began to gather their meager supplies, the wind shifted. A faint, almost imperceptible scent drifted on the cold air, even within the Icefold's vast expanse—the metallic tang of King's steel, the subtle musk of a disciplined force on the move. Captain Valerius was indeed closing in, guided by the invisible tether of the Core of Binding. They had little time. Their journey was about to take them from the icy stillness of the peaks to the mournful waters of a drowned kingdom, towards a Queen whose sorrow promised to consume everything.
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