Far from Kael's kingdom, in a dark land ruled by forbidden magic, a swirling portal cracked open.
Two hooded messengers stepped out, panting from the long journey.
They hurried into a massive hall, its walls covered with ancient spells.
At the end sat their king, the one feared by all—the Great Wizard.
He didn't look at them.
He didn't need to.
"Speak," he commanded, his voice cold as stone.
The messengers dropped to their knees.
"My Lord… we did as you ordered. We went to the wolf kingdom."
The Great Wizard's fingers tightened around the armrest.
"And?"
"We found him," the first messenger whispered. "The boy. Kael. He is alive."
For the first time in years, a visible crack of fury flashed in the wizard's eyes.
Alive.
The same child he thought destroyed long ago.
But the messenger wasn't done.
"There… there is something else, my Lord."
The wizard turned slowly, his expression darkening.
"Another complication?"
"Yes," the second messenger answered. "There is a lady who stays with him. A young woman. Her power… it is nothing like a wolf. Nothing like the humans."
The wizard's brows lifted.
"What is she?"
"That is the problem, my Lord," the messenger whispered.
"We do not know. But—her power feels like ours."
The hall fell silent.
The torches flickered.
And then—
"She is stronger," the messenger added, voice shaking. "Much stronger."
The Great Wizard finally stood, shadows bending around him.
Stronger?
A girl stronger than his own dark magic?
"Show me," he ordered.
They activated a glowing orb.
Inside it showed a faint replay—Liana, surrounded by a strange ash-colored aura, moving faster than a spell.
The wizard inhaled sharply.
He knew that aura.
He knew that power.
He knew the bloodline.
"So…" he whispered.
"She survived."
The messengers exchanged confused glances. They dared not ask.
His hands curled into fists.
"Veronica hid her well," he murmured, anger rising.
"That woman always knew how to run."
Magic crackled around him like a storm.
"But she cannot hide forever."
He raised his head, eyes glowing with cold fury.
"And Kael…"
His voice dropped into a deadly whisper.
"…Kael must die before his power awakens."
The messengers trembled.
"My Lord… shall we gather the armies?"
"No," the wizard said, turning away.
"Not yet."
He closed his eyes, and one name echoed in his mind.
Veronica.
The woman he once loved.
The woman who betrayed him.
The woman who took what belonged to him.
"I will find you," he whispered. "And your daughter… will not escape me again."
Dark magic swirled around him.
"This is only the beginning."