The moon hung heavy in the sky, its pale glow casting silver shadows across the palace gardens. Lila stood on the edge of a reflecting pool, her bare feet brushing against the cold stone. She could feel the hum of magic in the air, vibrating softly against her skin. Tonight felt different. Something ancient stirred in the world around her.
Cassian's condition had improved slightly since their last encounter, though his sight had not returned. Still, Lila could feel the weight of the curse more keenly than ever. It was a living thing—snarled, dark, coiled within him like a serpent. Her discovery that her water affinity allowed her to see the curse had been a turning point. Now, it was a matter of understanding what she saw.
She knelt by the water, focusing her mind. The surface rippled in response to her thoughts, forming patterns, symbols, glimpses of Cassian's eyes—the shadows that clung to them.
"I need to go deeper," she whispered.
Drawing a breath, Lila summoned her power. The water responded with an eager lurch, curling upward in a spiral before flattening into a smooth, glass-like disk. Her reflection stared back at her—then shifted. The image of herself blurred and was replaced by Cassian's face. His eyes, veiled in shadow, pulsed with threads of black magic.
Her vision tunneled.
Suddenly, she was no longer in the garden but standing in a realm of twilight. Dark mist curled around her feet, and before her, Cassian stood, motionless. The cursed shadows danced across his eyes, now fully visible.
"Cassian?" she called.
He didn't respond. His expression was blank, as though he were under a trance. But his presence… it was strong, and familiar.
"This is where the curse lives," said a voice behind her.
Lila turned to find the Wind King, his form more ethereal than before. He floated inches above the mist, his robes fluttering in a non-existent wind.
"You've found the veil," he said. "The boundary between the spirit realm and the mortal world."
"What is this place?"
"A reflection of Cassian's soul under the influence of the curse. Your affinity with water opened the path. Water is not only fluid—it sees. It reveals."
Lila turned back to Cassian, who now raised his head, sensing her. His lips parted, and a single word escaped: "Help."
Suddenly, the shadows surged forward, snarling like beasts. They slammed into her, and she staggered back, her spirit energy flaring in defense. The Wind King held out a hand, stabilizing her with a gust of calming wind.
"You cannot fight the curse directly—not yet," he said. "You must first learn what feeds it."
"What do you mean?"
The Wind King's gaze drifted to Cassian. "There is fear within him, and guilt. The curse is not only an external force—it entwines itself with the wounds of the soul. You must understand his past to break it."
The shadows began to part like curtains, revealing fragmented visions: a child, abandoned and crying in the cold. A noble house steeped in cruel traditions. A father's harsh voice. Magic locked away in chains. Betrayal by a trusted friend. And the worst of all—a blood pact gone wrong.
Lila's heart ached. She had known Cassian only as the guarded noble who bore his curse with quiet strength. But these glimpses told a different story. He had suffered, been molded by pain. The curse had found fertile ground in a soul already cracked.
"I have to help him," she said. "Not just break the curse, but… heal what it's feeding on."
The Wind King smiled. "You are beginning to understand the truth of your powers. Healing comes not from strength, but from empathy. Come. There is more to see."
The realm dissolved, and she was back in the garden, panting and drenched in sweat. The reflection pool had gone still again, as if nothing had happened. But inside, everything had changed.
The next morning, Lila went to find Cassian. He was in the greenhouse, sitting among the orchids. A soft breeze stirred the leaves, and shafts of sunlight made his dark hair gleam.
"Cassian," she said softly.
He turned his head toward her voice. Though his eyes saw nothing, he smiled. "Lila."
She sat beside him, unsure of how to begin. "I… saw something. Last night. Through my power."
He stiffened. "You looked into the curse."
"Yes. But more than that—I saw your memories. Your pain. I'm so sorry."
Cassian didn't respond for a long time. When he finally spoke, his voice was low. "You saw things I've never told anyone. Not even the kings."
"Because no one ever listened," Lila said. "But I will."
Cassian reached out blindly, and Lila took his hand. It was warm, strong despite everything.
"I wasn't born into kindness," he said. "My house—the House of Vaelor—believed in perfection. Anything less was weakness. My affinity with spirit magic terrified them. So they sealed it, cursed it even. When I broke the seal, I thought I'd be free. But it only opened the door for something worse."
"The curse?"
"Yes. It latched onto me the moment I defied them. I became a vessel for it. That's why I was sent here. Not to be healed—but to be hidden."
Lila felt rage bubbling in her chest. How could anyone do this to their own child? "You're not alone anymore. I'm going to help you."
Cassian's lips curled into a faint smile. "I believe you. For the first time… I actually believe someone can."
They sat there for a while, the silence between them no longer empty, but full of shared understanding.
Later that day, Isolde summoned Lila to the Hall of Echoes. The chamber was circular, its walls etched with runes that pulsed with spirit magic. The four elemental kings stood in a ring, each one representing their domain.
"You've made progress," said the Earth King, his voice like rumbling stone.
"You've begun to see the nature of your task," added the Water Queen, who shimmered like moonlit waves.
"But it is time for the next trial," the Fire King said, flames flickering at his feet. "You've awakened two affinities. Now you must face the Earth."
Lila nodded, determination in her eyes. "I'm ready."
The Earth King raised his hand, and the chamber floor split open. Vines and roots erupted from below, forming a staircase descending into darkness.
"The Trial of Stone awaits," he said. "Only by facing your own doubts and grounding your resolve can you unlock your earth magic."
Cassian's face flickered in her mind. His pain. His trust. The weight of his curse. She had no choice but to move forward—for him, for herself, and for the kingdom.
Without hesitation, Lila stepped into the darkness.
The trial was unlike anything she had faced before. The underground cavern stretched endlessly, filled with illusions crafted from her deepest insecurities. She saw visions of failure, of Cassian dying because she wasn't strong enough. Of herself returning home, forgotten and powerless.
But she fought through them.
With each step, she reaffirmed her will. With each vision shattered, her connection to the earth deepened. She could feel the solid strength of the ground beneath her, hear its ancient pulse. She was not just walking on the earth—she was becoming part of it.
When she emerged, hours later, her skin was streaked with dirt, her body aching. But her aura glowed with a new power.
The Earth King met her at the top of the staircase. "You have passed."
A stone medallion hovered between them, inscribed with a mountain sigil. It pulsed, then vanished into her chest. She could feel it settling there, rooting her spirit.
Three elements awakened. One remained.
Wind.
That night, Lila returned to Cassian's room. He was resting, a hand over his chest. She sat beside him, gently brushing a strand of hair from his brow.
"I'm stronger now," she whispered. "And I'm not going to stop until I free you."
He stirred, then took her hand again. "You're my light, Lila. Don't let the darkness win."
She leaned down, pressing her forehead to his. "Not while I'm breathing."
Outside the palace, a storm was brewing. The wind howled like a warning. War was coming. But so was hope.
End of Chapter 11