Late at night, Aurelia heard it again.
A whisper beneath the marble tiles. Ancient, rhythmic... calling Elian by name. She descended into the palace crypt, barefoot, bearing only a single candle. There, etched in bloodstone, was a prophecy she had never seen.
"When the child walks without light, the mother shall fall by her own fire." Aurelia pressed her hand to the wall.
It cracked under her touch.