Most attempts fail. Most who try... die."
That last word landed heavy.
Lira frowned. "There has to be a way."
"There might be," he admitted. "But not without ti, research, and preparation. You’d need to stay here. I will offer my resources—for Lira’s sake."
I bowed my head again. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Don’t thank yet," he said. "It will not be easy."
I glanced again at Lucas, who remained statuesque beside the throne. No flicker. Nothing at all. Just... cold.
I wanted to scream, to demand why he was here—how he was here. But the ache in my chest and the fear in my blood warned : not yet. Don’t lose the only lead you have.
"I’ll need a place to stay," I said softly.
"You’ll be given quarters near the East Library," the king said. "We have many mages who study ancient realm-splitting spells. Begin there."
Lira squeezed my arm. "I’ll help her, Father."
"I expect you will," he said, voice full of dry affection. "It’s good to have you ho."
She smiled, bowed again, then turned to . "Co. I’ll show you around."
I followed her, but not before casting one last glance over my shoulder.
Lucas’s eyes were still on .
Still empty.
Still watching.
The guest quarters in the East Wing were lavish compared to the academy. I had a bed larger than any I’d ever slept in, silken sheets, a marble bath that filled with fragrant steam at a touch, and a view of a lake that shimred with moonlight even at noon.
Still, I didn’t sleep that night.
I sat by the window, cloak wrapped tight around my shoulders, and stared up at the stars.
Lucas.
Or was it really him?
The man beside the king felt like a shadow of who I rembered. A shell. Sothing had been taken from him.
Or worse... replaced.
Could he be a twin? A doppelganger? Or sothing more unnatural—reanimated, recreated?
I needed to know.
But how?
A knock startled from my thoughts.
Lira entered, this ti in a soft white robe, her hair down, a cup of sothing warm in her hands.
"You okay?" she asked, handing the mug.
I nodded slowly. "Thank you. Just... overwheld."
She sat on the edge of my bed. "I know you’re not telling everything. And that’s okay. I figure, you’ve got your secrets."
"I do," I admitted.
"But whatever’s eating you... it’s not going to win. You’re strong, Athena. Stronger than you think."
I looked down at the swirling surface of the drink. "You barely know ."
"I don’t need years to know soone," she said. I don’t mind that you are from another realm at all.
I smiled faintly, grateful.
"Lira... thank you. For bringing here. For trusting ."
"Of course," she said, nudging my knee. "You’re not just my guest. You’re my friend, don’t forget"
I held her gaze. "Yes, I won’t forget that."
But inside, sothing still twisted tight.
Lucas. Or the man who wore his face.
Tomorrow, I would begin my research. I would explore the libraries, question the scholars, find any fragnt of spellwork or lost magic that could open the way back to my realm.
The palace was like sothing out of a dream—suspended bridges glowing with silver light, walls carved with runes that shimred in the sunlight, and stairways that curled impossibly into the sky. I’d never seen anything like it.
"Co on," Lira grinned, tugging down a hall filled with floating candles the next day. "You’ve seen nothing yet. The Mirror Garden’s this way."
Every step through the place made feel smaller, like I was walking through soone else’s mory. Magic saturated the air, rich and thick. Unlike the resistance I felt at the academy, here it welcod , curling around my fingers like smoke.
We walked through an orchard of glass-blossod trees that sang when the wind touched them, and then to a courtyard where the stars still shimred in daylight. I laughed without thinking, spinning once as tiny lights trailed after .
Lira smiled. "Told you you’d like it."
"I love it," I said honestly. For a mont, it almost made forget the ache in my chest. Almost.
We passed a reflecting pool where the water showed not your face, but your truest desire. I didn’t dare look.
"I need to et with my tutor quickly," Lira said, pausing at a fork in the hall. "Go wherever you like—just don’t get caught sneaking into the war chamber. They’re sensitive about that."
I nodded. "I’ll stay out of trouble."
She vanished around the corner with a playful wave, and I turned down a quiet corridor draped in silks that swayed like breathing walls. My footsteps slowed. This part of the palace was quieter, older. The light dimd, and I could hear the soft hum of magic through the stone.
I passed a set of high doors left ajar and paused. Sothing tugged at —an instinct, a presence.
I pushed the door open.
Inside was a library, circular and filled with spiraling shelves. And at the center, a man stood with his back to , talking softly with one of the palace advisors. The advisor bowed and left.
And the man turned.
My breath caught.
Lucas.
I almost called his na aloud.
It was him. Sa broad shoulders. Sa silver-streaked dark hair. Sa storm-grey eyes. Only those eyes—they were dead. Empty. And devoid of everything I rembered. He looked at like I was a stranger. I felt a pang of pain
He gave a polite nod. "You seem lost."
My throat tightened.
I stepped forward slowly. "I... I didn’t expect anyone here."
He tilted his head slightly. "I’m often here. The king values my counsel."
Of course. He was the king’s trusted advisor.
Lucas.
But not my Lucas.
He didn’t recognize .
Didn’t rember .
I managed a stiff smile. "I didn’t an to intrude. I was exploring."
"No harm done." He looked back at the books.
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