[Malik's Office — Same Time — Silthara Palace]
The Malik office had fallen into rare silence.
He leaned back in his chair, one hand resting against his temple, his thoughts still trapped between the nameless grave... and Levin.
Then—
BANG!!
The office doors slammed open.
"Malik!!"
Zeramet's golden eyes snapped toward the entrance. Varesh stood there, breathing heavily, his usually composed face drained of color.
Zeramet was already on his feet. "What happened?"
"Malika has collapsed."
Silence.
For the briefest instant...everything stopped: the reports, the questions, and even Zeramet's breathing.
"...What?"
Varesh stepped forward immediately. "Prince Sarash is bringing him back to the residency now."
The words had barely left his mouth. Zeramet was already gone.
The chair behind him toppled onto the floor with a loud crash as he rushed past Varesh, throwing the office doors wide open. His robes billowed behind him as he ran through the palace corridors.
