"Can you elaborate on what you mean by 'Mirael is missing'?" Aerynthar asks. Even in the face of sudden shock, his elven composure holds, his voice dropping into a calm, steady register that demands clear facts.
Elin nods frantically, wiping a tear from her cheek as she struggles to find her voice. "We maids were doing all our chores since the palace gates are soon going to be closed for the lockdown... I specifically told her to wait in our common room where it was safe. But when I came back from the kitchen... I didn't find her! I've been looking everywhere! I checked her bedroom, your study room, and every single corner she usually hides in, but she is nowhere to be found. Some guards mentioned she was seen in the lower hallways running down toward the main levels, but no one saw her actually leaving the palace either!" She breaks down, crying into her hands.
