The castle of Elarion lay silent beneath the deep blanket of night. The wind moved gently along the stone walls, brushing against the tall towers and whispering through the narrow windows. Torches flickered along the corridors, their light dancing across polished floors and cold marble pillars.
Inside his private chamber, King Ryan sat alone.
A single candle burned on his desk, its small flame steady, yet the shadows it cast seemed restless. Papers were spread before him, maps, letters, and one folded proclamation that he had already read too many times.
His fingers tapped lightly against the table.
Slow. Thoughtful. Controlled.
But his mind was not calm.
After a long moment, he lifted his head.
"Captain Alden."
The door opened almost at once, as if the guard had been waiting just outside.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Alden stepped in, strong and steady, his armor catching the candlelight.
Ryan's voice was low, but firm.
"Bring Mara to me. Now. And make sure no one sees her."
Alden did not question the order. He bowed.
"As you ordered , Your Majesty."
The servant quarters were too quiet.
Most of the castle had gone to rest, and only a few candles still burned in the halls. Mara sat on the edge of her small bed, her hands resting tightly in her lap.
She hadn't slept.
Her eyes kept drifting to her shoulder.
The red dragon mark.
It was still there.
Bright. Clear. Impossible to ignore.
She reached up slowly and touched it, her fingers trembling.
"It feels real…" she whispered.
A soft knock at the door made her jump.
Before she could answer, the door opened.
Captain Alden stepped inside.
"Mara."
She stood quickly. "Captain…"
"The king has summoned you," he said. "You are to come with me."
Her throat tightened. "Now?"
"Yes."
Mara nodded, though her heart began to race.
"I… I understand."
They walked through the castle in silence.
Their footsteps echoed softly in the long corridors. Shadows stretched along the walls, and the air felt colder than usual.
Mara kept her head low.
Every step felt heavier than the last.
When they reached the large doors of the royal chamber, Alden stopped.
He looked at her once.
"Stay calm," he said quietly.
Mara nodded.
The doors opened.
King Ryan stood near the window, his back turned. Moonlight spilled into the room, casting a pale glow around him.
"Your Majesty," Alden said.
Ryan turned slowly.
"Thank you, Captain. You may wait outside."
Alden bowed and left, closing the doors behind him.
Now Mara was alone with the king.
Her hands shook as she bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty…"
Ryan's expression softened slightly.
"Come in, Mara. Do not be afraid."
She stepped forward, slowly.
Her eyes moved across the room — the tall pillars, the golden patterns on the walls, the quiet power of the space.
"Sit," Ryan said gently.
Mara obeyed, though she sat carefully, as if afraid to move too much.
For a moment, the king said nothing.
He simply looked at her.
Then his gaze lowered… to her shoulder.
The red dragon mark.
Clear.
Unmistakable.
"Mara," he said at last, "I need you to listen very carefully."
Her breath caught.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Tomorrow," Ryan continued, "you will go to the market."
Mara blinked.
"The market…?"
"Yes. You will go with Captain Alden. He will remain by your side at all times."
Mara nodded slowly, trying to understand.
"What… what must I do there?"
Ryan stepped closer.
"You must let people see the mark."
Silence.
Mara froze completely.
"My lord…" her voice trembled, "you mean… on purpose?"
"Yes."
The word was simple. Final.
Mara's chest tightened.
"People will notice," Ryan continued. "They will talk. And when they talk, the news will spread."
Mara looked down at her hands.
"And… Lord Varyn will hear…"
Ryan nodded once.
"Yes."
Her breathing grew uneven.
"Then… I will become his target."
The room felt suddenly smaller.
Heavier.
Before Ryan could answer, Queen Natalie stepped forward from the shadows.
Mara hadn't even noticed she was there.
"You will not face this alone," Natalie said softly.
She reached out and took Mara's hand.
Her touch was warm. Gentle.
Mara looked up, eyes filled with fear.
"But… what if something goes wrong?"
Ryan's voice came, steady and strong.
"It won't."
Mara looked at him.
"Captain Alden will be with you. Guards will be watching. We are prepared."
Mara hesitated.
Her heart was pounding.
Her mind was filled with fear.
But slowly… she nodded.
"…I understand," she whispered.
"I will do it."
Ryan gave a small nod.
"Good. You are brave, Mara. The kingdom will remember this."
Mara lowered her head.
She didn't feel brave.
She felt afraid.
That night, sleep did not come easily.
Mara lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling.
Every time she closed her eyes, she imagined strangers staring at her… whispering… pointing.
Imagined dark figures coming for her.
Imagined Lord Varyn.
Watching.
Waiting.
Her hand moved again to her shoulder.
The mark felt warm.
Too warm.
"…I have no choice," she whispered.
And slowly… the night passed.
Morning came quietly.
Soft light entered the room.
Mara sat up slowly.
Today.
It was today.
She dressed carefully, her hands still shaking.
When she finished, she stood before the mirror.
Her eyes moved to her shoulder.
The red dragon stared back at her.
Bright.
Alive.
She took a deep breath.
Then tied her hair up.
Completely.
There was no hiding it now.
A knock came.
"Mara," Alden's voice.
She opened the door.
"I'm ready," she said, though her voice was soft.
Alden looked at her shoulder.
Then nodded.
"Good. Stay close to me."
The castle gates opened.
The world outside felt… different.
Louder.
Alive.
The marketplace was already full. Merchants called out their goods. Children ran through the streets. People laughed, argued, bargained.
Life.
Normal life.
Mara stepped forward slowly.
Her eyes moved everywhere.
She had never been here before.
For a moment… she almost forgot her fear.
Then–Someone noticed.
A woman stopped walking.
Her eyes fixed on Mara's shoulder.
"…Wait."
Mara froze.
The woman stepped closer.
"That mark…"
Another man turned.
"What is it?"
The woman pointed.
"The red dragon…"
More people looked.
Whispers began.
"Isn't that—"
"The proclamation—"
"It must be her!"
Mara's heart started pounding again.
Loud.
Fast.
She could feel every eye on her now.
Alden stepped slightly closer.
"Stay calm," he whispered.
But it was spreading.
Like fire.
More people gathered.
More whispers.
More eyes.
Fear crawled up Mara's spine.
This was no longer just a plan.
It was real.
Too real.
And far away…
Somewhere in the shadows…
The first whisper of the red dragon had begun its journey.
And it would not stop… until it reached Lord Varyn.