The chill of autumn wind cut through the streets of Taradonia's capital, Jambrose, a city of high towers and tall walls. In the center of the city stood the palace of the High King, a glittering fortress of marble and glass that seemed to rise from the very earth itself.

Sera had walked these streets a thousand times before, but today they felt unfamiliar, as if the kingdom she had sworn to protect had turned its back on her.Sera's thoughts were a swirl of uncertainty and fear. She had been summoned to the High King's palace, a summons she could not refuse. But the reason for this audience was a mystery, and she knew that in a world where magic and politics intertwined, mysteries were often dangerous.

She approached the palace gate, her heart pounding in her chest. The guard, a young man with a stoic expression, studied her for a moment.

"Sera of Taradonia?" he asked, his voice devoid of emotion.Sera gave a curt nod, her hand straying to the hilt of her sword. "That's me."

The guard's eyes flickered to her sword. "No weapons allowed in the High King's presence," he said, holding out his hand.

Reluctantly, Sera surrendered her blade. "I am not here to harm the king," she said, her voice low and dangerous.

The guard merely shrugged. "I'm sure you're not.With a curt gesture, the guard motioned for Sera to follow him. She did, keeping her gaze fixed on his back as he led her through the palace's labyrinthine halls.

The palace was alive with activity, bustling with courtiers and guards. Sera's arrival drew curious glances, whispers, and speculative glances. She kept her head high, her face expressionless, refusing to let them see her fear.

At last, they arrived at the High King's audience chamber, a vast, ornate room decorated with tapestries and gilded statues.The High King, seated on his throne, watched Sera's approach with hooded eyes. At his side stood a slender, dark-haired man whose gaze burned with a quiet intensity.

"Sera of Taradonia," the High King said, his voice echoing off the marble walls. "You have been accused of treason."Treason?" Sera repeated, shock making her voice rough. "What evidence do you have against me?"

The High King waved a dismissive hand. "I have no need for evidence. The word of a noble is evidence enough in Taradonia."

Sera's eyes darted to the dark-haired man, who stepped forward, his face a mask of contempt. "My lord, allow me to present the testimony of the Lady Selena of Aranor."Lady Selena stepped forward, her eyes fixed on Sera with a poisonous gaze. "I accuse Sera of Taradonia of conspiring against the High King," she said, her voice low and smooth.

Sera's heart pounded. Lady Selena was a bitter rival, a woman who had always hated her. But to accuse her of treason? It was insanity.

"This is a lie," Sera said, her voice ringing with anger. "I am loyal to the High King."

But the High King was unmoved."Loyalty is a malleable thing," the High King said, leaning forward on his throne. "It can be twisted, distorted, made into whatever we desire."

Sera's heart sank. The High King had made up his mind. Whatever she said, whatever she did, it would not change his judgment.

"What is my punishment?" she asked, her voice resigned.

The High King exchanged a glance with Lady Selena. "Exile," he said."Exile?" Sera repeated, incredulous. "You cannot be serious."

The High King's expression hardened. "You should be grateful I am not sending you to the dungeons. I am a merciful king, Sera."

Sera resisted the urge to laugh. Merciful? To exile her from the kingdom, to strip her of everything she had worked for? It was no mercy.

"When do I leave?" she asked, her voice tight with anger.

The High King nodded to Lady Selena.Lady Selena smirked. "Immediately," she said. "You will be escorted from the palace, from the city, from Taradonia itself."

Sera's mind raced. Exile meant death for most, but she was no ordinary woman. She was a knight, a mage, a thief.

She could survive this.

She straightened her shoulders, her gaze meeting Lady Selena's with a cold, deadly stare. "I will not go without a fight," she said.Lady Selena's smirk faltered, her eyes flashing with anger. "Then fight you shall," she spat. "Guards!"

At her command, a group of armored men descended on Sera, their weapons drawn. But Sera was quicker, ducking under a sword and springing into action.

Her magic surged through her, a familiar heat that filled her with a fierce, exhilarating energy. A fireball exploded from her hand, sending the guards flying back.The guards scrambled to their feet, regrouping around Sera with renewed determination. But Sera was not finished. She called on the shadows, and they twisted around her, forming a shield that deflected the guards' attacks.

"Surrender now," one of the guards commanded, his voice ringing with authority. "You cannot win against us all."

But Sera was already moving, her blades flashing in the dim light of the throne room. Two guards fell, then three, their cries of pain echoing in the chamber.Lady Selena's face twisted with rage. "Enough!" she snarled. "Take her alive!"

The guards lunged at Sera, their swords whistling through the air. But Sera was too quick, her magic too strong. She unleashed a wave of ice, freezing the guards in their tracks.

With a last, defiant glance at the High King, Sera turned and ran, vanishing into the shadows of the throne room.

"After her!" Lady Selena shouted, her voice ringing with fury.The palace erupted in chaos, guards rushing through the halls, voices raised in alarm. But Sera was long gone, slipping out of the palace through secret passages she had discovered during her years in the royal guard.

The streets of Jambrose were dark and silent, the air heavy with the threat of dawn. Sera moved swiftly, her cloak pulled up around her face to hide her identity.

"Halt!" a guard's voice rang out behind her, breaking the silence of the night. "You there, stop!"Sera didn't hesitate. She turned a corner, racing into the maze of alleys that twisted through the lower city. The guards were close behind, their footsteps echoing off the cobblestones.

"I see her!" one of them shouted, the sound bouncing off the walls.

Sera cursed under her breath, pushing herself faster, her breath coming in gasps. She was nearly at the city gate, she could see the flicker of torchlight up ahead.Sera burst through the city gate, her heart thundering in her chest. She was free, for now. But she knew the guards would not give up. Lady Selena would hunt her to the ends of the earth if she had to.

Sera paused, catching her breath in the shadow of the city walls. Her eyes scanned the road ahead, the vast wilderness that stretched into the distance.

It was then she saw him. A cloaked figure, his face hidden, standing in the shadows at the edge of the forest.Sera's hand went to her sword, her eyes narrowed. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice ringing with the authority of a knight.

The figure stepped forward, his cloak shifting in the wind. "I am one who can help you," he said, his voice low and steady.

Sera hesitated. She knew better than to trust a stranger, especially one who lurked in the shadows like a thief. But she also knew that she could not continue alone.

"Help me how?" she asked, her voice guarded.