Isabel watched the proceedings with wide eyes, fascinated by the magical teleportation array. She had heard stories about it countless times but had never seen it in action.
The kingdom of Valaraeth did not produce mages, and magical resources were rare and highly prized. The teleportation arrays were a luxury, She had heared it was brought from the wealthy and flourishing kingdom of Mages, and seeing one in action was a rare privilege.
The grand master continued with the ceremony, calling forward the other candidates one by one. Each stepped into the array, received the grand master's blessing, and disappeared to an unknown part of the Dragon's Keep.
Isabel felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness as her turn approached. She knew that this journey would test her in ways she couldn't yet imagine, but she was determined to prove herself worthy.
As Isabel watched her friends disappear one by one, her heart pounded with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. Kaelan was called first, his confident stride belying any nervousness he might have felt.
He exchanged a quick, encouraging glance with everyone before stepping into the teleportation array. The grand master performed the same ritual, and Kaelan vanished in a burst of light.
Next was Eamon. He gave them a reassuring nod and a small smile before approaching the array. As he disappeared, Isabel couldn't help but feel a pang of worry, wondering what trials they would face alone in the vast Dragon's Keep.
Alaric followed, his usually calm demeanor showing a flicker of excitement. He gave a thumbs-up to Isabel and Mirael, his confidence infectious. With a flash, he was gone, leaving behind only the faint glow of the array's residual magic.
Finally, Mirael's name was called. She turned to Isabel, her eyes reflecting a mix of determination and fear. "See you on the other side," she whispered, giving Isabel's hand a quick squeeze before stepping into the array. The grand master's staff rose once more, and with a brilliant flash, Mirael disappeared.
Isabel was now was left with few more candidates. The grand master turned to the remaining candidates, his piercing blue eyes meeting hers. "Isabel," he called out, his voice carrying a sense of finality. Isabel took a deep breath and stepped forward, her heart pounding in her chest.
As the grand master called Isabel's name, she took a deep breath and stepped forward, her heart pounding in her chest. When she approached the teleportation array, the grand master looked at her more closely. His eyes widened with shock, and he unconsciously glanced toward the balcony where the queen was watching.
The queen, seeing the grand master's abnormal behavior, narrowed her eyes in suspicion. Isabel noticed his uneasiness and followed his gaze. From the platform, the view of the balcony was clear, and she could see the queen's reaction.
Queen Marie's expression shifted from curiosity to shock. Her eyes widened, and she seemed to lose her composure. The queen staggered back, muttering, "No, no, it's not possible. It can't be true."
Her sudden collapse caused a ripple of alarm. The crown prince, Adrian, quickly moved to catch her before she fell to the ground. "Queen Mother, are you okay?" he asked urgently, his face etched with concern. He then shouted toward the guards, "Call the healer!"
The sudden commotion on the balcony caused a stir among the crowd. Whispers and murmurings spread like wildfire, everyone trying to understand what had just happened.
The grand master, visibly shaken, quickly regained his composure. "Isabel," he said, his voice steadying, "step into the array."
Isabel hesitated for a moment, still processing the scene she had just witnessed. She glanced once more at the balcony, where the queen was being attended to by the crown prince and the guards. The healer had arrived and was already assessing the queen's condition.
With a determined breath, Isabel stepped into the array. The grand master raised his staff, and the teleportation magic began to swirl around her. The runes glowed brighter, and she felt a tingling sensation envelop her body.
"May the spirits of the dragons guide you," the grand master intoned, his voice carrying a weight of significance that Isabel couldn't quite place. With a final burst of light, she was whisked away to her unknown destination within the Dragon's Keep.
As Isabel disappeared, the focus shifted back to the balcony. The queen, now conscious but clearly shaken, was helped to her feet by the crown prince. "Mother, what happened?" Adrian asked, his voice low but urgent.
Queen Marie took a deep breath, her eyes still wide with shock. "Adrian, I saw her face... it can't be... she looks just like..." She trailed off, unable to complete her sentence.
Adrian's brow furrowed in confusion and concern. "Who, Mother? Who does she look like?"
Queen Marie's lips moved, forming words that Adrian couldn't quite catch. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and a single lone tear slipped down her cheek. She closed her eyes in desperation, a look of deep sorrow and pain etched on her face.
"Mother, please, tell me," Adrian implored softly, but the queen was too overwhelmed to respond. Realizing the need for privacy and calm, Adrian gently lifted her in his arms and carried her to an inner chamber, away from the prying eyes and curious murmurs of the crowd.
The grand master's expression grew more serious as he watched Adrian carry Queen Marie to the inner chamber. Determined to maintain order, he quickly resumed sending the remaining candidates to the Dragon's Keep. One by one, each candidate stepped into the array, received his blessing, and vanished in a burst of light.
Once the last candidate had disappeared, the grand master wasted no time. He briskly walked toward his inner chamber, ignoring the whispers and curious glances from those around him. Inside his private sanctuary, he retrieved a quill and a small piece of parchment. His hand trembled slightly as he wrote a concise message.
Finishing the note, he made a strange, low-pitched whistle. Moments later, a majestic hawk swooped down through an open window, landing gracefully on his outstretched arm. Lysander tied the small parchment to the hawk's leg and gently tapped its head.
"Go to your master," he whispered.
With a sharp screech, the hawk took flight, disappearing into the sky. Lysander watched it until it was a mere speck in the distance, his mind racing with complicated thoughts.