Prince Izan sat in his study, the room dimly lit by the flickering flames of a nearby candle. The heavy silence was broken only by the soft crackling of the fire and the distant sounds of the palace, muted by the thick stone walls. In his hand, he held a delicate pendant, half of a heart that had once been whole.
Izan's thumb traced the outline of a small, half-heart pendant, its surface worn smooth from years of handling. The pendant was given to him as a protection charm, a gift from his savior, a boy who had been a fleeting yet significant part of his past.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the study door creaking open. Izan didn't move, didn't take his eyes off the pendant as Dillion, his most trusted aide, entered the room. Dillion paused just inside the doorway, hesitating as he took in the sight of the prince lost in thought, clutching the pendant as if it were a lifeline.
