Lilith approached slowly, her gaze cold and filled with disdain. When she was finally face to face with Aemon, her expression hardened even further. Without hesitation, she slapped him hard across the face, the sound of the impact echoing through the cavern.
— That was for the punch you gave me — she said with icy satisfaction in her voice.
Aemon turned his head from the slap, but he remained silent. He only stared back at her, his eyes filled with a mix of fury and determination. The physical strike didn't faze him as much as the venom in her words that followed.
Lilith traced her fingers along Aemon's face, the touch both delicate and threatening, as if savoring her control over the situation.
— You know, Aemon — she began, her voice low and calculating, almost soft — without you, all my plans fall apart. You are the key to everything. No matter how hard you resist, you're still part of something much larger than yourself. Alone, you can't stop what's coming. And if you don't cooperate, all that strength you've discovered, all that you've become… it will be for nothing.
She paused, watching for any reaction from him. Aemon remained still, his eyes locked onto hers, wrestling with both disgust and a bitter realization. Lilith's voice took on a manipulative, almost hypnotic tone as she continued.
— Think, Aemon. Without me, what are you? Who brought this power to life in you? Who guided you here? It was me. I led you to this, and I can lead you even further. What are you really going to do? Fight for Volcrist? Defend a kingdom that's already falling apart? You honestly think they'll accept you? They fear your name, and soon, they'll cast you aside. But me? I see who you truly are. And together, we can take something far greater than any throne.
She allowed the words to linger, her voice vacillating between confident manipulation and an almost intimate vulnerability, as if she wanted him to feel he had no other choice.
— You need me, Aemon. And I need you. — Lilith leaned closer, her lips hovering near his ear. — You can waste your time fighting for a cause that will never care for you, or you can become something far more powerful with me. What's it going to be?
Aemon, with eyes full of disdain, stared directly at Lilith as she spoke, not moving a single muscle. He waited for the perfect moment, and when she leaned too close, he spat on her dress with a gesture heavy with repulsion.
Lilith froze for a moment, Aemon's spit running down the luxurious fabric of her gown. Her face, once controlled and manipulative, twisted into something furious, almost animalistic. She stepped back, her eyes blazing with hatred.
— You… wretch! — She screamed, her voice trembling with rage. — I should've expected this from you, Aemon. You've always been stubborn, always defying everything and everyone! But now… — She wiped her hand across the stained dress, trying to contain the explosion of fury that was building within her. — Now, you've crossed the line.
Lilith paced back and forth for a few seconds, as if trying to calm herself, but her rage was palpable. She suddenly stopped and looked at Aemon with a cruel smile, something dark in her eyes.
— I didn't want it to be this way, you know? — she said, her voice bitter. — I thought maybe, just maybe, you'd realize what I was offering you. But of course, you had to be a fool. You had to choose the wrong side.
She extended her hand, as if summoning something from the air around her, and magical energy began to coalesce between her fingers. An ancient rune appeared in her hand, glowing a sinister red, pulsating with malevolent power.
— I didn't want to do this, Aemon, — she continued, as the rune floated lightly, its presence almost suffocating. — I thought you could be convinced to walk by my side willingly. But you've left me no choice. If you won't cooperate… then I'll make you cooperate.
She began walking toward him, the rune crackling in her hand.
— I didn't place the mark before because I believed you would comply. I believed we could do this together without needing such drastic measures. But you forced my hand! — Her voice now carried a mix of fury and frustration, and she raised the rune high, ready to impose it on Aemon.
— It won't take long, — she whispered, her voice icy. — This mark will subjugate you, make you mine. Completely. And you will obey every word I say without question.
Aemon, even bound by the restraining magic, continued to stare at her with defiance. His eyes showed no fear, only an unshakable resolve. He knew Lilith was on the verge of taking a drastic step, but his determination never wavered. She could place the mark, but he would never yield to her.
Lilith, however, seemed unwilling to wait for more refusals. She moved closer once again, bringing the slave rune toward Aemon's chest, the magic preparing to seal his fate.
Aemon knew this was his last chance. Pain and exhaustion overwhelmed him, but his mind, always sharp, sought a way out of this desperate situation. He took a deep breath, letting the despair retreat for just a moment, and with a hoarse voice, he murmured:
— Lilith... — His voice was low, almost submissive. — It doesn't have to be this way. You won. I accept... I'll follow you.
Lilith hesitated, her eyes fixed on Aemon, trying to decipher the truth behind his words. There was a trace of doubt in her gaze, but the idea of finally bending Aemon to her will was too tempting.
— Finally, you see reason, Aemon, — she said, lowering her hand slightly, the rune still glowing. — But your words come too late.
— No. — Aemon forced himself to appear more vulnerable. — I realize... I can't win this fight. You have the advantage, Lilith. Without you, I'm nothing. I understand now. Just... let me be part of your plans. Let me prove that I'm with you.
Lilith stepped back a little, still suspicious, but her guard was visibly lower. Her need for control, to see Aemon subjugated, now wrestled with the temptation of accepting the power he was offering. She knew how valuable Aemon could be to her plans if he was truly loyal.
— I offered you this path before, — she murmured, her voice now less harsh but still tense. — And you rejected it.
— I was blind, — Aemon continued, fighting against every instinct that screamed for him to attack. — But I see now. You... you're the only one who can truly guide me.
She approached, more relaxed, though the rune was still visible. When Aemon realized she was within reach, he knew it was his only chance to act. Lilith, believing she had dominated Aemon, lowered her guard even further, moving closer to place the mark.
— It didn't have to be this way, Aemon, — she said with a touch of melancholy, ready to cast the rune. — It was your choice.
At the exact moment the rune glowed in her hand, about to be pressed against Aemon's chest, he used the only advantage he had left: control of his emotions. He knew Lilith was impulsive, and though her magic was powerful, it still relied on focus and precision.
As she moved to mark him, Aemon seized on her proximity. He sensed the restraining spell weakening as Lilith believed she was in control. With a calculated movement, he shifted his body slightly to the side, causing Lilith's hand to miss the intended spot.
In that moment, he quickly flexed his right arm, partially free from the magic, and grabbed Lilith's wrist just as she attempted to apply the mark. The speed and force of the motion surprised her, and the floating rune that was about to bind him lost its focus, flickering for a brief instant.
— What...? — Lilith tried to react, but in that split second of hesitation, Aemon, with impressive dexterity, used Lilith's own magic flow against her.
He twisted her wrist with brutal precision, causing the unstable magical energy of the rune to collide with her hand. The rune exploded in a flash of light, but instead of hitting Aemon, the spell ricocheted onto Lilith's own body. Caught off guard, she was thrown back, feeling the impact of the magic she had conjured.
— It didn't have to be this way, Lilith, — Aemon said, regaining control of his body, his eyes burning with a mix of determination and regret. — But that was your choice.
Lilith, now on the ground, felt the weight of the magic collapsing around her, her own energy binding her like a trap of her own making.
Aemon was still bound by the restriction spell that Lilith had cast, unable to move completely, but he watched carefully as she rose from the ground. The expression of rage on Lilith's face was terrifying, her eyes burning with pure hatred. She advanced furiously, determined to finish Aemon once and for all.
— Do you think you can defy me, Aemon?! — Lilith screamed, her voice dripping with venom. — I am not someone to be defeated by tricks!
She raised her hands, preparing to cast a fatal spell, her magic crackling around her like sparks ready to explode. However, before she could strike the final blow, something unexpected happened.
A blinding light emanated from the rune that Lilith had inadvertently cast upon herself. Her eyes widened in shock, and before she could react, a wave of energy surged through her body. A powerful jolt hit her like an electric current, forcing her to stumble back. Lilith let out a scream of pain, falling to her knees as her body convulsed with each attempt to get closer to Aemon.
— What... what is happening?! — She tried to move forward again, but the slave mark, now active, sent another wave of shocks every time she tried to use her magic against him.
Aemon, still trapped, watched the situation with a mix of surprise and relief. He hadn't expected the enslavement spell to work this way, but now he understood what was happening. The rune, designed to ensure complete obedience, was punishing Lilith for trying to kill her own "master" — in this case, him.
— You did this to yourself, Lilith, — Aemon murmured, seeing the pain overwhelm her. — This mark... you wanted me to be your slave, but now you're bound to your own power.
Lilith fought against the spell, each movement causing new shocks, making her body tremble uncontrollably. Her fury blinded her, and she couldn't stop, even knowing she was destroying herself in the process of trying to kill Aemon. With each step toward him, the pain intensified.
— No... — She growled, her hands on the ground, trying to rise again, but another shock hit her, even stronger this time, throwing her backward. Her body slammed against the wall with a heavy thud, her scream echoing through the cave.
Aemon closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, knowing this was the end for Lilith — not by his own strength, but by what she had become.
In the main hall of the castle, the tension was palpable. Everything was prepared for Cedric's coronation, but there was a visible discomfort among those present. Outside, the crowd gathered at the foot of the castle, protested vigorously, their voices echoing through the corridors. "Aemon! Aemon!" The name of Aemon Volcrist was chanted by those who still believed in him, while Cedric's supporters tried in vain to silence the crowd.
Fianna, Edric, and Thorne were in a reserved room, far from the noise, but no less affected by the tension. Their expressions reflected the weight of the situation.
— How did we get to this point? — Fianna asked, her voice slightly trembling, yet firm. She rose from her chair, pacing the room with short, nervous steps. — How did everything spiral out of our control so quickly?
Edric, more serious than usual, stared out the window, watching the chaos unfold outside. — We never thought Aemon's name would still hold such power. We believed he was dead or, at the very least, forgotten.
Thorne, leaning against the wall, arms crossed, looked thoughtful. — The mistake was underestimating what he represents to the people. They see in him something Cedric never managed to attain: hope. Cedric might have the title, but Aemon has the people's hearts.
Fianna stopped, turning to face them. — Where is the king? — she asked, trying to maintain composure, though the nervousness in her voice was noticeable.
Thorne sighed, uncrossing his arms and walking toward her. — He refuses to leave his chambers. He says he's preparing, but I think he's afraid. Afraid of what's coming, and that this coronation may become a death sentence rather than a victory.
The silence that followed was heavy. Outside, the chants and cries grew louder, more intense. The people wanted Aemon, not Cedric, and that was now clear to everyone.
— The protests are intensifying, — Edric said, turning away from the window to face the other two. — If this coronation happens tomorrow, I don't know if the castle can withstand the fury of the crowd.
Fianna looked down at the floor, as if searching for answers that weren't there. — What if Aemon really is alive? — she murmured, barely able to believe what she was saying.
Thorne shook his head. — If Aemon is alive and returns... Cedric will be finished.
In Cedric's private chambers, the atmosphere was entirely different from the tension reigning throughout the rest of the castle. Lady Seraphine was radiant, her eyes gleaming with pride as she watched her husband adjust the ceremonial attire he would wear for the coronation. She approached him with a satisfied smile, gently caressing his shoulder.
— Finally, Cedric. — Seraphine said in a soft, yet satisfied voice. — Everything is falling perfectly into place. Today, you will be crowned king, and all those who doubted us will have to kneel before your power.
Cedric, standing before a mirror, gave a restrained smile. — Yes, finally. — He straightened his posture, admiring his figure. — For so long, we had to move in the shadows, calculate every step. Now... now is our moment.
Seraphine smiled, drawing closer to him, her eyes glowing with a mix of pride and ambition. — You did it, Cedric. They can protest outside, shout for Aemon all they want, but he's not here. Today, everything will be sealed. The crown will be on your head, and no ghost from the past will take it from you.
Cedric took her hand, kissing her fingers delicately. — They don't understand, Seraphine. — His voice was calm, yet firm. — This isn't just about sitting on the throne. It's about establishing a new era. A reign of strength, of stability... something Aemon could never offer.
Seraphine nodded, her gaze reflecting the same cold calculation as Cedric's. — Aemon was a shadow, a broken promise. You, Cedric, are real. You've built alliances, forged a solid foundation with the other subdomains. And now, everything is within our reach.
She leaned in, kissing him lightly on the lips. — Today marks the beginning of our reign, my love. And together, we'll be unstoppable.
Cedric smiled, savoring his wife's words, her optimism feeding his ego. — I always knew that, with you by my side, everything would fall into place. — He looked at her, the intensity in his eyes deepening. — Now, nothing can stop us.
Seraphine laughed softly, a light sound filled with confidence. — Nothing indeed. Today is the day our success becomes official. And the best part... — she leaned in close to Cedric, whispering in his ear — ...is that this is only the beginning.