The sun had barely risen over the horizon, but Sophia was already awake. Her mind was abuzz with recent events. After the confrontation with Elara and Calantha's revelation, she realized that the Aren was not the only battlefield. Palace intrigues, carefully veiled behind smiles and courtesies, were a web as deadly as any physical test. Allies and enemies were not defined by magical power alone, but by the ability to manipulate the invisible threads of power.
As she dressed in a dark robe, appropriate for a formal meeting at court, Sophia pondered what she had learned so far. Being powerful was not enough; she had to understand the political game being played around her. And to do that, she needed information.
Walking through the vast halls of the castle, she noticed the calculating glances of the servants, the muffled whispers between the courtiers. Every step she took felt like a move on a chessboard where every piece was dangerous.
