The morning of their departure arrived with a cold wind. Kael was bound in chains, his hands shackled in front of him as the rebels prepared to escort him to the capital. He didn't resist as they led him through the camp. There was no point in trying to escape—not anymore.The journey to the capital would take several days, through forests, plains, and mountain passes. It was a slow, grueling march, and Kael could feel the eyes of the rebels on him every step of the way. He had once been their leader, their commander in battle. Now he was nothing more than a prisoner.Aeron walked beside him, silent but watchful. His sword was always within reach, as if he expected Kael to try something. But Kael had no intention of running. He was too tired, too broken. And part of him believed that this was the end he deserved.As they traveled, the landscape changed. The forests thinned, giving way to open fields dotted with small villages. The people in those villages watched them pass, their eyes wide as they saw the shackled man at the center of the group. Rumors spread quickly, and Kael could feel their fear and anger growing with every village they passed.By the time they reached the capital, a crowd had gathered at the city gates. Word of Kael's capture had spread, and the people had come to see the man responsible for so much death and destruction. Their faces were a mix of hatred and relief, and as Kael was paraded through the streets, the jeers and shouts of the crowd echoed around him."Monster!""Traitor!""You deserve to die!"Kael kept his head down, his jaw clenched. He had expected this, but it didn't make it any easier to bear. He had once been a hero, a warrior who fought for the people. Now he was nothing more than a villain, despised by the very people he had sworn to protect.The palace loomed ahead, its towering walls a stark contrast to the chaos of the streets. Inside, the council of elders waited to pass judgment. The trial would be swift—Kael had no doubt of that. The council wanted closure, and the people wanted blood.Seraphine walked ahead of him, her expression unreadable as they entered the palace gates. Kael couldn't help but wonder what she was thinking. She had been with him from the beginning, had fought by his side. And now she was delivering him to his execution.The grand hall was filled with members of the council, their faces stern and disapproving as Kael was brought before them. The leader of the council, an old man with a sharp gaze, stood at the center, his eyes cold as they settled on Kael."You stand accused of treason, murder, and the reckless endangerment of the kingdom," the council leader said, his voice echoing through the chamber. "You unleashed a terror upon this world, one that nearly destroyed us all. How do you plead?"Kael lifted his head, meeting the council leader's gaze. There was no point in denying it. There was no point in trying to explain."Guilty," he said, his voice steady.A murmur rippled through the crowd, but the council leader silenced them with a raised hand. "You admit your guilt, but there are those who argue that your actions in closing the portal saved the kingdom. Some believe that your life should be spared in recognition of that. What do you have to say in your defense?"Kael glanced at Seraphine, who stood near the edge of the chamber, her arms crossed. She didn't meet his eyes."I did what I had to," Kael said, his voice quiet but firm. "I tried to stop the creature, but I'm the reason it was unleashed in the first place. No amount of heroism can erase that."The council leader nodded slowly. "Then you understand the gravity of your crimes.""I do."The council leader turned to the other members, who whispered among themselves for a moment before turning back to Kael. The decision was clear."Kael of Aramoth, for your crimes against the kingdom, you are sentenced to death."Kael closed his eyes, the weight of the words settling over him like a shroud. It was what he had expected, what he had accepted. But as the guards moved to take him away, a voice rang out through the hall."Wait."It was Seraphine. She stepped forward, her face pale but determined."There's something you're all forgetting," she said, her voice strong. "Kael may be guilty, but he's also the only one who truly understands the dark magic that nearly destroyed us. If we execute him, we lose that knowledge. And what happens the next time someone tries to use it?"The council leader frowned. "Are you suggesting we spare him?"Seraphine shook her head. "No. But we can't kill him, either. We need to imprison him, somewhere where his knowledge can't hurt anyone, but where it can still be used if we ever need it."Kael's heart pounded in his chest. He hadn't expected Seraphine to speak up for him—not after everything that had happened between them. But as the council deliberated, he realized that her words were sinking in.Finally, the council leader spoke again. "Very well. Kael, your sentence is changed. Instead of death, you will be imprisoned in the Tower of Chains, where you will remain for the rest of your days."Kael felt a strange mixture of relief and dread. He would live—but he would be trapped, a prisoner of his own power, forever.As the guards led him away, he glanced back at Seraphine. She watched him with an unreadable expression, her decision hanging in the air between them.