The atmosphere in Elandor was darker than ever. While the fairies still gathered in the central areas of the kingdom, something subtle, almost imperceptible, lingered in the air. Whispers spread among the fairies, muffled words accompanied by furtive and worried glances. The trust that the people of Elandor had once placed in Elysiel was evaporating with each passing day, and the council that once supported her was now meeting in secret.
In a discreet chamber deep within the castle, Lirian, Lynore, and several of Elysiel's other counselors gathered around a table, each face etched with gravity. The tension between them was palpable. The loyalty they once had was now eroded by fear, distrust, and the growing sense that the shadows engulfing Elandor were consuming everything they knew.
Lynore, always the most hesitant to openly confront Elysiel, was the first to speak, her voice low and filled with apprehension.
— We cannot continue like this. — she said, her eyes sweeping over the concerned faces around the table. — The pact with Seraphis is destroying us. The fairies are afraid, and the kingdom we once knew is disappearing. Elysiel is changing… she is no longer the same.
The other counselors nodded in silent agreement, their somber expressions confirming Lynore's words. Lirian, the most experienced and perhaps the one closest to Elysiel in the past, leaned over the table, his jaw clenched.
— We've tried to talk to her. — he said, his voice controlled but brimming with frustration. — But she's blinded by the darkness that Seraphis has brought. And now, it seems she's fully surrendered to him. What we witnessed last time… that wasn't just power, it was something far darker.
Lynore looked at Lirian, fear evident in her eyes.
— And what do we do? — she asked in a near whisper. — She is still our princess. It's still our duty to protect her.
Lirian took a deep breath, his hands curling into fists.
— Protecting Elysiel now means saving her from herself. — he said with growing determination. — We must find a way to break the pact with Seraphis before it's too late. If we allow this to continue, not only will Elysiel be consumed, but all of Elandor will fall with her.
Silence fell over the group as Lirian's words echoed in their minds. The problem was clear: the pact with Seraphis had unleashed unpredictable consequences, and now, Elandor was on the brink of collapse. But finding a solution to break the pact seemed impossible.
Finally, a more reserved figure in the group, a counselor named Theren, spoke. His face was partially hidden in the shadows, but his voice was firm.
— There is… another option. — he said, his eyes sweeping across the table. — If we cannot help Elysiel directly, perhaps there are others who can.
Lirian frowned, clearly confused.
— What do you mean, Theren?
Theren leaned forward, his fingers drumming against the stone table.
— There are rumors… whispers that there is dissent in the underworld. Seraphis isn't as invulnerable as he appears. There are demons there rebelling against him, demons who disagree with his alliance with Elysiel. If we can establish contact with them, perhaps we can find a way to weaken Seraphis and break the bond he's created with our princess.
Shock rippled across the faces of the counselors. To betray Elysiel and ally with demons was a notion none of them had openly considered. But at the same time, the possibility was beginning to seem like a last hope.
Lynore shifted uncomfortably in her chair.
— If this is true, we're dealing with forces beyond our understanding. Making a pact with demons from the underworld… it could bring even more destruction. Elysiel would never forgive us.
Theren looked at her coldly.
— Elysiel is already lost, Lynore. She cannot forgive us if she cannot be saved. And if we don't act soon, Elandor will be consumed by Seraphis's shadows. If the rebels in the underworld want to overthrow Seraphis, we can use them to free her.
Lirian considered Theren's words in silence for a moment. It was a betrayal, no doubt. But as fear for Elysiel's safety and the fate of the kingdom grew, this betrayal seemed like the only chance to save Elandor from total ruin.
— Can you make this contact, Theren? — Lirian finally asked, his voice steady but laden with a grim decision.
Theren smiled slightly, his eyes glinting with contained malice.
— Leave that to me. I know the ways of the underworld better than you think. I know how to get the right message into the right hands.
In the shadows of the castle, Seraphis watched. His presence, always subtle but constant, slipped through the dark corners, unseen by ordinary eyes. He could feel the growing conspiracy around Elysiel, though he didn't yet know all the details. A movement was forming, and he knew that the whispers of betrayal would soon turn into action.
While Elysiel slept, still caught in the aftereffects of the previous night, Seraphis moved swiftly through the shadows, gliding through the castle's corridors. When he reached the room where the counselors met, the door was already closed, and silence reigned. But the air was thick, charged with the scent of conspiracy.
Seraphis paused for a moment, feeling the power around him. He didn't need to listen to know what was happening. His enemies were moving, and the bond with Elysiel was being threatened.
He wouldn't kill them yet. There was no need. But a warning was necessary.
Hours later, as Theren's plan began to unfold, a messenger from the underworld, a sleek and stealthy demon, crossed the portal into Elandor. He carried a message from Theren intended for the demonic rebels. But before he could deliver the warning, Seraphis intercepted him.
With a simple gesture, Seraphis wrapped the messenger in shadows and brought him before him, his red eyes blazing with contained fury.
— You dare betray your master? — Seraphis whispered, his voice like a serpent ready to strike.
The messenger, terrified, had no chance to respond. In one swift movement, Seraphis extended his hand, and the demon's mind was overwhelmed by crushing power. He read every detail of the conspiracy in an instant.
Upon discovering the full extent of the betrayal—both in the underworld and among Elysiel's counselors—Seraphis's smile was dark and cruel.
— They think they can bring me down… — he murmured to himself. — But they have no idea how deeply I am rooted.
With a cold gesture, he destroyed the messenger, the demon's body dissolving into shadows.
Seraphis returned to the castle, his steps echoing in the depths of the underworld. The conspiracy against him was in motion, but now he was prepared. The game had begun, and Seraphis always played to win.