Cara once said that only another strong witch could unseal my true powers... The memory of her voice lingered like a faint echo in his mind. I wonder if I'll ever find one.
The weight of that thought settled heavily on his chest. What would it mean to truly embrace what lay beneath the seal? Would it make him unstoppable—or destroy him completely?
Exhaling a shaky breath, Rhaegar shifted and rested his weary head against the cool, hard floor of the hollow tree. His body ached from the day's relentless struggle, but the shelter felt safe enough for now. As the wind howled faintly outside, his eyelids fluttered shut, and he surrendered to the comforting pull of sleep.
For the first time in what felt like an eternity, the boy slipped into slumber's calm embrace, his thoughts drifting far away from the harsh realities of survival.
***
"Now, what do we have here…?"
