Chapter Eight: The Unseen Chains
The throne room was silent after Kaelion's departure, the oppressive air lifting slightly, but not enough to let Aeliana breathe easily. Her body ached from the test, her hands trembling as the golden light that had protected her finally faded. The creatures were gone, but their claw marks—both physical and emotional—remained.
The runes beneath her feet dimmed, their glow receding into the obsidian floor. She clenched her fists and straightened, forcing herself to push aside the fatigue. Kaelion's words echoed in her mind: "Your power belongs to me."
Not while she still had breath.
The heavy doors of the throne room creaked open again, and Eryndor stepped inside, his expression unusually tense. His steel-gray eyes swept over her, taking in the exhaustion etched into her face.
"He pushed you too far," he said, his tone sharp.
Aeliana let out a bitter laugh. "That seems to be his specialty."
Eryndor approached, his movements quiet and deliberate. He gestured for her to sit, but she waved him off, unwilling to show any more weakness. "You need to rest," he insisted.
"I need to prepare," she countered. "He's not going to stop testing me until I break—or worse."
Eryndor hesitated, his usual cool demeanor faltering. "You did well," he said finally. "Better than I expected."
"That's not the same as saying I'm safe," Aeliana said, her voice edged with frustration. "He's trying to mold me into something I don't want to be. I can't let him win."
Eryndor's gaze darkened. "You think I don't know that? You're not the first person he's done this to."
Aeliana's eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"
He hesitated, as though weighing how much he should reveal. Finally, he sighed. "Kaelion's mother—the demon queen—tried to create a legacy of power. Her bloodline, her methods, all of it was meant to shape him into the tyrant he is now. And he… he's continuing her work."
Her stomach churned. "You mean… I'm part of some experiment?"
"You're part of his plan," Eryndor said grimly. "But you're different. Stronger. He sees something in you that he didn't in the others."
Aeliana felt the weight of his words settle over her like a shroud. She wasn't just a prisoner or a pawn—she was part of Kaelion's twisted vision for the future. The ember of magic inside her felt heavier now, like a chain she couldn't escape.
"I won't let him use me," she said firmly. "I'll find a way out of this."
Eryndor's lips pressed into a thin line. "Be careful, Aeliana. Defying him isn't as simple as refusing his orders. He always finds a way to win."
That night, as the palace settled into an uneasy quiet, Aeliana sat by the window in her chambers, staring out at the glowing city below. The training, the tests, the constant scrutiny—it all felt like a storm she couldn't outrun.
But storms could be weathered.
The faint hum of magic stirred beneath her skin, a reminder of the fire she now carried. She had wielded it against Kaelion's monsters. She could wield it against him too—if she learned how.
A sharp knock at the door startled her. She turned just as the door swung open, revealing a figure she hadn't expected: Kaelion.
His presence filled the room instantly, his mismatched eyes gleaming in the dim light. He stepped inside without waiting for permission, his movements slow and deliberate.
"Did I interrupt your brooding?" he asked, his voice laced with mockery.
Aeliana stood, forcing herself to meet his gaze. "What do you want?"
Kaelion tilted his head, his silver hair catching the light. "I wanted to see how my little thief was faring after today's lesson."
"I'm not your anything," she snapped, her fists clenching.
His smirk widened, but there was a dangerous edge to it. "You keep saying that, but it doesn't make it true."
He moved closer, his presence overwhelming. Aeliana stood her ground, even as her pulse quickened.
"You're stronger than I expected," he said, his tone shifting to something more serious. "But strength without purpose is useless. You'll learn that soon enough."
"I already have a purpose," she shot back.
"And what would that be?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
"To make sure you never control me," she said, her defiance blazing in her eyes.
Kaelion's expression darkened, the faint smirk fading. "You think you're free because you've survived a few tests?" He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a growl. "You're bound to me, Aeliana. By power, by fate, by your own magic. You'll learn that one way or another."
She refused to flinch, even as his presence pressed down on her like a vice. "I'll break those chains," she said, her voice steady. "And when I do, you'll regret ever trying to bind me."
For a moment, silence hung between them, heavy and charged. Then, to her surprise, Kaelion laughed—a deep, resonant sound that sent shivers down her spine.
"You're bold," he said, his tone almost amused. "I'll give you that."
He turned, striding toward the door, but paused before leaving. "Rest well, little thief," he said without looking back. "You'll need your strength for what's coming."
And then he was gone, leaving her alone once more.
Aeliana sank onto the edge of her bed, her heart pounding. She didn't know what Kaelion had planned, but she knew one thing: she couldn't afford to hesitate any longer.
Her power was growing, and so was her resolve. If Kaelion wanted her to be a weapon, she would be one—but not for him.
For herself. For her freedom.
The fire inside her burned brighter than ever, and she swore she would use it to forge her own destiny. Whatever storm lay ahead, she was ready to face it.
And Kaelion would learn that she wasn't someone to be controlled—she was someone to be reckoned with.