Darkness wrapped around Nyssa like a suffocating shroud. She couldn't breathe, couldn't move—until a sharp pull dragged her forward.
Suddenly, she was somewhere else.
The world around her flickered, shifting like a dream unraveling.
She stood in a vast throne room, but it was not the one in Omala. The walls were cracked, blackened by fire. The golden banners of the royal family lay torn on the ground.
And at the center—a man sat on the throne.
Not Caelan.
This man wore a crown of jagged iron, his eyes as dark as the abyss.
His lips curved into a cruel smirk as he leaned forward. "Ah… the Seer has arrived."
Nyssa's pulse hammered. Who was he? And why did he feel so… familiar?
He stood, descending the steps with slow, deliberate movements. Shadows clung to him, curling around his fingers like living creatures.
Nyssa stepped back. "Who are you?"
He chuckled. "I could ask you the same."
A wave of heat surged through the room. Nyssa gasped as the walls crumbled, revealing a city burning in the distance.
Omala.
The palace. The streets. Everything was on fire.
Nyssa turned to the dark king, horror twisting inside her. "What is this?!"
He tilted his head. "A warning."
The flames roared louder. The heat became unbearable.
And then—she saw him.
Caelan.
He was on his knees, blood staining his royal tunic. His sword lay beside him, useless. A blade hovered above his throat.
The dark king whispered, "This is the future you fear, isn't it?"
Nyssa screamed—
And the vision shattered.
---
The Awakening
Nyssa's body jolted as she was yanked back into reality.
She collapsed onto the cold stone floor, her breathing ragged.
Caelan was beside her instantly, gripping her shoulders. "Nyssa! What happened? What did you see?"
Her hands trembled as she clutched his tunic, his very existence the only thing anchoring her.
She looked into his worried eyes, her voice barely above a whisper—
"I saw you die."