The days that followed were clouded with uncertainty. The mist, once a comforting presence around the kingdom, seemed heavier than ever. It felt as though the air itself was charged with something unseen, something ancient. Seraphina couldn't shake the feeling that the world around her was quietly shifting, and the unease grew as she spent more time with Cassian.
Her mornings were spent in the royal gardens, the sound of birds and rustling leaves barely cutting through the dense mist. But the hum—the strange, haunting hum—still echoed in her mind, even if it wasn't heard by others. She wondered if Cassian had heard it too, but he said nothing.
That afternoon, as the sun began to dip beneath the mist, Seraphina found herself walking toward the royal library, hoping the quiet would clear her thoughts. As she passed the ornate doors, she heard soft footsteps behind her.
"Princess," Cassian's voice called out.
She turned, startled, and found him walking toward her. There was a faint tension in his expression, something she couldn't quite place.
"I thought you might be here," he said, his voice a little softer than usual. "I wanted to check on you."
Seraphina smiled, a gentle smile, one that didn't quite reach her eyes. "I'm fine. Just... thinking."
Cassian studied her for a moment, his gaze intense, as though searching for something in her expression. "You haven't been yourself lately."
"I don't know what you mean," she replied, her words light, but there was an edge to her voice that even she noticed.
He took a step closer, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence between them was thick with things unspoken, feelings untold.
Then, Cassian broke the quiet. "Seraphina, you have to know—whatever it is that's troubling you, I will help you. I won't let you face it alone."
His words were sincere, and she could see that. But as the lingering weight of his promise pressed on her, she felt a small knot form in her stomach. Cassian had always been there, always reliable, but now… there was more. More than just protection, more than just friendship. And that scared her.
"I appreciate it, Cassian," she said quietly. "But I'm not sure there's much anyone can do."
"I'll always try," he replied, his voice steady and reassuring.
There was something so comforting about the way he said it, but Seraphina felt an unexpected wave of guilt. Was she leaning on him too much? Could she feel something more for him? It was too soon, wasn't it? Too complicated.
"I know," she whispered, looking down for a moment. She didn't want to talk about it, not yet. "I should go inside. It's getting late."
Cassian didn't protest, though the reluctance was clear in his eyes. Instead, he nodded. "Of course. But you'll come to me when you're ready, right? You don't have to go through this alone."
Seraphina smiled faintly, feeling a strange warmth in her chest. "I will. Thank you, Cassian."
As she walked away, she felt his gaze on her back, but there was something heavier in the air, something unsaid between them. She couldn't help but wonder if he could see right through her—if he knew she was fighting a battle inside herself. But Seraphina wasn't ready to confront those feelings just yet.
---
That evening, after dinner, Seraphina found herself in the grand hall alone. The silence of the palace felt like a heavy weight on her shoulders. As she gazed out of the large windows, the mist appeared even thicker than before, swallowing the entire landscape beyond the palace. It was unnerving, and yet... oddly beautiful.
A soft melody began to drift through her mind. The same haunting hum she had heard in the mist earlier. Without thinking, Seraphina found herself standing in the middle of the hall, her voice softly rising to meet the echo of the melody in her mind.
"Beneath the mist, where shadows lie,
A tale unfolds, though none can try,
To see what waits, behind the veil,
Where hearts are lost, and hopes may fail…"
Her voice was soft but clear, floating through the empty hall. The song was born from the depths of her thoughts, an expression of everything she couldn't yet put into words. She sang not because she wanted to, but because it was the only way to release the emotions swirling inside of her. The strange connection to the mist, the growing tension with Cassian, the sense that something was coming—something she couldn't avoid.
As the final note hung in the air, Seraphina let out a slow breath, her eyes closing for a moment. There was something comforting about singing her fears, her uncertainties. But the mist beyond the windows wasn't comforting anymore. It had become a veil, a reminder of the past she could never fully escape.
---
The next morning, Seraphina was once again drawn to the balcony. The mist had cleared just enough for her to see the distant silhouette of the ancient ruins on the edge of the island. They had always been there, but today they looked different, darker somehow.
"You're still awake," Cassian's voice interrupted her thoughts. He appeared from behind her, his figure framed by the early light of dawn.
"I couldn't sleep," she confessed, turning to face him. "Something feels wrong."
Cassian stepped closer, his expression serious. "You're right. There's something shifting, something in the air. I've felt it too."
Seraphina bit her lip. "Do you think it's the Fallen King? Is he... is he truly coming back?"
Cassian's silence answered more than his words could. The past had been buried for so long, but Seraphina could feel the truth creeping closer with every passing day.
"Whatever happens, Seraphina," he said finally, his voice low, "I'll be by your side. You're not alone in this."
Seraphina didn't respond at first, the weight of his words pressing on her chest. But deep down, she knew that the bond between them had shifted. It was more than protection. It was something stronger, something more fragile.
---