Night had never felt so quiet. Not even in the woods where I was once banished. This silence… it watched me. It lingered behind every tree, every whisper of wind. Even the stars above seemed cautious watching.

I stood outside the ruins, the floating crown now sealed beneath layers of protective stone spells Henry had placed. Yet, the mark it left still burned in me.

The mark of the forgotten crown.

Henry hadn't spoken much since we returned to camp. His eyes held worry, like a storm ...