*Kryzen*

Weeks had passed since the welcome ball we had hosted to usher in a new era for the realm. In the time since, our kingdom had continued to thrive. The kingdom hummed with a vibrant new life as more souls found refuge within the capital's embrace. Each day, Briella and I grew into our destined roles—she, with her warrior's heart and empathic touch, and I, carrying the weight of expectation that had been my shadow since birth.

One crisp morning, as the first ...