They reached the Tower without ceremony.

  The gates opened the moment the guards saw Tavari slumped over his horse. His breathing was shallow. Dark veins crawled beneath his skin like something searching for a way out.

  Arie didn’t slow.

  He pushed through the halls and opened the Watcher’s chamber.

  “Nuru.”

  The Watcher stood near the high window, already aware.

  “Tavari is hurt.”

  Nuru turned.

  “Where?”

  They entered Tavari’s room.

  The air felt wrong — too still, too heavy.

  Shadows moved across Tavari’s ribs, sliding beneath the skin each time he breathed. The darkness wasn’t resting inside him.

  It was spreading.

  Matt stood beside the bed.

  Nuru spoke once.

  “Leave.”

  Matt didn’t move.

  Arie caught his arm. “Come.”

  Matt hesitated — then stepped away. The door closed behind them.

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  Silence filled the room.

  Nuru sat beside Tavari and lifted his chin so their eyes met.

  “You’re fighting yourself,” he said quietly. “Power resists those who refuse to own it.”

  Tavari’s voice was weak.

  “…It burns.”

  “Because you deny it.”

  Nuru placed his palm over Tavari’s chest.

  The shadows tightened instantly, pulling inward as if something had grabbed them.

  “Repeat.”

  His voice lowered — not louder, but heavier.

  “Velum katharsis tenebrae…

  Corpus sanetur, anima maneat…

  Tenebrae solve… lumen redeat…

  Ego accipio… non timeo.”

  Tavari repeated the words.

  At the final syllable—

  The air trembled.

  A pulse spread from Nuru’s hand through Tavari’s body. The darkness recoiled, stretching like smoke dragged by a storm. Thin strands lifted from his skin, resisting, snapping free one after another.

  Frost crept across the stone beneath the bed.

  Tavari gasped sharply.

  Light moved once through his chest.

  The wounds closed.

  The shadows vanished.

  His breathing steadied.

  Nuru removed his hand.

  “You were never wounded,” he said calmly. “You were divided.”

  Tavari exhaled slowly, strength returning to his eyes.

  “Next time,” Nuru added, standing, “you will not need me.”

  He left the room.

  Matt entered immediately, Arie behind him.

  Tavari was sitting up.

  “You almost died,” Matt muttered.

  “I didn’t.”

  “You were close,” Arie said.

  Matt looked at him.

  “You sound disappointed.”

  Arie’s gaze hardened.

  “You sound worried.”

  The silence between them tightened.

  Tavari sighed. “I’m still here.”

  Neither answered.

  A knock.

  A guard stepped in.

  “Commander Arie — the Watcher calls for you.”

  Arie glanced once at Matt, then away.

  “Understood.”

  The Watcher’s chamber waited in darkness.

  Arie bowed.

  “So,” Nuru said without turning, “you remember restraint.”

  Silence.

  “How is their training?”

  “They improve quickly. Tavari lags behind — but he will catch up.”

  “No.”

  Nuru faced him.

  “I will train him.”

  Arie’s jaw tightened, but he did not argue.

  “…Yes, Watcher.”

  Nuru stepped closer.

  “Send word. Tomorrow the Twelve Kings gather in the Vault.”

  Arie nodded.

  “And the King of Leo will bring the twenty prisoners.”

  Arie frowned.

  “How did you—”

  “That,” Nuru said, passing him, “is why I stand where I do.”

  Arie lowered his head.

  “Go.”

  As Arie left, the torches in the corridor flickered without wind.

  Far below the Tower…

  chains shifted.

  And something waiting in the dark finally felt Tavari awaken.