After kamaria dropping that whole bomb on the group the other day about her being the last heir of Valtoria. Everyone started to help her achieve her goals but they were also worried that if what she said was true then whoever brought her kingdom down could do the same thing to their kingdoms or worse. This is one big Pandora's box that they are trying to open. The next few days at Royal Academy are marked by subtle shifts in the group’s behavior. Kamaria Rowan, Lunette, Rosalva, Hendrick, and Markyle begin working together in quiet strategic ways, their alliance growing stronger. Each member starts investigating their own family histories hoping to find clues about the Thirteenth Crown and its connection to Valtoria’s Downfall.

Kamaria spends her time in the library digging through ancient text and maps of old kingdoms one day as she carefully flips through a Cumberland manuscript Rowan approaches her.

Rowan: still chasing ghost, huh?

Kamaria glances at him, but doesn’t smile.

Kamaria: they’re not ghost their answers, and they are here somewhere. Rowan leans against the table, his tone softening.

Rowan: do you even know what we’re looking for Kamaria hesitates and she closes the book in front of her.

Kamaria: I’m looking for the truth and maybe just maybe a way to set things right Rowan studies her a flicker of respect in her eyes.

Rowan: you really believe there’s more to this than what we’ve been told?

Kamaria: I know there is the question is whether you believe it to.

Roman doesn’t answer but picks up a nearby block and starts flipping through it his son gestures of support speaks louder than words.

Meanwhile Alaric continues his own investigation. He spends more time playing chess with Morjaria using their matches as opportunity to exchange, suitable insight and information.

Morjaria: you’re distracted today usually usually you’re at least a little more suitable about it.

Alaric:

Moving his knight on the chessboard. Let’s just say there are interesting developments happening.

Morjaria:

She raises an eyebrow. Does this have something to do with the new alliance? I’ve noticed forming?

Alaric doesn’t respond directly, instead countering her move with a calculated check.

Alaric: let’s just say when people ban together it’s often because they’re afraid of something or someone.

Morjaria smirks she is intrigued.

Morjaria: and what are you afraid of Alaric?

Alaric: He started to smirk back and then he said not losing to you for once. They continued to play chess in the game started to get intense.

Morjaria she starts to study the board moving her bishop, and then she says.

Morjaria: let’s change the topic to something more interesting. For instance, you’ve been unusually persistent lately Alaric. What's keeping you up at night, another mystery to solve? I remember when we were kids you would always used to read those mystery books you know and you just fall in love each and every time you loved a good story you loved a good case.

Alaric started to smile as he remembered the good old days and then he started to counter his night, his eyes are sharp.

Alaric: let’s call it… An itch that needs scratching and you’ve been acting rather unartistic lately Morjaria. Almost like you’ve got a secret.

Morjaria looked at him with a confused look, and then she started to raise an eyebrow and smirking and laughing a bit and then she moves her rook.

Morjaria: just to assure you there’s nothing going on. I’m completely fine and even if that was the case, everyone has secrets even you isn’t that what keeps us interesting?

Alaric looked at her, pausing briefly and sliding his queen into position

Alaric: true but secrets have a way of unraveling, especially when someone’s attention waivers

Morjaria's eyes were narrowing as she scans the board.

Morjaria: and you think my attention is wavering? How presumptuous of you.

Alaric started to lean forward, his voice calm but pointed.

Alaric: I think there’s something or someone pulling your strings and it’s making you reckless

What he said caught Morjaria off guard. She started laughing softly and there’s a sharp edge to it as she moves her king.

Morjaria. Reckless? Me? That’s rich coming from someone who insist on knowing everything.

Alaric moves his rock with precision.

Alaric: Check.

Morjaria: started to pause her fingers hovering over a piece as she assesses her limited options.

Morjaria: concerning me on the board and in conversation? You’re getting bold Alaric.

He starts to lean back and his gaze never leaving hers.

Alaric: I prefer efficient so tell me what… or who… has you still out of sorts? Someone para wager someone worth hiding.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

She’s finally moving her king to avoid the check her smirk returning

Morjaria: efficient indeed, but you should know not all battles are one with brute forest. Some secrets are better left in the dark.

Alaric still configure her out he knew that there was something there so he decided to push again.

Alaric: how’s your family these days?

The air, the intensity, the whole vibe change she began to feel hot because part of what she was hiding had to do with her family. She wasn’t expecting that question, but she paused for a second and then she looked up at him and he knew that something was there.

Morjaria: my family?

Alaric: yeah your family I know we’re not supposed to have or be involved in any political dealings with our families right now, but we are allowed to speak to them so how are they? Do you know? Have you talked to your family since you’ve been here?

She began to force a smile to convince that there’s nothing wrong, but they’re clearly is, and there was a lot of tension in her shoulders.

Morjaria: they’re fine I suppose why wouldn’t they be?

He started to study here closely. He obviously knew that he struck a nerve. He knew that there was something wrong because of the way she was acting her whole body language said something, and the atmosphere was just off. It was different now it shifted. He started to pry even more.

Alaric: something happened, didn’t it?

Morjaria: not everyone lives for the drama Alaric. Some of us have ordinary lives inside academy, your relentless.

Alaric: are you in trouble?

She was hesitating her lips parting as if she was about to speak, but no words came out. She looked up at him, caught between the weight of the question in her silence. And then somebody called her name very sharply and loudly.

Voice from the distance: Morjaria!

Snapping out of her hesitation, quickly standing and smoothing out her uniform.

Morjaria: I think I should go and please… Drop it and it would be nice if you just take a break for now.

Alaric: Brings aren’t really my style also he started to counteract her move, immediately, placing her in a final and inescapable position checkmate.

She started to smile

Morjaria: congratulations you won. I guess there really is a first time for everything well played, but don’t think this one means you figured me out.

Alaric started to smile and he was standing up.

Alaric: it means I’m getting closer. And the more you try to flag the more you confirm, but I already suspect.

She started stand up and she walked over to him. They were standing across from each other and looking at each other, and she got real close her eyes a bit glossy, and she said.

Morjaria: careful curiosity killed the cat remember?

Alaric: good thing I’m not a cat.

Morjaria: be careful I hate to see you get hurt now. If you excuse me, I must take my leave. See you in a couple of days.

and after that she started to leave as she was walking away Alaric he was scanning the entire room seeing who or what called out to her one thing was for sure she wasn’t acting like herself, but he did see a figures reflection, but he couldn’t make out on who it was so he left as well. He said himself.

Alaric: one thanks for sure something happened all right I’m gonna find out what.

Later that day, Lunete quietly observant as always begins piercing together, suitable connections that one evening she approaches Kamaria during a study session.

Lunette: i’ve been thinking about what Lucinda said about history being rewritten.

Kamaria looks up intrigued

Kamaria: And?

Lunette: my family’s archives… I remember reading something about an alliance that was supposed to include 13 crowns not 12. But the record stopped suddenly right before. Valtoria’s fall.

Kamaria’s heart races.

Kamaria: you think your family might know something?

Lunette: I don’t know. But if they do, they’ve kept it buried for a reason.

After that, the two girls exchanged unknowing look thermometer understanding so satisfying their bond.

That same evening the group gathers in the common room to share their findings. After his game of chess. He had a lot to think about. But he walked past the common room, and he noticed that everybody was gathered there, so he unexpectedly shows up leading casually against the doorway.

And then he says to the group

Alaric: I hope I’m not interrupting.

The group freezes their unease evident. Kamaria steps forward, her expression unreadable.

Kamaria: what do you want Alaric?

Alaric: to help or at least to see what you’re all up to you’re not exactly subtle. Not to mention you asked for all of our help Kamaria which include includes me.

Hendrick: since when do you care about teamwork?

Alaric: let’s just say I don’t like being left out of the fun. Besides, I’ve got a feeling whatever you’re digging into might affect us all not only that I’ve got my own priorities now just means that the game has changed completely this time and if you want my advice, be careful. This is some deep and heavy stuff.

Everyone couldn’t deny it, but what he was saying was true.

Kamaria: ok fine but if you’re going to join us, you play it by my rules.

Alaric: wouldn’t have it any other way.

The room remains tense as Alaric takes a seat, but his addition to the group brings a sharp calculating energy that Kamaria knows will be both a blessing and a curse.

As the group discussed their findings Rosalva suddenly speaks up her voice, quiet but firm.

Rosalva: there’s something I haven’t told you that my family… We’ve always been close to the royal family of Eldora.

Kamaria’s eyes narrow.

Kamaria: So?

Rosalva: I overheard something as a child. A conversation between my parents and in envoy from another kingdom, they mentioned valtoria and something about the crown being divided I didn’t understand it then but now…

Her voice trails off as an implication sink in the group stares at her, the weight of her revelation settling heavily over them.

Kamaria: so it wasn’t just one kingdom. Multiple families were involved in Valtoria’s fall.

Kamaria she kept thinking hard about it all, and then she finally came to conclusion. The words that kept rattling in her head was.m, “ why is it called 13 crowns if 12 came together”

She came to a conclusion, a shocking conclusion she wanna believe it, but it just made sense in the situation.

Kamaria: GUYS! I figured it out Why is it called 13 crowns if 12 came together it’s simple. The 13 crown represented my kingdom and the 12 who came together to destroy it.

Everyone was shocked by that when she said that it started to make sense to everybody, and whoever is behind this, whoever the 12 kingdoms that came together to put an end to Valtoria and not only destroy them but framed them were still out there and one thing for certain whoever the kingdoms are, they’ll most likely somebody who goes to the school. After hours at school when it was nighttime and everybody was sleeping Morjaria was sneaking out of her dormitory, and she went into a secret library for a meeting as soon as she got in there everybody started talking.

K: now! now! Settle down everyone, let's get this meeting into order. Someone has been buzzing around, trying to uncover secrets that should remain hidden. I don’t understand. Why is everyone bringing up the past of the past we should be able to move forward in peace but now it seems like we can’t do that. So Morjaria how was chess dear?

She hesitated. She didn’t wanna say, and she hated lying to Alaric but she didn’t have a choice.

Morjaria: I don’t think they have anything yet and Alaric it seems like he doesn’t know anything, but I have heard talks and rumors.

A: If you're gonna be a spy, please be a good one.

Morjaria: I am sorry everyone, I will do better.

K: your trying isn’t good enough but it’s ok you know what they say if you want something done right you have to do it yourself.

End chapter 4…