The king’s gaze settled on me, sharp and assessing. His silence felt like a weight pressing down, each second stretching longer as he studied the fallen girl at Aric’s side. She kept her head bowed, hands trembling as she clutched the fabric bindings.

"Cal," the king said, his voice a quiet command. "Why did you bring her back? You understand the danger these fallen pose to our people."

My chest tightened, but I stood my ground. "I do, Your Majesty. But this one... she’s different, like me. She didn’t attack out of aggression. She was scared—she couldn’t control the magic she was releasing."

The king’s eyes remained cold, unmoved. "The fallen are all powerful and unpredictable, whether they intend to be or not. You have seen the destruction they cause."

"I have," I said, meeting his gaze. "But I also saw fear. She didn’t want to hurt anyone. She warned us to stay away, tried to hold back the magic. If we can help her control it, she doesn’t have to be a threat."

The king’s eyes flicked briefly to the girl. "And if she cannot be controlled? If the power overwhelms her again and more lives are lost?"

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the question. "Then... it’s on me. I’ll take responsibility. But I don’t believe every fallen has to be killed on sight."

The king’s expression didn’t change. His gaze shifted back to Aric. "And you allowed this? You brought a known threat into our walls."

Aric’s jaw tightened, but he spoke with resolve. "I believe Cal’s assessment was correct. The girl showed no signs of hostility beyond what her uncontrolled magic forced. Killing her then would not have been justice—it would have been execution."

The king’s silence stretched, the air in the throne room growing thick with tension. The fallen girl kept her eyes fixed on the ground, her breathing shallow. For a moment, I wondered if he would order her execution regardless.

"Very well," the king said finally, leaning back in his throne. "She will be placed in confinement under strict watch. If she proves to be anything other than what you claim, she will be dealt with."

Relief flooded through me, but it was short-lived as the king’s gaze turned back to me, colder than before.

"Understand this, Cal Andrews," he said. "Your sympathy for this fallen is a risk to my kingdom. You and Aric will both be responsible for her actions from now on. If she proves to be a threat—if she escapes or loses control—it will be on you."

I nodded, my throat tight. "I understand, Your Majesty."

"Good." The king’s gaze softened, but only slightly. "You’ve been given this chance to prove yourself. Do not waste it."

He gestured to the guards near the doors. "Take her to the secure wing. Ensure the wards are reinforced."

The guards stepped forward, guiding the girl with firm but gentle hands. She didn’t resist, her head hanging low as she was led away. I watched her go, feeling the weight of responsibility settle heavy on my shoulders.

The king dismissed us with a wave. Aric and I bowed before turning to leave the throne room, the echo of the king’s warning still ringing in my ears.

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As we made our way down the hall, I exhaled slowly. "Thanks for backing me up there."

Aric’s expression remained serious. "Don’t thank me yet. The king may have agreed, but we’re walking a fine line. If she loses control again, there won’t be another chance."

I nodded. "I know. I just... I couldn’t let her die like that."

Aric glanced at me, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. "I know."

We walked in silence for a while before Aric finally spoke. "Go check on Elara. I need to see to the girl’s confinement personally and make sure the wards are secure."

I nodded, grateful for the excuse to leave. "I’ll let you know if anything changes."

We parted ways, and I made my way back through the winding halls toward the infirmary. The events of the day swirled in my head, but I forced myself to focus. Elara was still recovering, and I needed to be there for her.

When I reached the infirmary, I found Elara awake, sitting up in bed. Her face still looked pale, but there was a spark of life in her eyes that hadn’t been there earlier.

"Hey," I said softly as I approached. "How are you feeling?"

She smiled faintly, her voice hoarse. "I’ve been better."

I chuckled, relieved to see her sense of humor intact. "I’m just glad you’re awake. You scared us back there."

Elara’s eyes softened. "Sorry about that. I thought I could handle things on my own. Clearly, I was wrong."

I sat down beside her, my relief mingling with lingering concern. "What happened in Silverport? We found you under the rubble, but... it was chaos."

Her expression darkened. "There was another fallen—more powerful than anything I’ve encountered before. It attacked out of nowhere, and I tried to hold it off, but..." She trailed off, frustration clouding her eyes. "I underestimated it."

A chill ran down my spine. "Another fallen? You're saying it wasn't the girl who caused all the destruction?"

She nodded, her gaze distant. "Well, she contributed to the destruction. The other fallen was monstrous, like the one that attacked the city the other day. It tried to take the girl. She slayed it before it could. Their fight was what destroyed the city.”

I felt a shiver of unease. "Why would it want to capture another fallen?"

Elara sighed, leaning back against the pillows. "I don’t know. I’ve been thinking… Maybe they’re forming an army."

The thought was terrifying. One fallen was dangerous enough. I couldn’t imagine how much devastation an entire army could create.

"But that’s a problem for another day," Elara said, her eyes meeting mine. "You and Aric saved me. Thank you, Cal."

I smiled, trying to brush off the praise. "Hey, it was nothing. I just... did what I could."

Elara’s gaze softened. "I heard you defended the fallen girl before the king. That was brave."

I shrugged, feeling the weight of the day’s events settle over me again. "I just... couldn’t let her die. Not when there was a chance to help her."

Elara’s eyes twinkled, a hint of mischief returning. "You’ve got a good heart, Cal. This world could use more people like you."

I felt my cheeks warm, but before I could respond, a healer approached, carrying a bowl of herbs and bandages.

"I’ll be back later," I said, standing up. "Get some rest."

Elara smiled, her eyes warm. "I will. And Cal?"

"Yeah?"

"Just.. be careful.”

I nodded. "I will."

As I left the infirmary, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the days ahead would only get more complicated. Whoever was behind the attacks, whoever was pulling the strings, they had a plan. Stopping them wouldn’t be easy. But I had to try.