Caelum woke up with a start, his heart pounding. A nightmare was already fading in the corners of his memory, leaving only a feeling of unease. He glanced at the window: dawn had not yet risen. Unable to go back to sleep, he decided to go out for some air.

The castle corridors were silent, barely lit by a few flickering torches. His steps led him almost unconsciously towards the gardens. The cool night air did him good, clearing his foggy thoughts.

Around a grove, he spotted a familiar silhouette. Velyria stood there, motionless, her vaporous dress gently rippling in the night breeze. She turned to him, her amethyst eyes shining in the darkness.

"Caelum," she whispered, "you can't sleep either?"

He approached, his heart pounding. "The nightmares... They seem more real every night."

Velyria nodded, understanding. "Dark times feed our fears."

A comfortable silence settled between them. The night breeze carried the delicate scent of garden flowers, mixed with a spicier smell that Caelum now associated with Velyria. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the frantic beating of his heart.

"The stars are particularly bright tonight," Velyria whispered, looking up at the sky.

Caelum followed her gaze, but his eyes were quickly drawn to the princess's profile, bathed in the soft silver light of the moon. A moonbeam played in her hair, creating an almost supernatural halo around her face.

"Yes, they're beautiful," he replied softly, his gaze still fixed on her.

Velyria turned her head, catching Caelum's gaze. Their eyes met, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. Caelum felt as if the entire universe was reduced to this space between them, charged with a palpable tension.

Almost imperceptibly, Velyria leaned towards him, reducing the distance between them. Caelum could feel the warmth emanating from her body, hear the slight rustling of her dress. The air around them seemed to vibrate with a new energy.

"Caelum," she whispered, her voice barely louder than a breath, "I—"

A sudden noise made them jump. A guard appeared at the corner of the garden, abruptly bringing them back to reality.

"Your Highness," the guard saluted, "Lord Caelum. Is everything alright?"

"Yes, thank you," Velyria replied, her voice regaining its usual regal tone, although a slight blush colored her cheeks. "We were simply admiring the stars."

The guard bowed and left. Caelum and Velyria exchanged a glance, a mixture of regret and silent promise in their eyes.

"We should go back inside," Velyria said softly, although her tone suggested she'd prefer to stay.

Caelum nodded reluctantly. As they headed towards the castle, the air between them seemed charged with unspoken words and contained emotions. Just before entering, Velyria stopped and turned to him.

"Thank you for this moment, Caelum," she said softly. "It was... soothing."

"The pleasure was all mine," he replied, his voice slightly hoarse.

They parted, each taking with them the memory of this starry night and what could have been.

After a few hours of restless sleep, populated by dreams where bright stars and amethyst gazes mingled, Caelum woke up with the first rays of the sun. His mind still foggy from the night's events, he mechanically prepared for the day ahead.

Breakfast in the great hall was lively, despite the early hour. Caelum joined his friends at their usual table. Kaela and Dorian were already in full discussion, while Raven, still looking sleepy, was sipping a cup of black tea.

"Well, look who finally deigns to honor us with his presence," Dorian said with a smirk. "Did our secret champion dream of glory last night?"

Caelum sat down, grateful for the familiarity of their teasing. "Dreams, yes. Of glory? I doubt it."

"You look preoccupied," Kaela observed, her green eyes scrutinizing Caelum's face. "Something bothering you?"

He hesitated, weighing his words. "I... I ran into Velyria last night in the gardens."

Raven raised an eyebrow, suddenly more alert. "Oh? And how is our dear princess?"

"She seemed... worried," Caelum replied, not knowing quite what to say and ignoring his friend's teasing tone.

"Like all of us," Dorian muttered, his gaze furtively sliding towards Kaela.

The conversation drifted to lighter subjects, but Caelum felt an underlying tension. Each of them carried the weight of recent revelations, of the threats looming over their nations.

The morning training was peculiar. Instead of their usual routine, they found themselves facing a maze of obstacles in the east arena.

"Today," Cadian announced, "you will work in pairs. Your objective is simple: cross this maze and reach the other side. But be careful, surprises await you along the way."

The pairs were quickly formed: Caelum with Dorian, Kaela with Soju. Raven, still convalescing, observed from the stands, a glint of envy in his eyes.

Caelum and Dorian stepped towards the entrance of the maze, their senses on alert.

"Ready to face the unknown, oh great hero of Myralis?" Dorian asked, a mischievous smile on his lips.

Caelum shook his head, amused. "With you as a partner? I fear the worst."

They launched into the maze, their steps synchronized despite their different fighting styles. The first obstacles were easily overcome: walls to climb, pits to cross.

But soon, the atmosphere changed. Shadows seemed to dance at the periphery of their vision, and a strange fog began to rise from the ground.

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"This isn't natural," Dorian whispered, his hand tightening on the hilt of his sword.

Suddenly, ghostly silhouettes emerged from the fog. Caelum felt a wave of cold pass through him, and instinctively, he called upon the power of the Crystal. A silver glow enveloped his blade, pushing back the shadows.

"Impressive," Dorian breathed. "But look."

The shadows, though pushed back, didn't disappear. They seemed to wait, observe.

"These aren't simple illusions," Caelum realized. "It's a test."

Understanding the stakes, they advanced cautiously, Caelum using the Crystal's light to illuminate their path while Dorian watched their backs. Their progress was slow but steady, each obstacle overcome strengthening their mutual trust.

As they approached the exit, one last trial awaited them. A chasm opened before them, too wide to jump. On the other side, a floating platform seemed to taunt them.

"Any ideas?" Dorian asked, scanning the surroundings for a solution.

Caelum closed his eyes, focusing on the power flowing within him. "Trust me," he said, extending his hand to his friend.

When their hands joined, the silver glow intensified, enveloping them both. With a leap that defied the laws of physics, they crossed the chasm, landing softly on the other side.

Panting but triumphant, they emerged from the maze to the cheers of their comrades who had already completed the test.

Cadian welcomed them with an approving nod. "Well done, you two. Trust and adaptation are essential qualities for a knight."

As the other pairs finished the test, Caelum observed his companions. Kaela seemed to have strengthened her bond with Soju, laughing despite her obvious exhaustion. His gaze met Raven's in the stands, and a mutual understanding passed between them.

The afternoon offered a well-deserved moment of respite. Raven, frustrated by his forced inactivity, had isolated himself in a quiet corner of the gardens to meditate. That's where Kaela found him, sitting cross-legged, eyes closed.

"May I join you?" she asked softly.

Raven opened his eyes, a slight smile on his lips. "Of course. As long as you don't ask me to run a marathon."

Kaela sat down next to him, their shoulders almost brushing. "How's your wound?"

"Better," he replied, "but not fast enough for my taste. I hate being on the sidelines."

A comfortable silence settled between them. Kaela could feel the warmth emanating from Raven's body, so close to hers.

"You know," she finally said, "sometimes being forced to slow down allows us to see things we would have missed otherwise."

Raven turned his head towards her, their faces suddenly very close. "Like what?"

Kaela's heart accelerated. "Like... this," she whispered, before leaning in to kiss him softly.

The kiss was brief but intense. When they separated, Raven's eyes were shining with a rare emotion.

"I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to do that," he said with a smirk.

Kaela laughed, giving him a playful shoulder bump. "Well, someone had to take the initiative. You may be a formidable warrior, but when it comes to feelings..."

"Hey!" Raven protested, feigning indignation. "I'm perfectly capable of expressing my feelings. Look: I think you're the most exasperating, stubborn, and beautiful woman I've ever met."

"Charmer," Kaela retorted, but her smile betrayed her pleasure.

They stayed like this for a moment, savoring this new intimacy. But duty soon called them back: an important meeting awaited them.

The meeting room of the Solar Blades was buzzing with palpable tension when Caelum and his friends entered. Around the large solar table, the familiar faces of Cadian, Soju, Kitto, Picaia, and Tholdir welcomed them with grave expressions. The absence of King Jeffrey and Princess Areathy was glaring, fueling worried whispers.

"The king and princess aren't joining us?" Caelum asked Cadian in a low voice as he settled in.

Cadian glanced quickly around the table before responding in a half-whisper. "They're in an emergency meeting with the Royal Council. Apparently, a messenger arrived at dawn with... concerning news. They'll brief us later."

This information ratcheted up the already palpable tension in the room. Caelum settled between Kaela and Dorian, exchanging meaningful looks with Raven seated across from him. The atmosphere was electric, everyone sensing the crucial importance of this meeting, especially with this worrying news in the background.

Cadian stood up, his usual smile replaced by a concerned grimace. "Friends, we're in quite a pickle. Our scouts have reported news... let's say, not pretty."

He unrolled a map on the table, revealing the Six Nations dotted with worrying dark marks.

"The Order of the Veil is gaining ground," Soju explained, pointing to the affected areas. "They're infiltrating everywhere, even in our cities."

A murmur of concern ran through the assembly. Caelum felt the Echo Crystal vibrate against his chest, as if echoing the growing threat.

"What exactly do we know about their plans?" Kaela asked, her voice betraying a hint of anxiety despite its firmness.

Kitto, his face grim, spoke up. "According to our information, they're seeking to break the Seal of Abnegation. If that happens..."

"We can kiss our world as we know it goodbye," Picaia finished, a shiver running through the assembly.

Caelum stood up abruptly, drawing all eyes. "We can't let them do this. There must be a way to stop them, right?"

"The hitch," Tholdir intervened, stroking his beard, "is that we don't know who to trust anymore. These bastards have infiltrated everywhere."

An icy silence fell over the room. The idea that the enemy could be anyone, even a close friend, chilled the blood of all present.

"So what do we do?" Dorian threw out, his frustration evident in his voice.

Raven, who had remained silent until then, straightened in his chair. "We stay on our guard. We observe. And we strike when they least expect it."

Cadian nodded vigorously. "Well said, Raven. Caution and action, that's what we need. Each of you will have a key role in the days to come."

The discussion became animated, everyone contributing their ideas and concerns. Plans were drawn up, strategies debated. But beneath the hubbub of voices, Caelum felt a growing tension. Trust, so precious in these troubled times, seemed as fragile as a crystal ready to shatter at the slightest shock.

As the meeting drew to a close, Caelum caught Velyria's gaze, sitting silently in a corner of the room. Her eyes seemed to say, "Remember, truth often hides in the shadows." He nodded imperceptibly, understanding the silent message. Whatever challenges lay ahead, he would have to remain vigilant, and perhaps seek allies where he least expected them.

The evening was well advanced when Caelum and his friends found themselves in their quarters for a well-deserved moment of relaxation. The atmosphere was relaxed, a welcome contrast to the tension of the day.

Dorian had brought out a bottle of rare wine, "borrowed" from the palace kitchens. "To our health," he said, raising his glass, "and to the fall of the Order of the Veil."

The others raised their glasses in echo, the mood oscillating between determination and slight apprehension in the face of the challenges to come.

"So," Raven began, a mischievous smile on his lips, "who wants to bet on which of us will unmask the first Order agent?"

Kaela gave him a playful elbow. "This isn't a game, Raven."

"No," he admitted, his expression darkening slightly, "but a little humor doesn't hurt in the face of all this mess."

Caelum observed his friends, grateful for these moments of complicity. His gaze lingered on Dorian, noting how his eyes followed Kaela's every movement. He wondered if his friend realized how transparent his feelings were.

"What do you think, Caelum?" Kaela's voice pulled him from his reflections. "You've been rather quiet."

He took a sip of wine, searching for his words. "I think we need to stay united, no matter what. It's our greatest strength."

"Well said," Dorian approved, raising his glass again. "To the bonds that unite us."

As they were toasting, a discreet knock at the door made them all jump. Raven, despite his injury, was the first on his feet, his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Caelum cautiously opened the door to discover a young guard, looking nervous. "Lord Caelum," he whispered, casting furtive glances around him, "Princess Velyria requests your presence. Immediately. She says it's a matter of life or death."

Caelum's heart skipped a beat. He turned to his friends, who had heard the message.

"Go," Kaela said, her expression serious. "We'll cover for you."

With a last look at his companions, Caelum followed the guard into the dark corridors of the palace, his mind racing. What could Velyria want at such a late hour? And why this secrecy?

As they approached the princess's apartments, Caelum couldn't help but feel that something was wrong. The air seemed charged with a palpable tension, as if the palace itself was holding its breath.

The guard stopped in front of an ornate door, bowing slightly. "The princess awaits you inside, my lord."

Caelum hesitated for a moment, his hand on the handle. Then, taking a deep breath, he opened the door and entered...