The Light Within - Book 1

Chapter 13

Ryze and I run towards the king's chambers, our hearts pounding in our chests. As we burst through the doors, we find Nyx standing there, dazed and confused. Her hands are trembling, and she looks like she's just been through a battle.

"What happened here?" I demand, my eyes scanning the room for any sign of danger.

Nyx blinks, trying to focus her gaze on us. "I...I don't know," she stammers. "I was attacked by a dark creature, and I used my poison to defend myself."

Ryze's expression darkens as he steps closer to Nyx. "You expect us to believe that?" he growls. "You were the only one in here, and the king was poisoned. It's obvious that you're the one responsible."

Nyx shakes her head frantically. "No, you don't understand," she pleads. "I was trying to protect myself. I didn't mean to hurt anyone."

But Ryze is not convinced. He gives a signal to the guards who have already surrounded Nyx, and they move in to take her away.

As they drag her out of the room, Nyx's cries of "I'm innocent!" echo through the hallways. I can't help but feel a pang of sympathy for her, even as I wonder what really happened in the king's chambers.

The door to the king's chamber bursts open, and in strides Mia, in her shifted form. Her scales shimmer in the light, and her talons click against the stone floor. Her streaked hair falls in waves around her face, and her eyes glow with a fierce determination.

Without hesitation, she makes her way to the king's bedside and begins to work, her claws glowing with a soft blue light as she traces intricate patterns over the king's body. Her movements are fast and precise, her concentration intense as she works to heal the poison that courses through the king's veins.

My heart pounds as I watch Mia work tirelessly to heal the king. The room is silent except for the sound of her dragon magic. I can feel the tension in the air, and my worry only grows as time ticks by with no change in the king's condition.

Suddenly, the door bursts open, and the queen walks in with Seraphina by her side. I can see the fear etched on their faces as they take in the scene before them. Ryze steps forward to greet them, and they huddle together to listen as Mia explains the situation.

Only time will tell if the king will wake up or not, Mia tells them as she finishes up. The queen nods, tears glistening in her eyes. I can see the weight of her worry and responsibility pressing down on her.

Ryze stands next to me, his hand reaching up to hold mine. I turn to him, and he pulls me into a tight embrace. I lay my head on his shoulder, feeling his warmth and strength. We stay like that for what feels like an eternity, a silent display of support and love.

As we stand there, I can feel Ryze's worry and uncertainty radiating from him. I know he's struggling to make sense of what's happened and trying to figure out what to do next. I need to at least try.

I close my eyes and focus, willing a vision to come to me. I take in a breath when I feel the magic stir inside me and a vision pops into my head. I see a dark figure moving through the shadows, a hooded figure with a sinister aura. I can't see their face, but I know that they're the one who's responsible for the king's poisoning.

As I focus on the visions, I see something else. A small shadow horse, the size of a rabbit, darting through the shadows. It feels evil, and I can sense that it's somehow connected to the hooded figure. In the vision, the small shadow horse jumps into Nyx's body as she sleeps, and she begins sleepwalking, looking like she's scared for her life.

I watch as Nyx walks into the king's chamber, screaming and then releasing the poison. It's as if she's not in control of her actions, and the small shadow horse seems to be manipulating her.