Southern Province Duchy
Far from the bloodied west, inside a warm chamber lined with velvet curtains and golden light,
Duchess Selvaris sat behind her daughter, combing her long dark hair with slow, practiced strokes.
The voice of a young man echoed softly from the projection orb floating before them.
Kael.
His speech had just ended, but its weight still lingered in the room.
Selina tilted her head, her tone curious.
"Mother… is that really him?
The same Kael everyone's whispering about?
The one blessed by the War God?"
Selvaris nodded, gaze fixed on the image.
"Yes. That's him."
A pause.
Then a quiet sigh.
"Just a few months ago, he was nothing.
A forgotten heir.
Magicless. Barely clinging to his name."
Her fingers paused mid-stroke.
"And now… he's speaking with fire. Leading his house.
It's unsettling."
Selina's eyes sharpened as she studied the boy's face on the screen.
"Introduce me to him."
Selvaris stopped.
Her voice cooled.
"Selina."
