***
The air was heavy with tension as Ivy sat alone in the infirmary, her injuries from the trap still raw. The faint hum of Gertrude’s magic lingered in her mind, a constant reminder of the hold the rogue matriarch had over her.
A faint glow materialized in the corner of the room, and Ivy stiffened as the spectral image of Gertrude appeared.
“You’ve failed me,” Gertrude hissed, her voice a cold whisper that cut through the silence.
“I didn’t mean to,” Ivy said, her voice trembling. “The trap; it wasn’t supposed to backfire like that.”
Gertrude’s expression darkened. “Excuses won’t save you. You’ve had your chance to prove your loyalty, and now I’m giving you one last opportunity to redeem yourself.”
“What do you want me to do?” Ivy asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Gertrude
