CHAPTER 23: Fractures
The first thing Zayn felt was Kaelthorn. Not a voice. Not words. Preparation. It pressed against his mind like distant thunder—armies shifting, corrupted mana tightening into shape, monsters being sharpened into weapons. Kaelthorn wasn’t reacting anymore. He was planning. The king will fall, the presence whispered, slow and deliberate. For what he took. For what he allowed. Zayn clenched his jaw, forcing the voice back. The effort sent a sharp ache through his skull. “Not today,” he muttered. He dressed anyway. Armor felt heavier than usual. His movements were slower, more deliberate. Every step took focus. The poison pulsed quietly beneath his skin, dulling his connection to the shadows like wet ash smothering flame. But the realm didn’t need weakness. It needed leadership. T
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