The night was still when Juliana found herself staring out the window of her chambers, the faint rustling of leaves carried by the wind. Hak had retired earlier, leaving her with her thoughts—a jumbled mix of relief and unease after the council meeting. The revelation of Lord Ashton's betrayal weighed heavily, but the sensation of unfinished business gnawed at her.
She reached for the book resting on her nightstand, a text Hak had unearthed about the fabled Whispering Forest. Its pages hinted at the answers Juliana sought about her past, her powers, and the mysterious warnings tied to her role as the Queen of Destruction.
A Decision Made
By dawn, Juliana had made her decision. The forest called to her like an unrelenting tide. She needed to go there, to uncover the truths buried in its
