Chapter 29 · Untitled Chapter

"You have to come to the capital." Severin Morn's bleeding face flickered above the farm, framed by broken light. Behind him, the capital's central tower split open, red fire shining through its cracks.

Rowan stared at the director of the royal leyline network. The man had forged his execution order, hunted him across three provinces, and tried to turn every living leyline into a royal battery.

Now Severin looked afraid.

Lyra stepped in front of Rowan with her stolen blade raised. "You lost the right to issue orders when you made half the kingdom into your personal power bank."

Severin's eyes shifted to her. "I'm not issuing an order, Investigator Quill. I'm asking for help."

"You forged the evidence that condemned him. You arranged his execution. You sent hunters after us."

"Yes."

The answer landed harder than an excuse.

Something wet crawled beneath the stone behind Severin. His projection shuddered. Red veins spread through the image of the capital's tower.

"The First Heart is waking," he said. "The damage to the central conduit is past containment. If the Heart opens fully, the network won't collapse. It will feed. Every island. Every node.