The moon was high when Lukas entered his quarters.

  His body ached; blood still throbbed in his wounds. Yet his mind burned, as if the battle had never ended.

  On the table lay a sealed letter, marked with blue wax — the seal of the Northern Front.

  He broke it. He knew the handwriting immediately.

  ---

  ?? Letter from Catarina

  > Lukas,

  Things are moving here in the North.

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  We’ve captured Imperial spies, fought off barbarian raiders, even dark mages trying to cross the mountains. But with the strategies you left behind before leaving, we’ve turned the tide.

  Draken and I are holding the lines. He’s relentless, and together we’ve kept every threat from passing through.

  The Emperor and Elizabeth were ambushed on their way to the Capital, but he swore to attend the festival in Sorriso himself. He said retreat would be a disgrace — and a disrespect to the Patriarch.

  The mana from the Tower, however, is growing. Something in it pulses stronger every night. I don’t know what it means, but I can feel chaos brewing.

  Don’t worry about the North. We’ve got it handled.

  You take care of Sorriso.

  With love… chocolatinho. Haha.

  — Catarina, Captain of the Northern Frontier.

  ---

  Lukas sighed, closing his eyes.

  — Even you… calling me that now.

  Morgana laughed softly in his mind: — Chocolatinho, sweetie, eclipse boy… seems like everyone wants a piece of you.

  César, stern as ever: — Focus. If the Tower’s mana is growing, something ancient is stirring — and the chaos won’t stay in the North for long.

  Lukas gripped the letter, gaze drifting to the window — the city alive with lights and cheers.

  He knew behind that brightness, shadows were already moving.

  — You hold the North, he whispered, almost as if she could hear. I’ll hold Sorriso. Together… no one will extinguish our Sun.

  ?? End of Chapter 26