Chapter Twenty-Five: Sylvia

Sylvia crashes into a northern copse of Essam Woods, disoriented after her uncontrolled transit. Hiding, she overhears Supreme Rawain and Arin discussing escalating executions after Galim’s Bend and the optics of Arin traveling with limited forces to confront Orban’s King Murib. Rawain defends executing the Mufsids; Arin’s subtle censure hints at disagreement.

Pressed by Rawain about his last visit to the cells, Arin lies smoothly that a prisoner only shared a story. He then steers the talk to the missing stores of mined magic once extracted by Jasadi rulers. Rawain feigns ignorance and restraint, claiming the stolen magic’s location is unknown and dangerous to pursue. Sylvia recognizes Arin’s lie and is shaken by the implication that all rulers trafficked in Jasadi-stolen power.

After Rawain departs, Arin asks his veteran guardsman, Wes, for a perilous favor beyond duty: follow Rawain, who may detour to illegal magic mines. Without explaining details of magic mining, Arin confirms the kingdoms secretly divided such power for generations. Wes swears freely to serve and accepts, fully aware discovery likely means death.

Sylvia, rattled by the revelation and her worsening golden-vein symptoms, resolves to avoid Arin’s route toward Orban. As she grapples with rising panic and fears of magic-madness, an unseen assailant suddenly sets a sword to her shoulder, cutting her escape short.