Chapter Six: Sylvia

Dragged beneath the waterfall and beset by sea creatures, Essiya braces for death as her air-bubble fails—until a colossal red-scaled being surfaces. The legendary Sareekh il Ma’a lifts her toward the cliff, restrains and deposits her safely with bony vine-like spines, and communicates that she may call on it again. Essiya realizes her magic broke the bubble to deliver her to the Sareekh, a choice it made without her consent.

On the cliff, Essiya confronts Efra for ignoring her pleas. He insists she had been alone and used no magic, implying her Victor’s Ball display was a trick. Raging at his manipulation and at magic that has failed her before, Essiya attacks him when he slurs her as the Silver Serpent’s traitorous whore, nearly killing him.

Maia intervenes, pleading for Essiya’s restraint and revealing the Urabi plan: infiltrate the Omal palace to present Essiya, Emre’s only child, to Queen Hanan and claim the heirship over Felix. Failing that, they expect Essiya to raise Jasad’s ancient fortress by Nuzret Kamel to protect returning mages against the purges spreading across the kingdoms.

Essiya challenges the plan’s naivety and the near-impossible demand to resurrect the fortress, recalling the mortal cost to Qayida Hend and the lost abundance of magic. As Namsa arrives, Essiya demands answers. Efra, bloodied but defiant, declares he has already acted—the war’s first strike belongs to the Urabi.