[: 3rd POV :]

Right after Maiya had unsealed herself from her self-inflicted chains of guilt, Melira wasted no time.

She summoned her most trusted companions, those she knew would never falter in the face of danger, and gathered them in a quiet, candlelit chamber deep within the palace.

The air was tense, each of them sensing the gravity of the summons.

"As all of you know," Melira began, her voice firm but shadowed with grief, "I can sense that my son is still alive… but I cannot tell where he is."

Her words weighed heavily on every soul in the room.

"And worse… I can feel that he is in danger."

Seated around the long oak table were the pillars of her reign's strength.

Luke, captain of the Twilight Knights—the strongest elite force sworn to protect the Empress at all costs while his armour gleamed faintly even in the dim light.

Maiya, leader of the Sacred Valkyries—the finest warriors ever chosen from among the palace maids, wielders of both grace and unyielding strength.

Victor, captain of the Silent Night—a shadow in human form, master of assassination and a network of spies that reached into every corner of the world.

Caesar, captain of the Golden Warriors—undefeated in countless martial contests, a fortress of muscle and discipline.

Ragnar Veylan, captain of the Twelve Wings Blade—commanders of the imperial army, his very name whispered in the barracks as a living legend.

Selindra Kaelith, the most powerful sorceress in the empire and head of the Divine Mages, master of elemental power that could bend nature to their will.

Darius Mornshield, guardian commander of the Eternal Guardians—the first and last line of defence for the Human Continent, his oath binding him until death.

Isolde Merrow, captain of the Daughters of Rose—a sisterhood as beautiful as they were lethal, their methods rivalling even the Silent Night's precision.

Kaelen Dravik, captain of the Fangs of Herald—a clandestine order shrouded in mystery, feared for their strange, reality-warping abilities that few survived to describe.

They listened in silence, each one feeling the pulse of Melira's desperation.

None dared to doubt her—her ability to sense her son's lifeforce was the absolute truth.

Melira's eyes moved to Maiya—the leader of the Sacred Valkyries.

The woman stood rigid, her hands clasped before her, guilt written in the tight line of her lips.

"Maiya," Melira said softly, though there was an edge in her tone.

"Tell me again… what happened on that day."

Maiya's breath caught.

She lowered her gaze, speaking slowly as if every word weighed a ton.

"That day… when the Organisation found me, I had no choice. I—" She faltered, eyes glistening, and swallowed before continuing.

"I placed Daniel… on the river, in a protective enchantment. It was the only way to keep him from their hands while I dealt with them."

Her voice shook as memories clawed at her.

"I fought them… I killed every last one. But when I returned to the river… he was gone. I searched downstream, mile after mile, until the sun fell and rose again''

''There was no trace… no sound… no life. Only the water, carrying away what I…" Her voice broke, and she bit her lip to steady it.

Luke, the Captain of the Twilight Knights, spoke next.

His deep, battle-worn voice filled the silence.

"We scoured the continent, Your Majesty. From the deepest forests to the farthest borders''

''We left no stone unturned. Even the rivers were searched with magic to trace his scent, but…" He clenched his fists.

"It was as if he had vanished from existence."

One by one, the others nodded in grim agreement.

Victor, captain of the Silent Night, leaned forward, his tone sharp yet respectful.

"Even my network—the shadows that can pluck whispers from the mouths of ghosts—found nothing''

''If he were taken, whoever did it left no trail that mortal or magic could follow."

The weight of their admissions filled the room like an unseen fog.

Melira straightened, her eyes narrowing in thought.

"No," she said suddenly, her voice cutting through the despair like a blade. "It doesn't make sense."

They all looked at her.

"If Daniel were truly gone… if his soul had left this world… I would not feel him. A mother knows when her child is lost to her forever''

''But I still feel him. Distant. Faint. Yet alive."

Her gaze sharpened with a fire they had not seen in years. "Something happened on that river—something none of us understood at the time."

She turned, her gaze sweeping over every captain.

"If that is the case, then we were blind… and perhaps someone wanted us to remain blind."

The realisation hit them like a ripple of cold wind.

Melira's voice rose, clear and commanding now.

"I want the forest searched again. Every tree, every hidden cave, every shadowed grove''

''I want every event, no matter how small or seemingly meaningless, investigated from that day forward. Speak to every witness, no matter their status. Follow every rumour. Dig through the past until it bleeds truth."

Her eyes locked with each of theirs, one by one. "Do not rest. Do not waver. We will find out what happened. We will find him."

A heavy silence followed—then, in unison, the captains placed their fists over their hearts.

"As you command, Your Majesty," they answered, their voices echoing with renewed resolve.

After the captains had left, Melira remained seated in the silent throne room, her fingers gripping the armrests so tightly that the wood creaked beneath her touch.

Paranoia gnawed at her like a shadow that refused to leave.

What if something had happened in that forest… something she had never considered?

The thought wrapped around her chest like chains, tightening with every heartbeat.

She blamed herself—blamed herself for not searching deeper that day, for succumbing to the storm of emotions that had drowned her judgment.

The image of her son—small, fragile, and vulnerable—flickered through her mind, and her stomach twisted.

And even now… she could feel it.

That imperceptible thread between them, taut and trembling.

Her instincts screamed that he was in danger.

Her heart pounded faster, a relentless drumbeat that made her chest ache.

If she truly uncovered the truth of what happened there… she feared it would break her.

But fear was a luxury she could not afford.

Melira decided—no, resolved—that she would investigate herself.

She would uncover the truth of what truly happened the day the Zero Organisation dared to breach her palace walls.

Every clue, every whisper, every hidden trace in the entire continent—she would drag it into the light.

What was their motive?

Why on that day?

When she had given birth, she had been at her weakest; her power drained to its last drop.

But even so, she had her knights, her wards, and her layers of protection.

To believe the Zero Organisation would risk such a direct assault simply because of her temporary weakness was… insulting.

It didn't fit.

She knew Daniel had been their target from the beginning.

But for what reason?

If they had succeeded, they could have used him as leverage—to threaten her, to force her to kneel.

Yet that wasn't their play.

It didn't make sense.

The Zero Organisation was many things—ruthless, calculating, merciless—but never foolish.

For them to invade her palace meant there was more at stake than she had realised.

And the traitors…

She had already executed every last one of those who had betrayed her trust and sold her information.

She had made certain none remained alive to speak of it.

Melira's eyes hardened, the faint shimmer of her power flickering around her like heat haze. Whatever it took, she would find the answer.

Even if she had to scour every inch of the continent herself.

A few weeks had passed since the investigation began, and still, there were no leads regarding Daniel's disappearance.

Despite the lack of progress, no one stopped searching.

Melira, however, looked like she was withering away.

Her eyes were bloodshot from days without sleep, her voice hoarse from endless questioning and commands.

Meanwhile, in the wasteland that used to be a forest, Maiya and Luke trudged through the dry earth.

Once vibrant and alive, the area had been obliterated during Melira's wrath, leaving behind nothing but ash, splintered trunks, and silence.

Eventually, they reached their destination—where the river once flowed.

Now, its bed lay cracked and dry, a skeleton of what it had been.

Luke stopped, glancing at the barren channel.

"This is the place?"

Maiya's voice was heavy, her gaze distant.

"Yes… This is where I last saw him."

Luke folded his arms, frowning.

"If you placed him in the river, then maybe… we should try following it. Even if it's dry, it might lead us somewhere."

The two of them walked along the empty riverbed, their boots crunching over brittle earth and scattered stones.

They followed its winding path until they reached the end.

Nothing.

No traces.

No signs.

Not even a scrap of cloth.

Luke let out a frustrated breath.

"There's no way… A baby doesn't just disappear without a trace. And then, after eleven years, his life force suddenly reappears?"

Maiya's brows furrowed.

"It doesn't make sense…"

They stood in silence for a moment, the wind whistling through the desolate land.

"Unless…" Luke's eyes narrowed slightly. "Unless he was taken by someone."

Maiya's head snapped toward him.

"Taken?"

"It's the only thing that makes sense," Luke said firmly.

"If someone found him, they could have hidden him from everyone. But—" He hesitated, tilting his head.

"Why would his life suddenly be in danger now?"

Maiya's expression darkened.

"He was wearing a necklace. It had the insignia of the Empress's nobility. No one could overlook it."

Luke shook his head.

"Unless the person didn't recognise it. The design was unique, right? Specially requested from the dwarves. Not exactly common knowledge."

Her lips tightened. "…Even so, in what situation would the person who took him… put him in danger?"

The question hung between them like a shadow, their minds racing.

Then, as if struck by the same thought, their eyes widened in unison.

"Slave merchants!?" they blurted out together.

The word echoed through the wasteland, chilling the air around them.