The rain refused to stop.
The expedition camp rested at the edge of the Forbidden Wastelands.
Most soldiers had already fallen asleep.
Only the guards remained awake.
Watching.
Waiting.
Listening to the storm.
Myreiya sat alone beneath a canopy.
Maps covered the table before her.
Yet she had not read a single word.
Her thoughts kept returning to the same person.
Mirror.
The servant who never complained.
The servant who never feared her.
The servant who seemed to be hiding an entire world behind his silence.
A strange frustration settled in her chest.
She hated mysteries.
Especially when they wore human faces.
Not far away, Mirror stood watch beside the camp's outer perimeter.
The black tower was visible in the distance.
Even from here it felt wrong.
Like a wound carved into reality itself.
The mark on his chest pulsed.
Softly.
Patiently.
Waiting.
Mirror looked away from the tower.
Only to find Myreiya approaching.
Alone.
Without guards.
Without attendants.
Without her crown.
For a moment—
She looked less like a queen.
More like a young woman exhausted by carrying a kingdom.
"My Queen."
He bowed.
"Stop."
Mirror blinked.
"My Queen?"
"I said stop bowing."
Her voice sounded tired.
"Just for tonight."
The request caught him off guard.
Neither spoke.
Rain tapped softly against the camp tents.
The silence felt strangely comfortable.
Myreiya sat beside the campfire.
After several seconds, Mirror reluctantly joined her.
The flames danced between them.
Casting golden light across their faces.
For once—
No throne.
No servants.
No punishments.
No titles.
Just two people.
And that somehow felt more dangerous.
"You hate me."
Myreiya suddenly said.
Mirror looked up.
The question surprised him.
For the first time since meeting her—
She sounded uncertain.
Human.
He searched for an answer.
A truthful one.
"I should."
The words escaped before he could stop them.
Myreiya lowered her gaze.
The fire reflected in her silver eyes.
"I know."
Something about her expression twisted inside his chest.
Pain.
Regret.
Loneliness.
He wasn't sure.
Perhaps all three.
"You've treated people cruelly."
Mirror continued carefully.
"You've hurt people."
She laughed softly.
A bitter sound.
"I know that too."
The wind shifted.
Neither moved.
Neither looked away.
Then Myreiya asked quietly:
"Do you know why?"
Mirror remained silent.
For once—
He wanted to hear her answer.
"When I was thirteen..."
Her voice almost disappeared beneath the rain.
"The nobles locked me in the old palace tower."
Mirror frowned.
She had never spoken about her childhood.
Not to anyone.
"They left me there for three days."
She stared into the fire.
"No food."
"No water."
"No light."
Mirror's jaw tightened.
"They wanted to teach me weakness."
A sad smile touched her lips.
"They succeeded."
For the first time—
Mirror saw the frightened girl hidden beneath the queen.
The girl nobody else remembered.
The girl who learned that kindness could be used against her.
The girl who decided fear was safer than trust.
The realization hurt more than it should have.
A sudden gust of wind extinguished part of the fire.
Myreiya shivered.
The night air had become colder.
Without thinking—
Mirror removed his cloak.
He placed it over her shoulders.
Both immediately froze.
Neither expected the gesture.
The cloak still carried his warmth.
Myreiya looked down at it.
Then up at him.
Their eyes met.
The world seemed to stop.
No voices.
No tower.
No kingdom.
Only the space between them.
And suddenly it felt very small.
Far too small.
Myreiya's heartbeat quickened.
Mirror looked away first.
A mistake.
A dangerous mistake.
Because for a brief moment—
He had forgotten who she was.
And she had forgotten who he was supposed to be.
Then the mark burned.
Hard.
Mirror stiffened.
Pain exploded through his chest.
The voice returned.
Violent.
Furious.
"Do not forget your purpose."
Mirror's hands clenched.
The fire flickered black for a second.
Only a second.
Yet Myreiya noticed.
Her eyes narrowed.
"Mirror."
He said nothing.
"What's happening to you?"
Concern filled her voice.
Real concern.
The sound shook him more than the pain.
Because nobody had asked him that question in years.
Perhaps ever.
Slowly—
Myreiya reached toward him.
Mirror froze.
Her hand touched his cheek.
Gentle.
Careful.
As though he might break.
The contact lasted only a moment.
Yet it felt eternal.
Neither breathed.
Neither moved.
The rain fell around them.
The fire crackled softly.
And for the first time—
Mirror understood why destiny was dangerous.
Because he didn't want to hurt her.
Not anymore.
Maybe he never had.
Then a scream echoed through the camp.
Both jumped to their feet.
A soldier came running from the darkness.
Blood covered his armor.
Terror filled his eyes.
"My Queen!"
The entire camp awakened instantly.
"What happened?" Myreiya demanded.
The soldier struggled to breathe.
His voice trembled.
"The scouts..."
Fear flashed across his face.
"They're gone."
Silence.
The storm suddenly felt colder.
Much colder.
The soldier pointed toward the distant black tower.
And beneath the crimson light—
Hundreds of shadowy figures now stood waiting.
Watching the camp.
Watching Myreiya.
Watching Mirror.
And among them—
One figure stepped forward.
A figure wearing a broken black crown.
End of Part 3