Alya stood at the window, her eyes fixed intently on the horizon as the wind whipped her hair into a frenzy. The darkness crept in like a thief, stealing the last wisps of the sunlight from the castle walls. She felt it- the weight of secrets, the burden of a destiny she wasn't sure she wanted.
A knock at the door made her heart skip a beat. She turned, her hand instinctively reaching for the dagger hidden in her cloak. "Enter," she called out. The door crept open and a hooded figure slipped inside."Alya", a low voice whispered. "I need to talk to you."
Alya's grip on the dagger tightened. "What is it Ryker?" she asked. The figure stepped closer, the shadows dancing across his face. "The king's summons," he said. "You need to be careful."
Alya's heart pounded, thinking what did the King want with her.