Even after Varion left the throne room, his words still resonated through the thick walls.

“Your father is here, and he requests an audience.”

Those were words Aria never expected she would ever hear, and now, as the thought of finally seeing her father after all this years filled her mind, the only thing she could feel was fear.

For the first time in a long while, Aria was afraid, and she could not hide it. This wasn’t the kind of fear she once felt on the battlefield when she was first confronted. No, this was different.

It was deeper, older and far more ingrained within her. It was an...