Chapter 77: A Farewell and a Secret Mission**

Seraphina drifted in and out of consciousness, her body aching from the brutal punishment she had endured. The soft rustling of fabric and the faint scent of fresh herbs reached her senses before she even opened her eyes. The air was warm, far removed from the cold rain that had soaked her skin before she collapsed.

She stirred slightly, her lashes fluttering as she forced herself awake. Her vision was blurry at first, but when it cleared, the first thing she saw was Cassian.

He was seated beside her bed, elbows resting on his knees, watching her with unreadable eyes. He looked exhausted—his clothes still damp from the rain, his jaw tight, and his fingers slightly trembling.

“You’re awake,” he said softly.

Seraphina swallowed. Her throat was dry, and she had to blink several times before finding her voice. “Yes.”

Cassian exhaled, as if he had been holding his breath. “Are you okay?”

She nodded, but tears welled up in her eyes. “I didn’t do it, Cassian,” she said, her voice cracking. “I didn’t betray anyone.”

“I know.” His answer was immediate, unwavering.

Seraphina searched his face for any doubt, any hesitation—but there was none. He believed her.

She had expected suspicion, anger, or even disappointment, but instead, all she saw in his eyes was guilt.

Cassian reached forward, brushing a damp strand of hair from her forehead. “I didn’t know,” he murmured, his voice thick with something she couldn’t quite place. “I didn’t know you had magic.”

Seraphina’s lips parted slightly. “You thought it was just a story?”

He let out a dry chuckle, but there was no humor in it. “Yes.” He ran a hand down his face, sighing. “I thought the whispers of witches and curses were just myths. But seeing you that night…” His voice trailed off, and he shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. None of it does. I don’t care what you are, Seraphina.”

Her heart twisted at his words.

For the first time in a long while, she felt seen—not as a witch, not as a threat, but as a person.

But the warmth in her chest was quickly overshadowed by the sadness in his expression.

“Seraphina,” Cassian said, his voice firmer now. “You leave tonight.”

Her breath hitched.

Cassian’s jaw clenched, as if the words pained him. “Please go back to where you came from.”

She stared at him, wide-eyed.

“I love you,” he said, voice barely above a whisper. “But I have to let you go.”

Something inside her shattered.

Seraphina looked into his eyes and saw sincerity—saw the war raging within him. He was choosing to let her go, not because he wanted to, but because he thought it was the only way to keep her safe.

She swallowed hard and nodded without saying a word.

Cassian sighed, rubbing his temples before dropping a question that made her stomach clench.

“Why did you come to Ravaryn?”

Seraphina’s mind raced. She couldn’t tell him the truth—not yet.

“Uhh, uhh… I was just exploring and found myself in Ravaryn,” she lied.

Cassian’s gaze remained steady on her, searching her face for any sign of deception. But after a moment, he nodded, seemingly believing her.

“When all of this is over, I’ll come find you myself,” he promised. “But for now, your safety is the most important thing to me.”

Seraphina tightened her grip on the sheets.

She wanted to tell him the truth. She wanted to tell him that she wasn’t ready to leave, that she had unfinished business here.

The Origin Relic.

She hadn’t found it yet.

She couldn’t leave.

She *wouldn’t* leave.

That was the reason she had endured all of this—the beatings, the accusations, the hatred. She couldn’t abandon her mission now.

Cassian leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “Rest,” he murmured. Then he stood and left the room.

The moment the door clicked shut behind him, Seraphina exhaled shakily.

She had to act fast.

\---

A maid entered a short while later, carrying a tray of food.

“You have to eat, Miss Seraphina,” she said gently.

Seraphina forced a small smile. “Thank you.”

As soon as the maid left, she sat up slowly. Pain lanced through her body, sharp and unrelenting. She winced, lifting her dress slightly—her skin was marred with deep bruises and lash marks.

This would slow her down.

She closed her eyes, focusing on her magic. A warm golden light spread from her fingertips, seeping into her wounds. The pain dulled, the bruises faded, and her skin slowly knit itself back together.

When she opened her eyes again, she smiled in satisfaction.

She stood, her body still aching but significantly better than before.

A hot bath would help.

She slipped into the bathroom, letting the steaming water ease her remaining discomfort. She took her time, knowing that by nightfall, she would need all of her energy.

The sun began to set.

She had overheard Cassian’s orders earlier—he was going to arrange for a boat to take her to the next village.

That meant she had a small window of time.

Seraphina dressed in a fitted black outfit, something easy to move in. She wrapped a dark cloak around herself, pulling the hood up to cover her hair. Her silver locks were unmistakable—she couldn’t afford to be recognized.

Taking a deep breath, she slipped out of her room, moving swiftly through the dimly lit halls.

She had memorized the palace’s layout.

There was a place she had been watching closely for days—a restricted chamber that no one entered.

It had to be important.

And she had a feeling the Origin Relic was inside.

Her heart pounded as she moved. She was careful, sticking to the shadows, avoiding the guards.

Just as she turned a corner—

“Hey! You there!”

A guard.

Seraphina froze.

“Who are you?” he demanded, stepping closer.

She reacted instantly.

Murmuring a soft incantation, she flicked her fingers. The guard’s eyes rolled back, and he crumpled to the floor, deep in an enchanted sleep.

She didn’t have time to waste.

With quick steps, she reached the locked chamber.

Placing her hands over the door, she whispered a spell. The lock clicked open, the magic flowing through her as if it had been waiting for this moment.

She stepped inside.

The room was dark, silent.

But then—

A faint glow.

Her breath hitched.

At the center of the room, encased in glass, was a diamond.

No—*not* a diamond.

The *Origin Relic*.

A soft, pulsating light radiated from it, bathing the chamber in an ethereal glow.

Seraphina took a hesitant step forward.

This was it.

Everything she had suffered for, every moment of pain, had led to this.

She reached out—

Then a voice rang out, making her blood run cold.

Cassian’s voice.

She froze on the spot.