Chapter 120. Let Me Go

When the time finally came, the manor had already grown quiet. The lanterns in the hallways burned low, and the guards outside had begun their night patrols. Althea stood by her window, her heart thudding softly in her chest.

She wrapped herself in a dark cloak, pulling the hood over her head. Ash lay curled near the door, watching her with alert eyes.

“Stay here,” she whispered, gently patting its head. “I’ll be back soon.”

The wolf gave a low whine but obeyed.

Althea closed her eyes and focused, letting the faint shimmer of her magic rise through her veins. Her aura rippled, blending with the shadows around her until her figure slowly faded from sight. It was a simple concealment spell, a trick she had learned long ago and finally remembered.

Silently, she slipped out of her chamber, moving past the sleeping manor. Every step she took was light and precise, guided by instinct. The faint blue threads of her energy traced the air, bending sound and lig