The morning light filtered into the palace room, breaking the silence with its gentle glow. But the peace was fleeting, as a sudden commotion erupted from below. Shouting, hurried footsteps, and a distinct cry pierced the air. Kieran’s instincts kicked in immediately. His eyes narrowed, his body tensing as his senses sharpened.

Without a word, he moved swiftly toward the door, Elara close behind him. Her face was a mask of concern, but Kieran’s focus was solely on the urgency of the situation.

Before they could step into the hallway, Princess Serena burst through the door, her face pale and streaked with tears. She was shaking, breathless, her hands gripping the doorframe tightly.

“Kieran! Elara!” she gasped, her voice high-pitched with panic. “It’s my father... King Aldric... He’s been attacked!”

Without hesitation, Kieran followed her, Elara by his side, their pace quickening as they descended the stairs. The once serene palace had now become a place of chaos, guards and servants rushing in all directions. They reached the royal chambers, where the king lay on the grand bed, unconscious and pale. His breathing was shallow, the room filled with the smell of blood.

Elara immediately rushed to the king’s side, her hands glowing with soft golden light as she attempted to heal him. But as the magic coursed through her fingertips, her brow furrowed in frustration.

“No... this isn’t working,” she muttered, stepping back, her voice laced with worry. “His injuries... they’re beyond healing magic. I can’t reach him.”

Kieran stood still for a moment, his expression unreadable as he observed the king’s wound. The deep gash in King Aldric’s abdomen was unmistakable, but it wasn’t the only thing that caught Kieran’s eye. The symbol carved into the king’s back, an eye, made from blood, glowed faintly in the dim light, sending an unsettling shiver down Kieran’s spine.

He stepped closer to the king, his eyes narrowing as he inspected the mark. Then, without a word, a surge of energy rose within him. Kieran’s gaze shifted, his pupils glowing a bright gold as a flood of knowledge filled his mind. The All-Seeing Eye had awakened within him—the newfound ability that allowed him to perceive magic at its core.

With the power of his All-Seeing Eye, Kieran could see the very essence of the dark magic that had been cast on the king. It wasn’t just any curse—it was far more complex, far more insidious. But Kieran now understood its nature, its structure. The curse wasn’t just a wound. It was a binding, a control mechanism designed by the demon Maldrak, the Demon of Blades.

Kieran’s mind shifted as he analyzed the cursed magic. The intricate threads of dark energy weaved through King Aldric’s body, connecting him to Maldrak. But Kieran saw the flaw. The curse had a property—one that could be altered. It was a delicate web of control, but it was still malleable.

Kieran’s hand hovered over the wound on the king’s abdomen, his eyes glowing with focused power. The room seemed to grow still as Kieran tapped into the magic, his senses extending beyond the physical realm. He felt the energy, the dark magic, and then—he began to alter it.

A wave of concentration swept over Kieran, and with a subtle shift of his will, he rewove the curse’s structure. He didn’t need to break it; he simply needed to change its properties, reroute its power. The flow of dark magic began to shift, the oppressive weight of Maldrak’s influence loosening.

Within moments, the pulse of energy around the king’s body slowed, then ceased. The symbol of the Eye faded from King Aldric’s back, its crimson glow extinguished. The king’s breathing steadied, his color returning, and the blood that had soaked through the blankets began to recede.

Elara, who had stepped back in confusion, watched in awe as the transformation took place. Her mouth parted in astonishment. "You... you did it. How?"

Kieran straightened, his eyes returning to their normal shade. He gave Elara a brief, almost imperceptible nod. "I didn’t break the curse. I just learned its properties and altered it. It’s a trick of perception and control."

Princess Serena, who had been watching in a daze, rushed to her father’s side. Her eyes welled with tears of relief as she saw the change. "Father... he’s breathing better... he’s alive!"

Kieran turned away, his expression serious. "The curse has been removed, for now. But this was only the first step. Maldrak won’t stop until he gets what he wants. And he’ll know someone interfered."

Serena, still holding her father’s hand, nodded, but there was a trace of fear in her eyes. "What do we do now?"

Kieran’s voice was calm but resolute. "Now, we prepare for the next strike. Maldrak will come for him again. We can’t let our guard down."

Elara placed a hand on Kieran’s shoulder, a mixture of admiration and concern in her gaze. "We’ll face this together, Kieran. We’ll protect the king—and the kingdom."

Kieran looked over at her, his eyes softening for a moment before hardening once more. "We need to be ready. This is far from over."