The throne room looms in front of me, the shackles digging into my wrists. I can't move, my feet are planted onto the royal seal decorated in tile and marble—the story of how this kingdom came to be. By cruel rulers, blood spilled, and swords driving into innocent bodies.

I can't move. The king watches me from his throne, eyes seemingly hollow and lost as he looks through me, to the doorway beyond. I can't turn to see who is there, I can't. Renit and Silas appear, their faces as empty as their father's. Except they're not sitting on their thrones. They're kneeling. To me.

The shackles are gone and I'm no longer standing in front of the king. Now I'm beside him, a sword in my hand as I point the tip down at the princes, telling them to kneel. Silas obliges but Renit—the prince remains standing. His father, the leader in a kingdom well beyond their dues snaps his fingers and the sound rings out, a warning call to anyone nearby.

I blink and Renit's the one in chains and we're standing outside the throne room. The flags catch fire, burning from the bottom and turning to ash at Renit's feet. I try to scream for him, to get out before he catches fire too but it's too late. He shrieks in the middle of the empty throne room, dropping to his knees, as he claws at the flame tearing through his clothes.

There's nothing I can do. I can only watch as the prince falls over, face first onto the royal seal.