way as his body regained its humanity, the slow release of the curse granting him a brief respite. It was during these fleeting hours of freedom that his mind

he day-the fleeting moment when their eyes had met-wasn't something he could easily ignore. There was something about her, something beyond her simp

ere, after all, the heart of the mystery that surrounded his curse. Their enchantment ran deeper than anyone could comprehend, and yet, they seemed to obey Elara

t, their petals delicate and almost ethereal. Alistair had spent countless hours studying them, but no matter how hard he tried, he could never fully understand thei

he had been cursed, where the magic had first taken hold of him. And yet, there was something comforting a

es, her silhouette outlined by the silver light of the moon. She hadn't noticed him yet, and for a moment, he simply watched her, fascinated by the way she

shivered, their colors deepening, and a soft whisper filled the air-almost like a voice, as if the roses were speaking to her. Alistair had heard rumors of t

, his voice breaking th

she turned, her eyes meeting his. There was a flicker of surprise in her gaz

tle but laced with an unmistakable curi

him like this-who could see beyond the stone and into the heart of the curse that bound him. For a moment, he

listair said, his voice low. "Every day, I turn

. "I know," she whispered. "I know what it feels like to be bound by something you can't cont

time she had acknowledged his true identity, and yet, it felt different somehow. There was no judgment in her e

shing against hers. "What do you m

gh her words. Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "Because I can feel the magic th

ught in his throat.

ere created by the same magic that cursed your family. They hold the secret to b

n how do we break it? How d

stand the magic of the roses. They are alive, Alistair. They speak to me, whisper their secrets if you k

pounding in his chest.

he truth of the roses. There is a key-an artifact lost to time-that will bre

den, waiting for them to find it. And for the first time in years, he felt a surg

What was this key? Where could they find it? And why had she be

ghtly against the petals once more. "I'll help you, Alistair. But we must be c

avy with determination. "Then