For a while now, Seraphine is sensing a cold feeling in the pit of her stomach.
It had been there since she left the Magician of the Tower's estate. She travelled back to the imperial palace along with Merlin using his teleportation magic.
As soon as they arrived, the smell of smoke tickled her nostrils - wood smoke. Warning alarms chimed in her head, and she pushed herself harder. She bounded up the steps and tore through the path, desperately hoping she would not find what that smell told her she would.
'Prince Eric! Lord dragon! Everyone!'
Seraphine ignored the fact that there were stone and wooden debris littered all around - ignored the damaged infrastructures. Panting, she mounted the flight of steps, taking them two at a time, before she reached the top and skidded to a halt. She then looked up at the sight that greeted her with aghast shock and horror.
Sapphire Palace is burning.
Seraphine can hardly believe her eyes.