The early morning light filtered softly through the ornate curtains, casting a gentle glow on the elegant chamber. A young woman, her hair a cascade of dark curls, sat at a vanity. She wore a delicate nightgown of fine silk, its hem brushing against the plush carpet. A maid, her hands deft and practiced, tugged at the woman's hair with an intentional roughness, her touch far from gentle. Despite the rough pull, Jana barely emerged from her thoughts, her mind consumed by the weight of her actions the previous night.

The memory of the chase haunted her. She had pursued the princess through the dense forest, the young woman's terrified cries echoing in the night. When Jana finally caught up, the princess had struggled, her eyes wide with fear and betrayal. Jana had tried to silence her with soothing words, but it was no use. The fear in the princess's eyes only grew more intense. Finally, in a desperate bid to end it quickly and as painlessly as possible, Jana had plunged the dagger into her heart. The princess's body had gone limp, her eyes still filled with that haunting look of betrayal. Jana had then dragged her further into the forest, digging a shallow grave and burying her. The physical exertion had done nothing to alleviate the gnawing guilt that now consumed her.

She kept telling herself it was for the greater good, for the restoration of the timeline, but the look of betrayal and fear in the princess's eyes haunted her. She felt a deep-seated unease, a gnawing guilt that her training had never prepared her for. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the princess's face, and the weight of her actions pressed down on her like a physical burden.

Jana, disguised as the princess, had to navigate the unfamiliar life of royalty. She knew she had to maintain the facade, so she endured the maid's rough brushing, each stroke laced with an undercurrent of disdain. Jana could sense the judgment, the unspoken contempt. The woman worked in silence, her eyes never meeting Jana's.

She wandered through the grand halls, her steps echoing off the marble floors. The portraits of past rulers lined the walls, their eyes seemingly following her every move. As she turned a corner, she noticed a small, dusty alcove. Curiosity piqued, she ventured inside and discovered an old portrait of the princess, hidden away and forgotten. The frame was tarnished, and the image depicted a much younger version of the princess, no older than ten.

Jana carefully brushed off the dust, her fingers tracing the delicate features of the girl in the painting. The innocence in those eyes made her heart ache. She realized that the real princess had lived a life of neglect and isolation, left alone to fend for herself in a world that had little regard for her.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps. She quickly stepped out of the alcove and straightened herself as the advisor approached again. "Your Highness, I trust everything is to your satisfaction?"

Jana forced a smile. "Yes, everything is fine. Thank you."

The advisor nodded, his eyes gleaming with cunning. "Princess, I have come to discuss some particulars of your impending union," the advisor began, his voice smooth and calculated. "What does Father need from me?" Jana asked, her tone cautious.

"He is considering setting your departure for next week, but I urgently advised him to hear your thoughts," he said cunningly, his eyes gleaming with hidden intent.

"Does Father want me off this soon?" Jana questioned, her voice steady but laced with an underlying tension.

"Oh no, Your Highness," the advisor replied, his gestures weaving a web of deceit. "He just wants the agreed goods sooner than later. As you already know, we are currently at war, and nothing is ever enough in these dire times."

"Tell him, if I may, to set my departure for one month from now," Jana suggested.

"And to what do we owe that delay, if I may ask?" the advisor inquired, his tone dripping with curiosity.

Jana lied smoothly, "I wish to stay closer to Father and bid farewell to the walls that have raised me from youth. In these tough times, I would not want to leave him yet. Even though he thinks little of me, I hold him in very high regard."

"Very well, Princess," the advisor responded, a bickering smile playing at his lips. "I will relay your message, but I assure you, I cannot guarantee a positive answer." He turned and walked away, hands clasped behind his back, the smile never leaving his face.

As the advisor left, Jana began contemplating her initial venture into the bustling streets of the capital. This would become a regular activity during her stay in the palace. She needed to gather information about the rumored timekeepers. Disguised in commoner's clothes, she slipped out of the palace and into the lively market.

The market was a cacophony of sounds and scents. Merchants shouted about their wares, children laughed and played in the streets, and the aroma of freshly baked bread and roasted meats filled the air. Jana moved through the throng, her eyes and ears alert for any useful information. She approached various merchants and bartenders, slipping them coins in exchange for whispers and rumors about people with unsettling powers.

Even though it was charming in its own way, Jana could see that the life commoners led wasn't good. The difference between the castle and the streets was stark. The castle was a haven of luxury and order, while the streets were filled with poverty and struggle.

Days passed, and her efforts seemed fruitless. Each lead turned into a dead end, and frustration began to creep in. But she couldn't give up. One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the alleyways, Jana overheard a conversation that made her stop in her tracks.

In a dimly lit alley, two knights stood talking in hushed tones. Their voices were low, but Jana, hidden in the shadows, could hear every word. They were discussing a fine slave who had crossed the border and was now in the dungeon along with other witches and mages.

"She's a real beauty," one of the knights said, his tone lecherous. "If she didn't have the seeding of the devil in her, I'd mind passing a night or two with her."

His comrade laughed heartily. "Aye, but she's too dangerous for that. Best we leave her to rot down there."

Jana's heart quickened. This information was strangely delightful. She needn't go far; one of the lost timekeepers was apparently imprisoned deep below the castle.

Back in her chambers, she carefully planned her next move. Sneaking into the dungeons would be dangerous, but it was her best chance to find the timekeepers and the orb. She would use the knowledge of the hidden passageways she had gathered over the past days.

That night, she descended into the depths of the castle, her steps silent and deliberate. The air grew colder and damper as she ventured further down. The walls of the dungeon were lined with cells, their occupants silent and forlorn.

Jana moved cautiously, her eyes scanning each cell. Finally, she found the one she was looking for. Inside was a woman, her face bruised but her eyes defiant. The woman recognized Jana immediately.

"Jana?" the woman asked, her voice a mixture of hope and suspicion.

Jana stepped closer, her voice low. "I'm here to get you out. We have a lot to discuss, but first, we need to get you to safety."

The woman had no power to utter any other word; she could barely move due to the brutality she endured to "exorcise" the devil from her body. Now that Jana found her, she regretted deeply not having thought this through. How would she get a wounded human being out of the dungeon by herself in a place filled with eyes and enemies? Opening the cage was an easy task thanks to one of the few functions Jana's bracelet still had functioning. But if Elowen didn't get out of the cage on her own, that meant her situation was worse than she expected.

The bracelets were fed on the electric power each one held, and to prevent the bracelets from falling into the wrong hands, once the wearer died, the bracelet did too. But that wasn't the reason why her bracelet was unresponsive; she was clearly alive. The reason behind this was her practically hanging hand, all broken from failed attempts to get the bracelet off her wrist. Just as Jana grabbed her, footsteps echoed down the corridor. Jana's heart raced as she turned to face the approaching threat.