After a long stretch of overthinking while seated on the fountain, Marina suddenly bolted upright, eyes wide with dramatic revelation.

"That's it!" she exclaimed, startling a nearby squirrel that squeaked and darted away. "It's a ghost!"

Her sudden outburst caused the gentle waters of the fountain to splash higher, as if reacting to her silly idea. Marina began pacing, her hands flailing in wild mimicry of a ghost hunter's gestures, as she formulated the narrative in her mind. "It's the only logical explanation!" she declared, her tone rising with each word.

She envisioned the ghost with vivid detail: a specter bound to the forbidden chamber, cursed to wander the palace, its unfinished business hanging like a heavy fog. "Classic!" she murmured to herself. "Maybe it was a noble wronged by the Fire Empire, drifting around, grumbling about overdue library books."

Marina stopped suddenly, her eyes locked onto the fountain's reflective surface. Her frantic expression stared back at her, wide-eyed and breathless. "Alright, ghost," she said, her tone turning stern as if addressing an invisible presence. "If you're watching, I'm onto you. No spooky tricks on my watch!"

She sighed dramatically, her mind racing ahead. "I need a whole arsenal: salt circles, ancient spells, a giant fire lamp—oh, and definitely a talking board with 'Goodbye' in every language!" The thought of it made her grin, though the urgency of the situation loomed over her like a thundercloud.

Then, like a lightning bolt, clarity struck again. She stopped, startling a nearby bird into flight. "Wait a second—if it touched me, it can't be a ghost. Ghosts are untouchable. So... what was it?"

The realization sent her heart into a frenzy. The boy she saw yesterday, with his pale complexion and dark, troubled eyes, had been so real, so urgent in his plea for her to stay away. "If it's not a ghost, then what is it? This is driving me nuts!"

The memory of the eerie note haunted her thoughts—the warning about curiosity and the boy's desperate command to keep her distance from the forbidden chamber. She had ventured into a realm beyond the ordinary, a place where shadows danced with secrets and echoes whispered of sorrow.

As she stood in the garden, the shadows began to close in around her. The rustling leaves and dim lantern light thickened the air with mystery, transforming her earlier encounter into a chilling premonition.

Marina took a deep breath, attempting to steady her racing heart. The boy's spectral presence and the cryptic note had left an indelible mark on her, a stark reminder that her insatiable curiosity had led her to the edge of something truly frightening.

The ghostly figure had implored her to stay away, and now, faced with the weight of that command, she resolved to heed it. Some secrets, she realized, were best left buried in darkness.

Suddenly, a loud explosion shattered the silence. Startled, she dashed outside, her heart racing as she sought the source of the commotion. To her shock, flames engulfed the west palace, towering and wild, smoke billowing into the twilight sky.

Her mouth gaped open as the realization struck her like a fist to the gut: the forbidden chamber was located within those very walls, now reduced to chaos. Panic surged through her as she turned to rush toward the inferno.

But just as she took a step forward, a strong hand clamped down on her wrist, halting her. "Your Highness! You should stay here. It's dangerous!" her knight implored, his voice laced with worry.

Marina pulled her hands away, defiance igniting in her eyes. "No. The ghost is in danger!"

The knight's expression shifted, caught between his duty to protect her and the bewildering conviction in her gaze. "What do you mean your highness?" he asked, confusion etched across his face.

She met his gaze, her determination unwavering. "I have to help. Whatever is happening in there, it's connected to the him. I can't just stand by!"

The flames danced hungrily in the distance, casting flickering shadows across the garden, as Marina's resolve solidified. Whatever secrets lay within the heart of the palace, she would uncover them—even if it meant confronting the very essence of her fears.

The knight's grip on her wrist tightened, but the urgency in Marina's heart was a roaring fire of its own. "Your Highness, please!" he implored, glancing back toward the chaos, where flames crackled like angry beasts. "We must get you to safety!"

But Marina was already pulling away, determination coursing through her veins. "He might be trapped! He needs my help! I have to find Axion too!"

His brow furrowed, uncertainty battling with loyalty. "Your Highness, I beg you to reconsider. The flames—"

"Time is of the essence!" she interrupted, urgency lacing her words as her heart raced. "What's the point of being born as hydromancer if I can't help get rid of the fire?! I must help!"

Her voice rang out, sharp and fervent, echoing against the chaos that surrounded them. Marina's pulse quickened, the weight of her elemental abilities pressing down on her shoulders like a mantle of responsibility. She had been trained for this, to wield water against fire, to quell chaos with her very essence. The thought of standing idle while a life hung in the balance was unbearable.

With a resigned sigh, the knight glanced back at the inferno, then at her unwavering resolve. "If we go, we must proceed with caution. You must trust me to keep you safe." Marina nodded, her pulse quickening. "Let's go then."

"Stay close, Your Highness," he urged, his voice steady despite the chaos. Marina took a deep breath and stepped inside, the heat intensifying as they crossed the threshold.

The grand foyer, now filled with ash and debris, seemed to groan under the weight of destruction. The walls, once adorned with tapestries of the royal lineage, now melted into shadows.

They reached the floor safely and as she scanned the room, her gaze landed on the second prince ."Axion!" she called, relief flooding her as she rushed toward him.

"Marina, what are you doing here? It's dangerous!" he exclaimed, concern etched across his face.

"What happened here?! Did you see the ghost—"she began, but her voice faltered as she took in the scene unfolding around her. There, in the heart of the chaos, the ghostly figure lay engulfed in flames. Yet, impossibly, its skin did not burn; it shimmered, undulating with a strange, ethereal light.

Fire elementalists struggled nearby, their faces taut with concentration as they battled the dark, consuming flames. The fire burned differently, dark and red, casting an otherworldly glow. It was a magical sight, both mesmerizing and terrifying.

"Marina, what ghost?" Axion asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"Him," she replied, pointing toward the spectral figure. Axion's expression shifted from confusion to astonishment, and what he said next left her utterly bewildered.

To be continued...