Chapter 433: The Spirit

**Thelma Zane’s POV** “You’re the one who hid them!” My voice shook with fury, though a part of me had already suspected it. Still, hearing the truth unfold in the face of the Crown Prince’s actions sent a jolt of anger through me. He said nothing, only smirking in that insufferably smug way of his. Then, with a calculated move, he disappeared into the labyrinth of twisting tree roots, vanishing from sight. This wasn’t a retreat born of fear—it was a shift in strategy. A dangerous one. For a brief moment, I stood there, disoriented, until the realization hit me like a thunderclap. His target wasn’t me anymore. He was going after Eve, the Great Elder, and the others. I spun around just as a thunderous crash erupted behind me. Thick, gnarled roots erupted from the ground like monstrous whips, slicing through the air with deadly intent. They surged toward the group, their movements swift and menacing. The distance was too far, yet too close. Could I make it in time? Before