The Price of the Wellspring

John, a young mage of the Iron Covenant, returns from a dangerous mission carrying what could be a miracle: a cure for the spreading plague. Using an ancient and powerful source of magic, he managed to save himself and the members of his squad when others could not. But power always demands a price. When the ruler of the land learns what John has done, he is ordered to take three vials of the cure and leave. The elixir works, but it is dangerously addictive, and its creation came at a cost that cannot be spoken of openly. As John travels back toward his city with the vials in his possession, he is haunted by what he now carries. One vial is meant for his kingdom, one for his order, and one for the city he calls home. Yet with every passing hour, the temptation to keep more of the elixir for himself grows stronger. Because the cure doesn’t just heal — it grants power. And John has people he needs to protect, especially the woman he intends to marry. Faced with impossible choices and the weight of a secret that could destroy kingdoms, John must decide how far he is willing to go — and what he is willing to become — to save the ones he loves.