The road to Verdant March was nothing like the maps showed. What should have been a straight path through the plains was broken and uneven, swallowed by creeping vines and mist that glowed faintly under the moonlight. Every step felt watched.
Erian walked behind Aster, his cloak drawn tight against the chill. The stars above seemed dimmer here, as if the forest itself wanted to swallow the sky.
"How much farther?" Erian asked.
Aster paused, scanning the shadows. "Another day, if we keep pace. The March isn't a place people travel through anymore. Too many vanish before they reach the other side."
Erian tried to smile. "That's encouraging."
Aster glanced back at him, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. "You'll live. I made a promise."
Erian didn't reply, but his heart steadied a little. The forest whispered with unseen life, every sound amplified by the stillness around them. It wasn't until the second night that the danger showed itself.
The wind shifted, carrying a faint metallic scent. Aster's hand went instantly to his sword. "Stay behind me."
From the shadows, a figure stepped out dressed in dark leather armor etched with runes that glowed like faint embers. His hair was pale gold, his eyes sharp and bright with power.
"Crown Prince Aster Caelum," the man said calmly. "And the vessel of starlight. You've made this too easy."
Erian felt the air tighten. "Who are you?"
The man bowed slightly, mockingly. "Seren Vale. Hunter of the Celestial Order. You might know my master High Priest Orion."
Aster drew his blade in one smooth motion. "Then you're already dead."
Seren chuckled. "Always so dramatic. Relax, Your Highness. I'm not here to kill you… yet."
Aster's eyes narrowed. "Then speak."
Seren stepped closer, his boots silent on the grass. "My orders are simple. Bring the vessel back to the capital. Alive, if possible. If not…" He smiled faintly. "The ashes will do."
The air around him rippled with energy. His aura wasn't like a mage's. It was heavier, colder like starlight wrapped in shadow. When he moved, the runes on his armor flared, drawing power from the night itself.
Erian whispered, "He's using celestial magic."
Aster's grip on his sword tightened. "Then he's no ordinary hunter."
The ground trembled. Vines burst from the soil, twisting toward them like serpents. Aster slashed through them, his blade burning with white fire. Erian raised his hand, summoning light that flared in the dark a single star suspended between his palms.
Seren's expression flickered with curiosity. "Interesting. You've awakened further than expected."
Erian's pulse quickened. "If you think I'll go with you"
"You will," Seren interrupted. "Because the power you carry doesn't belong to you."
Aster lunged, his blade cutting through the air. Seren blocked it with a flick of his wrist, the clash ringing through the clearing. Sparks of light scattered, searing the ground. For a moment, Aster's eyes met his opponent's two forces bound by the same origin, yet divided by choice.
Erian tried to help, but the forest responded first. The starlight in his veins surged, and the trees around them bent inward, forming a barrier of light. Seren leapt back, his expression darkening.
"You're not supposed to control it yet," he hissed. "The bond"
"I don't care," Erian shouted. "Stay away from him!"
The mark on his chest flared, and a blast of light erupted outward. Seren raised his arm to shield himself, but the explosion threw him backward, crashing through the roots. When the light faded, the clearing was silent again.
Aster lowered his blade, breathing heavily. "You shouldn't have done that."
Erian stared at the glowing mark, his chest still burning. "I couldn't let him hurt you."
Aster exhaled, half frustrated, half relieved. "Next time, let me handle the fighting."
But before either could say more, a faint laugh echoed through the mist. Seren's voice, distant but clear.
"You can run, but every light leaves a shadow. And I will find yours."
The wind carried his presence away, leaving only silence and the faint scent of smoke.
Aster looked at Erian, his eyes cold but softening. "He won't stop."
Erian nodded. "Then neither will we."
Above them, the stars flickered once, as if watching. And deep within the forest, a shrine pulsed faintly, sensing the return of the power it had long awaited.