It's been a week since we started meeting in secret.
Despite my father's orders, I sneak out of my window every night ever since I met Nymra. It's the best thing that has happened to me since Lilith died, and I won't let anyone take it away from me — especially not my father.
And tonight, I'm sneaking out again.
What worries me the most is that one of my father's servants knows about it: that I break the only rule he ever gave me — no going out at night.
In the first few days, I was so clumsy that one of our old servants saw me climbing down from my upstairs room, using a rope I made by tying old clothes together, trying to get into the royal garden.
The next day Aunt Pipe pulled me aside and told me she'd seen me — but she also said she wouldn't tell anyone. She said she knows what it's like to grow up with a tyrant for a father. That's not completely true in my case, but I had no choice except to hope she really meant it.
Aunt Pipe truly has a kind heart, and she hasn't told on me so far. At least… I really hope she won't. I've been disappointed by people too many times in just twenty years. And I'm sure that if my father even suspected something, he would go to her first and question her.
And as much as I like Aunt Pipe, as much as I want to trust her… I know that if my father offered her enough money — and considering she and her family live in poor conditions outside the palace — she would probably tell him.
And honestly, I couldn't even blame her.
That's just human nature.
But I can't let that happen. I can't risk being "punished" by my father. Now that Lilith is gone, all his attention is on me.
As I stare at the ceiling, waiting for the right moment when everyone finally goes to sleep so I can sneak out, I hear tapping at my window. The raven has been sitting there for a while, impatiently asking for my attention.
I jump out of my royal bed, hurry to the window, open it, and gently take the small letter tied around its neck. I open it with a smile.
"Hi Lupine,
Would you like to go somewhere a little more dangerous tonight?
If you manage to sneak out again, we might find something you never even dreamed of.
When the full moon, from your window, reaches the top of the old temple, that's when you should meet me outside the forest.
If you're not coming, please send the letter back with my raven.
Oh, and could you give him some blueberries? He's hungry — I forgot to feed him.
Thanks, and I'm counting on you.
– Nymra."*
My eyes flick from the raven to the moon.
Shit. I don't have much time.
I dig quickly into the pocket of my brown jeans, pull out a few old, shriveled blueberries, and scatter them in front of the raven. While he pecks at them eagerly, I wave my hands in some ridiculous gesture to tell him he doesn't need to bring the letter back.
He gulps down the little blue berries, gives one sharp caw, and flies off toward the forest.
And then I'm already turning away — I need to go. I need to reach the forest as fast as possible.
I rush around, scrambling, but in the end I manage to sneak out again.
Of course I do — even the thrill of breaking my father's one order makes it worth it. But now that Nymra promised something "dangerous" and "insanely exciting," my whole mind is practically buzzing.
Maybe she's taking me to some old abandoned place.
Or maybe she found a strong soldier willing to train me in secret.
Who knows?
My legs can barely keep up with my thoughts.
The forest is about an hour's walk from the palace — and I have twenty minutes to get there.
If I'm late, Nymra goes home. That was our rule when we started… "hanging out." I guess that's what we're doing.
During the day, we both have our duties.
And after the Arena? Even more.
Training, preparing, doing whatever we can to get into the final five — the ones who will carry out my father's chosen quest and then earn any wish they want.
And I… I only want strength.
How funny, right?
The king's own daughter has to take part in this circus too.
I don't get anything just because I belong to his family. Not a single privilege.
It's all ridiculous. Ridiculous what happened to our family… and what he's been doing ever since my mother died.
He wasn't always like this.
My father wasn't always a tyrant.
No one knows exactly what happened to him. The most respected mental doctors said my mother's death broke him so deeply that he simply fell apart.
Before that, he did everything for us — for me and for Lilith.
Gifts, toys, little trinkets, whatever we wanted… he spoiled us just to see us smile.
And my mother… she was truly the best mother anyone could have asked for.
We didn't have any real problems until she got that irreversible illness.
There are many horrible things in the world, but people don't understand them until it hits their own home. My father went to every doctor he could find, but no one could cure her, and none of them even knew what she was sick with.
Then, on a night with a full moon just like this, she died.
After that, my father disappeared for a week.
Everyone thought he had killed himself out of grief… or that he soon would.
But after a week he suddenly returned — only he wasn't the same man anymore.
He had changed completely, and there was something in his eyes that had never been there before.
No one dared to question him.
Partly because he was one of Luxon's most powerful kings, ruler of an entire continent.
And partly because everyone pitied him too much after the tragedy.
But what about us?
Who was supposed to pity us?
Who was going to save me and Lilith?
Who was even going to notice what we were going through?
Well… in Lilith's case, no one will ever save her again.
I promised her that when I grew up, I'd become the strongest warrior or soldier in all of Luxon.
That I would protect her.
Back then, I honestly believed I could.
And now look at me.
The guilt eats at me every single day.
I couldn't save her, and I lost her.
Just like I've lost everyone who ever mattered.
If Nymra were here, she'd interrupt me right now, saying it wasn't my fault, that I'm just part of a horrible chain of events, and that I shouldn't give up so quickly. She's always like that… too good to me.
Maybe that's why I'm so excited today — maybe she did find someone willing to train me, someone who could finally help me grow stronger.
But honestly… there aren't many people who would secretly train the king's daughter.
Not when they know exactly what my father is like and what the consequences would be if he ever found out.
People don't usually sacrifice their free time to save someone else, or to help them become stronger.
Most people just… aren't like that.
Power is strength.
And I need both — more than anything — if I ever want to take revenge.
If I ever want to make up for what I ruined… or for what was taken from me.
My thoughts cut off when the moon slips out from behind the clouds and almost blinds me for a second.
Thanks to my training, my legs carry me forward as if I'm barely touching the ground.
Sometimes it feels like I spend more time in the air than on my feet.
A bead of sweat rolls down my face as I sprint through the outer village streets. And in the middle of my frantic running, I spot Nymra's silver-bright hair.
It's hard to believe someone like her exists in this world.
She looks unreal — like something meant to be admired, not touched.
She's… she's the only good thing I have right now.
I have to prove myself to her.
I have to show I can protect the people who matter to me.
If not me, then who?
As I reach her, my steps finally slow, and I grab her face gently between my hands, breathless.
"Nymra! Gods, I thought I wouldn't make it in time. But I guess I'm trained enough, because here I am! You didn't wait long, right? I ran as fast as I could…"
I inhale deeply in the middle of the sentence.
Nymra lets out a soft laugh and brushes a loose strand of my blue hair behind my ear.
"I didn't wait long, don't worry. My raven tried to explain why you were late, but I already knew you'd come anyway. Are you ready?"
She takes my hand.
After a short breath, I look at her more seriously.
"Tell me… how interesting is this secret outing supposed to be?"
A flicker of worry passes through Nymra's eyes. She knows exactly what I want to hear — which is why it hurts when she says:
"I didn't find a trainer for you. I'm sorry. No one I talked to was willing to take the risk. But… if it helps even a little, I'm taking you somewhere much more interesting tonight."
I can't be upset.
She can't see the disappointment.
She's done so much for me already.
So I force a smile.
"It's fine. We still have a week until the Arena ends. If we make it into the final five and complete my father's task… I'll get my wish. And he'll finally give me the training I need. Just like I promised Lilith."
Nymra nods softly, understanding, then points toward the entrance of the forest.
I raise an eyebrow, questioning her — but she doesn't explain.
She just squeezes my hand and leads me quietly into the deeper shadows of the trees. Nymra holds the oil lamp in her hand, its light flickering through the dark branches above us, making the shadows shift and breathe around our feet.
There's not much sound besides our footsteps, our quiet breathing, the rustle of leaves, and the steady chirping of crickets. Somewhere nearby, I can hear a river flowing softly.
And honestly… no matter how badly I want to be the strongest, no matter how much I pretend I'm ready for anything —
I'm still scared.
"Hey… where exactly are we going?" I finally ask.
"We always just sit somewhere or talk, which is more than enough for me — and I'm grateful for it, but—"
"SSH!" she whispers sharply, placing her finger in front of my lips.
Then, more quietly:
"Lately I've been having very strange dreams. And I didn't enter the Arena just to have your father grant me a wish. I shouldn't be keeping secrets from you, especially now, when you're going through so much… but if you win, and make it into the final five, I'll tell you my real reason."
My reaction comes out harsher than I mean it to:
"What? So you didn't join so you could move away with your brother to a normal place? Are you serious?"
My chest tightens, and the words spill out without control:
"And what do you mean if I make it into the final five? You think I'm not strong enough? You think I can't do it? Why would you say that to me? And you— why are you so sure you'll get in? What do you know that I don't?"
By the end my voice grows weaker, trembling.
"Why… why would you say that to me…?"
As soon as the words leave my mouth, I regret how sharp they sounded.
It hurts, and it makes me angry, all at the same time.
Nymra looks at me with worried eyes, the kind that make me think she understands exactly which old wounds she just pressed on.
"It wasn't completely a lie," she says slowly, carefully. "That was part of it… but the important part was missing. Listen, Lupine. I brought you here to prove something to you."
She pauses, and the lamp's glow catches her face for a moment.
"Like I said… I've been dreaming strange things. And while searching through my old books, I found this — an old saying:
'When one dreams of the witch's face,
the forest's throat will call with grace.
Where roots guard secrets, and moonlight shakes,
there lies the origin — and rarer gifts it makes.'"
As Nymra finishes the old verse, the flame inside the lamp suddenly goes out.
A stronger gust of wind sweeps through the forest, and within seconds, we're swallowed by complete darkness.
"Nymra… what does this mean? I'm not all-knowing, no matter how elite my education was. Please… you're actually scaring me now."
Her expression turns serious, almost unreadable. Then she asks quietly:
"If you listen carefully… tell me, do you hear any kind of ringing?"
"I… I don't know…"
I shut my eyes and try to focus.
God. How naïve am I? I trusted someone I barely know.
What if this is where I die?
What if my father sent soldiers after me?
What if Nymra was just bait? What if she plans to get rid of me right here, and I'll never get the chance to take revenge?
Then suddenly—
A distant, crystal-like chime hits my ears.
My head snaps up, eyes widening.
"I hear it! Now I hear it… it's like… like it's close, but somehow still far? Like it's here and… somewhere else at the same time."
Nymra nods.
"Good. Tell me exactly which direction it's coming from, and we'll go that way."
I frown. "Why… don't you hear it?"
She shakes her head silently. She always steps into strange, impossible things so naturally, as if this is normal for her.
Why did I even think she could team up with my father to have me killed or captured?Maybe it's just the countless disappointments talking.
Maybe I'm too quick to assume the worst.
And then I hear her voice…not out loud, but slipping straight into my thoughts:
"I know what you're thinking. And I'm not angry. Just focus, Lupine. I need you right now… I can't do this without you."
We follow the chiming sound as it grows louder. Step by step, it becomes clearer, sharper, until finally we stop.
It's far too dark to see anything properly — only solid, motionless blackness surrounds us.
Nymra's voice echoes close to my left ear, both excited and serious at the same time:
"Look… it really exists. The old little library."
She points forward.
"They say you can read things in there that grant a kind of power no one else has access to."
I blink into the darkness, mouth slightly open.
"So… do we go inside? Or what happens now?"
Nymra exhales slowly.
She turns toward me, and in the darkness, only her eyes catch the faint light.
But before she can speak, a sudden loud rustling bursts from the bushes.
Something — or someone — moves.
Heavy steps. Fast. Coming closer.
My heart jumps straight into my throat.
"Shit!" Nymra hisses. "Lupine, run home! This… this wasn't a good idea! We can't meet for a while, do you understand? Don't come back here alone, do you hear me? We'll meet at the Arena in one week. Okay? Please… just trust me!"
Before I could respond, she lets go of my hand.
The moment is so quick, like someone ripping away the only thing keeping me steady.
In the next second we're both running — she in one direction, me in the opposite.
My legs move purely on instinct as I sprint into the dense darkness of the forest, barely seeing anything.
All I hear is my own ragged breathing… her footsteps fading…
and the thing chasing after us.
I don't look back.
I don't dare.