The soldiers lifted Alice onto one of the horses, and before she could steady herself, the rider
kicked it forward.
The horse galloped through the dark forest, its hooves pounding softly against the ground as
cold wind whipped past her face. Branches blurred by as they rode deeper into the night.
After what felt like forever, the riders slowed.
Then the horses came to a stop.
Alice's heart pounded as she looked ahead, trying to see through the shadows.
The head rider dismounted and bowed.
"Your Majesty," he said respectfully, "the girl is here."
Alice tried to see the man they were speaking to, but darkness and torchlight hid his face.
Still, she didn't need to see clearly to understand.
This had to be the Northern Prince.
Even from a distance, his presence felt heavy—like the air itself grew colder around him. The
soldiers stood straighter, careful, respectful… almost afraid.
Alice swallowed nervously.
Whoever he was…
he was someone powerful.
The prince's voice cut through the cold night air.
"Hold her tightly. We'll be entering the deeper part of the forest soon."
The soldiers immediately straightened.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The rider behind Alice tightened his grip, steadying her as the horses shifted restlessly. Even the
animals seemed uneasy, their ears twitching toward the dark woods ahead.
Alice looked up.
The forest before them was different.
The trees stood taller, their twisted branches blocking out the starlight. A thick mist curled along
the ground, and the path ahead looked swallowed by shadows.
A chill crawled up her spine.
"What's in there…?" she whispered without meaning to.
No one answered.
The prince turned his horse toward the darkness, cloak swaying behind him.
"Move," he ordered.
And the riders followed him straight into the black, silent forest—
where even the night sounds dared not follow.
In his distant palace, Arkon stood before a dark chamber, a faint smile forming on his lips.
On the stone wall before him, strange symbols began to glow brighter and brighter, light pulsing
through the cracks like a heartbeat.
"So," he murmured, eyes gleaming, "her magic is finally awakening."
The chamber trembled slightly as the light grew stronger.
"Ha… Damian," Arkon called lazily, not taking his eyes off the wall. "Bring me the water pot."
A servant hurried forward, placing a wide stone bowl filled with dark water before him.
Arkon stretched his fingers over it and began to chant in a low voice. The air thickened,
shadows twisting along the walls.
The water rippled.
Then an image formed on its surface.
Alice's frightened face appeared for a moment—
Then shifted.
A rider came into view.
Silver armor. Northern crest.
Arkon's smile faded into something sharper.
"Kael."
The Northern Prince rode at the front, leading the group through the forest.
Arkon let out a quiet laugh.
"So… he thinks he can outsmart me."
The water suddenly boiled, dark energy swirling.
Arkon's eyes glowed faintly.
"Let him try."
Arkon's smile slowly faded, his eyes turning cold as he stared into the swirling water.
"Damian."
The servant stepped forward at once, bowing deeply. "Yes, my lord."
Arkon waved his hand, and the image in the water vanished, leaving only dark ripples behind.
"Send the furious night trackers."
Damian hesitated. Even the name alone was enough to chill the room.
"My lord… if they are unleashed, nothing in the forest will remain—"
Arkon's gaze cut into him.
"I don't care what they destroy."
His voice dropped, calm and deadly.
"You will bring the girl to me."
A pause.
Then he added coldly,
"Alive… or dead."
The torches around the chamber suddenly burned higher as if responding to his anger.
Far away, deep in the forest, wolves began to howl.
And something monstrous began to move in the dark.
The forest was beginning to feel strange.
Too strange.
The deeper they rode, the darker it became. The trees grew thicker, their twisted branches
blocking out the moonlight. Even the wind seemed to avoid this place.
The Northern Prince rode ahead of her, leading the way in silence.
Two riders moved beside Alice's horse, watching the shadows carefully. The man behind her
held the reins, guiding the horse steadily, while four more riders followed at the rear, guarding
their path.
They were surrounded.
Protected.
Yet Alice couldn't shake the fear creeping into her chest.
Then—
Something moved.
A dark shape flashed between the trees.
So fast she almost missed it.
Alice stiffened, her breath catching.
She blinked and looked again.
Nothing.
Only trees and shadows.
Her heart pounded.
Had she imagined it?
Maybe exhaustion was playing tricks on her mind.
She swallowed and looked down, trying to calm herself.
But deep in the forest, unseen eyes followed them.
And whatever moved between those trees…
was getting closer.
I tried to steady my breathing.
Maybe I was just imagining things. Stress, fear, exhaustion… It had been a long day.
But then the air around us changed.
The forest grew colder.
Heavier.
The horses became restless beneath us, snorting and tossing their heads. The riders tightened
their grips, scanning the darkness.
Fear crawled up my spine.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Then I saw it.
A shape burst from the trees.
For a heartbeat, I couldn't understand what I was seeing.
Then it lunged straight at me.
A creature—huge and twisted, its body thin and unnatural, its skin dark and stretched tight over
bone. Its mouth hung open, full of jagged teeth.
And its eyes—
Glowing red.
Hungry.
Ugly in a way that made my stomach twist.
I couldn't even scream.
It was already in the air, claws reaching for me.
I squeezed my eyes shut, my heart pounding so loudly I could barely hear anything else.
I waited for the pain.
For claws.
For something to tear into me.
But… nothing came.
Instead, there was a sharp metallic sound—like steel cutting through the air.
Then silence