The night before everything changed, the sky above Elarion burned crimson.
Lyra had never seen the moon look so strange before.
It hung low above the palace gardens, glowing with a faint red light that made the white marble statues look like ghosts.
She stood near the fountain, clutching the small silver pendant her mother had given her years ago.
"Lyra."
Her father's voice came from behind her.
She turned quickly.
King Alistair looked tired in a way she had never seen before. His golden crown rested loosely on his dark hair, and the deep lines around his eyes made him look older than usual.
"Father… is something wrong?" Lyra asked.
He studied her face quietly for a moment.
Then he sighed.
"The council has made their decision."
Lyra's chest tightened.
She already knew what that meant.
The treaty.
The ancient agreement between the Human Kingdom and the Supernatural Realm.
Every century, one human would be sent to the supernatural academy to maintain peace between their worlds.
Most people believed the story was just an old legend.
But Lyra had always known the truth.
"What did they decide?" she asked softly.
Her father hesitated.
Then he said the words that shattered her world.
"You were chosen."
For a moment, Lyra thought she had misheard him.
"Chosen…?"
"The council believes sending the king's daughter will show the supernatural world our respect for the treaty," he said quietly.
Her fingers tightened around the pendant.
"But… people die there," she whispered.
Stories about the academy were whispered across the kingdom like ghost tales.
Vampires.
Werewolves.
Witches.
Creatures that hunted in the dark.
Creatures who hated humans.
"They won't harm you," her father said, though his voice held doubt. "The academy exists to maintain peace between our worlds."
Lyra shook her head slowly.
"You don't believe that."
Silence filled the garden.
Finally, the king looked away.
"No," he admitted.
Her heart sank.
"So you're sending me somewhere you believe is dangerous?"
He stepped closer, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Lyra… sometimes rulers must make sacrifices."
Her eyes burned.
"And this time the sacrifice is me."
Later that night, Lyra couldn't sleep.
Her room overlooked the vast kingdom of Elarion, glowing softly beneath thousands of lantern lights.
She had lived here her entire life.
Every hallway.
Every garden.
Every secret corner of the palace.
And now she was leaving it all behind.
A soft knock came at her door.
"Princess?"
It was Mira, her closest friend and personal maid.
"Come in."
Mira entered carrying a small wooden box.
Her eyes were already red from crying.
"Is it true?" she whispered.
Lyra nodded slowly.
"They're sending me to the academy."
Mira placed the box on the table.
"I packed a few things for you," she said, her voice trembling.
Lyra opened it.
Inside were simple things:
A small journal.
A silver dagger.
And the blue ribbon Mira had worn since childhood.
Lyra smiled sadly.
"You're acting like I'm going to war."
Mira grabbed her hands suddenly.
"You are!"
Her voice broke.
"That place is full of monsters!"
Lyra tried to stay calm, but fear crept into her chest.
"What if they hate humans?"
"What if they hurt you?"
"What if—"
A loud thunderclap cut her off.
The entire palace shook.
Both girls froze.
"What was that?" Mira whispered.
Then something impossible happened.
The sky outside Lyra's window split open.
A swirling black portal appeared above the palace like a wound in the night.
Wind roared through the room.
Curtains whipped violently.
And then they appeared.
Three tall figures stepped out of the portal.
Their eyes glowed unnaturally in the darkness.
One had silver hair and sharp wolf-like eyes.
Another wore dark robes covered in strange runes.
But the third one…
The third one made Lyra's blood run cold.
He stood taller than the others.
His dark cloak moved like living shadows.
And his eyes…
They burned gold in the night.
A vampire.
The silver-haired boy stepped forward first.
"Princess Lyra of Elarion," he said smoothly.
"The academy has come to collect you."
Mira clutched Lyra's arm.
"They can't just take you!"
But the vampire prince's gaze never left Lyra.
His lips curved slightly.
Almost like he found the situation amusing.
"So this is the human they chose," he murmured.
His voice was deep and cold.
Lyra felt anger replace her fear.
She stepped forward.
"I'm not going anywhere with strangers."
The vampire prince tilted his head.
"Strangers?"
He walked closer.
Too close.
The air around him felt heavy.
Dangerous.
"Allow me to introduce myself then," he said softly.
His glowing eyes locked onto hers.
"I am Prince Kael Draven."
Lyra felt a chill crawl down her spine.
"The future ruler of the vampire clans."
His gaze darkened slightly.
"And the one responsible for deciding whether you live… or die at the academy."
The room went silent.
Mira gasped.
But Kael's expression didn't change.
He simply extended his hand toward Lyra.
"Come, little human."
The portal behind him swirled violently.
"The academy is waiting."
Lyra stared at his hand.
At the glowing eyes.
At the monsters who had come to take her away.
And for the first time that night…
She truly understood something.
Her life in the human world had just ended.
And something far more dangerous was about to begin.
Kael's voice dropped to a whisper.
"Tell me, Princess…"
His golden eyes gleamed.
"Do you still believe monsters are only stories?"
The portal roared open behind him.
And Lyra realized…
She had just stepped into their world.