Eriol walked over to Ryker and knelt beside him. Gently, she placed her hand on his forehead.
A faint glow flickered beneath her palm.
Ryker stirred.
His eyes fluttered open, unfocused at first, then slowly sharpening as he looked up at her in confusion.
Eriol smiled softly.
"Don't worry," she said. "You're safe now."
Ryker blinked, trying to gather his thoughts. His gaze shifted, landing on the princess standing a few steps away. He tried to sit up, but his strength failed him, and he fell back with a quiet groan.
Eriol steadied him, helping him sit upright.
"Who… are you?" he asked, his voice weak but cautious.
"My name is Eriol," she replied calmly. "I'm a friend… and I'm here to help you both."
The princess watched her closely, unease written across her face.
"How can we trust you?" she asked.
Eriol met her gaze without hesitation.
"You don't have to," she said simply. "But right now, I'm the only one who can help you. So… you don't have much of a choice."
The princess hesitated, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.
Ryker glanced between them, then gave a small nod.
"We'll trust you," he said. "For now."
A faint smile touched Eriol's lips.
She helped Ryker to his feet. He was still weak, leaning slightly on her for support, but he could stand. The princess remained wary, but she followed as Eriol began leading them away from the battlefield.
As they walked, Eriol spoke.
"I've been watching you both for some time," she said. "Waiting for the right moment to reveal myself."
Neither of them responded. They were still trying to process everything the battle, the loss, the power, and now… her.
But as they moved forward, something strange began to happen.
The air changed.
The sounds of war faded.
The scorched earth beneath their feet softened into grass.
The battlefield disappeared.
In its place stood a vast, beautiful forest. Towering trees stretched toward the sky, their leaves glowing softly in the light. Flowers bloomed in every direction, and birds sang as if no war had ever touched this world.
The princess slowed, her eyes widening.
"Where… are we?" she asked.
Eriol turned to them, smiling.
"Welcome to my home," she said. "You're safe here."
Ryker looked around in awe.
"This… this isn't possible," he murmured.
"It is," Eriol replied. "This is a magical realm. A place where magic is real… and where it thrives."
"Magic?" Ryker asked, astonished. "You mean… spells? Potions?"
Eriol nodded.
"Exactly."
The princess, however, wasn't convinced.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Why did you bring us here?" she asked. "Why take us from our kingdom?"
Eriol's smile faded, replaced by something more serious.
"I brought you here to protect you," she said quietly. "There are people dangerous people who will be searching for you."
Her gaze fixed on the princess.
"Especially you."
A chill ran down the princess's spine.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
Eriol hesitated briefly, choosing her words with care.
"You have a gift," she said. "A rare and powerful one. If used correctly, it could change everything. But in the wrong hands…"
She paused.
"It could destroy everything."
The princess shook her head instinctively.
"No… that's not possible. I don't have any gift."
Eriol stepped closer, her expression soft again.
"Don't you remember what happened on the battlefield?" she asked gently. "The way you destroyed the enemy… with nothing but your power?"
The memory hit her.
The screams.
The light.
The destruction.
Her eyes widened.
"That was… me?" she whispered.
Eriol nodded.
"Yes," she said. "And that was only the beginning."
Silence settled between them.
"Others will come for that power," Eriol continued. "They will try to control it… or control you."
She gestured to the forest around them.
"That's why I brought you here. In this realm, you can learn. You can grow. You can understand what you are… and what you're capable of."
Her voice softened.
"And here… you'll be safe."
The princess stood still, her heart racing—not from fear this time, but from something deeper.
Something unknown.
Something powerful.
And for the first time… she began to realize:
Her life would never be the same again.