The silence in the forest became suffocating.The soldiers stood in a tight circle around Serenya's tent, their swords drawn, eyes scanning the darkness beyond the firelight.
Then—
A branch snapped.
The sound was sharp.Too close.
Every soldier turned toward the forest.
A low growl rumbled through the trees, deep and guttural, vibrating through the ground beneath their feet.
For a moment…
Nothing happened.
Then the trees exploded.
A massive shadow burst from the forest with terrifying speed.
"ATTACK!"
Steel clashed instantly as the soldiers lunged forward.
Serenya barely had time to react before a deafening roar tore through the camp.
The ground shook.
Outside her tent, men screamed.
The creature moved like a nightmare—too fast, too powerful. One soldier was flung across the clearing before his blade even connected.
Another scream echoed.
Then—
CRASH!
A body slammed violently into Serenya's tent.The fabric tore open as the soldier's lifeless form rolled across the ground beside her.
Serenya gasped.
Her breath caught in her throat.
The tent collapsed inward, the wooden frame snapping under the impact.
"Ahhhh..". Serenya cried out as the fabric tangled around her legs. She struggled desperately, ripping herself free before scrambling out into the open.
Cold night air hit her face.
What she saw made her heart stop.
The clearing had become chaos.
Her soldiers fought desperately against a monstrous creature towering above them. Its body was twisted and unnatural, its skin dark and warped as if corrupted by something foul.
Glowing red eyes burned in the darkness.
"Princess! Run!" one of the soldiers shouted.
Serenya didn't hesitate.
She turned and ran.
Her injured leg protested immediately, pain shooting through her ankle as she stumbled through the dirt.
Behind her—
Another scream.
Then silence.
Something heavy slammed onto the ground in front of her.
Serenya skidded to a stop.
A body lay at her feet.
One of her soldiers.
His eyes were wide and lifeless.
Her breath hitched.
No…
No…
She turned, desperate to run again—
But something blocked her path.
The creature stepped out from the darkness.
Up close, it was even more horrifying.
Its massive frame towered over her, claws digging into the earth as corrupted energy seeped from its skin like smoke.
Its glowing red eyes locked onto her.
Serenya fell backward onto the ground.
Pain shot through her injured leg as she scrambled away, pushing herself backward across the dirt.
"No… stay away…"
The beast advanced slowly.
Deliberately.
As if it had all the time in the world.
Serenya's hand tightened around the small dagger she had been clutching.
But it was useless.
The creature opened its jaws, revealing rows of jagged teeth.
Hot breath washed over her face.
Her body trembled violently.
This was it.
Serenya squeezed her eyes shut. Bracing herself for what was it the come
But Then—
A blur of movement cut through the darkness.
Steel flashed.
A sharp impact echoed across the clearing.
The creature suddenly lurched sideways with a furious roar.
Serenya's eyes flew open.
Several figures had appeared between her and the monster.
The Veyr soldiers.
They moved with terrifying speed, circling the creature like shadows. One of them leapt forward, his blade slashing across the beast's arm. Another struck from the opposite side, driving it back with a brutal kick.
The corrupted spirit snarled, swiping its massive claws through the air.
But the soldiers were already gone.
Too fast.
Too precise.
Serenya watched in stunned disbelief as they fought the creature like seasoned hunters.
The beast roared again, thrashing wildly as another strike landed across its side.
But even wounded, it was still dangerous.
It lunged forward suddenly, sending one of the soldiers sliding across the ground.
Before the creature could strike again—
A clean arc cut through the air.
Silence fell over the clearing.
The creature froze mid-movement.
Then its massive body collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.
Dead.
Serenya stared
Kaelen stood over the fallen creature, his blade dripping with dark, corrupted blood. For a moment he simply looked down at it, his expression as calm as if he had just cut down an ordinary animal.
That was all it took??
Just one cut and the creature that her soldiers died trying to kill
' What are you..??!'
Around them, the forest had gone completely silent again.
Serenya's breathing trembled as the reality of everything slowly sank in.
Her soldiers.
Her heart dropped.
She turned frantically, searching the field for them...or what was left of them .
One
Two
Three
'Where are the remaining two??!!
Could they still be ali—'
"There!" A Veyr soldier shouted while pointing towards the trees the monster came out from. Serenya turned instantly.
All colour drained from her face in horror.
One of them laid upside down, his neck was bent at an impossible angle. The other was wide eyed with his intestines pouring out of his stomach.
Serenya's knees gave out beneath her.
She collapsed onto the ground, her hands trembling as she stared at them.
A broken sound escaped her throat.
"Ahhhhh!!!!!!"
All five of them.
The men who had sworn to protect her.
Now she was truly alone in this journey...how can she save her kingdom when she couldn't even protect herself??!!
'I thought I was ready....I thought I was prepared...but I'm not!'
"They're all dead because of me" The tears couldn't stop flowing.
Nearby, the pale bodyguard crouched beside the corpse of the corrupted spirit, studying it carefully.
His sharp eyes traced the dark veins spreading across its twisted flesh.
"This isn't normal," he muttered.
Kaelen glanced at him.
"What do you mean?"
Zeke ran his fingers across the creature's scorched skin before standing slowly.
"This spirit moved with intention."
His gaze shifted toward Serenya.
"It avoided our scouts. If it was just a mere attack, it would be in search of food...but It wasn't searching for food "
A pause followed.
"It was after a target"
The words hung in the air like a curse.
Before anyone could respond—
A deep roar echoed somewhere in the distant forest.
Another one answered it.
Then another.
The sound rolled through the trees like thunder.
More creatures.
Kaelen's expression hardened.
"We move now"
Serenya looked up, tears streaking her face.
"My soldiers—" her voice broke. "We can't just leave them here. I have to give them a proper burial!"
Kaelen gave her a sharp glare so frightening, she felt her entire body shut down
"If we don't leave now ,you'll join them" He said coldly.
"Abandon camp. We move now on foot"
He paused
"Zeke. Take her"
Serenya snapped at him
"No!. I'm not leaving them here!!. You can't mak—"
Zeke grabbed her over his shoulders before she could even complete her sentence and with just a single leap they shot into the forest like shadows, leaping over fallen logs and roots with unnatural speed.
The wind tore through Serenya's hair as the world blurred around her.
Trees rushed past.
Branches whipped through the darkness.
They were moving impossibly fast.
The wind roared past her ears as Zeke carried her deeper into the forest.
Serenya twisted slightly in his grip, her gaze still fixed on the path behind them… on the place they had left her soldiers.
Her chest ached.
The journey had barely begun…
And I've already lost people.
Her fingers tightened weakly against his back.
'How am I supposed to save my kingdom…
…when I can't even protect myself??'
Her breathing slowly began to steady.
The rush of the wind… the constant motion… it all started to blur together.
Her body felt heavier with each passing second.
The pain in her leg dulled.
The cold air against her skin faded.
Even the sound of rushing trees became distant.
Her eyelids fluttered.
She tried to keep them open.
Tried to stay awake.
But she couldn't anymore
Her grip loosened.
Her head fell slightly against his back.
And just like that…
She drifted off.
***
Soft sunlight crept through the tall windows, spilling gently across the room and settling on Serenya's face.
Her silver hair lay scattered across the pillows like strands of moonlight, catching the glow of the morning sun. Against the pale sheets, she looked almost unreal… like something sculpted rather than born. Fragile. Ethereal. A quiet beauty untouched by the chaos of the night before.
For a moment—
She was at peace.
A young maid sat beside the bed, carefully tending to her injured ankle, wrapping it with clean cloth and herbs.
Serenya's lashes fluttered.
Slowly… her eyes opened.
For a brief second, she simply stared ahead, her mind still clouded with sleep.
Then—
Something felt… wrong.
This wasn't her ceiling?!!
This wasn't her room!!
Her brows furrowed.
Her gaze shifted, scanning the unfamiliar walls, the strange decor, the way the light fell differently here.
Realization hit.
Serenya's eyes shot open.
She pushed herself upright immediately, her breath hitching.
"Where am I?!"
The sudden movement startled the maid slightly, but the red-haired woman quickly composed herself.
She offered a calm, almost knowing smile.
"Good morning, Your Majesty."
Serenya's heart pounded in her chest.
"Where am I??!!" she demanded again, her voice sharper this time.
The maid met her gaze, completely unfazed.
"You're in the Kingdom of Veyr."
A small pause.
Then, with a gentle smile—
"Your new home."