Far away from the forest where Grace had disappeared, the laboratory remained awake.
Emily stood near a large monitor, repeatedly checking the time. The night had already grown deep.
Beside her stood a young woman with white curly hair and pink eyes. She had removed the mask covering her face. Under the laboratory lights, her beauty was impossible to ignore. A small mole rested above her jawline, giving her a unique charm.
She wore a black crop top beneath a brown camouflage jacket, cargo pants, and ankle boots.
Larissa folded her arms.
"What happened? Why are you so tense, Sister Emily?"
Emily looked toward the entrance again.
"Kael and Grace still haven't returned."
Larissa glanced at the clock.
"It is late."
A worried look appeared on Emily's face.
"I hope they're safe."
Larissa sighed.
"Kael isn't a child."
Emily immediately replied,
"He's powerful, but he's also incredibly clumsy."
Larissa couldn't argue with that.
"Hmm... that's true."
For a moment, both women remained silent.
Then Larissa spoke.
"If you want, I'll send some men to search for them."
Emily hesitated.
A strange feeling had been bothering her for the past hour.
Finally she nodded.
"Do it."
Larissa turned toward a nearby group of guards.
"Search the city and the forest. Find Kael and Grace."
The men nodded respectfully before leaving the laboratory.
As the heavy doors closed behind them, Emily's uneasiness only grew stronger.
Elsewhere...
Hazel lay alone on a large bed inside the castle.
The room was dark.
Only moonlight entered through the window.
Her eyes remained open.
Sleep refused to come.
Slowly, old memories surfaced from the depths of her mind.
Memories from the first day she arrived in this world.
Four years ago...
The evening wind howled across the black castle.
A young Hazel stepped through the massive gates for the first time.
Everything felt strange.
Everything felt wrong.
Beside her walked a tall man with red hair and brown eyes.
Moros.
The man assigned to guide her.
Without looking at her, he spoke.
"Walk straight, then turn right. The third room is yours."
Hazel nodded quietly.
The castle was larger than anything she had ever seen.
Black stone walls stretched endlessly.
Guards stood silently at every corner.
Nobody smiled.
Nobody spoke.
It felt less like a home and more like a prison.
Hazel entered her assigned room.
The walls were made of cold stone.
A single bed stood in the corner.
She placed her luggage down and opened the window.
Immediately, freezing air rushed inside.
For a moment she simply stood there, staring at the unfamiliar sky.
She was twenty-one years old.
And completely alone.
After freshening up and arranging her belongings, a knock suddenly echoed through the room.
Knock. Knock.
Hazel opened the door.
A soldier stood outside.
"King Robert wishes to see you."
Hazel's heartbeat quickened.
"I'll come."
The soldier nodded and left.
Hazel closed the door again.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm herself.
Then she stepped back into the corridor.
Night had already fallen.
Rows of soldiers moved through the castle halls.
Their footsteps echoed through the darkness.
Nobody paid attention to her.
Nobody spoke.
As she turned a corner, she accidentally bumped into someone.
The impact forced both of them to stop.
Hazel looked up.
A young man stood before her.
Brown hair.
Sharp eyes.
A black-and-red outfit.
Several files were tucked under his arm.
"Sorry," Hazel said.
The young man shook his head.
"It's okay."
For some reason, his expression looked troubled, as if something heavy weighed on his mind.
Without another word, he continued walking.
Hazel watched him disappear into the corridor before resuming her own journey.
Soon she arrived at the castle lobby.
The massive chamber was illuminated only by a few dim lights.
At the far end stood a throne.
Moros waited nearby.
"Come."
Hazel followed him.
Upon the throne sat a man with black hair and glowing red eyes.
King Robert.
The ruler of this place.
The atmosphere around him felt suffocating.
Hazel could feel pressure filling the entire room.
Moros bowed.
"King Robert. This is Hazel."
The king's crimson eyes rested upon her.
Silence.
Several long seconds passed.
Then he finally spoke.
"So... you're Hazel."
Hazel swallowed nervously.
"Yes."
The king leaned back.
"We'll test your power first."
Hazel frowned.
"I don't know how to fight. I came here because I thought you would make me stronger."
Robert remained silent.
Hazel remained silent.
The room itself seemed to stop breathing.
Then—
Without warning—
A streak of blue energy shot toward Hazel.
Her eyes widened.
Before she could react, darkness consumed her vision.
Her body rose into the air.
At that exact moment, a massive surge of purple energy erupted from within her.
The entire hall trembled.
The soldiers stepped back in fear.
Even Moros widened his eyes.
The energy grew stronger.
And stronger.
And stronger.
For the first time, King Robert's expression changed.
Shock.
A pressure filled the throne room.
Even he could feel it.
The power radiating from Hazel was far beyond what he expected.
For a brief moment, he felt as though something ancient was standing before him.
Something dangerous.
Something familiar.
Robert immediately stood.
"Take her away."
Moros looked surprised.
"My king?"
"Start her training tomorrow."
His eyes never left Hazel's unconscious body.
"And make sure she's properly cared for."
"Roger."
Moros bowed.
One by one, the soldiers left the throne room carrying Hazel.
Soon only Robert remained.
The hall fell silent.
The king slowly sat back down.
His eyes narrowed.
Two faces appeared in his memories.
The first was a man with green hair.
Hazel's father.
The second was a woman whose face he would never forget.
Grace's mother.
For a long moment, Robert stared into the darkness.
Then, unexpectedly...
A faint smile appeared on his face.