Caius's POV
The rain poured heavily, soaking through my armor as I stood in the center of the battlefield. My blade dripped with the blood of fallen beasts, but my fight was far from over.
Across from me, standing firm in his shining armor, was Valerian. My eldest brother. The king's most trusted knight.
"You disobey the king's command," Valerian said, his voice devoid of warmth. "Step down, Caius."
I clenched my jaw. "I will not leave Eloise in that bastard's hands."
"You have no choice," he countered. "She belongs to the king now."
My anger boiled over. Eloise was not a possession.
I surged forward, swinging my sword with all my might. Valerian blocked effortlessly, his strength matching mine. Sparks flew as our swords clashed, the echoes of our battle drowning out the chaos around us.
Every strike, every parry—it wasn't just a fight for Eloise. It was years of betrayal, abandonment, and resentment.
"Where were you?" I growled, dodging his next attack. "Where were you when I needed my brother?"
Valerian's expression didn't change. "I did what I had to. Just as I am now."
We fought fiercely, neither willing to back down. The rain turned the ground beneath us into mud, making each movement heavier. But I didn't stop. I couldn't stop.
Then—out of the corner of my eye—I saw her.
Eloise.
She was being dragged away by the king himself, her wrists bound, her struggling figure barely visible through the storm.
My breath hitched.
No.
My moment of hesitation cost me.
Valerian seized the opening, his sword striking against my side. Pain seared through me, but before I could react, he slammed the hilt of his sword against my chest, sending me stumbling backward.
The next thing I knew—I was falling.
The edge of the battlefield crumbled beneath me, and in the blink of an eye, I was swallowed by the raging river below.
The last thing I saw before darkness took me—
Eloise's face disappearing into the distance.
Caius's POV
The cold hit me first. A brutal, suffocating embrace that wrapped around my body as I plunged into the raging river. The impact knocked the air from my lungs, and for a moment, all I could hear was the rush of water roaring in my ears.
I fought to surface, but the current was too strong. It pulled me under, thrashing me against unseen rocks, dragging me deeper into its merciless grip. My limbs felt heavier with each passing second, exhaustion setting in after the battle with Valerian.
Eloise.
I could still see her in my mind—her figure disappearing into the storm, the chains around her wrists, the desperation in her eyes.
I had failed her.
A sharp pain shot through my ribs as I slammed into something solid, forcing my mouth open in a silent gasp. More water rushed in, burning my throat. My vision blurred. My strength faded.
No. I couldn't end like this. Not here. Not when she needed me.
I forced my body to move, clawing my way toward the surface. Just a little more—
Then everything faded to black.
Somewhere Unknown
A rough cough tore from my throat as I gasped for air, my body jolting back to life. My vision was hazy, but I could feel warmth—a fire crackling nearby. My clothes were damp, my wounds aching, but I was alive.
"Finally awake?"
A deep, unfamiliar voice reached me. My senses sharpened, and I turned my head, spotting a hooded figure sitting a few feet away. His cloak was heavy, dark with embroidery at the edges, and despite the dim light, I could see sharp golden eyes staring back at me.
"You've been out for hours," he continued, tossing another log into the fire. "Lucky I pulled you out before the river did worse."
I tried to sit up, but my body protested with sharp pain. "Who... are you?" My voice was hoarse.
"A traveler," he said simply. "But you... you're the fallen hero, aren't you?" His lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Caius, the knight who defied his king."
I clenched my fists. I didn't have time for this. Eloise was still out there. The king had taken her, and I was wasting precious time lying here, recovering.
I forced myself to stand, ignoring the way my head spun. "I need to go."
The man sighed. "Straight to your death, then?"
I turned to glare at him. "She's in danger. I don't have time to sit here."
The man watched me for a moment before standing. "Then I suppose you'll need help."
I frowned. "Why would you help me?"
His smirk deepened. "Because I know what the king is planning... and I know exactly where he's taken the girl."
My heart slammed against my chest.
Eloise.
I had to get to her. Before it was too late.