Refugee Camp
Night had already covered the sky, casting the refugee camp into darkness.
Inside one of the small tents, Damon lay on the only bed beside Lina. The two of them were quietly turning the pages of a picture book Lina had found while searching the tent for something to keep herself occupied.
The book contained illustrations of different races and descriptions of what each race was known for.
Lina was fascinated.
She had rarely, if ever, seen some of the races described in the book. Dryades and Kulkans were almost impossible to find in the slums.
"Look, Damon!" Lina pointed excitedly at one of the illustrations. "It says Dryades are naturally connected to plants."
Damon smiled as he watched her excitement.
He was happy to see Lina so interested in something.
But his thoughts were somewhere else.
When will Kael come back?
He couldn't stop wondering about his brother.
Russell was still at the shop. He usually came to check on Damon late at night to see if his condition had improved.
Damon turned another page.
Suddenly—
Rustle.
Both Damon and Lina froze.
They heard movement outside the tent.
Their bodies immediately became tense.
Damon closed the book while Lina moved closer to him.
They waited.
A few seconds later, the tent flap opened.
Damon and Lina both relaxed when they recognized the person entering.
It was Carlos.
He carried a basket filled with different plants and herbs.
Carlos stepped inside and immediately noticed Lina sitting beside Damon on the bed, the picture book resting between them.
They both stared at him cautiously.
Carlos gently raised one hand and smiled.
"Relax. It's just me."
Lina nodded, and Carlos placed the basket down.
He then approached Damon to change his bandages.
As Carlos carefully touched Damon's injured leg, something dark whispered inside his mind.
Kill him.
Carlos froze.
His fingers trembled slightly.
You're trying to save people who will only die anyway.
His breathing became heavier.
Just like your wife.
Kill him.
It would be a deliverance.
Carlos clenched his teeth and shook his head sharply, trying to force the voice away.
"No…"
Lina noticed.
She reached out and gently touched his hand with one of her small fingers.
"Are you okay?"
Carlos looked at her.
The concern in her eyes immediately brought him back to reality.
He forced a small smile.
"I'm fine. Maybe I'm just tired."
Lina continued looking at him for a moment before finally accepting his answer.
Carlos finished changing Damon's bandages and stood up.
"I'll be back later. I need to check on the other patients in the nearby tents."
Damon nodded.
"Okay."
Carlos picked up his basket and left the tent.
The moment he stepped outside, his expression became serious again.
Kaisen's House
After telling Sylfia that he would be leaving, Kaisen went to take a bath.
He knew it was selfish to make her wait for someone who might not even return.
But what else could he say?
Love was selfish.
He had already made his decision.
He would do everything possible to return alive.
For her.
Inside the house, Sylfia sat quietly on a chair in the living room.
Her eyes remained fixed on the door.
She knew Kaisen would do everything in his power to come back alive.
But knowing that did not stop the thoughts from entering her mind.
What if he doesn't come back?
She hated those thoughts.
She hated the uncertainty.
People might not understand why she loved him so much.
But their story had begun ten years ago.
Ten Years Earlier
I met him by accident.
At the time, I was running away from a group of noble children who were constantly making fun of me.
They laughed at my chubby cheeks.
They laughed whenever I fell flat on my face.
I had just finished my etiquette class when I decided to escape to the Sylflera Library.
I wanted to find a quiet place where nobody could bother me.
Behind the library stood my favorite tree.
Elysha.
Yes, I know it sounds strange to have a favorite tree.
But Elysha had always been special to me.
I loved sitting beneath its branches and reading.
That day, however, someone was already there.
A boy older than me was sitting against one of Elysha's roots, quietly reading a book.
I walked toward him.
"Move."
He looked at me coldly.
Then he simply returned his attention to his book.
I was shocked.
Did he just ignore me?
After a moment, he shifted slightly, leaving some space beside him.
"You can sit if you want."
I couldn't believe my ears.
He was actually telling me where I could sit?
Still, I walked over and sat behind Elysha's trunk, making sure we were facing opposite directions.
Neither of us spoke.
And somehow, that continued for more than a month.
We would meet at the same place.
I would read my books.
He would read his.
Neither of us said a word to the other.
Until one day…
The noble children discovered where I had been spending my time.
They came looking for me.
"There she is!"
Their laughter echoed through the area.
They surrounded me and began mocking me again.
I tried to ignore them.
But then—
"Leave her alone."
Everyone became silent.
Kaisen had arrived.
He stood between them and me.
The nobles burst into laughter.
"You?"
"You're going to protect her?"
"Don't you know he's cursed?"
"His own father beats him every day!"
"He isn't even from noble blood!"
Their words became crueler.
Kaisen's expression remained cold.
Then one of them said something that crossed the line.
Kaisen picked up a stone.
Thud!
He threw it toward the ground beside the boy, making him jump back.
"If you don't leave," Kaisen said coldly, "I might share the curse with you."
Their faces turned pale.
"A cursed guy protecting a fat girl?!"
They laughed nervously before running away.
Silence returned.
Kaisen turned around.
I was still sitting on the ground.
He walked toward me and held out his hand.
"Are you hurt?"
I stared at his hand.
Then I looked into his eyes.
"You're fine the way you are. Don't change."
Those words stayed with me.
I think…
That was the moment I fell in love with him.
From that day onward, we became friends.
And eventually, something much more.
Present
Sylfia slowly opened her eyes.
She was back in the living room.
A small smile appeared on her face as she remembered those days.
She stood from the chair.
"If he's going to leave, at least I'll make him a proper meal before he goes."
She walked into the kitchen and began preparing dinner.
She took a piece of beef and placed it on the cutting board.
After trimming away the tougher parts, she sliced the meat into small pieces.
She heated a pan and added a little oil.
Once the oil was hot, she placed the beef inside.
Sizzle.
The smell quickly filled the kitchen.
She added chopped onions and garlic, followed by a little salt, pepper, and herbs.
The beef slowly browned as she stirred it.
She then added chopped tomatoes and a small amount of water, allowing everything to simmer together.
The rich aroma drifted through the house.
Sylfia stood over the pot, stirring quietly.
Her smile slowly disappeared.
She looked toward the doorway.
Please come back.
Her hand tightened around the wooden spoon.
I'll wait for you.
She lowered her gaze.
Just come back alive, kaisen.
Agatha's House
After Kael's departure, Euphelia remained at Agatha's house for a little while longer.
She turned toward Agatha and Nyara.
"Thank you for everything," she said sincerely.
Rose also bowed her head respectfully.
"We'll be going now."
Agatha simply nodded.
"Be careful."
Nyara smiled and waved at them as they prepared to leave.
Euphelia and Rose then stepped onto the Dentra Path.
A faint glow surrounded them as the path carried them away from Malhruk.
Within a short time, they arrived back at the royal palace.
The moment Euphelia entered the palace, she immediately went upstairs.
"I need to change," she said.
Rose followed her.
Euphelia knew her father would be arriving soon, and she needed to be properly dressed before his arrival.
With Rose's help, she changed into a formal dress suitable for welcoming a member of the royal family.
Once she was ready, Euphelia descended the grand staircase toward the main entrance.
Her mother, Eleanor, was already waiting there.
The palace hall was magnificent.
Green and golden decorations covered the walls and pillars, while elegant chandeliers illuminated the entire entrance hall. The atmosphere was formal, almost ceremonial.
Eleanor suddenly turned around.
She had sensed Euphelia's prana.
Her expression immediately softened when she saw her daughter.
Relief crossed her face.
"Euphelia."
She opened her arms slightly.
"Come here, darling. Stay beside me."
Euphelia walked toward her mother and stood beside her.
"Mother."
Eleanor gently placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder.
"Your father should be arriving soon."
Euphelia nodded.
"I know."
Neither of them said anything more.
Then—
Clop. Clop. Clop.
The sound of horses approaching echoed outside the palace.
Eleanor's attention immediately shifted toward the entrance.
Euphelia also looked toward the main doors.
The sound grew louder.
Several carriages approached the palace before finally coming to a stop in front of the main entrance.
The guards immediately straightened their posture.
The palace servants moved aside.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Everyone knew who had arrived.
The first carriage came to a complete stop.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then the carriage door slowly opened.
The people waiting outside held their breath, waiting for the person inside to emerge.
Euphelia's eyes remained fixed on the carriage.
Beside it, another carriage came to a stop.
Unlike the first, this one carried several Raiders.
Most of them were Dryade Raiders.
Their presence alone was enough to make the atmosphere around the palace feel heavier.
Euphelia narrowed her eyes.
Why are there so many Raiders with him?
The carriage door opened completely.
Someone finally stepped out.
Eleanor stood straight.
Euphelia instinctively held her breath.
The person they had been waiting for had finally arrived.