Chapter 3) Unexpected Danger
Lucien sat in silence, his eyes still heavy from grief. The girl sat across from him, carefully binding his wounds.
"Where are we even going?" he finally asked.
She hesitated. "That's… a secret. Just follow me, and I'll tell you later."
Lucien's gaze sharpened, cold and distrustful, but he didn't say a word. He just let her work, even though every touch made his chest tighten.
After a moment, she spoke again. "We don't even know each other's names, do we? What's yours?"
"Lucien. Lucien Ardyn. And you?"
"Serenya. Serenya Veylan."
She extended her hand. He stared at it for a second, then finally took it.
---
They finally stood up, ready to continue.
"Follow me," Serenya said. "I'll take you to the place."
But Lucien didn't move. His eyes narrowed.
"We're going to the Academy, aren't we?"
She stopped and turned back, a small smirk tugging at her lips. "And why do you think that?"
Lucien shrugged, but his tone was sharp. "Because the new term's about to start. That's the only reason you'd drag me along."
Serenya paused, then sighed. "Fine. Yes. We're going to the Academy. I don't have much choice. They can heal you there, and… well, you'll be safer."
She tilted her head. "Didn't you ever go to school? Any academy at all?"
"That's none of your business."
Her smile faded, just a flicker of hurt crossing her face. "Why don't you trust me?"
Lucien looked away, his jaw tight. He gave her no answer.
With that, they stepped into the forest. Branches scraped against their clothes as they pushed through the undergrowth. After a while, Serenya broke the silence.
"Have you ever seen a beast up close before?"
"I told you already," Lucien muttered. "Never."
"Oh. Right… sorry."
Lucien glanced at her. "You're just trying to start a conversation, aren't you?"
Her face stiffened, a little awkward. "Yeah… and what if I am?"
"Then let me ask instead," he said flatly. "Where do these beasts even come from?"
"They all come from the Abyssal Veins," Serenya finally said.
Lucien frowned. "Abyssal… Veins? What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"It's the place beneath our world," she explained softly. "Where monsters live."
Lucien scoffed. "That makes no sense. If they live down there, then why haven't they already flooded to the surface?"
Serenya shook her head. Her tone stayed calm, almost patient. "No. That's impossible. Our world is divided from theirs. They can only cross through certain points, and those places are guarded."
"Guarded?" Lucien's voice was sharp, skeptical. "You expect me to believe you can just guard something like that? How?"
"Because it's true," she said firmly. "Those points are sealed and protected. And more than that, expeditions are sent down into the Veins themselves, to keep the beasts from ever gathering strength and breaking through."
Lucien narrowed his eyes, not entirely convinced. "Expeditions… into the Veins?"
"Yes," Serenya answered, her gaze steady on him. "That's the only reason our world still stands."
In his head, Lucien's thoughts spiraled. "What if that dragon really did come from the Abyssal Veins?" He didn't ask her, he already knew the answer. Of course it did. It was a monster just like the others.
"What even is this place… the Abyssal Veins? How is something like that possible?"
He finally spoke aloud. "You said it's beneath the surface of the world. Then how exactly is it separated from ours?"
Serenya glanced at him, a faint seriousness settling in her eyes. "We don't fully know," she admitted. "But what we do know is this: there's magic involved. Ancient mages sealed the monsters away long ago, dividing their world from ours."
Lucien narrowed his gaze. "And yet they still get out."
"Because the seal isn't perfect," Serenya said quietly. "Their power was too great. That's why Expeditions are taking place.."
---
They pushed through branches and thick undergrowth until the forest opened up into the sound of rushing water. A small waterfall tumbled down mossy stone, and they stopped there to rest. Serenya pulled out some dried rations, and the two of them ate in silence for a while, the spray of the falls cooling the air.
Lucien finally broke the quiet. "So… how much farther until the Academy?"
Serenya raised a brow. "Don't tell me, you've never left your village before?"
Lucien gave her a sharp look, unsure if she was mocking him. "What, are you teasing me now?"
Her eyes widened. "No, no, nothing like that! I was just asking. It's… still far. Very far." She hesitated, almost letting something slip, then stopped herself.
Lucien didn't press. He didn't care enough to dig into her secrets. All that mattered was the Academy.
---
After washing off the grime of the road in the cool pond, they set out again. By then, night was creeping over the forest, shadows stretching long between the trees.
Lucien broke the silence first. "How long have we been walking?"
Serenya rubbed her arm, frowning. "I don't even know anymore… hours. Definitely hours."
The forest around them was thick, endless. Every path looked the same, roots curling like black veins under the moonlight.
Lucien narrowed his eyes. "Do you actually know the way? Or are we just wandering in circles?"
She shot him a quick glance, then looked away. "I know. Don't worry about it." Her voice was too quick, too defensive. "Just… forget it."
Lucien didn't push further. But in his head the thought spun relentlessly: What if she doesn't know? What if she just stumbled into this forest, lost, and happened to run into me?
He clenched his jaw but said nothing. Whether she knew the path or not, he had no choice but to follow.
---
The night pressed heavy on them, silence thick between the trees.
Lucien finally broke it.
" I don't think you actually know this path."
Serenya glanced back, her face half-hidden in shadow.
" And what if I don't? What changes?:
"Nothing," Lucien shrugged. "Just that we could've taken the open road instead of wandering blind through this forest."
"No," she snapped, shaking her head. "This way is shorter. I know the Academy lies beyond these woods. That's why I chose it."
Lucien narrowed his eyes.
"You don't know for sure. So why risk it?"
She sighed, almost stubborn.
"We'll get out. Trust me."
Before Lucien could reply, the underbrush ahead rustled. A shape stepped into their path.
Lucien froze.
"…That's a beast?"
Serenya's hand went out.
"Back. Stay quiet."
Lucien swallowed hard.
"What do we do now?"
She didn't move, her eyes locked on the glowing shape in the dark.
"Give me a moment. I'm thinking."
The creature growled, low and sharp, its eyes catching the moonlight. Branches cracked under its weight as it moved closer.
Lucien whispered, voice tight:
"Serenya…?"
She whispered back, too calm for the way her hand was trembling.
" Don't move."
The beast crouched, ready to spring.
And then…