The forest was thick with the stench of blood and failure. Burned cloaks and broken weapons lay scattered, proof of the slaughter that had just taken place. A handful of hunters trudged back into the hidden chamber beneath the ruins, their boots heavy with mud and shame.
Kael sat upon a jagged stone throne, one hand gripping the armrest so tightly that the veins in his pale wrist pulsed. His golden eyes narrowed as the surviving hunters dropped to one knee.
"You return… with less than half of what you left with," Kael's voice cut through the silence like a blade. "Where are the rest? Where is the strike team of R2 elites I trusted with this task?"
No one answered at first. The sound of dripping water echoed from the cavern ceiling. Finally, one of the hunters lowered his head.
"They are gone, Commander. The mission collapsed when… the Crown prince himself interfered. He suddenly appeared out of thin air with 5 -6 imperial knights, when we were collecting the kids. But he cut through our defense like we were cattle."
At the name prince, Kael's jaw tightened. For a moment, his fury faltered into disbelief.
"The prince?" His voice trembled with contained rage. "Do you mean Jasper Blackthorn?"
"Yes," the hunter whispered.
" Damn it ! How did he get to know? Haven't you prepared the false attack? "
" I did . We were at our fullest as the R2 hunters grow more powerful while feeding on the fear of innocents... "
" Shut up! A failure is a failure... The crown prince of Velmor is difficult to deal with... "
"But… he collapsed."
" What? " Kael's eyes widened. "Collapsed?Do you know what you are saying? He is the strongest vampire with sacred powers and invincible skills ..."
" We saw it with our own eyes Kael. Swear to our master.. I'm not lying... I was shocked too. " The other two hunters nodded on the statement as Kael looked at them .
" That's surprising.... Wait if he collapsed as you said , you should have ended him there."
" We were about to ... I know Kael that his dead is like a almost victory for us ... But a fricking girl , suddenly attacked the hunter from behind... And when I tried to attack , the prince's guard knight defended them ..... "
" A girl? Hmm..... Crown prince saved by a girl ..... Have you seen her before? "
" The spy who was in the palace before didn't say anything about any girl .... And the present one is out of reach ... "
" Interesting..... But that still can't get out the fact that we lost a precious chance of eliminating the strongest enemy "
" We are sorry Ka.." he was interrupted by a footstep. Just then, a shadow rippled against the cavern walls. A tall figure cloaked in black, face hidden beneath a veil of shimmering cloth, stepped into the chamber. The hunters instantly bowed their heads lower. Even Kael rose, clenched fist pressed to his chest.
"Master," Kael greeted, his voice stripped of its arrogance.
The veiled man's voice was deep, calm, but carried disappointment that stung sharper than a whip. "You failed me."
Kael stiffened. "We underestimated the prince's resilience. It will not happen again."
The master's veiled head tilted slightly, unreadable. "Kael *cough cough* ...your plan was perfect but you rushed indeed.The next celestial event draws near. Only then can I reach the demon Lord."
The hunters remained kneeling, their breath uneven, while the master's presence seemed to drain all warmth from the cavern.
"Until then," the veiled man continued, "you will not waste your forces. You will prepare. Mend your wounds, sharpen your hate. When the stars align, blood shall spill again."
The man coughed again and said ," Where is Oes? "
" He is currently on the task of preparing some new set of weapons... But master why you always treasure that brat? "
" Huh, watch your mouth silly slave . He will be the useful too when time comes. "
" Yes master. May hell follows the way he walks." The master turned, shadows swallowing his figure as he departed.
....
Two nights passed.
Both nights, sleep eluded Tessa. She found herself drawn to the window, staring into the moonlit gardens below. And both nights, she saw it.
Jasper's unconscious body was carried out, laid carefully in the heart of the garden. The guards stepped back, leaving him under the silver glow of the moon.
The first night, she thought her eyes were tricking her. But the second night, she saw it clearly—his pale skin faintly glowing, his chest rising and falling like he was breathing in the moonlight itself. The sight chilled her, yet pulled her in.
" What the heck they are doing? He might catch cold on this chilly wind..."
Her fingers gripped the window frame, her breath shallow.
"Jasper…" she whispered into the night, voice trembling. "I don't care about the truth. Just survive. Just… come back." The wind carried her words into the silence, where only the moon listened.
From last two days Tessa tried to sneak out..but it was as usually hard to avoid the eyes of the maids and guards. So, she decides to help the maids little bit in their works rather than sitting idly and doing nothing.
"Lady Malven.. I can't let you do chores... You are a guest of the Velmor empire.. "
" May...it's ok. I'm bored anyways. Doing a little help won't harm me or you. I promise No one will know."
" Then , my lady you can arrange the books .. as I clean the self.."
" Sure. Umm May ... Can I ask you something? "
" Sure . You are helping me a lot these days my lady. "
" Do you know how the treatment of the crown prince is going? I'm tensed about my friend but no one tells me anything.."
" Umm .. my lady ... I don't know much about it ..as I'm a simply a maid. But from Mary( one of the maid assigned in the care of Jasper) .. I heard , they are trying to obtain the blessings of moon goddess. "
" Moon goddess? " Tessa tried to look curious.
" I guess you haven't heard.. but the imperial highness is rumoured to be blessed by moon goddess which is like once in a blue moon fact.... Although I have only heard about it ... I don't know the lucidity.."
" Oho.. thanks.. " Tessa became quite as it didn't answer her questions of how exactly Jasper's treatment is going on .
" My lady .... You care about his highness very much .. "
" Isn't it normal to care about such a great kind person? I'm sure everyone is tensed including the king. "
" Yes , our king is his highness's older brother.. don't worry....I heard this happened once in the past too when he was young . "
" Eh? What? "
" I only heard.. my lady ... Please calm down... But Mary told me that there are improvement in his condition so he will be awake soon . "
" I hope every word you said becomes true ."
" My lady .... Sorry to ask...but are you both close?"
" Close, you ask? I don't know that .." Tessa put the last book , " but that idi... I mean your highness is the only one who ... Is .. "
Tessa became silent.. she didn't know what to say.. She somehow snapped out of her thoughts and Replied, " my friend.. hehe. That's it. "
" Oho . Anyways my lady I'm taking my leave. Thank you for your help. " May left the room and Tessa said in her mind , " the only one who knows my reality in this world and protected me back then when there was no reason for him to do...."
In the evening Tessa was reading a book to divert her mind from useless thoughts and tension. She started a book named 'Myths of Seron kingdom' to know more about it .
" Wow ... The stories are interesting... Oh on that accord , I forgot to tell Sir Alex that Sir Claude knows that I'm from Torf not Seron...
*Tsk* How forgetful you are getting Tessa..." She smacked her head .. " next time when I return to Velmor, I would visit a Library and read more about other kingdom stories. "
" Lady Tessa! "
Tessa was shocked as she saw Alex berging into the room . " Pardon my lady for not .. knocking ..."
" You are panting Sir Alex, please take some air and ca.."
" Lady , your highness is awake. "
" What? " Tessa jumped out of the bed. " Really? How is he ? Is he ok? Why are you here Sir Alex? you should be with him ...what if he needs something? "
" My lady, his highness is asking for you ..."
" Does that mean ... I can meet him? "
" Yes . "
" Take me there Sir Alex .. let's not waste time. "
" This way my lady. "
They both left the room . Tessa was somehow relieved knowing that Jasper is awake.. atleast he was not dead. She rushed with Alex to see Jasper as until she witness him awake.. she couldn't believe.