Yon Zue stood silently on the high terrace of Eri Kingdom's castle, arms crossed, his sharp eyes focused on the girl marveling at the sights around her. Shiya spun slowly, her wide eyes glued to the sky where winged creatures danced with laughing pixies. Below, towering blossoms sheltered elves who played on massive roots, weaving garlands and calling out joyfully to the pixies that trailed glowing rainbow streams above.
Yon Zue's thoughts twisted uneasily. She behaves like it's her first time in this world… and yet she belongs to it.
"Can you use your wings?" he asked suddenly.
Shiya turned to him, puzzled. "Do I have wings?"
She tilted her head, pouting slightly as she twisted to show her back.
"Sushie had them. And so do I," Yon Zue replied calmly.
"Where? I can't see them!"
"They're hidden," he answered with a faint smirk. "I can conceal or reveal them at will. They're part of me."
Without another word, Yon Zue stepped forward, cleared his throat, and let his hidden wings unfurl. They shimmered into view, translucent and iridescent like a dragonfly's, catching glimmers of sunlight.
Shiya gasped, her eyes lighting up. She circled him in fascination. "They're like pixie wings—but sharper. Stronger. Can… can I touch them?"
"O-Okay…" Yon Zue answered hesitantly.
She reached out with gentle fingers, then suddenly pinched.
"Ahhh!" Yon Zue yelped, his body twitching. "Hey!"
Shiya pulled back, giggling. "You said it wouldn't hurt!"
"Not like that," he muttered, giving her a look. She grinned mischievously, clearly enjoying the moment.
But the amusement faded quickly from his face. He remembered the prince's orders—he was to guide her, protect her.
He stepped behind her in one swift motion and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Wha—what are you doing?!" Shiya gasped, struggling.
"Relax. Take a deep breath," Yon Zue instructed. "I'm going to show you the wholesomeness of the Eri Kingdom's castle… from the sky."
Before she could protest again, they lifted off. The wind roared around them, catching her off guard.
"Are you trying to break my arm?" Yon Zue said dryly. "You're squeezing it like a vice."
"Huh?"
"Open your eyes. Look down."
Shiya hesitated, her heart pounding—but slowly, she peeled her eyes open. She gasped. Below them stretched the majestic sprawl of Eri Kingdom's Castle: crystalline towers, blooming gardens, fluttering banners. Birds soared around them, and swirls of butterflies danced on the air.
"Wow…" she whispered. "It's… beautiful."
She smiled, then blushed deeply when she realized Yon Zue was still holding her close. He's hugging me… and it feels so warm.
She quickly looked away, pretending to search for something below.
"Are you alright?" he asked, noticing her shift.
"Yes…"
But before Yon Zue could speak again, the wind shifted.
The birds stopped singing. A flock scattered in terror as the sky above turned an ominous grey. Thunder crackled like the growl of a beast.
"Something's wrong," Yon Zue murmured, narrowing his eyes. Far below, Queen Krystle looked up at them from the castle balcony, her expression unreadable—then she vanished into shadow.
Then the air ripped open.
A deafening screech split the sky as a dark figure burst from a roiling cloud—a dreul—a nightmarish creature of smoke, clay, and hatred.
"Hold on!" Yon Zue barked, his wings snapping taut.
Too late.
The dreul's jagged arm slashed across his right wing. Blood sprayed. His flight spiraled out of control.
Shiya screamed as they plummeted toward the forest, leaves and wind whipping past them. Yon Zue twisted at the last second, shielding her in his arms.
They crashed through the canopy, branches snapping like bone. The impact thundered through the woods.
They landed hard. Yon Zue grunted, the breath knocked from his lungs. Blood trickled from his shoulder, his wing twisted at a brutal angle.
"Princess…" he rasped, forcing his eyes open. "Use the stone…"
Shiya, coughing from the fall, blinked in confusion. "What stone?! That thing—how can a stone stop that?!"
"They're made of smoke and clay," Yon Zue growled, trying to rise. "Only solid when they strike. That's when you hit back."
A chilling hiss filled the air.
Another dreul dropped from above, hurling itself down like a predator. Yon Zue shoved Shiya aside and took the full blow. He slammed into a tree, blood smearing the bark.
He reached for his bow, but the dreul sensed it. It darted in with blinding speed, striking again and sending the weapon flying.
Shiya scrambled backwards. "No! What do I do?!" She grabbed rocks off the ground, throwing them in panic. They passed through the dreul's smoky form harmlessly.
Yon Zue laughed weakly. "Those won't even tickle it…"
"Right. She's not the Princess..."
Suddenly, Shiya froze. A whisper echoed in her mind—Chipi's voice.
"The stone that can turn into a sword… it grants power to the one who's meant to wield it."
Her fingers trembled. "What does it look like?"
Yon Zue coughed, barely audible. "Glows… bends light like glass in water…"
The dreul shrieked and lunged at Shiya.
Its blade-arm ripped across her chest. She screamed and fell, blood blooming in her clothes. Her hands scrambled against the dirt. Her vision darkened.
"No—!" Yon Zue howled, rage flaring through his battered body. With sheer will, he pushed off the tree and charged. At the exact moment the dreul struck again, he drew his hidden dagger and buried it in the creature's heart.
The dreul shrieked like a banshee, its form unraveling into ash and smoke. But Yon Zue collapsed right after.
"Princess…" he gasped. "Where—are you…"
But Shiya was gone.
She woke up in her room, heart pounding. No blood, but the pain was real. The memory burned in her bones.
"Yon Zue…" she whispered, staggering upright. Her hand touched her chest—no wound. Just heat. Just a faint glow.
She dashed out, breathless, and collided with Xyon in the hallway.
"Where are you going?" he asked sharply.
"I need to find something! Please move!"
He grabbed her wrist. "Shiya, what's happening to you?"
"I need to go back to Eriland! Yon Zue is dying—I need to find the stone!"
Xyon's eyes widened. But before he could stop her again, she pulled free and ran.
He followed, silent and shadowed.
Shiya reached the glade. The portal pool shimmered beneath moonlight.
She hesitated—then dove in.
The water closed around her like a velvet curtain. She kicked downward, deeper, deeper still. Her lungs burned.
Please... she begged in her mind. Let me find it.
A faint shimmer—like a heartbeat—appeared far below.
There it was.
The stone.
She reached out, fingers brushing its surface—then agony shot through her. Something wrapped around her legs.
She thrashed—but her strength drained. Her vision dimmed.
No... not now...
Then—hands grabbed her, strong and insistent. They pulled her free and up, up—
They burst through the surface.
"Shiya! Are you insane?!" Xyon barked, dragging her to shore. "You could've drowned!"
She coughed, gasped, and clutched the glowing stone to her chest.
"Get me back…" she panted. "To my room… please…"
Xyon held her, speechless. The stone pulsed between them like a living thing.