The Encholf Forest was nothing less than otherworldly. No wonder the rarest ingredients in the realm thrived here.
The air shimmered with enchantment, drenched in silver light pouring from the moon. Crystal-barked trees gleamed like polished glass, while golden fruits swayed gently in the soft breeze. Every breath carried the taste of magic , so beautiful and intoxicating, it was unlike anything Serena had ever known.
Her mouth hung open as she stared in awe.
The other consorts gathered at the heart of the forest, their eyes wide as they took in the dazzling scenery.
But not everyone had made it this far. Six women had already been stripped from the contest after the first round. Now only fifteen remained, their hearts heavy with the weight of both fear and hope, they all wanted to win.
Before them, the forest stretched into five radiant isles….Fire, Ice, Water, Earth, and Wind. Each one pulsed with elemental power, glowing with both promise of discovery and danger.
Serena's gaze drifted unwillingly toward the Fire Isle, her heart skipped. Heat rose in her chest, not from the flames but from memory. Fire was no mere element to her.
It dragged her back to the night of her childhood, and when trolls had cornered her and laughed about how they would roast her alive. The memory really hurts, but she forced herself to be calm and not to let her fear show, she had to win.
Above them, glowing letters carved themselves across the sky, the ingredient list.
Moonveil Mushrooms.
The first challenge.
Crystal baskets appeared in their hands, it was cool and glowing faintly. The consorts tightened their grips, nerves and excitement sparking in their eyes.
Quickly they scattered, some vanishing into the Water Isle, others darting toward the Earth.
Serena walked to the Earth Isle and stood at a spot, chewing at her lip, thinking hard.
"Mushrooms… they thrived in damp, shadowed places, not in dry earth." She looked at the isle, which seemed dry but held so many green trees. There was no dampness in sight, no water.
"But they could only grow where water fed the roots," she thought again, her gaze drifting toward the Water Isle.
"Maybe the mushrooms are there." She turned away from Earth and walked toward Water.
But then she froze. Lirvana had already slipped into the Water Isle. Serena's gut twisted. A wave of unease curled in her stomach. She would not clash with her… no. Not yet. Swallowing hard, she turned back to Earth and stepped inside.
Serena frowned as her eyes swept over the trees. "How did they grow here, with no rain, no soil rich enough for roots?" The thought left a tight knot of frustration in her chest.
She exhaled sharply, forcing the doubt away. "Oh, right… This is a magical world. Logic doesn't apply." Her voice was low and almost bitter.
The hourglass above bled golden sand. Half gone. Yet none of the consorts had found a single ingredient.
Wolves in the arena leaned forward, eyes fixed on the portal mirrors as they watched the women scramble in vain. The crowd broke into laughter and whispers, mocking the consorts, especially the human.
And Serena? She had sunk to the ground, exhaustion weighing her down, her head resting against her knees. Her basket lay empty at her side, her chest rising and falling in heavy breaths as she forced herself to think harder.
Then it struck her like a spark. Water. Mushrooms need water.
She bolted upright, tearing the sleeve from her attire. Slipping back into the Water Isle, she soaked the cloth until it dripped, then cradled it carefully.
The wolves laughed louder and continuously jeered at her.
"Is she… trying to drink?"
But Serena was already running back to the Earth isle.
She searched quickly for a fallen trunk where the moon's silver glow shore against the bark. Pressing her sleeve over it, she squeezed until droplets soaked through the wood.
The water glowed immediately ,revealing a cluster of pale, moon-kissed mushrooms. They shimmered faintly, silver-capped and perfect. Serena's lips curved into a tired smile as she plucked them and filled her basket.
High above ,in the arena, they were quiet, stunned at her cleverness. Kaelen's gaze sharpened. He said nothing, but deep inside, he was forced to admit that the human was clever. He dismissed the thought coldly, refusing to linger.
Lirvana followed her with quiet suspicion. She waited until Serena left, then mimicked her every move, plucking her own mushrooms with calculated ease.
The crowd hissed their disapproval. Copying lacked glory, but it was only the first taste of the game.
Above, the list blazed again.
Crimsonroot Spice.
Serena's mind raced.
"Roots grow in soil. Crimson means deep and rich red. Look for a blood-red tree."
She searched the Earth Isle eagerly, only to see Lirvana already harvesting from a crimson-streaked trunk.
Lirvana smirked at her, holding the spice high. "Two ingredients," her eyes mocked, blood-red roots dangling like veins from her fist, she tossed them into her basket and walked away in victory.
Serena gritted her teeth and pressed on, finding her own not long after.
The list blazed in the sky again.
Frostfern Leaves.
They all rushed toward the Ice Isle. The air dropped to a piercing chill, breath freezing in seconds. Even the Omegas and Betas faltered. Serena's human body nearly buckled, her chest tightening, fingers turning numb. She staggered back out, gasping.
But then her mind sparked again. "Frostfern… leaves. Frozen leaves? Then they must be hidden beneath the ice. Ice can be melted."
Dread tightened in her chest. She needed fire. Drawing a deep breath, she whispered to herself, "It's not like I'll go in too far."
She rushed to the Fire Isle, tearing off her second sleeve. Wrapping it around a branch, she dipped it into the flames until it caught. A crude torch. Holding it tight, she sprinted back to the Ice Isle.
The torch hissed as heat clashed with the frozen ground. Ice cracked and melted, revealing faint green leaves glowing beneath the surface. Serena let out a soft gasp and quickly snatched them before the flame died in her hands.
The moment she stepped out, the isle froze solid again.
The portal mirrors quivered with excitement. Gasps and mutters of disbelief filled the arena. Even the most hateful eyes couldn't deny her intelligence.
Lirvana cursed under her breath, following the same method. Again, the crowd jeered at her mimicry.
Next came:
Ashen Berries.
Ash meant fire… again. Serena's stomach knotted.
"Is this a trap for me? Why always fire? What happened to water?"
But her wish depended on winning. She couldn't quit now.
She soaked her cloth at the Water Isle, then hurried back into Fire. Moving carefully, her eyes searched for a berry bush and she found one. The flames weren't consuming anything…magical.
Taking a steady breath, she let the cool drops fall over the bush. The flames hissed and dulled, her eyes widened in surprise because ordinary water could never have been this strong. As the soot peeled away, clusters of soft gray berries appeared. She snatched them quickly, a wave of relief flooding through her.
Across the blaze, Lirvana copied her, and soon the others followed too. It was as if none of them had ideas of their own, they only chased Serena's lead.
Sweat ran down her body, her muscles trembling from the strain, but still she pressed on.
The sky brightened again with the 5th on the list….
Starshard Salt.
She remembered the faint salty taste in the water. But what could she scoop it with… unless something was making the water salty? The pearls. Her breath caught as the thought hit her. She rushed to the water, snatched up a pearl, and gave it a quick lick. The sharp taste confirmed it. She gathered a handful, tucking them safely into her basket.
The crowd no longer laughed. They leaned in, entranced.
And then… the final ingredient.
Emberheart Blossom.
The hourglass was almost empty, golden sand running dangerously thin.
Serena's breath came fast. Ember meant fire. She let out a shaky sigh.
"I guess this is a face-my-fear challenge."
To get the Emberheart, she would have to go deeper into the Fire Isle. It wouldn't be lying on the surface like the berries. Heat pressed against her skin, and fear coiled in her chest.
It needed water. Yet too much would smother it.
The answer had to be balance.
She turned not to Fire, but to Wind Isle.
The wind shoved against her, as if trying to drive her back. Serena leaned in, breath ragged, eyes scanning for anything she could carry. Then she spotted them high in the branches…fan-shaped leaves that bent the air itself.
She couldn't climb with her basket full. Planting her shoulder against the trunk, she shoved until one fan cracked loose and tumbled down. Gritting her teeth, she snatched it up. The wind seemed to shove harder, almost sweeping her away.
Stumbling, she let it push her straight toward the Water Isle, where she soaked water with her already cut out sleeves.
She reached the fire isle, the heat was brutal. Her skin seared, every breath burning her lungs. Tears ran down her eyes as she felt the fire roasting her… Yet she pressed forward, deeper, until she saw it….at the very heart of the inferno, a bush of blossoms, untouched by flame yet surrounded by fire.
"The Emberheart Blossom" she whispered
Serena worked quickly. She set the fan turning with calm, even strokes, coaxing the flames to lower. Not too much. She flicked water in a fine scatter, just enough. The fire softened, and the blossoms revealed their stems. Serena reached through heat and held three. Pain flared bright along her palm.
"Ahhh!" A cry tore from her lips as fire licked her hand, scorching her skin. But she held on fast, plucking the blossoms and tossing them into her basket.
Sweat streamed down her face. Her breath came ragged. But she stumbled out alive.
The crowd through the portals erupted. Wolves growled, they were amazed. Kaelen alone remained motionless, his eyes hardened like steel.
Behind her, Lirvana and a handful of others faced the fire with the same method, some flinching as heat bit skin, none willing to stop.
The last grain of sand fell.
Light snapped the world. Every consort blinked and stood once more beneath the open sky of the arena.
Silence filled the air as the portal mirrors settled on a single result. Serena's basket held every ingredient and she found them first. Then, over the quietness, one voice rang bright.
Naya cheered for the human….
"She did it!"
Thayne's glare silenced her at once.
She lowered her hands, a stubborn smile in her eyes.
"The human wins this round," Thayne announced, voice carrying to every corner of the arena.
"Those who failed to gather all ingredients are eliminated."
Only five remained. Lirvana. Serena. And three more.
The final round awaited.
"You will now prepare the Magical Moonblossom Deer Stew," Thayne declared. His voice carried weight, reverence. "A dish with no recipe, no instructions. Only instinct will guide you. For only the Alpha King himself can discern perfection."
Anticipation filled the air, stakes were carved into every heart.
Platforms rose like islands from the arena floor, five in all. Each bore a pot, a steady flame, boards, knives, and bowls for herbs. The deer was cut and waiting, rich and red.
Above them, the giant hourglass turned once more.
Golden sand spilled.
"You may begin."