They waited near the edge of the training grounds, hidden between broken pillars and shadowed walls.
Vlad finished his practice in silence. His breathing was uneven, his clothes damp with sweat as he turned to leave.
As he passed the outer path,Cassian shoved him hard.
Vlad stumbled back, nearly falling.
Cassian smirked.
"Running off already?"
Riven snorted.
"Guess training got too scary for him."
Vlad's chest tightened. He looked at their faces three of them, blocking the path.
His instincts screamed.
He turned and ran.
"Hey—!" Cassian shouted. "Don't run!"
Footsteps thundered behind him.
"Stop!" Maeric yelled. "Where do you think you're going?!"
Vlad ran as fast as he could. His breath tore from his lungs, vision blurring as panic took over. Tears burned his eyes, but he didn't slow down.
Cassian clicked his tongue.
"Tch. Annoying."
Heat flared behind him.
Cassian flicked his fingers, forming a small fireball and hurling it forward.
The ground ahead scorched, flames crawling low across the dirt. Vlad cried out and swerved aside. Heat licked at his boots, slowing him just enough for their laughter to catch up.
Cassian laughed loudly.
"Run faster, little brother!"
Vlad's legs burned. His heart felt like it might burst.
He didn't look back.
He bolted toward the trees behind the castle—the dense forest rising before him like a wall.
Branches tore at his sleeves as he plunged inside. Roots caught his feet, leaves and shadows blinding him. He ran blindly, sobbing, desperate to escape their voices.
Slowly, the shouting faded.
The forest swallowed him whole.
Cassian and the others stopped at the forest's edge, breathing hard.
Cassian straightened, brushing dirt from his sleeve.
"He sure runs fast."
Riven glanced into the dark trees.
"This is Greywood."
Cassian smirked.
"Let's go back. If he's lucky, someone will find him before the monsters do."
They turned away, heading back toward the castle.
Vlad finally stopped when his legs gave out.
He looked back—no footsteps, no voices.
He sank down at the base of a tall tree, shoulders shaking as he cried.
Blood trickled from scrapes on his arms and knees.
He closed his eyes, hands trembling, and focused.
A faint warmth gathered as he used the healing magic Aldric had taught him. It wasn't enough to fully heal the wounds, but the bleeding slowed.
Vlad stood still beneath the dark canopy of the forest, chest rising and falling too fast. Every direction looked the same—twisted roots, thick trunks, shadows piled upon shadows.
He wiped his face with his sleeve and turned slowly, panic creeping back in.
Which way…?
At the same time, the courtyard of Castle Draven was tense with quiet voices.
Seraphiel stood with Erik and Aldric, the light of evening fading above them.
Seraphiel looked to Erik. "What did you wanted to discuss."
Erik bowed his head slightly. "The Black Squad discovered an abandoned tent near the eastern forest. No markings, but the traces suggest Valeren movement. If spies have crossed the border, they did so carefully."
"Is he trying to break the treaty we made together with kaishen," Seraphiel said.
"I afraid so," Erik replied.
Aldric folded his arms. "I suspect help from within. One of the elders may be feeding them information."
Seraphiel frowned. "That is a serious accusation."
"I know," Aldric said calmly. "That's why I haven't spoken it aloud until now."
Footsteps approached. Elarys entered the courtyard, her expression tight with worry.
"Forgive me for interrupting," she said, then looked directly at Aldric. "Brother… have you seen Vlad anywhere today?"
Aldric shook his head. "I haven't."
"He may still be at the training grounds," Erik offered.
Elarys's brows drew together. "He never stays that late."
Erik hesitated, then asked, "Has Young Master Cassian returned?"
"Yes," Elarys replied. "He finished training earlier. Why do you ask?"
Erik waved it off quickly. "Nothing. There was… a small disagreement during training."
Seraphiel sighed. "Siblings quarrel all the time. Let's not jump to conclusions."
Aldric didn't respond at once. His gaze stayed fixed on Erik.
"Was Cassian alone with Vlad?" he asked quietly.
Erik swallowed. "No. Riven Thalos and Maeric Elyndor were with him."
Aldric exhaled slowly. "Summon them. Now."
Seraphiel turned sharply. "Brother, what are you planning? He may have simply fallen asleep at the grounds."
"Vlad would never waste training time like that," Aldric said flatly.
Moments later, Erik returned with Riven and Maeric. Both boys bowed stiffly.
"Greetings to the Patriarch," they said in unison.
Aldric stepped forward and lowered himself slightly so he was level with them.
"Have either of you seen Vlad today?" he asked, his tone calm.
Both shook their heads.
"No, my lord," Maeric said quickly.
Riven nodded, but his knees trembled.
Aldric straightened. He already knew the answer.
"Very well," he said gently. "You may go."
Maeric turned at once and hurried away.
Riven didn't move.
His breathing grew shallow.
Aldric noticed and crouched again. "You're still here," he said softly. "Why?"
Riven's voice broke. "Lord Aldric… I might know where Vlad is."
Maeric hissed from a distance, "Riven—!"
Riven swallowed hard. "He ran into the Greywood Forest. We didn't chase him. He… he ran on his own."
The courtyard went still.
Erik's face drained of color.
"The Greywood?" he whispered. "That's where we found the abandoned tent."
Elarys staggered. Her strength gave out, and Seraphiel caught her before she fell.
Aldric turned sharply and shouted, "Kaira!"
The sky roared in response.
Wings beat the air as the White Wind Dragon descended.
Aldric mounted her without hesitation.
Seraphiel looked to Erik. "Assemble the Black Squad. Now."
"Yes, my lord."
Kaira surged toward the Greywood Forest.
And far beneath that dark canopy, a small, frightened boy stood alone, unaware which way to go.
Vlad moved through the forest with unsteady steps, searching desperately for a way out. The trees seemed endless, their shadows pressing in from every side. Every snap of a branch made his breath hitch.
I just need to find the road… just one path…
Then—voices.
Low. Rough. Adult.
Hope flared in his chest.
Vlad hurried toward the sound, pushing through brush until the trees thinned into a small clearing. Three men stood there, cloaks dark, weapons resting easily at their sides.
The moment they saw him, the talking stopped.
Kael frowned.
"Who's this kid?"
Bran squinted at Vlad's clothes.
"Look at him. Dravenir colors. A noble brat."
Vlad froze. His heart dropped. He took a step back.
Kael glanced at the man in the center.
"What do we do, Captain?"
Vorren didn't hesitate.
"Kill him. If he gets out, our position's exposed."
Panic hit all at once.
Vlad turned to run—but his legs gave out. Exhaustion caught him in a single cruel moment. He stumbled and hit the ground hard, breath tearing from his lungs.
Footsteps closed in.
Metal scraped as Bran reached for his sword.
"Don't," Vorren snapped. "No blades. That'll leave marks."
He looked down at Vlad coldly.
"Beat him until he can't run. If something finds him out here, they'll say it was a monster."
Kael laughed.
"Smart."
Hands grabbed Vlad by the front of his clothes and yanked him up.
"I—please—" Vlad tried to speak.
A punch struck his face. Pain burst white behind his eyes. He cried out as he was thrown back into the dirt.
"Shut him up," Kael said.
Another kick landed. Vlad curled in, shaking, tears spilling freely.
"Please… let me go…" he sobbed.
No one listened.
Bran grabbed his arm and twisted. Pain tore through him, sharp and unbearable. Vlad screamed.
"Cover his mouth!" Vorren barked.
Vlad's world shrank to pain and fear. Lying on the ground, voice breaking, he cried,
"Father… help me… it hurts…"
A distant roar rolled through the forest.
The sound of wings flapping.
Vorren stiffened and looked up.
"That's enough," he said. "He won't survive out here anyway. Monsters'll finish him. Let's move before someone notices."
Kael landed one last kick.
The three of them turned their backs on him, laughter echoing through the trees as they lingered nearby.
Vlad lay still.
Pain came in waves. His breathing grew shallow. The forest sounds faded, replaced by ringing silence.
Then—
"Wake up, my child."
The voice was calm. Too calm.
Vlad opened his eyes.
He lay on still water stretching endlessly in every direction, reflecting a pale, empty sky. The forest was gone. The pain was gone.
A figure crouched beside him, its shape unclear—like a memory given form.
"Are you going to let them leave just like that?" it asked.
Vlad swallowed.
"What else can I do? I can't even stand. Even if I could… I'm weak. If I die here, no one would be surprised."
The figure hummed.
"Is that so?"
It tilted its head.
"Then perhaps my friend can help you."
"Have you heard about Sylvie?"
Vlad's eyes widened.
"Sylvie… the First Patriarch's spirit companion."
The figure laughed softly.
"You are more knowledgeable than you appear."
A small white light bloomed in its hand. With a snap, it condensed, pure and gentle. The figure pressed it against Vlad's chest.
"Please," it said quietly, "take care of my friend."
The light sank into him.
"Now," the figure said, rising, "get up."
Vlad gasped.
The water vanished.
The forest rushed back—cold air, pain, sound.
Laughter echoed ahead.
Vlad pushed himself up with his right arm. His left hung uselessly, pain flaring as it moved.
But something was different.
The wind brushed against his skin soft. It gathered around his fingers when he focused.
Ahead, Vorren and the others were still visible between the trees.
Vlad lifted his hand, gripping the air as if it were spear.
"Wind spear," he whispered.
He thrust his hand forward.
The air split.
Kael turned.
"Huh? Captain, did you say something"
Vorren staggered. His eyes went wide as he looked down, breath leaving him in a broken gasp. He collapsed where he stood.
Bran froze.
Through the hollow torn through Vorren's chest, he saw him—
Vlad.
Bloodied. Shaking. Barely standing.
And yet, through the dirt and blood, one thing stood out.
His ruby-red eye gleaming sharply in the shadows, fixed on them with an unyielding light.
High above the forest, Kaira stiffened mid-flight.
She felt it.
A faint mana, unsteady, yet undeniably familiar.
It was not the child's presence that reached her, but something deeper.
The echo of a spirit she had once flown beside.
It was the presence of her long lost spirit friend.
Her roar shattered the sky as she dove.
"Damn it!" Bran shouted. "We should've killed him!"
They rushed Vlad, mana flaring around their weapons.
Vlad raised his arm again.
"Tempest of—"
He coughed. Blood spilled from his lips. His strength failed, and he dropped to one knee.
Bran swung for his neck.
The ground trembled.
A shadow fell upon Bran.
Kaira's claw came down in an instant.
Bran was crushed before he could scream.
Aldric's voice followed immediately after.
"Incinerate."
Fire surged past Vlad, swallowing the last Valeren scout as he tried to flee. His scream was cut short.
Aldric landed beside Vlad.
"Vlad—!"
Healing magic poured from his hands, frantic and strained. It wasn't enough.
Aldric gathered him up and mounted Kaira.
"To the castle," he ordered.
As they rose, Aldric's thoughts raced.
That spell… that stance…
Tempest of Ruin.
Vlad shouldn't have been able to use it. If he had finished—
The entire Greywood Forest would have been erased.
And that posture…
Aldric clenched his jaw.
He knew it.
The stance used by the First Patriarch—
the very one recorded in the book he had given Vlad.
He pulled Vlad closer, desperately healing him.
"Please," he whispered,
"hang on, Vlad…"