Leaves rustling followed by footsteps echoed in the lone forest. The wind whistle irritates the leaves and makes them fall from their branches. The sound of leaves as they bang against each other due to atmospheric winds was accompanied by loud pants

Valhoon ran deep into the forest. He was injured and couldn't hang to his natural speed for long, so, he resorted to running like normal humans.

He ran deeper into the forest. Their country seemed to be at war with the other countries and they had a tough fight with them.

Valhoon and his uncle, Devin were in charge of their armies which suddenly turned against and attacked him after their victory in the war. It was obvious they were rebels. But why was his uncle with them? In fact, it seemed like he was the one who gave the orders for him to be attacked.

During the fight, someone had intentionally torn his skin with his sword. A silver sword which he assumed was a mistake, but now he doubts that it was. The vampire had intentionally stabbed him with the poison and it was slowly consuming his body. Seeing the black veins in his hands, growing long like roots spreading through all parts of his body which have turned purple. During the fight, he also felt weak and that only means he was poisoned twice.

The first was before the battle, and the latter was after the battle. Not like the poison was going to kill him, but it was going to make him extremely weak.

Valhoon suddenly remembered that the sword isn't supposed to penetrate his armor. His golden armor was made by one of the most prominent blacksmiths in their country and he had always been the one to make his armor whenever he had to go to war. Why was this one different? Except he betrayed him too and took a bribe from his uncle, partaking in his plans to kill him.

His uncle was the one who looked after him while growing up after his parent's death and made him who he was today. He never knew his uncle had eyes for the throne.

He stared at the half-golden staff in his hands and his eyes turned cold. He would protect this staff with his life and make sure to find the other half. He was going to make sure all those who betrayed him pay in one million folds. Betrayal was the thing he hated most and they dare to betray him. They better pray he doesn't come out of this forest alive else...

"Spread out and find him, you nincompoops. He's weak and can't go far. Speed through the forest if you have to," Devin ordered. It was frustrating enough that they let Valhoon escape, but now they also couldn't find him.

He suddenly yanked one of the vampires by his neck.

"Are you sure you poisoned him just as I've asked you to?" He asks coldly, his eyes gleaming red and his looks turned dark. Making the vampire shriek in fear.

Someone who could do this much to his nephew could do worst to him. An ordinary warrior.

"Y-yes your lordship. I did just as you asked and we poisoned him twice. I watched him react to it before he escaped," the vampire army answered Stuttering in fear.

Devin's face darkened, staring at the man 6. It was obvious he got angrier.

"Well, you didn't do it properly!" He roared. Pushing the man away and he landed on the ground abruptly.

"Find him, I'll go settle some stuff in the palace. Make sure you find him and bring the other half of the staff to me," He ordered before he speeded away.

.....

A whistling was heard in the middle of the forest. A lady moved her body to the tone of her whistling. She sat down on a stone and put both her hands under her chin. Her lips curved up into a smile as she shut her eyes, visualizing just how she wanted her life to be.

Wearing a Disney gown and walking in a garden, picking some flowers and putting them into a basket as servants flocked behind her. Some were carrying a flower basket, and others were holding a basket filled with sweets and she picked them occasionally as she walks.

"Raziel, Raziel," someone called but she was too lost to hear, not until the person hit her on the back and she sprang up to her feet looking shocked.

"M-mother," Raziel acknowledged the lady who was glaring at her.

"You silly girl, you've started again, right? Sitting down and smiling at yourself?" The mother asked furiously.

N-no mother."

"Then what's provoking your smile? Can you see where we're living now? In the heart of the forest and this little cabin. If you haven't tried to commit suicide several years ago, we would still be living fine and respected in Daxtan and here you are smiling at yourself every single day that passes by," the mother scolded.

"Oh come on Rachel, why do you keep reminding her of that incident? You should let her be. She's still a child," A man said coming out of the cabin.

"Did you forget she's 22 Maxwell? Look at her sisters, although they were all birthed the same day, they know the spells and they also know how to cast them all like a pro, but what about her? She doesn't know them or how to cast one and she's not willing to learn at all," Rachel answered pointing a finger at Raziel, who was watching her parents fight because of her.

"Don't worry she'll learn in time. Raziel is going to learn how to cast spells just like her sisters very soon. Right Raziel?"

"H-huh? Yes, father, I'll learn how to cast spells very soon," She answered, smiling and nodding awkwardly.

"Yes, come on Rachel let's go inside," Her father said holding his wife.

"Do your errands quickly and come inside," Rachel ordered, walking into the house with her husband.

"Finally they're gone," Raziel sighed inwardly. What's with her mother and disturbing her about spells all the time? It's not a must to learn how to cast those spells.

Those stupid spells.