Elara stood still, her fingers tightening around the hilt of the dagger at her side, but she did not reach for the scroll. The man's gray eyes bore into hers, cold and unyielding.
He didn't seem in any hurry; the eerie calmness surrounding him made her feel even more unsettled. His silver hair, reflecting the faint light filtering through the forest canopy, only heightened the surreal nature of this encounter.
"I'm not interested in anything the prince has to offer," Elara said, her voice firmer than she felt.The man raised a brow, his expression unreadable. "I believe it would be wise to reconsider."
Silence stretched between them. The air was thick, heavy with the weight of unspoken threats. Elara's mind raced. She knew she couldn't trust him—or his prince. But running hadn't worked, and she doubted this would be the last of his men.
She had to buy time, figure out their next move."What does he want?" she asked, finally, though her heart was already pounding with the answer.
She knew what the prince wanted. The visitor had told her as much: her power.The emissary's thin lips curled into a small, knowing smile.
"He seeks your aid in lifting the curse that binds our kingdom."
"Your kingdom?" Elara's voice wavered slightly. "The curse is of his own making. Why should I help him?"
"The curse," the man corrected, "was an unfortunate consequence of power… but one that can be undone—with your help."
Elara frowned, her grip on the dagger loosening slightly. "And if I refuse?"The emissary's eyes darkened.
"Then the curse will continue to spread. The sickness plaguing your village is just the beginning. It will consume everything—until there is nothing left."
The threat hung in the air between them, its weight pressing against her chest. She had seen the illness firsthand—the fever, the weakness that came with it.
But she hadn't realized the scale of what was happening, of how far-reaching the curse truly was. If what he said was true, her village wasn't just suffering—it was dying.
"And if I agree to this… offer?" she asked cautiously.
The man took a slow step forward, extending the scroll once again. "You will be given safe passage to the kingdom. The prince will ensure your protection. And when the curse is lifted, you will be free to leave—unharmed."
Unharmed. The word sent a shiver down her spine. It was the subtle promise of danger, veiled behind politeness. Whatever this prince wanted from her, it wasn't going to be given freely.
"I need time to think," Elara said, her eyes flicking from the scroll to the man's unflinching gaze.The emissary's smile faded, and his eyes narrowed slightly.
"You don't have time, healer. The prince is not known for his patience."He took another step forward, and Elara instinctively took one back.
Her breath quickened, but she steadied herself, not willing to show fear. "I'll take my chances."The man's gaze hardened.
"Foolish." He slipped the scroll back into his cloak with a smooth, practiced motion. "The prince will not wait long. You have two days. After that, we will find you again. And next time… the offer will not be so generous."
With that, the emissary turned, his cloak sweeping through the air as he disappeared into the shadows of the forest, leaving Elara standing alone, her heart pounding in her chest.
The forest seemed darker now, colder. The weight of the emissary's words pressed down on her, and the realization of what was happening began to sink in fully. The curse, the sickness, her village—they were all connected, and somehow, she was the key.
Elara took a deep breath and tried to steady her racing thoughts. She couldn't just run. Not anymore. Wherever she went, the curse would follow. The emissary had made that clear.
But she wasn't ready to surrender herself to the prince, either.
Her grandmother had told her once: "When the shadows grow too long, trust in the light within yourself."
Elara wasn't sure what that light was, or how to use it against the darkness closing in around her. But she knew she couldn't fight it alone.
She would need help—if there was anyone left in the cursed kingdom willing to defy their prince.
Author's Note:
I'm excited to explore more of the looming threat and Elara's growing power. Let me know if you're enjoying the tension between the characters, and whether you'd like to see more interactions between Elara and the prince directly in the next parts!