Ayumi realised shes not in her bed anymore that shes in a field next to a forest,looking arond Ayumi saw a knight his sward hanging from his left side he was blonde with medium hair, blue eyes a cold stare.
the man asked Ayumi"who are you? where are you from you don't seem from around here".Ayumi studdert to answer as she was still comfused to where she is she said with a soft voice"yes sir i am not from here i don'y know how i got here but where are we?".The boy answered with a curios look and tone"that's not important right now you need to stay close because these woods are dangerous and we are in the kindom of everwood". Ayumis face turned pale as she heard that she realised where she was she was in the book she just read she asked Lucian to come eith him on his jurney. Lucian said "ok ok you can come with me stop begging just stay close thid forest is full of fsngerous creatures" after encountering countless monsters in the forest of everwood Lucian and Ayumi get to a small camping point in the forset Lucian sets up a tent for them to sleep in the two get in the tent and doze off.
Ayumi has a strange dream of a shodow following her trough the woods and whispering she wakes up scared but sees Lucian is still asleep and she waipes her sweat away then goes back to sleep having thew same dream.in the morning Lucian and Ayumi pack everything up then continue towords the kindom of everwood, they get out of the forest on a dirt path
e dirt path wound through the dense forest, narrowing as the trees parted to reveal a breathtaking view ahead. Ayumi, exhausted from the long trek, slowed her pace, her eyes widening as the Kingdom of Everwood finally came into view.
It was like something out of a dream, yet far more tangible—and daunting. The kingdom stretched before them, nestled in a vast valley surrounded by rolling hills and towering mountains. Its medieval grandeur was evident even from this distance, though time had worn it down. Stone walls, once strong and impenetrable, now showed signs of wear, ivy creeping up their sides like nature reclaiming what was once hers. The towering gates at the entrance were slightly rusted, though still imposing, guarded by sentinels in armor that gleamed faintly under the setting sun.
At the heart of the kingdom stood the royal castle, an architectural marvel with soaring spires that pierced the sky, though some were crumbling at the edges. The castle had an air of faded majesty, its walls darkened with age and battles long past. High, stained-glass windows glittered in the evening light, casting fractured rainbows across the surrounding buildings. The towers spiraled into the sky like reaching fingers, crowned with banners bearing the crest of Everwood—an ancient oak tree encircled by a protective shield.
Surrounding the castle was a sprawling city, its cobblestone streets bustling with life. Though far from pristine, the city thrummed with the heartbeat of its people. Narrow alleyways twisted like veins through the marketplace, where merchants shouted their wares and children weaved through the crowds. There were makeshift stalls and grand stone structures alike, the clash of vibrant life against the kingdom's fading glory creating a strange harmony.
But the beauty of Everwood was shadowed by a sense of unease. The sky above the kingdom seemed permanently tinged with a muted gray, as though even the heavens knew of the curse that lingered here. A strange mist clung to the outer walls, as if something ancient and unseen was pressing against the boundary of the kingdom. The air felt heavier, colder, the closer they got, as though the land itself held its breath.
Lucian stopped at the top of the hill, his eyes scanning the kingdom below with a mix of weariness and resolve. Ayumi stood beside him, struggling to catch her breath, though not from the climb. Her heart pounded with a mix of awe and fear. Everwood was both beautiful and tragic, like a kingdom suspended in time—frozen in the last moment of its former glory before the curse had descended upon it.
"Welcome to Everwood," Lucian said, his voice low and distant. "A kingdom cursed to never know peace."
Ayumi felt a chill run through her as she gazed down at the kingdom, realizing that this place—once a grand and noble land—was now just as trapped as its knight. A place of history, of battles won and lost, where the weight of a forgotten past hung like a shroud over the present.
As they descended the dirt path into the valley, the details became clearer: the cracks in the walls, the watchful eyes of the guards, the way people hurried along the streets as if they feared the nightfall. But beneath the decay, there was still hope. The people hadn't abandoned Everwood. They lived on, perhaps waiting for something—someone—to break the endless cycle of despair.
Ayumi glanced at Lucian, his expression unreadable as they approached the gates. She had entered a kingdom that was far more than just the setting of a story. It was alive, and like Lucian, it was waiting for its own redemption.