The forest thickened around them as Seventeen led the group through the dense undergrowth, her heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and dread. The path they followed was narrow, barely visible amid the twisted roots and low-hanging branches. Sunlight filtered through the leaves overhead, casting dappled shadows on the ground, but the deeper they went, the more that light began to fade.
She had managed to make it to all the magical shortcuts spots made by her father, all to guarantee a safe and quick journey back to Serpentpire in case they couldn't go through the Dark Zones. None of them had suspected a thing, but that only made her feel guiltier. And as they got closer and closer to Dragonwoods, the first of the three natural thick defenses of Serpentpire, she grew severely anxious with how the clock was ticking and her time playing Serena D'Angelo was coming to an end.
Unable to question herself. Should she just break it up to them and get over with it, or should she take her time and do it at the last minute? The only thing she knew, was that she had decided to act like she hated them after the truth was laid bare, not wanting to hurt herself with it. ["They will get over it,"] she told herself. ["We are stuck together."]
Draco walked beside her, his presence a comforting weight that kept her grounded, even as her mind raced with the implications of what lay ahead. She could feel the tension in the air as her friends moved quietly behind them, their nerves palpable. Each rustle of leaves and snap of a twig sent a shiver down Seventeen's spine, and she couldn't shake the feeling that they were venturing into something far more dangerous than she had let on.
"We're almost there," she reassured them, though her voice sounded less convincing than she had hoped.
"Where exactly is 'there'?" Hunter asked, breaking the silence, his eyes darting around the shadowy forest.
"Just trust me," Seventeen said, trying to sound confident. "I promise it's safe."
As they pressed on, the sounds of the forest shifted. The chirping of birds faded, replaced by an eerie silence that wrapped around them like a shroud. The air grew colder, and a sense of foreboding settled in her stomach. Finally, they reached a clearing, the trees parting to reveal a massive stone archway that seemed to shimmer with an unnatural light.
"What is this place?" Amelia whispered, her voice barely above a breath as she took in the sight.
"Dragonwoods," Seventeen said, a hint of pride creeping into her voice. "It's a secret passage I found a long time ago. No one knows about it except for me." That was a lie, of course.
A murmur of uncertainty rippled through the group, and she could see the flicker of fear in their eyes. They all knew the legends that surrounded the Dragonwoods—whispers of dark creatures lurking in the shadows, of travelers who had ventured in only to never return, how death reigned the unexplored place. One that wasn't connected to any of the districts but the Dark Zones around it.
So a question roamed into their minds: How had Serena taken them there without passing by the Dark Zones or through the seas?
"Isn't that a little…dangerous?" Light asked, her brow furrowing as she glanced at Draco for reassurance.
"It's a myth," Seventeen insisted, trying to sound more convincing than she felt. "I've been here before. I promise it's safe. We just have to cross the Aedraynne Mountains beyond the woods." The second natural defense of Serpentpire, with the third being the Hollow Caves, all deadly if you aren't used to them. To their luck, she was. Far too used.
The mention of the mountains sent a wave of anxiety through the group. "Aedraynne Mountains?" Claus echoed, confusion and fear evident on his face. "I've never heard of them. Are you sure?"
Seventeen turned to face them, her expression earnest. "I know it sounds scary, but you have to trust me. I wouldn't lead you into danger. I've been there, and I promise we'll be okay."
The silence that followed was heavy, filled with the weight of unspoken fears and doubts. Finally, Draco stepped forward, his gaze locked onto hers. "If you say it's safe, then I believe you," he said, his voice steady.
["I'm sorry."]
With a deep breath, Seventeen took a step toward the archway, her heart racing as she led them through. The air felt electric as they passed beneath the stone structure, and the world around them seemed to shift. Shadows danced at the edges of her vision, and for a moment, she felt the pull of something ancient and powerful, a reminder of what she had left behind when she had accepted that long mission.
As they stepped into the safest region of Dragonwoods, although safe was a strong word for it, the scenery changed dramatically. The trees towered overhead, their trunks twisted and gnarled, creating a canopy that filtered the light into a muted green glow. The ground was soft beneath their feet, carpeted with moss and fallen leaves, and the air was thick with the scent of damp earth and something sweet, almost intoxicating.
Seventeen glanced back at her friends, their expressions a mix of awe and unease. She knew this place held its secrets, but she was determined to show them that not everything whispered of darkness.
"See? It's beautiful here," she said, forcing a smile as she gestured around them.
But as they continued deeper into the woods, the sense of unease grew stronger. Seventeen could feel the weight of their apprehension, the lingering fear that something terrible lay in wait. She quickened her pace, leading them toward the mountains she had spoken of, her heart pounding with anticipation.
After what felt like hours of navigating through the dense forest, they finally emerged into a small clearing at the foot of the Aedraynne Mountains. The towering peaks loomed ahead, their jagged edges silhouetted against the darkening sky.
Seventeen turned to face her friends, taking a moment to let the gravity of the situation sink in. "This is it," she said, her voice echoing slightly in the stillness. "Once we cross those mountains, we'll be safe. I promise."
"I don't know, Serena…" Hunter began, his voice trailing off as he looked up at the formidable landscape. "This place… it feels wrong."
"Just follow me," Seventeen urged, desperation creeping into her tone. "Trust me."
She moved forward, leading them up the narrow path that snaked its way up the mountainside. The climb was steep and treacherous, but Seventeen pressed on, her heart racing with both excitement and fear.
Finally, they reached a plateau that overlooked the sprawling expanse of the valley below. The view was breathtaking, and for a moment, she felt a rush of exhilaration wash over her. She turned to face her friends, ready to share the beauty of what lay before them.
But as she stood there, a familiar sensation washed over her—a pull from deep within her core, something she hadn't felt in years. It was time.
With a deep breath, Seventeen focused, allowing her magic to flow through her. She felt the air shift around her, the energy crackling like electricity. One by one, she conjured shadow magic bracelets that wrapped around each of her friends' wrists, their appearances flickering for a moment as the bracelets absorbed their essence.
"What are these?" Light asked, her eyes wide with shock as she looked at the intricate designs etched into the bracelets.
"Did you just use shadow magic?" Sablina gasped.
"They're magic-blocking bracelets," Seventeen explained, her voice steady. "They'll keep us safe from any prying eyes. We need to stay hidden while we figure things out."
"Why aren't you using one then?" Amelia huffed, suspicion crawling under her skin.
As she spoke, something within Seventeen shifted, and she felt the change take hold. The magic surged through her, and she let it manifest, allowing her true self to emerge. Her skin darkened to a warm tan, the long blonde hair was gone and giving place to medium wavy chestnut brown hair, and the blue of her eyes faded replaced by emerald green. Her skin had become smooth, more youthful than before. The Ophiuchus tattoo finally appeared on the back of her neck, its intricate design a mark of her identity, a serpent.
Every one had one, tattooed on the back of their necks at the tender age of 7, while in Ophiucus they did it at 10. A mark of the zodiac sign you had been born in, where you belonged. She had used her illusion magic to hide hers away and give place to the mark of Cancer, the crab. But no more.
Her friends gasped, stepping back in surprise. "Serena?" Draco's voice was a mix of disbelief and awe, his ice-blue eyes widening as he took in her transformed appearance.
"I knew you weren't a natural blonde," Hunter exclaimed, "and that something wasn't right."
"It's time you all know who I really am," she said, her voice firm yet trembling with vulnerability. "This is me—the real me."
In that moment, Seventeen felt a weight lift from her shoulders, but the uncertainty lingered in the air around them. She had taken a step forward, revealing herself, but what lay ahead was still shrouded in mystery. The mountains loomed above them, and with it, the promise of danger and discovery.
※
End of the Part 1 of Book 1.