The clearing fell into an uneasy silence as Cedric and Selina settled a little way off, just far enough to keep their royal distance. They sat beneath the sprawling branches of a tree, Cedric polishing his glowing gauntlet, its faint light casting eerie shadows across his face. Selina leaned back, stretching her legs and inspecting her battered cloak.
Celeste was the first to break the silence. "So… what do we call you? Your Highness? Prince? Princess?"
Selina rolled her eyes and waved dismissively. "Don't. Just call me Selina. I'm no 'Your Highness' in this place. And if you start with that, I might gag."
Cedric smirked faintly but didn't look up. "Same goes for me. We're not here to flaunt titles, and they won't mean much if we don't survive."
Lucian remained silent, his hand still resting on his sword. The idea of royalty brushing shoulders with commoners—let alone in a cursed place like this—made his stomach churn. What was their real reason for being here? He couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't as simple as survival.
"You look like hell," Selina said abruptly, her sharp eyes landing on Lucian. She motioned toward his shoulder. "I could heal that for you."
Lucian didn't reply immediately, and Celeste's expression brightened. "That would help a lot," she said quickly, her voice betraying a flicker of hope.
Before Lucian could respond, Cedric's tone turned icy. "Don't. Save your mana, Selina."
Selina frowned, irritation flickering across her face. "It's a minor wound. It won't take much—"
"And it's unnecessary," Cedric cut her off, his calm voice hiding an edge. "Healing takes a toll, and you know it. Mana exhaustion is a killer, especially for healers. You'd be vulnerable for hours—maybe even a day. If something attacks us while you're drained, what then?" He cast Lucian a pointed glance. "Besides, even if you heal him, what's the gain? He's the weakest here. Healing him won't change much. He'll still be a burden."
Lucian's jaw tightened, his grip on his sword hilt flexing. He held his tongue but felt the sting of Cedric's words like a fresh wound. Weak. Burden. He'd heard it before, but hearing it now—here, when survival depended on strength—cut deeper than he expected.
"Cedric, that's uncalled for," Celeste snapped, her fiery tone matching her flame-wielding powers. "Lucian's done more for me than you know."
Cedric shrugged nonchalantly. "I call it like I see it. Strength matters here. And I'd rather not waste resources where they'll make no difference."
Lucian glanced at Celeste, whose face was flushed with anger. But instead of meeting her gaze, he turned to Selina. "Don't heal me," he said coldly. "I don't need your pity."
Selina sighed and muttered something under her breath, but she backed off.
As the royals returned to their quiet corner, Lucian sat beside Celeste, his mind racing. His shoulder throbbed painfully, but the ache wasn't just physical. It was the reminder that no matter what he did, no matter how hard he pushed himself, people always saw him as weak. A liability. A burden.
"Lucian," Celeste whispered, nudging him. "Don't listen to them. You've done more than enough."
He nodded absently, his gaze fixed on the royals. They sat close together, Cedric calmly adjusting his gauntlet while Selina muttered to him, her expression agitated. Lucian strained to hear their words but couldn't make them out. Whatever they were discussing, it didn't feel right.
Then Selina's voice rose slightly, just enough for him to catch fragments. "…at least tell them. They should know about the—"
"No," Cedric interrupted sharply. "Not yet."
"But—"
"If they know, they'll panic. Or worse, they'll leave. And we can't afford that. Celeste shows promise. Losing her would be a waste. Lucian?" Cedric scoffed. "I couldn't care less if he left. But Celeste is worth keeping around."
Lucian's chest tightened, the sting of Cedric's words spreading like poison. He turned his head slightly, just enough to meet Celeste's curious gaze. She hadn't heard.
"What's wrong?" she asked, her tone laced with concern.
Lucian forced a smile, though it felt hollow. "Nothing. Just thinking."
But his mind was far from quiet. The royals were hiding something. Something important. The way Cedric had dismissed him, the veiled insults, and Selina's whispered urgency—it all painted a picture he didn't like. His instincts screamed to leave, to grab Celeste and vanish before the royals' secrets became his problem. But Celeste wouldn't agree. She was too trusting. Too hopeful.
Later, as they prepared to rest for the night, Lucian sat apart from the group, his thoughts weighing heavily. He couldn't shake the memory of Cedric's voice: Lucian? I couldn't care less if he left.
It wasn't the first time someone had dismissed him. But this time, it wasn't anger he felt. It was clarity. If he stayed with Cedric and Selina, he'd always be the weakest link in their eyes. Always the burden. Maybe leaving with Celeste was the better option.
Celeste, however, had other ideas. When he broached the subject, she shook her head firmly. "No. We're stronger together, Lucian. Even if you don't trust them, I do. And if they're willing to stick with us, we should do the same."
"But—"
"No 'buts,'" she said, her voice softening. "You don't have to like them. Just… don't leave me alone in this, okay?"
Her words struck something in him—a pang of guilt mixed with reluctant understanding. He nodded, though the unease didn't fade.
As the first light crept into the clearing next morning, Lucian was already awake, his body tense and ready. He washed his face at the pond, wincing as the cold water touched his wounds. When he turned, he noticed Cedric and Selina approaching.
"We're moving out," Cedric announced. "There's no point staying here. It's not safe."
Lucian's grip on his sword tightened. "What aren't you telling us?"
Cedric's gaze hardened. "What do you mean?"
"You're hiding something," Lucian said, stepping closer. "You know more about this forest than you're letting on."
Selina glanced at Cedric, her expression conflicted. "Cedric…"
But Cedric raised a hand, silencing her. "There's nothing you need to know right now. Just keep up, and maybe you'll survive."
Lucian's fists clenched, his patience thinning. But before he could respond, Celeste stepped between them. "Enough," she said firmly. "We don't have time for this. If we're leaving, let's leave."
Reluctantly, Lucian backed down. But as they set off through the cursed forest, his mistrust burned brighter than ever.
Cedric and Selina had secrets. And secrets, in a place like this, could get them all killed.