"Survival is the simplest challenge—proving your worth is the hardest test of all."
Evanna stared at the towering gates, their iron surface streaked with rust and claw marks. She tightened her grip on Glow's fur as the creature growled softly beside her.
"It's just a castle," she whispered to herself, her voice trembling. "Just stones and wood."
Glow tilted his head, his glowing blue eyes meeting hers as if to say, You don't believe that, do you?
The gates groaned and swung open, revealing a long corridor shrouded in shadow. A gust of air swept past her, chilling and thick, carrying the faint scent of earth and iron.
"Great," she muttered. "An open invitation. Just what I wanted."
Glow nudged her leg, urging her forward.
"I'm going, I'm going," she grumbled, stepping through the gates. As soon as she crossed the threshold, they slammed shut behind her with a resounding boom.
Evanna jumped, her heart racing. "Well, that's not ominous at all."
---
The corridor stretched endlessly before her, the dim light flickering from sconces that seemed to ignite themselves as she passed. The air was heavy, pressing against her chest with every step. Glow stayed close, his fur casting a faint blue glow that painted the walls in eerie patterns.
"What kind of place is this?" she whispered, her voice swallowed by the oppressive silence.
Ahead, a pair of massive doors swung open without a sound, revealing a cavernous room. At its center stood a throne carved from obsidian, jagged and glinting like a shard of night.
Seated on it was a figure cloaked in shadow. His golden eyes pierced through the darkness, locking onto her with an intensity that made her skin crawl.
Evanna swallowed hard, her hand instinctively reaching for the crude knife at her belt.
"You're braver than most," the figure said, his voice low and rough, like the rumble of distant thunder. "Few make it this far."
"I didn't have much of a choice," she shot back, forcing herself to stand tall. "Are you the Beastlord?"
The figure chuckled, the sound reverberating through the room. "Beastlord. Monster. Demon. I've been called many things. But you may call me Kael."
He rose from the throne, his towering form emerging from the shadows. His golden eyes gleamed, his sharp features illuminated by the faint glow of the room. There was something unsettlingly human about him, yet unmistakably other.
"And you," he said, stepping closer, "are Evanna. The sacrificial bride."
Her fingers tightened around the knife. "I didn't agree to that title."
Kael smirked. "Yet here you are."
---
Evanna's heart pounded as Kael circled her, his gaze never leaving her.
"You don't look like much," he mused, his tone almost amused. "Do you know why they sent you to me?"
"To save themselves," she said through gritted teeth. "They think sacrificing me will keep you from destroying them."
Kael tilted his head, his golden eyes narrowing. "And do you think they're wrong?"
"I think this whole ritual is a farce," she snapped. "You don't want a bride. You want fear. Power. Control."
His smirk widened, sharp teeth glinting. "Bold words for someone standing in my domain."
Evanna refused to back down. "If you're going to kill me, just do it. But don't expect me to grovel like the others."
For a moment, Kael said nothing. Then, to her surprise, he laughed—a deep, rumbling sound that echoed through the hall.
"Kill you?" he said, shaking his head. "No, Evanna. That would be far too easy. You've intrigued me. Few have the courage to speak to me as you do."
"What do you want, then?" she demanded.
Kael's expression turned serious, his gaze piercing. "I want to see if you're worthy."
"Worthy of what?"
"Survival."
---
Kael gestured, and the room began to shift. The walls melted into shadows, reforming into towering stone columns. The air grew colder, and the faint sound of growls echoed from the darkness.
Evanna spun around, her knife drawn. "What's happening?"
"This castle is alive," Kael said, his voice calm. "It reflects the will of its master. And right now, it reflects mine."
Figures began to emerge from the shadows—hulking beasts with glowing red eyes and jagged teeth.
"You want me to fight them?" she asked, her voice shaking.
Kael shrugged. "If you want to live, yes. Show me your strength, Evanna. Prove you are more than just a sacrifice."
The beasts growled, circling her like wolves around their prey. Glow barked, stepping forward, but Kael raised a hand.
"The fox stays out of this," he said. "This is her test."
Evanna's heart raced as the first beast lunged at her. She ducked, rolling to the side as its claws slashed the air where she had stood.
"Think, Evanna," she muttered to herself. "Use your head."
Spotting a loose piece of stone on the ground, she grabbed it and hurled it at the beast's face. It snarled, momentarily distracted, giving her the chance to slash at its leg with her knife.
Another beast charged at her, its jaws snapping. She darted behind a column, narrowly avoiding its attack.
"This isn't fair!" she shouted at Kael, who watched from the shadows, his expression unreadable.
"Life isn't fair," he replied. "Keep moving."
Evanna gritted her teeth, her arms burning from the effort of fending off the relentless attacks. Her knife was small, barely a weapon, but she used it with precision, aiming for weak spots and dodging the beasts' powerful blows.
Finally, with a desperate lunge, she drove her knife into the neck of the last beast. It let out a final roar before collapsing to the ground.
Panting, Evanna stumbled back, her body trembling with exhaustion.
"Well done," Kael said, stepping forward. "You're still alive. That's more than I can say for most."
Evanna glared at him. "What was the point of that?"
Kael smiled, his golden eyes glinting. "To see if you have what it takes to survive in my world. And you do—for now."
---
Evanna thought the worst was over, but Kael's next words sent a chill down her spine.
"Rest while you can, little bride," he said. "The real challenge begins tomorrow."