The melodic voice wrapped around them like a noose, tightening with every word. Astrid froze, her mind racing. Lucien raised his sword, stepping in front of her instinctively, his eyes scanning the dark for movement.
"Who's there?" Astrid called out, her voice sharp but steady.
The response was laughter—cold, melodic, and mocking. "Oh, Astrid," the voice purred, sending a shiver down her spine. "You've been given a second chance, yet you stumble into the same traps."
Astrid's stomach twisted. "What did you just say?"
Lucien's gaze snapped to her, his brow furrowing in confusion.
From the shadows, a figure emerged, their movements fluid and deliberate. Dressed in black with faint crimson patterns, they looked as though they'd been pulled from the void itself. Their sharp features and glinting eyes betrayed a dangerous intelligence.
Astrid's magic flared faintly in her palms, her posture tense. "Who are you, and how do you know about me?"
The figure smiled, tilting their head as though amused. "Names are such a trivial matter, but if it eases your fear, you may call me Elyon."
Lucien stepped forward, his sword raised. "How do you know her name?"
Elyon's gaze flicked to Lucien, their smile widening. "Oh, prince, there is little in this world I do not know. But Astrid is special. Reborn, and yet, still shackled by her past mistakes."
Astrid's magic sparked brighter, her heart pounding. "You're lying. No one knows."
"Don't they?" Elyon mused, taking a slow step closer.
Astrid forced herself to stay calm, though her mind raced with questions. How did this stranger know her secret? Even Lucien didn't know. She couldn't afford to show weakness—not now.
"And what exactly do you want with me?" she asked, her tone sharp.
Elyon's smile shifted, turning colder. "I don't want anything with you, dear duchess. I simply find your predicament... entertaining."
"Entertaining?" Lucien snapped, his sword still raised. "You think this is a game?"
Elyon's laughter echoed again, grating against Astrid's nerves. "Everything is a game, Your Highness. And you're all just players fumbling in the dark."
Lucien's grip on his sword tightened, but Astrid raised a hand, stopping him. She took a cautious step forward, her eyes locked on Elyon.
"Then let's skip the theatrics," she said. "If you're here to mock us, congratulations. If you're here for something else, speak."
Elyon's gaze darkened, the playful edge slipping from their tone. "You're bold, Astrid. But boldness won't save you from what's coming. The curse you chase is alive, evolving, and it will consume everything in its path."
"And what's it to you?" Astrid countered.
"Nothing," Elyon said, their voice calm. "But watching you fight a losing battle? Now that's something worth staying for."
Astrid's stomach churned, but she forced a smirk. "Enjoy the show, then. Just stay out of my way."
Elyon took another step closer, their presence oppressive. "Oh, Astrid. You can pretend to be in control, but you're not. Every choice you make pulls you deeper into the web. And when you fall, I'll be watching."
Astrid's magic flared brighter, her instincts screaming at her to strike. "Is that a threat?"
"A promise," Elyon replied smoothly.
Lucien moved, his blade cutting through the air toward Elyon, but the stranger raised a hand, and Lucien was thrown back as if struck by an invisible force. He hit the ground hard, his sword clattering to the side.
Astrid's magic surged in her palms, her smirk fading. "Touch him again, and I'll make sure you regret it."
Elyon chuckled, their gaze fixed on her. "I wonder, Astrid, do you truly understand the power you hold? Or are you simply stumbling toward your doom?"
Astrid clenched her fists, her magic crackling like lightning. "Why don't you find out?"
For a moment, Elyon seemed to consider it, their eyes narrowing. But then they stepped back into the shadows, their voice lingering even as their form dissolved. "Soon, duchess. Very soon."
The forest fell silent once more, the tension hanging in the air like a storm waiting to break. Astrid rushed to Lucien's side, her magic flickering out as she knelt beside him.
"I'm fine," he said gruffly, pushing himself up.
Astrid's gaze flicked back to where Elyon had stood, her mind racing. They knew. Somehow, they knew.
"What was that?" Ronan asked, his voice trembling.
"Trouble," Astrid muttered, rising to her feet. "And it's only getting worse."
Lucien picked up his sword, his expression dark. "We need to move. Now."
Astrid nodded and the group resumed their journey.
As they started down the path, the shadows seemed to shift around them, the forest alive with unseen eyes.
And somewhere in the distance, a faint, melodic laugh echoed once more.
The air was heavy with unspoken tension as the group pressed on, the echoes of Elyon's cryptic words lingering like a dark cloud. Astrid led the way, her steps steady but her thoughts a tumult of unanswered questions.
Lucien followed close behind, his expression unreadable, though his sharp eyes flicked to her more often than before.
"I've had enough of these games," Lucien muttered under his breath, just loud enough for her to hear.
Astrid glanced back at him, raising an eyebrow. "If you have something to say, Your Highness, say it."
Lucien's gaze met hers, cold and calculating. "Elyon knew things they shouldn't. Things about you."
Astrid kept her expression neutral, though her chest tightened. "They're a manipulative shadow-dweller. They know how to get under people's skin. Don't let them."
"That's not an answer," Lucien said, his tone sharper now.
Astrid turned away, quickening her pace. "You don't have time to entertain every riddle someone throws at you, Lucien. Focus on what matters—stopping the curse."
Lucien didn't respond immediately, but his mind raced. He replayed Elyon's words in his head, their deliberate phrasing and the way they had looked at Astrid as though they knew her intimately. Then there were the strange things she had said on the day of her trial, moments he had dismissed as desperation.
"I'm not who you think I am," she had said.
And now, Elyon's taunts about her rebirth. It was too much to ignore.
"You've been hiding something," Lucien said finally, his voice low but firm.
Astrid stopped abruptly, turning to face him. Her smirk was sharp, but her eyes carried a hint of weariness. "Everyone has secrets, Your Highness. Even you."
"This is different," Lucien pressed. "The things you said during your trial, the way you've been acting—it doesn't add up. And now Elyon confirms there's more to you than meets the eye."
Astrid's smirk faltered for a fraction of a second, but she quickly recovered. "If there's one thing you should know about me by now, it's that I'm full of surprises."
Lucien stepped closer, his voice lowering. "This isn't about surprises. It's about trust. If I can't trust you—"
"Then don't," Astrid cut in, her tone sharp. "I never asked you to."
The silence that followed was heavy, the air thick with unresolved tension. Lucien's eyes narrowed, but he didn't press further. Instead, he turned and resumed walking, his grip on his sword tightening.
Astrid exhaled quietly, her hands brushing against her sides as she tried to ground herself. She couldn't afford to let her guard down—not with Elyon's words still fresh in her mind, not with Lucien's suspicion growing by the second.
She didn't fully understand her own rebirth. How could she explain it to someone else, especially someone as skeptical as Lucien?
"Keep your secrets for now," Lucien said over his shoulder, his tone cold. "But when the time comes, I'll expect answers."
Astrid didn't respond.
The quiet was shattered by a low growl, deeper and more menacing than any they had encountered before. Astrid's magic flared instinctively, casting faint light around their group.
"More beasts?" Ronan asked, his voice trembling.
"Not just beasts," Lucien said, his sword already drawn. "Something worse."
The shadows ahead shifted, and a massive form emerged, its red eyes glowing like embers in the dark. It was larger than the alpha they had fought earlier, its form more solid and its presence suffocating.
Astrid's magic burned brighter, her smirk fading as her focus sharpened. "Looks like we've got a new challenger."
The creature roared, and the forest itself seemed to shudder in response.
Astrid stepped forward, her hands crackling with energy. "Stay back, Ronan. Lucien, let's see what you're really made of."
Lucien moved to her side, his blade gleaming in the dim light. "Just try not to get in my way."
The beast lunged, and the battle began.