Chapter 1: The Hunt Begins
The forest was shrouded in icy mist, the air sharp and cold. Liz stumbled through the snow, her delicate, pointed ears twitching at the sound of her pursuers. Her silver hair, matted with blood and frost, clung to her face. Her icy blue eyes darted around, searching for a path to escape.
The sound of boots crunching in the snow grew louder.
"Spread out!" a rough voice commanded, filled with authority. It was Hunter Captain Kael, renowned for his ruthless pursuit of mythical beings. His emerald cloak fluttered in the biting wind as he notched another arrow. "She's close. Don't let her slip away."
Liz clutched her side, her slender fingers stained crimson. The wound from a wind-imbued arrow burned like fire, but she pushed forward. Her breath came in visible puffs, and her legs trembled from exhaustion.
"They won't stop. Not until I'm dead or captured," she thought grimly.
Kael's second-in-command, a towering man named Drevon, grinned wickedly as he spotted her tracks. "Captain, I've got her trail! She's slowing down."
Kael smirked. "Good. She'll make a fine prize."
The Chase
Liz stumbled into a clearing, her strength waning. Before she could take another step, an arrow whistled through the air, slicing past her cheek and embedding itself in a tree.
"Enough running, elf!" Kael barked, stepping into view. His emerald eyes gleamed with triumph. "Surrender now, and I might consider sparing your life."
Liz's voice was shaky but defiant. "I'll never bow to humans!"
Kael laughed coldly. "Then you'll die like the rest of your kind."
The hunters closed in, arrows trained on her. Liz raised a trembling hand, summoning shards of ice. With a desperate cry, she unleashed a flurry of frozen blades.
But Kael was ready. "Wind Shield!" he commanded. A barrier of swirling air deflected her attack effortlessly.
Liz lunged at him, her ice magic faltering, but Drevon struck her from behind with the hilt of his sword. She crumpled to the ground, gasping.
"Bind her," Kael ordered, his tone cold. "The city of Drakes will pay handsomely for an ice elf."
Drakes: The Slave Market
Liz's wrists were bound tightly as she was dragged through the bustling streets of Drakes. The city was alive with activity, but the air was thick with the stench of corruption. Merchants hawked their wares, and crowds jeered at the chained prisoners being paraded through the market.
The slave merchant, Barroth, a rotund man with greedy eyes, examined Liz like she was a commodity. "An ice elf, eh? Rare. Very rare. You'll fetch a fine price."
Liz glared at him, her lips pressed into a thin line. She refused to show fear.
Barroth smirked. "Take her to the holding cells. She'll learn her place soon enough."
The Escape
Night fell over Drakes, and the prison was eerily silent. Liz sat in her cramped cell, her icy powers dampened by the enchanted cuffs on her wrists. But her determination burned hotter than ever.
"This isn't the end," she whispered to herself.
Summoning all her strength, she shattered the bars of her cage with a burst of ice. The noise alerted the guards, but she was already sprinting through the shadows, her bare feet silent on the cold stone.
Just as she reached the outskirts of the market, she collided with a tall figure.
"Watch where you're going," the man said, his voice calm but commanding. He was Sane, the noble of Drakes, his piercing green eyes studying her with curiosity and disdain.
Liz's heart sank as she saw the B-ranked bodyguards flanking him.
"Seize her," Sane ordered.
Liz fought valiantly, her magic flaring in desperation, but the guards were too skilled. They pinned her to the ground with ease.
"You dare disrespect a noble?" Sane said, his tone icy. "You'll regret this."
Kingdom of Persia: The Prison
Days later, Liz found herself in a dark, damp cell within the kingdom of Persia. Chains bound her wrists and ankles, and despair began to creep in.
From the cell next to hers, a gruff voice called out, "Well, well. What do we have here? An elf? You're cuter than I expected."
Liz scowled, refusing to answer.
The voice chuckled. "What's wrong, little elf? Scared? Angry? How about you become my slave, huh?"
Liz's fists clenched, her icy blue eyes burning with anger. "Shut up, or I'll freeze you where you stand!"
The man laughed even louder. "I like you already!"
Liz turned away, her mind racing. She had three months before her execution. Three months to find a way to survive.