The journey out of the capital was unusually quiet. The streets were alive with their typical hum
of commerce and chatter, but for Aria and Mira, their thoughts were far removed from the hustle
and bustle of city life. After the unsettling events at the castle and the revelations in the mage
archives, their focus shifted to something buried far from the prying eyes of the kingdom—a
secret ruin mentioned in an old and overlooked parchment.
The ruin, located in the overgrown depths of the Southern Ravine, was said to predate the
kingdom itself. According to the fragment, it once housed knowledge so ancient and dangerous
that it had been sealed away, forgotten with the passage of time. Aria's instincts told her that
answers lay there, ones tied to her powers, her transformation, and perhaps the mysterious
succubus, Saphira.
Mira was skeptical at first but eventually agreed. After all, they were both running out of leads.
---
The Journey Begins
The terrain changed as they traveled south. The lush greenery of the kingdom's outskirts gave
way to dense, tangled forest. Vines crawled across ancient stone paths, and the air grew damp,
laden with the scent of moss and earth.
"Are you sure this is the right way?" Mira asked, glancing at the crude map they had sketched
from the royal archive's findings.
Aria, who had been quiet for most of the journey, nodded. "The parchment was clear about the
markers: a twisted oak at the edge of the ravine and a descent into the hollow beneath it."
Mira sighed, adjusting the pack on her shoulders. "I just hope it's not another dead end. The last
time we followed a 'hidden trail,' it led us into a bandit ambush."
Aria smirked faintly. "And we handled them just fine."
Despite her confidence, Aria couldn't ignore the sensations coursing through her body. Ever
since Saphira's mark appeared, something inside her had shifted. Her senses were heightened,
every sound sharper, every touch amplified. Her body felt hot, her skin hypersensitive to even
the brush of her clothes. It was as if something primal was awakening within her, and she was
struggling to keep it under control.
---
65
The Ravine and the Camp
Hours later, they finally reached the twisted oak—a massive, gnarled tree perched precariously
at the edge of a steep ravine. Its roots clung to the rocky cliffside like the claws of some ancient
beast. Beneath it lay a jagged opening, shrouded in shadow.
"We'll camp here for the night," Aria said, her voice tight. The heat inside her was becoming
unbearable, and the thought of descending into the ruin in her current state seemed unwise.
Mira nodded, setting up a small fire and laying out their bedrolls. The two of them worked in
silence, but Mira couldn't help noticing how distracted Aria seemed.
"Are you okay?" Mira asked, sitting beside her as the fire crackled between them.
"I'm fine," Aria lied, though her flushed cheeks and restless movements betrayed her. She could
feel Mira's gaze on her, and the proximity only made her temperature spike.
"You don't look fine," Mira pressed, her hand gently brushing Aria's arm.
The simple touch sent a jolt through Aria, and she flinched, pulling away. "I said I'm fine," she
snapped, though the frustration in her voice was more directed at herself than Mira.
Mira frowned, hurt flashing briefly in her eyes. "Alright," she said softly, standing and moving to
her bedroll. "Get some rest. We have a long day tomorrow."
---
The Tipping Point
As the night wore on, Aria found herself unable to sleep. The fire had dwindled to embers, and
the forest around them was eerily quiet. She tossed and turned, her body burning with an
unrelenting heat. Her thoughts were chaotic, and no matter how hard she tried to focus on the
mission ahead, her mind kept wandering back to Saphira's touch, her voice, and the mark she
left behind.
Her hand drifted to her neck, fingers brushing over the faint outline of the mark. It pulsed faintly
under her touch, sending a wave of heat through her. Aria bit her lip, stifling a groan.
She sat up, her breathing heavy. Across the fire, Mira stirred, her silhouette illuminated by the
faint moonlight filtering through the trees.
"Mira," Aria whispered, her voice trembling.
66
Mira opened her eyes, blinking sleepily. "What is it?" she asked, sitting up.
Aria hesitated, her cheeks flushing as she struggled to find the words. "I... I don't know what's
happening to me," she admitted finally.
Mira frowned, concern replacing her grogginess. She crawled over to Aria, placing a hand on
her shoulder. "What do you mean?"
Aria's body tensed under Mira's touch, the heat inside her flaring uncontrollably. She turned to
Mira, her eyes shimmering with an unnatural glow. "It's this mark... this magic... my body.
Everything feels... different."
Mira's brow furrowed as she studied Aria. "You've been acting strange ever since the encounter
with that succubus. Do you think it's related?"
Aria nodded, her breathing ragged. "I don't know how to control it. It's like... it's like there's this...
hunger inside me."
Mira's eyes widened slightly, and a faint blush crept across her cheeks. "Hunger?"
Before Aria could stop herself, she leaned in, her lips brushing against Mira's. The kiss was brief
but electric, sending a shockwave through both of them. Mira pulled back, her eyes wide with
surprise.
"Aria..." Mira began, but Aria cut her off.
"I'm sorry," Aria said, her voice filled with desperation. "I didn't mean to—"
Mira placed a finger over Aria's lips, silencing her. "It's okay," she said softly, her blush
deepening. "I understand."
Mira's hand cupped Aria's cheek, her touch gentle and reassuring. "We'll figure this out
together," she promised.
---
The Morning After
The next morning, the two of them descended into the ravine, the awkwardness of the previous
night lingering but unspoken. As they stepped into the dark opening beneath the oak, the air
grew colder, and the weight of the ruin's secrets pressed down on them.
67
The walls were etched with ancient symbols, faintly glowing as Aria passed them. The mark on
her neck pulsed in response, and a strange sense of familiarity washed over her.
"This place feels... alive," Aria said, her voice echoing in the cavernous space.
Mira nodded, her eyes scanning the walls. "It's like it's reacting to you."
As they ventured deeper, they came across a massive stone door, its surface covered in
intricate carvings. At the center was a circular indentation, eerily similar to the mark on Aria's
neck.
"This must be it," Mira said, excitement and apprehension in her voice.
Aria stepped forward, placing her hand over the indentation. The mark on her neck flared to life,
and the door began to tremble.
As it slowly creaked open, a sense of foreboding filled the air. Whatever lay beyond would
change everything.
---