The Hunt Begins
The imperial city of Astra lay under a restless sky, veiled in dark clouds that threatened an approaching storm. Within the grand palace, the Emperor's command had sent shockwaves through the realm.
Across the kingdom, elite knights rode through villages, banners bearing the imperial insignia whipping in the wind. Their mission was clear—find Riven Kael and eliminate him before he could awaken the full power of the Eclipse Seal.
Yet, deep in the empire's outer lands, far from the golden spires of Astra, a lone warrior lay unconscious in the ruins of an abandoned temple. His fate, for now, rested in the hands of an assassin.
---
A Deadly Decision
Lyria Vale sat on the cold stone floor, her dagger poised inches from Riven Kael's throat. The firelight flickered against the temple walls, casting shadows over his battered body.
She had seen many warriors in her life—men who had slaughtered without remorse, men who had begged for their lives, men who had died cursing their enemies. But this one was different.
His presence was suffocating even in unconsciousness. His face, despite the scars and dirt from battle, held an undeniable air of nobility. The Eclipse Seal over his left eye pulsed faintly, its ancient markings glowing in the dim light.
She had been given a simple order: Find him. Kill him. End the prophecy before it unfolds.
But as she knelt over him, the blade trembling in her grip, she hesitated.
"Why?"
Lyria was not a woman who questioned orders. She was the empire's most feared assassin. She had killed nobles, rebels, and even war generals with the precision of a viper striking its prey. And yet, something about this man—this cursed warrior—made her pause.
His breathing was uneven, his wounds severe. He had fought to survive, yet now he was utterly defenseless before her.
She could end it now.
One swift motion.
Yet her hands would not move.
Her mind screamed at her. He is a threat to everything you swore to protect.
But another voice whispered something far more dangerous.
"What if the prophecy is wrong?"
The dagger in her hand wavered.
And for the first time in her life, Lyria Vale hesitated.
---
Memories of Blood and Betrayal
A sudden noise outside the temple made her stiffen.
Footsteps. Multiple. Heavy boots against the stone pathway.
Lyria cursed under her breath. The imperial knights. They had found him.
Without wasting another second, she sheathed her dagger and turned to Riven's unconscious form. There was no time to think—only to act.
She grabbed his arm and hauled him up, biting her lip as his body sagged against hers. He was heavy, his muscles hardened from years of war. Blood still seeped from his wounds, staining her sleeve.
A voice echoed from outside.
"Search the ruins! He must be here!"
Lyria's heart pounded. If they found him, they would kill him on sight.
She glanced down at him, her jaw tightening. What am I doing?
But there was no turning back now.
Making a split-second decision, she hoisted him onto her back and darted into the shadows just as the doors burst open.
---
The Bloodmoon Chase
The temple ruins stretched into a dense forest beyond the cliffs. Lyria ran through the thick brush, her breaths sharp and controlled. Behind her, the sound of boots crashing against stone grew louder.
They were gaining.
"You there! Stop!"
An arrow whizzed past her ear, embedding itself in a tree trunk inches away.
Lyria cursed. She wasn't just carrying dead weight—she was carrying a man the entire empire wanted dead.
She pushed forward, dodging between the trees as the shouts of knights echoed behind her.
Then, Riven stirred.
A low groan rumbled in his throat as his golden eyes flickered open.
"W-where…" His voice was hoarse, weak.
"No time to talk," Lyria hissed. "Unless you want both of us dead."
He blinked, confusion settling in his gaze. Then, as the realization of his surroundings hit, his body tensed. "The knights…"
"Yes, genius," she snapped. "And if you don't shut up and move, we're both going to end up as corpses."
Riven gritted his teeth. He tried to shift his weight, but his injuries were too severe.
"Stay still," Lyria ordered. "You're no good to either of us if you collapse."
A second arrow whistled through the air. This one grazed Lyria's arm, drawing a thin line of blood. She hissed but didn't slow down.
The knights weren't stopping.
"Close the gap! Don't let them escape!"
Lyria's mind raced. There was no way she could outrun them forever. They had horses. She had nothing but sheer determination and a half-dead warrior strapped to her back.
Then, she spotted it—a cliff's edge, overlooking a roaring river below.
It was a long drop. Maybe even fatal.
But between certain death and possible survival, she'd take her chances.
Riven must have sensed her intentions because he groaned. "You're not seriously thinking—"
She cut him off. "Hold your breath."
And with that, she leapt off the cliff.
---
Drowning in Fate
The wind howled as they plummeted. The rush of cold air stole the breath from her lungs. The river surged below, dark and unforgiving.
Then—impact.
The icy water swallowed them whole. The world became a blur of bubbles and darkness.
For a moment, there was nothing.
Then pain.
Lyria fought against the river's current, her lungs screaming for air. She felt Riven slip from her grasp and cursed.
No way.
She hadn't gone through all this just to let him drown.
Reaching out blindly, her fingers brushed against his wrist. She grabbed hold and pulled.
Her muscles burned, but she refused to let go.
With one last effort, she broke the surface, gasping for air. The river carried them downstream, the shouts of knights fading in the distance.
But the fight was far from over.
---
The Awakening
Hours later, they washed ashore on a secluded riverbank. The moon hung high, casting a silver glow over them.
Lyria rolled onto her back, chest rising and falling heavily. She was exhausted, drenched, and half-frozen.
Beside her, Riven stirred.
Slowly, painfully, he pushed himself up, coughing out water. His golden eyes glowed in the moonlight, filled with exhaustion and something else—curiosity.
"Why did you save me?" His voice was rough, but laced with something unreadable.
Lyria exhaled, turning her gaze to the sky.
"Because something tells me you're not the monster they claim you to be."
Silence stretched between them.
Then Riven chuckled, a deep, tired sound. "And if you're wrong?"
Lyria turned her head, meeting his gaze. In the soft moonlight, he didn't look like a demon. He looked like a man who had suffered.
"Then I'll kill you myself," she said simply.
Riven smirked. "Fair enough."
The night stretched on, the storm clouds rolling away. And though neither of them knew it yet, this night would mark the beginning of a bond that could change the fate of the world.
For better or for worse.