The forest had been calm only moments ago.
Sunlight filtered through the tall canopy in broken shards of gold, birds chirping somewhere high above as the four of them moved along the narrow trail toward the southern kingdom. The air was warm, quiet almost too quiet.
Seraphina walked beside Princess Eirlys, her voice soft, offering comfort, though her own mind remained alert. Cassian's voice soon broke the stillness.
"Sera! Come here for a moment. We need to talk."
She sighed but went to him anyway. "What?"
He hesitated, giving her an almost ridiculous look—wide eyes, feigned innocence.
"Hey… there is an inn after a few hours, I guess, so the thing is…"
"God…" she exhaled sharply. "Is it coins?"
"Yes… sorry, I forgot mine at the kingdom. Hehe…"
"You're a grown man. Keep your things in check," she muttered, handing him a small pouch of gold.
"Tch. Thanks."
Silence returned as they continued walking.
"So…" Seraphina started.
"No."
She turned to him slowly, her stare sharp enough to cut.
Cassian smirked. "Just kidding—you can say anything you want, Your Highness~"
She clenched her fist, resisting the urge to hit him.
Then—
A rustle.
Sharp. Sudden.
"Eh…?"
The bushes exploded with movement.
A figure in black lunged toward them.
"Watch out—!"
Seraphina shoved Eirlys aside. Pain tore through her shoulder as a blade sliced across it. She stumbled, breath catching, while Eirlys hit the ground.
"Fuck!" Cassian snapped, already moving, a knife flashing from his sleeve.
Steel met steel as he and Lorenzo engaged the attackers.
Seraphina forced herself upright despite the burning in her arm and rushed to Eirlys, helping her stand—only for more shadows to emerge.
Women this time.
Silent. Deadly.
One lunged at Seraphina. She twisted away at the last second, grabbing the attacker's wrist and wrenching it hard. The dagger clattered to the ground.
The woman retaliated instantly—a sharp kick.
Seraphina spun, barely dodging, her breath uneven. Another slash—this time the strange curved dagger tore deeper into her arm.
A gasp escaped her lips, but she bit it back, forcing herself steady.
Then she moved.
Fast.
Her knife flashed from her waistband, meeting the attacker's blade with a sharp clang. The fight turned close—too close. Their movements blurred into a deadly rhythm.
Strike. Block. Step. Turn.
The assassin was precise, her dagger weaving unpredictable arcs, forcing Seraphina back. But Seraphina adapted—watching, learning. She shifted her stance, baiting an opening.
The woman lunged.
Seraphina sidestepped.
Their blades locked for a split second—then Seraphina twisted sharply, driving her knife forward.
A clean strike.
The assassin froze—then collapsed.
Seraphina exhaled, chest rising and falling rapidly, before her eyes snapped toward Eirlys.
"Eirlys—!"
A masked man had her.
Dragging her away.
Before Seraphina could move—
Cassian surged forward like a storm.
His blade cut through the man's arm in one swift motion. Blood sprayed as he yanked Eirlys free, pulling her behind him.
The remaining assassins retreated, melting back into the forest.
Silence fell again.
But this time, it was heavy.
Eirlys collapsed.
Lorenzo caught her instantly, lowering her gently, her head resting in his lap. Cassian checked her pulse, his expression tightening.
Seraphina moved toward them, but pain shot up her arm, forcing her to stop. She clenched her jaw, stepping aside to quickly tear fabric from her clothing, binding the wound tightly despite the sting.
Then she returned.
Eirlys was pale.
Too pale.
"Oh no… we have to get her to a doctor quickly," Seraphina said, kneeling beside her.
But something was… wrong.
Her teeth.
"…What in the—"
Fangs.
Sharp. Elongating.
Cassian blinked. "Is this what they call vampires in the stories?"
"Cassian! Not the time!" Lorenzo and Seraphina snapped together.
Before they could react further—
The wound on Eirlys's waist began to heal.
Slowly. Unnaturally.
Her eyes opened.
Red.
"I'm… thirsty…"
The three of them froze.
"Eirlys… you mean water?" Lorenzo asked carefully.
She shook her head.
A silence fell that felt suffocating.
Seraphina's heart dropped.
No.
She saw it—the way Eirlys's gaze fixed on Cassian.
Distant. Hungry.
"Cassian—"
Too late.
Eirlys moved with unnatural speed, grabbing his arm and pulling him down. He fell forward—and she bit into his neck.
"Eirlys, no! Come back to your senses—!"
"It's fine, sister," Cassian said softly, oddly calm. "I don't mind getting bitten by my lady."
"This is not the time to—"
"Princess Seraphina," Lorenzo interrupted coldly, "if your brother has no issue, you should not interfere."
She shot him a sharp glare.
Tch. This— no. Control yourself.
"Very well," she said icily. "I'll let her bite my dear brother."
A strange calm followed.
Then—
Laughter.
Soft.
Eirlys pulled back, wiping the blood from her lips, resting her head against Cassian's shoulder. He stroked her hair gently, as if nothing had happened.
Seraphina stared.
"What in the…"
"You two are so funny," Cassian said, chuckling. "Arguing like that."
"I mean," Eirlys added with a teasing smile, "you look so hot, future sister-in-law."
"Screw you—"
"Mind your language, princess," Lorenzo said, placing a hand over her mouth.
She immediately slapped it away. "Tch."
He rolled his eyes.
Behind them, Cassian and Eirlys watched like spectators enjoying a play.
And then—
Seraphina's vision shifted.
Her gaze dropped to her arm.
The wound.
It wasn't just a wound anymore.
The edges had darkened—veins spreading outward in thin, shadow-like lines beneath her skin. The flesh around it pulsed faintly, as if something alive was buried within.
Her breath stilled.
This was no ordinary injury.
Something had been left inside her.
Something… wrong.
Narrator:
What could it be...?