š
The night did not end.
Even after the beast fellā¦
even after the soldiers slowly returned to their dutiesā
Sleep never came.
Not to the camp.
Not to her.
---
The fire had long died out.
The sky had shifted from deep black to a muted grey, the first signs of dawn creeping in.
But Rosyā
no,
Isleā
hadn't moved.
---
She stood at the edge of the forest, exactly where the beast had fallen.
Its body was gone.
Not dragged.
Not cleaned.
Not even a trace of blood remained.
---
"ā¦It disappeared," she murmured.
---
"Of course it did."
---
That voice again.
Always there.
Always watching.
---
She didn't turn.
"You knew."
---
A pause.
Thenā
"I suspected."
---
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"That wasn't a normal creature."
---
"No," he agreed.
"It wasn't."
---
Silence stretched between them.
But this timeā
It wasn't tension.
---
It was realization.
---
"ā¦You said this world is a prison," she said slowly.
---
"Yes."
---
"And I was sealed."
---
"Yes."
---
She finally turned.
Her expression calm.
Too calm.
---
"Then explain something."
---
He met her gaze.
---
"Why is everything trying to kill me?"
---
A small smile formed on his lips.
---
"Because you're waking up."
---
The answer came too easily.
Too smoothly.
---
Rosy frowned.
"That doesn't make sense."
---
"It does," he replied, stepping closer. "You just don't have enough pieces yet."
---
Her patience thinned.
"Then give me one."
---
For a momentā
He was silent.
---
Thenā
"ā¦Names hold power."
---
She blinked.
"ā¦What?"
---
"Your name," he continued, his voice quieter now. "Not the one they call you."
---
A step closer.
---
"The one you've forgotten."
---
Her breath slowed.
---
"ā¦Isle Blackwell is my name."
---
He shook his head.
---
"That's the one they gave you."
---
A pause.
---
"Not the one you were born with."
---
Something inside herā
Shifted.
---
Not violently.
---
But deeply.
---
Like a locked doorā
Just barely trembling.
---
"ā¦That's impossible," she said.
---
But her voice lacked certainty.
---
He noticed.
Of course he did.
---
"Is it?"
---
Silence.
---
Because the truth wasā
---
She didn't know.
---
---
Before she could respondā
---
"Grand Duke!"
---
A soldier rushed toward them, breath uneven, urgency clear.
---
Rosy turned immediately.
"What is it?"
---
"The northern outpost has sent word," he said quickly. "Another attackāthis time on the inner supply line."
---
Her expression hardened instantly.
---
"How far?"
---
"Less than a day's distance."
---
A beat.
---
Closer.
---
Much closer.
---
"ā¦They're not testing anymore," she said quietly.
---
"No," the man beside her agreed.
---
"They're escalating."
---
---
Rosy turned back toward the camp.
Her mind already moving.
Fast.
Precise.
---
"Prepare the troops," she ordered.
"Half will remain here. The rest move with me."
---
"Yes, Grand Duke!"
---
The soldier rushed off.
---
Silence returned.
---
"ā¦You're walking into it," he said.
---
She didn't deny it.
---
"I know."
---
A pause.
---
"They want me to react."
---
Another step.
---
"Then don't."
---
She glanced at him.
---
"That's not an option."
---
A faint smile.
---
"It never is for you."
---
---
The march began within the hour.
---
This timeā
It was different.
---
No uncertainty.
No hesitation.
---
The soldiers followed her without question.
Without doubt.
---
Because they had seen it.
---
What she could do.
---
What she was.
---
---
The path to the inner supply line was narrow.
Surrounded by cliffs.
Perfect for an ambush.
---
Rosy slowed her horse.
---
"They chose this place intentionally," she said.
---
"Yes," the man replied casually.
---
"They're getting bolder."
---
Her eyes scanned the terrain.
---
"ā¦No."
---
A pause.
---
"They're getting desperate."
---
---
The moment the words left her mouthā
---
The ground beneath them shifted.
---
Not violently.
---
But unnaturally.
---
Like something beneath itā
Was moving.
---
"STOP!"
---
Her voice cut through instantly.
---
The entire formation halted.
---
Too late.
---
The earth cracked open.
---
A deep, splitting sound tore through the air as the ground beneath the front line collapsed.
---
Horses screamed.
Soldiers fell.
---
"BACKā!"
---
But there was no space.
No time.
---
The trap had already been set.
---
And they had walked straight into it.
---
---
From the cliffs aboveā
---
Figures appeared.
---
Dozens.
---
Cloaked.
Armed.
Silent.
---
Watching.
---
"ā¦Finally," one of them said.
---
Rosy's eyes narrowed.
---
"Not hiding anymore."
---
---
The leader stepped forward.
Face still hidden.
But presenceā
Heavy.
---
"We were wondering when you'd arrive, Grand Duke."
---
Her grip tightened on the reins.
---
"ā¦You've been expecting me."
---
A soft chuckle.
---
"Of course."
---
A pause.
---
"You're the only one who matters."
---
---
The words echoed strangely.
---
Too intentional.
---
Too specific.
---
---
"ā¦You talk like you know me," she said.
---
A beat.
---
Thenā
---
"We do."
---
---
Something in her chest tightened.
---
Not fear.
---
Recognition.
---
Faint.
---
Unclear.
---
But there.
---
---
The man beside her stepped slightly forward.
---
"ā¦Careful," he murmured.
---
Rosy didn't respond.
---
Her eyes were locked on the enemy.
---
"ā¦What do you want?" she asked.
---
The leader tilted his head slightly.
---
"Not what."
---
A pause.
---
"Who."
---
---
Silence.
---
Thenā
---
"You."
---
---
The air grew heavy again.
---
The same feeling.
---
The same pressure.
---
---
"ā¦Everyone wants me," Rosy said calmly.
---
Her voice steady.
Unshaken.
---
"But no one says why."
---
---
The leader smiled faintly beneath the mask.
---
"That's because you're not supposed to know."
---
---
Her eyes darkened.
---
"ā¦Then I'll find out."
---
---
A beat.
---
Thenā
---
"Kill her."
---
---
The command droppedā
---
And chaos followed.
---
Arrows rained down.
Blades flashed.
The battlefield erupted again.
---
But this timeā
---
It wasn't a test.
---
It was a hunt.
---
---
Rosy moved instantly.
---
Not reacting.
---
Leading.
---
Her sword cut through the first attacker cleanlyā
Her movements faster than before.
Sharper.
---
More certain.
---
Because something had changed.
---
She wasn't questioning anymore.
---
She wasn't hesitating.
---
---
She wasā
---
Becoming.
---
---
"Stay behind me!" a knight shouted.
---
But she was already ahead.
---
Far ahead.
---
---
The enemy moved differently.
---
Not reckless.
---
Coordinated.
---
Every strikeā
Calculated.
---
---
"They're trained for you," she realized.
---
A pause.
---
"ā¦Specifically."
---
---
The man beside her smiled faintly.
---
"Of course they are."
---
---
Rosy's eyes gleamed.
---
"ā¦Then let's not disappoint them."
---
---
Her power surged again.
---
Stronger this time.
---
Less restrained.
---
Moreā¦ familiar.
---
---
And as the battle intensifiedā
---
Deep within herā
---
Something began to break.
---
Not violently.
---
Not suddenly.
---
---
But inevitably.
---
---
A seal.
---
---
And when it didā
---
Everything would change.
---
---
End of Chapter 10