Winter had come early to the northern coast.
The shoreline was choked with ice and dead kelp, waves crashing weakly against frozen stone as the party made camp near the water's edge. The sky hung low and gray, offering no promise of warmth or mercy. Achilles divided their remaining rations carefully, counting twice before sealing the packs again.
They were not starving yet.
But winter had a way of accelerating hunger.
Cassia sat apart from the others, knees drawn close to her chest, staring at the fire without really seeing it. The flames danced and cracked, but the sound reminded her too much of screaming metal and breaking stone. She flinched when a log shifted.
No one noticed.
They were discussing routes—mountain passes, supply lines, how long dried food would last if the storms worsened. Practical things. Adult things. Things that had nothing to do with her.
Cassia wrapped her arms tighter around herself.
She wasn't supposed to be here.
The thought crept in quietly, without accusation. It felt obvious in a way that frightened her. She was a child. No matter how many times she reminded herself that she was a demon, that she was different, that she was useful, the truth refused to change.
She was a child being dragged through a war between gods and men.
She thought of Aerinaelia—not the city's fall, but before that. Before soldiers. Before fire. She remembered narrow streets and warm bread, remembered running without fear of being hunted. She remembered having a name that wasn't whispered with caution.
Her hand tightened around the dagger at her side.
This is wrong.
The realization settled fully then, heavy and undeniable.
She waited until the others were distracted. Achilles had turned his back. Jules was bent over the map. Artorius was adjusting his gear.
Cassia stood.
Her movements were careful, deliberate. She gathered food first—dried meat, hard bread—then a spare cloak and gloves. Her hands shook, but she forced herself to keep going. Every second she lingered made it harder.
She didn't look back when she ran.
The forest swallowed her almost immediately. Snow crunched beneath her boots as branches tore at her cloak and hair whipped wildly in the wind. She ran harder than she ever had before, lungs burning, heart hammering like it might burst.
She stumbled, nearly falling, then caught herself and kept going.
Just keep moving.
The cold bit through her clothes, but she barely felt it. The wind roared in her ears. For the first time in her life, there was no chain, no order, no expectation.
Only movement.
Only escape.
Maybe… maybe it'll be okay.
The thought was fragile. Dangerous. It cracked the moment she heard voices.
She skidded to a halt, breath caught in her throat.
Figures emerged from between the trees—three men, cloaked in patchwork armor, weapons drawn. Bandits. Their eyes lit up when they saw her, smiles sharp and hungry.
"Well, look at this," one of them said. "Lost little thing."
Cassia backed away instinctively, hand fumbling for her dagger. She didn't get the chance to run.
The world exploded.
A shrill, inhuman cry tore through the forest as something massive descended from above. The bandits barely had time to scream before they were torn apart, bodies crushed and flung aside like refuse.
Cassia froze.
The Celestial Beast stood before her, its form towering and distorted, wings carved of light and bone. Its eyes burned with unthinking divinity.
It turned toward her.
Cassia screamed and ran.
She didn't know where she was going anymore. Trees blurred past as terror consumed every thought. She had gone too far. She knew that now. Too far to turn back. Too far to be found.
An arrow struck the beast's flank.
It did nothing.
More arrows followed—useless, but distracting. Cassia glanced back and saw figures breaking through the trees.
Achilles. Jules. Artorius.
Relief nearly dropped her to her knees.
The battle erupted behind her—magic flaring, steel clashing, the beast shrieking as it lashed out. Cassia tried to help, tried to move, but her legs wouldn't obey. She stumbled instead, falling hard as her stolen supplies spilled into the snow.
The beast turned back toward her.
It lunged.
Cassia raised her arm instinctively.
Pain seared across her hand.
Light exploded.
A symbol burned itself into her skin, divine and unforgiving. She screamed as the mark etched itself into her flesh, something ancient recognizing her existence.
The Celestial Beast fell moments later, struck down by Jules' final spell.
Silence followed.
Cassia lay shaking in the snow, clutching her glowing hand, tears freezing on her cheeks.
She didn't feel free.
She didn't feel safe.
She felt marked.