*"I don't care what you think—I love Richard, and I believe he loves me too,"* a young girl said to her father with a glare, clearly displeased.
The old man opposite her was left speechless for a long time before he muttered in a low voice, *"Phoebe, you know nothing about Richard. He is the son of King Wood. Do you really trust him that much?"*
*"Yes, Dad. He promised that I will be the only woman in his life, that he would spend his entire life with me. We've been friends for years now—at least I know him very well."* By this point, she was on the verge of tears as she whispered, *"Dad, please..."*
Seeing her indignant expression, he couldn't help but sigh. *"You trust him to such a point, even going against my will. But the main question is—would he be faithful to you? Hah."* He muttered to himself, shaking his head.
If one looked closely, they would realize he was the same man who had once ventured into the woods with a little girl—only now, his face bore the marks of age. He gazed into the distance as his daughter walked farther away, her youthful vigor seemingly faded. His eyes reddened as he closed them, missing his wife dearly. Sigh.
---
Meanwhile, Phoebe was walking along the lone road when a young man with pale blue hair and pale eyes appeared before her, smiling. His speed was unimaginable, causing her to yelp in surprise—but soon, she smiled. Richard!
*"Are you done talking with your dad?"* the young man asked.
(◠‿・)—☆
*"Yeah,"* she replied, her face reddening as she blushed.
*"Uhh... How about we go out for a walk?"* he said.
She nodded.
Hugging her in his arms, he sprinted at a speed beyond human comprehension, disappearing from sight.
---
Outside the city gate, two figures suddenly appeared—yet the crowd entering the city remained unfazed.
*"Where are we going?"* she asked, curiosity reflecting in her gaze.
*"As I said before, we're going on a walk,"* he replied in a tender voice, his smile never fading. He looked happy and full of energy.
*"So... this should be our first date, then?"* she asked again, her heart pounding with anticipation.
He replied with a wink. (◠‿◕)
*"Come on, let's go to the woods."*
*"Okay, anywhere you go,"* she replied.
Hand in hand, they trekked toward the woods—a peculiar scene indeed.
---
*"Hey, I've been here before... about 12 years ago."*
*"What happened then?"*
*"Uhh... we were looking for an herb to cure my mother's illness."* Her voice grew quiet at this point. *"But unfortunately, she died before we reached home."* Tears dripped down her face.
*"Emm... I'm sorry for that. I shouldn't have asked,"* he said, his expression tender as he held her tightly. *"You should forget about the past. Let's focus on the future—our future."*
She nodded with a smile.
*"Umm, let's see what's down there,"* he suddenly said, running toward a crater in the distance. *"Come on!"*
Looking at the crater, she felt a strange familiarity before realization dawned on her face. Yet she said nothing as they entered. Strangely, the passage of time had transformed the crater—plants had grown over it, turning it into a beautiful spot for a picnic.
He turned to her with a smile. *"I prepared this place for us. I just came across it by accident—I hope you like it."* He chuckled.
*"Yeah, it's a beautiful pl—"*
Before she could finish, the earth suddenly trembled, her heart tightening as her expression darkened.
Richard scrambled toward her, pulling her out of the crater in a breath's time. Within moments, they were far away.
*"Huu..."* Richard breathed heavily, muttering, *"What just happened?"* Fear flickered in his eyes as dust filled the air, the tremors growing even more intense.
His expression darkened. *"It's getting worse,"* he muttered, dragging Phoebe with him as he ran at top speed.
*"Wait..."* Phoebe suddenly said, stunning him. He looked at her strangely. *"Why should we stop?"* he frowned.
*"Let's take a look. If it gets dangerous, we'll go back."*
After hesitating, he nodded. *"Okay."*
The trembling intensified as footsteps approached. A group of guards sprinted toward them, worry etched on their faces.
The fastest among them closed in. *"Young Master, you must return to the palace at once. Your father is waiting for you."*
Richard hesitated before glancing at Phoebe and nodding. *"General Shaw, wait a moment,"* he replied with a frown.
*"What the.....?"* The guard's face darkened as he noticed Phoebe, but he said nothing, instead ordering his men to investigate the source of the tremors.
Suddenly, the earth cracked violently—as if giant hands were tearing it apart. Shrill shrieks echoed around them, and the guards' expressions turned grim with dread.
*"Prepare for battle!"* the general barked, his face shadowed with unease. *"Is this a beast attack?"* He wasn't sure.