LYRRISE'S POV...
The deeper we pressed into the forest, the darker the canopy grew. Branches clawed overhead, blotting out even the faint glow of the cursed sky.
My senses were sharp, every step deliberate. Something about this place whispered danger, and I could feel it—like threads of energy stretched taut, ready to snap.
"Ugh!" Selendra whined behind me. "How much longer? My heels were not made for cursed dirt paths."
I rolled my eyes. "Then stop dragging your feet. You'll—"
A sudden click echoed.
"—step on something," I finished with a sigh.
Before Selendra could scream, I yanked her by the arm just as the ground beneath her feet caved in, revealing a pit lined with spikes. She dangled against me, her face pale, clutching my sleeve.
"W-what the hell was that?!" she stammered.
"A trap," I said flatly, pulling her back to solid ground. "Try paying attention."
Selendra glared at me but stayed close. Yet not even ten steps later, another snap of tensioned wire sounded, and a rain of sharpened bones swung down from the branches above. I shoved her down, covering her with my arm as the bones clattered into the dirt.
Selendra gasped, trembling. "Okay, who designs a forest like this?! This is insane!"
"Someone who doesn't want us alive," I muttered.
She pouted, brushing dirt off her skirt. "Why aren't you getting caught in them?"
"Because I can sense them." My voice was calm, but my patience was thinning.
Her jaw dropped. "Oh, wow, you could've mentioned that earlier before I almost died—like three times already."
I smirked faintly. "Then stop being reckless."
Selendra crossed her arms, muttering under her breath about how unfair it was. But still, she stayed right behind me now, following my footsteps exactly.
Every trap we passed only confirmed it—this wasn't just some cursed land. This forest was designed as a test.
And we were only at the beginning.
The skeletons from earlier—those who once loosed arrows at us—emerged again from the shadows of the forest. Their hollow eyes glowed faintly blue, not with malice this time, but with something calmer… almost reverence.
Selendra stiffened at my side, her hand brushing the fan she always carried. "L-Lyrrise, why are they—?"
"Relax," I whispered, keeping my blade low but not raised. "They're not here to fight."
One of the skeletons bowed its head and motioned toward a jagged cliffside where an opening yawned like the mouth of some beast.
"They want us to follow," I said.
Selendra narrowed her eyes. "That cave screams trap. I'm not going in there."
I smirked. "You've said that before every step we've taken in this land."
Still muttering protests, Selendra trailed behind me as the skeletons led us into the cave. The air grew damp and heavy, torchlight flickering faintly against stone walls carved with ancient drawings.
Then a voice rasped, fragile yet steady. "So… the outsiders have come."
We turned, and my eyes landed on a hunched skeleton seated upon a stone chair, decorated with beads and faded cloth. Its bones were frail, but its voice carried weight.
"I am Marthisse," she introduced herself, the timbre of an old woman clinging to her tone despite her skeletal form.
Selendra immediately whispered, "Creepy grandmother vibes."
I elbowed her. "Shut it."
Marthisse raised a bony hand, pointing toward the wall behind her. Strange drawings covered the stone—figures, monsters, and in the center… a glowing crystal, fractured into shards.
"This," she said, her voice echoing softly, "is the Heart Gem. Long ago, it pulsed as the very soul of this land. Its light gave us seasons, crops, and warmth. We thrived under its blessing."
Her hollow sockets turned toward me.
"But greed destroyed what was sacred. A betrayer stole the gem, and in the struggle, it shattered. Pieces scattered across realms, and with its breaking, so too broke our humanity. We became what you see now—skeletons trapped in shadow, bound by curse."
I stepped closer, brushing my fingers along the etched lines of the drawings. The gem's fractured edges glowed faintly as if still alive.
"So," I muttered, my heart thudding, "to restore this land… I need to find every shard of the Heart Gem."
Marthisse nodded slowly. "Yes. Gather them all, and perhaps the curse can be undone. Fail, and this land remains a graveyard forever."
Selendra folded her arms. "Great. A scavenger hunt through a nightmare dimension. Just what I always wanted."
I ignored her sarcasm, eyes narrowing on the glowing drawing. For the first time, the path ahead felt clearer.
But it also meant the weight of this world—and its broken people—now rested on me.
Marthisse leaned forward in her stone seat, her bones creaking with the movement. From beneath a cloth, she drew out something that shimmered faintly in her skeletal hand—a shard of the Heart Gem.
The glow from it was softer than fire, a pale radiance that seemed to pulse with a heartbeat of its own. She extended it toward me.
"This," she said, "is the second piece. You have proven yourself worthy enough to hold it… for now."
I carefully took the shard into my hand, its warmth bleeding into my skin. My pouch now carried two of the gem's pieces. Somehow, they felt heavier than weapons.
"Do you carry a map?" Marthisse asked.
I nodded and pulled it out. Selendra raised her brows, whispering under her breath, "Of course you've been holding out on me."
Marthisse dragged a sharp bony finger across the parchment. With each touch, black ash-like marks bloomed upon the surface, shaping into symbols and warnings.
"Here," she rasped, pointing to jagged lines on the far east of the map. "You will face enemies stronger than you've yet encountered. Warriors cursed beyond recognition… they will not fall easily."
Her finger slid downward, halting over a massive dark blue blotch.
"And here lies the Ocean you must cross. But do not take it lightly—the bridge that once spanned its waters is broken. The sea rages like a storm without end, and beneath those waves sleep ancient creatures. Their hunger does not rest."
Selendra leaned closer, squinting. "You're saying we have to… swim through that? No thank you."
Marthisse ignored her complaints. "If you survive the crossing, you will see a land beyond—a frozen domain, where sunlight never pierces the clouds. It is a place of white death, of endless ice. There lies the third piece of the Heart Gem."
Her hand returned to her lap, the sound of bone on stone echoing in the cavern.
"One shard at a time. That is how you lift the curse."
I clenched the map, my eyes lingering on the ocean she marked. Storms, sea beasts, frozen wastelands—each word only reminded me how dangerous this path was going to be.
But still… I couldn't turn away now.
Selendra finally sighed, crossing her arms. "Great. First skeletons, then a bug-spider freak, and now sea monsters? I knew I should've stayed home."
I smirked faintly. "Too late for that."
Marthisse's sockets locked onto mine. "Be wary, Lyrrise. The gem tests not only your strength—but also your will. You will be tempted. You will be broken. But only one with unyielding resolve can piece it together."
Her voice echoed in the hollow chamber, heavy with warning.
And so, with the map newly marked and the shard pulsing at my side, I knew exactly where fate was pushing me next: the Ocean.
The path Marthisse showed us ended at the cliff of the Ocean, and the moment I laid eyes on it, I understood why she called it cursed.
The waters weren't blue—they were a violent black, frothing with foam as waves crashed and thundered against the broken remnants of a bridge that once stretched across the expanse. The air reeked of salt, and the sound of the ocean roared louder than any battlefield.
Selendra froze beside me, clutching her arms tightly. Her voice cracked as she pointed out into the raging waters.
"I swear I just saw something move—no, I heard it too! That was a roar, Lyrrise! Do you want to get swallowed whole?!"
I ignored her panic, kneeling down to remove my cloak, boots, and most of my belongings. I tied my katana tightly to my back, stripping myself down to what would not weigh me under.
Selendra rushed forward, grabbing my wrist before I could approach the cliff's edge.
"Are you insane?! You can't just—just jump in there like it's a bathhouse!"
I met her frantic eyes with a calmness I didn't even feel. "I'll be fine. You stay here with Marthisse. I'll bring back what we need."
"Lyrrise—"
"I'm not swimming," I cut her off, a smirk tugging at my lips despite the storm. "I'll run."
She blinked in disbelief, but before she could protest further, I dove straight into the black ocean.
The water swallowed me whole. It was freezing, biting into my skin like shards of ice. The deeper I sank, the heavier the silence pressed on my ears—until a faint glow caught my attention below.
A shard. Another piece of the Heart Gem, wedged deep into the seabed. My heart raced. So it wasn't only on the frozen land beyond—this cursed Ocean held one too.
I angled my body, pushing downwards… until the water itself seemed to darken around me.
Then I saw it.
A shape. A massive shadow, far larger than any ship, gliding through the abyss with a slowness that made my chest tighten. When its jaws opened, rows of teeth stretched wide enough to swallow me whole. Its body was a grotesque cross between a whale and something far more ancient—tentacles unfurled from its underbelly, writhing in the current.
My lungs burned, my instincts screamed. I couldn't fight it here—not in its domain.
I darted upward, kicking hard until I broke the surface, gasping for air.
But when I dared look down again—its glowing eyes locked onto me from the depths.
The sea monster surged forward, and I didn't hesitate. I twisted, letting its enormous body pass beneath me, the current dragging me off balance. My chest ached, but I forced myself to dive again, slipping into its shadow and kicking toward the seabed.
And there it was—the shard, pulsing faintly from where it was lodged in a jagged stone, waiting for me.
The deeper I swam, the darker it became, pressure crushing against my chest as though the ocean itself wanted to suffocate me. The shard glowed faintly below, almost within reach.
But then—
Pain.
A sudden force slammed into me, and before I could react, rows of jagged teeth tore into my arm. My scream was swallowed by the water, bubbles erupting around me as the sea monster clamped down and bit—
SNAP.
My world went white. My right arm was gone. Blood exploded into the water like a crimson cloud, staining everything around me. The agony was unbearable, threatening to drag me into unconsciousness.
Not here. Not now. I can't die here.
Through the haze, I forced my eyes open. The blood swirled thick around me, drifting upward in a scarlet bloom. And then—something inside me shifted.
I reached out—not with my missing arm, but with my will. My blood responded, spreading through the water, weaving like threads in a vast tapestry. The Ocean trembled at my command, the currents shifting with the crimson.
The monster lunged again, but the water itself bent to me. I dragged the blood forward, forcing it into tendrils that wrapped around the shard. My vision blurred, but I clenched my teeth, guiding it free from the seabed.
The gem pulsed in my grasp, glowing against the red-stained waters.
My chest screamed for air, my body screamed for rest. With what strength I had left, I kicked upward, the surface shimmering above like salvation.
When I finally broke through, I gasped raggedly, coughing blood into the salt air. My entire body shook. The shard was clutched against my chest, my right side numb where my arm used to be.
Somehow, I dragged myself onto the jagged shore. The world tilted. My vision went black at the edges.
Relief washed over me, but so did exhaustion.
At least… I made it back.
The shard gleamed faintly in my bloodied hand—
And then I collapsed, unconscious.
A shiver raced through me the moment my eyes fluttered open. The air was freezing, my breath visible in the dim, crystalline room. The walls glistened with layers of ice, reflecting faint streaks of light like diamonds.
I tried to move, wincing at the ache in my body, but then—
My breath caught.
Standing before me was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen in my life. Her long white hair shimmered as though woven from snow itself, cascading down her shoulders. A crown of ice, delicate yet sharp, rested upon her head, glowing faintly. Her dress flowed like frozen silk, glittering with frost, the same dazzling blue as the sea under moonlight. Even her lips—soft yet icy—were tinted a frosted blue.
Her figure was tall, curvaceous, graceful—almost divine. She looked like she stepped out of a dream, a goddess carved by winter itself.
And she was smiling at me.
When she moved closer, the cold around her seemed to shift, wrapping me not in frost, but in calm. She sat gracefully beside me, her presence both commanding and gentle.
"I am the queen of this island," she said, her voice melodic, ringing like delicate chimes carried by the wind. "I found you unconscious on the shore. You're far from home, little warrior."
I swallowed hard, realizing I had been staring too long. Heat rushed to my cheeks despite the cold. "I… I'm Lyrrise," I managed, my voice hoarse.
She tilted her head, her icy-blue eyes studying me intently. "Lyrrise…" She spoke my name like it was something precious. "Tell me, why have you come here?"
I told her everything—about the curse, the heart gem, my mission. Her lips parted slightly, surprise flashing in her gaze.
And then a realization hit me. If everyone in this land was cursed to be skeletons… then why was she not one of them?
I asked the question out loud, and her smile softened into something more mysterious.
"I am not like them," she answered, voice low, almost wistful. "I am a wonder born of the Heart Gem. When it was shattered, fragments of its essence scattered. I remained… waiting. Waiting for the one brave enough to piece it back together."
Her eyes locked with mine, sharp and enchanting. "If someone does… if someone gathers every piece with true bravery…" She leaned closer, her cool breath brushing against my skin. "I shall marry that person."
My heart stopped.
M-Marry?!
I blinked rapidly, my cheeks burning despite the cold. To marry a woman like her? Beautiful beyond words—otherworldly—like a goddess standing before me? My heart stuttered.
She noticed, of course. A soft, musical laugh escaped her lips as she watched me blush like a fool. Her icy fingers brushed lightly against my cheek, sending shivers down my spine.
"You are interesting, Lyrrise," she said, her gaze glittering with amusement.
The room shimmered with cold light as I found myself staring into the dazzling eyes of the woman who claimed to be the queen of this island. Her presence was overwhelming—like frost that could burn.
I swallowed, trying to collect myself before speaking. "What's your name?"
Her lips curved into a smile. With a graceful sweep of her hand, the frost around us shifted. Ice crystals spiraled upward, forming into a figure—two figures.
My breath caught.
It was… me.
And beside me—her.
An ice sculpture of us, dressed in ceremonial garments, standing together beneath an arch of frozen roses. Married.
She looked at her creation with an almost childlike delight, her blue lips parting in a soft laugh. "My name is Elira," she finally said. "And I would marry the one brave enough to gather all the pieces of the Heart Gem." Her gaze flicked to me, piercing and gentle all at once. "You, Lyrrise."
My eyes widened, heat rushing to my face. "M-Marry you?" I stammered, my voice breaking as I blinked rapidly, staring between her and the figures.
Elira's smile deepened, her icy fingers brushing the sculpted version of me. "Yes. In exchange for the bravery you've already shown… and the bravery you will need for what comes next."
I clenched my fists, my heart racing. She was stunning—otherworldly—but no. That wasn't why I was here.
"I don't…" I exhaled sharply, forcing my voice steady. "I don't have any interest in marrying anyone. All I want is to lift this curse."
For a moment, silence stretched.
Then Elira tilted her head, studying me like I was something curious. The ice figures shimmered and cracked slightly at her side. "You speak with such certainty," she murmured. "Perhaps that is why you intrigue me, Lyrrise."
A dull ache spread through my body as I shifted upright. My right side felt strangely light. I looked down—
—and froze.
My right arm… was gone.
All that remained was a carefully wrapped bandage, stained faintly with red.
Elira's icy expression faltered, her calm demeanor cracking into genuine worry. She leaned closer, her crystalline crown catching the dim light. "Lyrrise… your arm. You've lost too much. You cannot fight like this."
I inhaled sharply. "Watch me."
Without hesitation, I ripped off the bandages. My blood gushed freely—and then, at my command, it surged outward. Veins of crimson twisted and hardened, shaping themselves into flesh and bone, weaving tendons, forming fingers. Within moments… a new arm.
Whole. Strong. Mine.
Elira gasped softly, her sapphire eyes widening. "You… regenerated yourself."
I flexed the new hand, the weight settling comfortably into my body again. "This is nothing new. My blood listens to me."
Her gaze lingered, no longer simply curious but something deeper—captivated. A slow, almost reverent smile spread across her lips. "You continue to astonish me. Each time I think I've seen the limit of your power, you reveal something more. Lyrrise…" Her voice lowered, almost intimate. "I find myself falling for you more and more."
I ignored the heat rushing to my face and shook my head, forcing the conversation back to what mattered. "I don't care about that. Just tell me where the next piece of the Heart Gem is."
Elira's eyes sparkled, amused by my stubbornness. "Very well. You will need more than ten pieces in total. But there is good news." She extended her slender hand, her fingers curling elegantly as five shards of the Heart Gem floated above her palm, glimmering like frozen stars.
My eyes widened. "You already have five…?"
She nodded, her lips curving. "Yes. And you have found three on your own. That makes eight pieces gathered."
I exhaled sharply, a mix of relief and weariness pressing against me. "So I still have a long way to go."
Elira tilted her head, her icy hair falling over her shoulder like a waterfall of snow. "Yes. But perhaps… it will not feel so long, if we walk that path together."