In the sacred forest where no mortal dares to tread,
she—Lynda, the guardian dryad—chooses to save a dying half-demon marked as forbidden.
He—Kios, hunted by both humans and demons—carries the weight of a cursed fate upon his shoulders.
That single encounter will forever alter their destinies, binding them to a war between Heaven, mankind, and the abyss.
Amid betrayal, forbidden love, and sacrifice,
will the dryad protect her forest—or her heart?
And will the outcast half-demon fall into darkness… or rise as the hero the world never knew it needed?
The sacred forest slept beneath a silver full moon. The wind whispered through towering trees, carrying the scent of damp soil and fresh leaves. Yet the tranquility shattered—echoes of frantic footsteps and ragged breaths broke the silence.
A tall young man emerged from the shadows. His long black hair clung to his bloodied face, and his crimson eyes glowed faintly in the dark. His clothes were torn, his body battered, his veins burning with corrupted energy. He was Kios—the half-demon, hunted by all.
"Don't let him escape!"
Voices thundered from behind, accompanied by the pounding rhythm of armored boots.
A flaming arrow whizzed past his cheek, slicing open his skin. Black blood dripped onto the earth, sizzling where it fell.
Kios gritted his teeth. His strength waned, and with every step, the demonic blood inside him seethed like fire, threatening to consume the last shred of his humanity.
He stumbled—caught by a massive root—and crashed onto the ground with a harsh thud. Gasping for breath, he crawled toward a colossal tree bathed in moonlight… before his body finally gave out.
He thought this would be the end.
But then—
A gentle voice pierced the night.
"You who trespass… this forest belongs to me."
From the silver glow, a figure emerged. A woman of ethereal beauty, her pale skin glowing softly, her long dark-green hair flowing like a river of leaves. Her eyes carried the depth of an ancient forest. She was Lynda—guardian dryad of the sacred woods.
Kios forced himself to look at her, his voice hoarse. "End me… before they come."
She stood silent for a moment. She should reject him. Cast him out. Let him die. Half-demons had no place in this forest.
And yet… something in his pained gaze struck her heart.
She knelt beside him, her delicate hand brushing over his wound. Roots rose from the soil at her command, curling around his torn flesh, halting the flow of blood.
His crimson eyes widened. "You… help me?"
"I only wish to keep your tainted blood from defiling this land," Lynda answered softly. But her cheeks betrayed her, tinged faintly with red.
The hunters' voices grew louder, drawing near. Lynda rose, extending her hand. At once, the trees trembled. Roots burst upward, forming an impenetrable wall of living wood that sealed the path.
The hunters cursed outside. "The forest itself bars us—retreat!"
Their footsteps faded into the darkness.
Silence returned.
Kios stared at the dryad before him, crimson eyes flickering with confusion and weakness.
"Why… why didn't you kill me?"
Lynda did not answer. Instead, her gaze lifted to the silver moon above, as though questioning her own heart.
And in that quiet night—
A fragile bond was born.