The dawn mist draped the forest path in a silvery glow, making every tree seem strange and silent. Elsa quickened her pace, her satchel of medicinal herbs weighing heavily on her shoulder. She knew the dangers of Elyndra's woods: wild beasts, bandits… and something even darker that sometimes lurked unseen.
Then she saw him. Lying between two trees, a motionless figure, bloodied, a shadow among the leaves. His torn clothes were luxurious but dirt-stained. Elsa's heart skipped a beat: this was no ordinary villager or wanderer… he was someone important.
She knelt, hands trembling. "Hey… can you hear me?" she asked softly. The man groaned weakly, a warm breath escaping his pale lips. Dried blood obscured his features, but something in his eyes caught her attention. Pain… and something else—a suppressed fire, a spark ready to ignite despite the storm.
Elsa didn't hesitate. She pulled out her bandages, carefully cleaned his wounds, whispering soothing words. Every motion was precise, every gesture measured. She knew that if she failed, he would die here, alone in the mist.
As she worked, she felt a presence. Someone—or something—watching them from the trees. Her instincts screamed danger. Yet she had to focus on the wounded man.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice soft yet firm, anchoring in the chaos. He didn't respond, only a faint groan. But when she touched his hand, an unusual warmth surged through her fingers, as if contact had awakened something inside him… something alive, intense.
The wind carried distant sounds: hooves, voices, and a faint, unplaceable cry. Elsa's chest tightened. She had a choice: stay here alone with this mysterious stranger, or flee before danger caught up to them.
She clenched her jaw. Danger could wait. This man needed her. And deep down, she knew that saving his life would change everything.
As she finished wrapping him in her cloak, their eyes met for the first time. A spark, a warning, a mystery. He whispered in a hoarse voice, "…Thank you… but… not my name…"
The man's breath hitched as a sinister crack echoed behind them. Someone was coming. Elsa realized the dawn mist would not protect them this time.
Cliffhanger: A silhouette slowly emerged from the trees, weapon gleaming in the rising sun, and Elsa felt their destiny shift forever…