Chapter 1 — Arrival in Shadows
The forest had been her only home for as long as she could remember. Every branch, every whisper of leaves, was familiar… until now.
She stumbled over roots and rocks, her small feet muddy, hair tangled, and clothes torn from the relentless path. Her breath came in short, nervous gasps as she pushed through the underbrush, unaware of where she was heading—or what awaited her.
Then she saw it: a clearing bathed in the pale light of dusk, and in the center, a ruined castle rising like a shadow against the sky. Vines clung to the walls, and blackened stone spoke of battles long past. The air felt heavy, thick with magic that prickled her skin.
She froze, unsure whether to step forward or flee. But before she could decide, a deep, commanding voice rang out.
"You there. Stop."
Her heart skipped. From the shadowed entrance of the castle emerged a man unlike any she had seen. Two meters tall, broad-shouldered, with black curly hair that shimmered in the dying light. His eyes—yellow, sharp, unyielding—locked onto her like a hunter assessing its prey.
Fear and awe froze her to the spot. She could feel his power radiating off him, and yet… there was something else in that gaze, something that made her chest tighten.
"You're filthy," he said simply, stepping closer. Every movement was controlled, deliberate, like a predator circling. "And small."
"I-I'm sorry," she whispered, looking down at her muddy hands and the leaves tangled in her hair. Her voice was soft, almost a squeak.
He studied her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, unexpectedly, he motioned toward the castle.
"Come inside. You'll not survive the night out here."
She blinked. Inside? With him? But there was no time to protest. She obeyed, following cautiously as he led her through the massive, crumbling gates.
Inside, the castle was both awe-inspiring and intimidating. Shadows danced across the stone walls, and faint glimmers of magic floated in the air. The smell of old incense and something wild filled her senses.
He guided her to a room tucked in one wing—small, modest, yet clean. He gestured to a bed with a simple blanket.
"You'll stay here," he said, voice low, unwavering. "You'll eat when I say. You'll sleep when I command. You will not wander."
She nodded quickly, her small hands clutched together. "Y-yes, my lord."
He turned to leave, then paused, eyes flicking briefly toward her. She felt her cheeks warm under his gaze. Something unspoken hung in the air—his authority, his power… and a strange curiosity directed at her tiny, timid form.
When the door closed behind him, she sank onto the bed. Mud-stained and trembling, she hugged her knees, staring at the flickering shadows. The castle was dark and dangerous, yet… safe, for now.
And though she did not understand it yet, a spark of something new stirred within her—a blend of fear, wonder, and an unfamiliar feeling that made her pulse quicken.
Somehow, she knew this towering, dominant stranger was now entwined with her fate. And in the heart of shadows, under the watch of the Black Panther leader, her life would never be the same.