Lyria's POV
My fingers never once left the necklace around my neck as though reassuring myself it was truly there.. The night garden had become quieter after my conversation with Raven.
Raven sat beside me silently, her golden eyes calmly watching the night sky above the garden.
Everything felt peaceful.
Then the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the stone path nearby.
Raven noticed them immediately before I did.
Her gaze shifted toward the entrance of the garden just as two familiar figures appeared beneath the glow of the mana lamps.
Kara and Kalina.
Kalina walked beside Kara with her usual confident posture while Kara immediately crossed her arms after spotting us sitting together near the back of the garden.
A teasing smirk slowly appeared on Kara's face. "Well now," she said casually while approaching us, "looks like you two were having fun alone."
Her eyes moved between me and Raven suspiciously. "What were you talking about?"
I instantly looked away in embarrassment while Raven answered without the slightest reaction. "We were discussing our next move."
Kalina stepped closer curiously. "And what exactly is our next move?"
Raven leaned back slightly against the bench before answering calmly. "The most important thing right now is confirming whether my theory is correct."
The playful atmosphere disappeared immediately.
"You mean…" Kara started quietly.
Raven nodded once. "We need to capture one of those creatures alive."
Kalina crossed her arms thoughtfully. "So what's the plan?"
Raven spoke calmly as though discussing something simple. "You and Kara will head toward the caves in the western forest."
Kalina raised an eyebrow. "And then?"
"You'll observe only," Raven said firmly. "Do not engage unless necessary."
Kara narrowed her eyes slightly. "And what about you?"
Raven's golden eyes shifted briefly toward me. "When the Princess and I were walking through the city earlier," she explained, "we noticed several people following us."
Raven stood slowly from the bench. "So while you two monitor the caves…" A faint dangerous smile appeared briefly on her lips. "I'll pay our observers a little visit."
"I'm coming too," I said immediately.
Kara turned toward me so quickly I nearly laughed. "What?"
"I said I'm coming too."
Raven glanced at me calmly. "If you want to."
"Of course I want to."
Kara immediately frowned deeply. "No,That's dangerous." Her tone became far more serious now. "It would be safer if you remained inside the mansion."
Before I could answer, Raven spoke first. "She'll be fine with me."
I quickly stepped in before the argument could continue. "I'll be okay with Raven," I said reassuringly. "So don't worry."
Kara stared at me for several seconds before finally sighing heavily in defeat. Then she looked directly at Raven. "If something happens," she said seriously, "protect her with your life if necessary."
Raven nodded once without hesitation.
"I will."
Kalina watched the exchange quietly before suddenly smiling. "Well then," she said lightly, "Kara and I will head to the caves first." Her blue eyes shifted toward Raven briefly. "We'll wait for your arrival."
Raven nodded.
With that, Kara and Kalina finally turned and disappeared deeper into the garden path beneath the moonlight.
Then Raven looked toward me. "What do you think about changing into something easier to move in?"
A smile immediately appeared on my face. The nervous excitement inside me only grew stronger now that this was actually happening.
"Okay."
Without wasting more time, we headed back toward the mansion together.
The servants seemed surprised seeing us return only briefly before immediately preparing a room for me to change. I quickly replaced my royal clothing with darker, lighter travel clothes more suitable for moving around unnoticed.
When I stepped out of the room again, Raven was already waiting outside the door silently.
For a moment she looked at me quietly before tossing something toward me.
I caught it instinctively. A dark hooded cloak.
"So nobody recognizes the Princess wandering around the city at night," Raven explained calmly.
I smiled while putting it on.
Raven simply adjusted the hood over my head slightly before turning toward the hallway.
"Ready?"
I looked toward Raven and smiled.
"Ready."
together, beneath the silence of the sleeping mansion and the pale glow of the moon outside—We left for the city where our targets were hiding.
The streets of Velmora felt completely different at night. Durwing the day the city had been lively despite the fear hanging over its people. But now The warmth was gone.
Most shops had already closed their doors, and only a few mana lanterns illuminated the stone streets with dim blue light. Cold wind moved through the narrow alleys carrying distant sounds of conversations, footsteps, and drunken laughter escaping from taverns scattered across the city.
For couple minutes we wandered through different streets following the faint trail Raven seemed to sense. Like a predator following wounded prey.
Raven walked beside me beneath her dark cloak then looked at me and ask. " Are you feeling cold, Princess?."
"Yes, just a little." I told her even though I don't feel cold. " My hand is slightly cold, May I hold your hand? Perhaps I'll feel a little warmth.
Raven looked at me, raised an eyebrow, then giggled, shook her head and said, "Put your hand under your cloak, you'll be fine."
I pouted at her, "What's wrong with me holding your hand?"
She said calmly, "We're here on a mission, and there's no time to play around ."
I moved so close to her that our shoulders were touching and said with grin , "So you're saying I can hold your hand when we're not on a mission?"
Raven lightly bumped my shoulder against hers and said, "Don't twist my words, and stay alert. I found them, They're nearby."
A few moments later we turned around a corner and found them. Three men sitting together inside a crowded tavern. One of them laughed loudly while drinking from a mug. Another kept glancing around cautiously.
Raven only looked at them once before speaking quietly. " we have to go inside, are you okay with that."
I nodded and said, "yeah it's okay,I have no problem."
Raven said, "Okay then, but keep your head down."
We headed toward the tavern entrance. The moment we entered, noise and heat immediately surrounded us.
The tavern was crowded with mercenaries, hunters, drunk travelers, and exhausted workers. Loud laughter echoed through the room while the smell of alcohol and roasted meat filled the air.
No one paid attention to us. Which was exactly what Raven wanted. She calmly chose a table near the three men—Close enough to hear them clearly.
We sat down silently. A waitress approached us shortly after.
Raven glanced toward me briefly. "What do you want to drink?"
"…I don't know, anything is fine."
A faint amused smile appeared on her lips. "Bring her something light." Then she added calmly. "And water for me."
The waitress nodded and left. A few moments later our drinks arrived.
I carefully tasted the beer and immediately frowned slightly at the bitterness while Raven quietly drank water.
I smiled and said, "This is the second time I've come to a tavern, and both times it's been with you."
Raven looked at me and said with a smile, "I hate to tell you this princess , but we didn't come here to enjoy ourselves like last time, Therefore, there is no room for getting drunk, because we have a monster to catch after this.
I sighed and said, "Yes, yes, I know that. At least let me enjoy this glass of beer."
Raven laughed softly and said, " go ahead and enjoy your drink."
For almost an hour The three men talked quietly between themselves, though most of their conversation was meaningless complaints about money, fear, and the recent chaos in the city.
But one thing became obvious. They were nervous. And every now and then one of them glanced subtly around the tavern as though expecting someone to appear.
Eventually one of them stood. "We should go."The other two immediately agreed.
Raven placed a few coins on the table before standing smoothly. "Come on."
I followed her out silently into the cold night air.
The three men walked quickly through the streets, unaware we were following them from a distance.
At some point my hand instinctively moved toward my waist—Only for me to suddenly freeze. I forgot my sword. I looked at Raven immediately.
"I forgot to bring my sword."
Raven didn't even look concerned.
"There won't be any fighting."
Then after a short pause she reached behind her back and pulled one of her daggers free before handing it toward me.
"Still," she said calmly, "you'll probably feel safer with this."
I carefully accepted it.
Unlike the dark crystal dagger Raven have, this one had a deep purple crystal embedded near the handle. The weapon felt strangely light in my hand.
"Thank you," I whispered quietly.
Raven simply nodded before continuing forward.
We followed the men deeper into quieter parts of the city until eventually they entered a narrow alleyway untouched by the nearby lantern light. Dark and empty.
The moment all three men stepped fully inside—Raven moved. I barely even saw it happen. One second she stood beside me, And the next—All three men collapsed onto the ground screaming in pain. Blood splattered across the stone beneath them.
Deep cuts covered their bodies, though none looked immediately fatal. But blood poured endlessly from every wound.
The men panicked instantly.
"AAAAAh…. B.. BLOOD—!"
They desperately pressed their hands against the wounds trying to stop the bleeding—But nothing worked.
Raven calmly walked toward them through the darkness and stopped in front of them. "You have less than five minutes before you bleed to death."
My chest tightened slightly hearing how emotionless her voice sounded.
The three men stared at her in absolute horror. None of them even understood what had happened.
Raven then gestured calmly toward me. I hesitated briefly before walking to stand beside her.
She said . "This girl here is a healer."
The men immediately looked toward me desperately.
"Whoever speaks first," Raven continued coldly, "and tells the truth About you three who were following the princess today… this girl will heal them, And that person will leaves here alive, I promise."
Silence filled the alley. The men looked toward each other fearfully.
Raven glanced upward casually. "You already wasted two minutes, Now you have three left."
One of the men suddenly snarled angrily despite the fear in his eyes. "G…Go to hell, you bitch!"
Raven stared at him for one silent second. Then She drew her dagger, With one smooth movement—She slit his throat.
Blood exploded across the wall behind him. The man collapsed instantly without another sound.
Raven didn't even blink. Her gaze moved toward the second man.
He was trembling violently now. But instead of begging—He laughed bitterly. "I'd rather die here than let him get near my family."
My eyes widened slightly. So someone threatened them…
Raven showed no reaction whatsoever. Without hesitation—She drove the dagger directly into his heart. The man gasped once before collapsing lifelessly beside his companion.
The last man looked completely broken. Blood covered his hands while panic filled his eyes.
Raven slowly stepped closer to him. "Do you want to join your friends too?"
The man immediately raised both hands shakily. "N-no!" His voice cracked from terror. "Please stop—I'll talk, I'll tell you anything you want!" His breathing became uneven. "Just… heal me first… I feel dizzy… I think I'm going to pass out…"
the last surviving man sat trembling on the ground pale and shaking uncontrollably. His breathing was uneven. His eyes wide with terror. Blood still poured through his fingers no matter how desperately he tried to stop it.
Raven stood calmly in front of him like death itself. Not a single emotion crossed her face. Then without looking at me, she spoke quietly,
"Can you heal him please ?"
Not Princess. Not Lyria. She avoided revealing my identity completely. I immediately understood.
I stepped forward slowly and knelt beside the injured man. The moment I placed my hands over his wound, warm white mana spread from my fingers. The deep cut across his side began closing almost instantly. The bleeding stopped within seconds.
The man froze in shock while staring at his own healed body.
Even I was surprised by how quickly the wound disappeared. My healing…It was becoming stronger again. Much stronger.
Ever since Raven removed the curse placed on me, my mana had continued growing rapidly every single day. At this rate…I might even surpass Mother someday.
Raven crouched in front of him calmly. "Now," she said coldly, "tell me why you were following the Princess."
His eyes shifted briefly toward the two dead bodies beside him before finally lowering toward the ground.
Then he began talking, How a mysterious man had approached them, How he ordered them to follow the Princess from morning until night. and not to interfere and only observe her.
"And what did he offer you in return?" I asked quietly.
The man laughed bitterly. "At first… money, But we realized quickly this was dangerous work, so we refused." Then his expression darkened. "That's when he started threatening our families."
"He said," the man continued weakly, "that if we cooperated… we'd receive high positions in future once everything was over." His voice became quieter. "We didn't have a choice." He looked completely broken now. "I only agreed to protect my family ."
I asked him again "This man… who is he?"
The man immediately shook his head. "I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know?"
"I never saw his face, He always wore a mask covering his entire face," the man explained nervously. "And a cloak that hid his whole body."
Then his expression became uneasy.
"And… He appeared from the shadows…And disappeared into them too."
For a moment neither Raven nor I spoke. Then I asked carefully, "Was there anything unusual about him?, A scar? A tattoo? Anything that might help us identify him?"
He stayed silent for several seconds. The man frowned deeply while trying to remember. Then suddenly his eyes widened slightly.
"His left hand There was something black on it."
"A scar or A tattoo?"
The man shook his head. "No… not a scar or tattoo.It was… a large black mark." He gestured vaguely toward his own hand. "Like a birthmark maybe. I don't know, I only saw it briefly… but it covered most of his left hand."
Raven and I exchanged glance silently.
Then I continued questioning him. "How did you send him information?, Was there a meeting place?"
Again the man shook his head. "No." His voice lowered fearfully. "He always appeared by himself, Always at night."
Finally the man looked between us desperately. "That's everything." His voice cracked slightly. "I swear I'm not hiding anything else. You're going to let me go… right?"
I immediately looked toward Raven nervously. Because I already knew what she usually did after interrogations. She killed them. Just like the assassins before.
Raven stared at the man silently for several long seconds. Then slowly—She crouched lower until she was directly at eye level with him. Her voice became terrifyingly calm.
"I know how hard you and your wife work to earn enough money for your daughter's treatment."
The man froze instantly.
Raven's golden eyes remained cold. "Your little girl is younger than ten years old, isn't she?"
The man's face turned completely pale.
"If I discover," Raven continued quietly, "that you told even a single word about this conversation to that man…"
"…then I promise you…" Her voice remained horrifyingly gentle. "I'll kill your daughter in front of you."
A cold shiver ran through my entire body. My breath caught instantly.
"And after that," Raven continued emotionlessly, "I'll kill your wife." Then she tilted her head slightly. "And finally you."
The man trembled violently now.
"And you should know something," Raven whispered coldly. "I never break my promises."
Even I felt frightened hearing her speak like this. The coldness in her voice didn't sound human anymore.
The man nodded frantically. "No— no, I swear!" His entire body shook with fear. "I won't tell anyone!, I swear."
Raven stared at him silently for several more seconds. Then finally—"Fine." She stood slowly. "I'll trust your word."
Relief flooded the man's face instantly. He started trying to stand—
But Raven suddenly spoke again.
"Before you leave…"
The man froze immediately.
Raven looked down at him calmly. "I have an offer for you."
Both the man and I looked at her in surprise.
Raven continued calmly, "Continue working for that man, Keep following the Princess exactly like before."
The man blinked in confusion.
Raven crossed her arms slightly. "At the same time… gain his trust." Her golden eyes narrowed faintly. "And gather as much information about him as possible."
The man stared at her silently.
Then Raven said the words that changed everything.
"In exchange…I'll heal your daughter."
The man's eyes widened completely.
"…What?" His voice barely came out. "You'll… heal her?,my daughter."
Raven nodded once.
The man suddenly laughed weakly. A broken, hopeless laugh. "You're lying." His eyes became wet. "There's no cure for my daughter's illness. We tried everything, There's no hope left."
Raven looked at him seriously. "I can heal her." Her voice contained no hesitation whatsoever. "And I'm not lying to you."
Then she added calmly, "But I won't force you to accept. The choice is yours."
The man looked toward the ground for several long seconds. Thinking. Struggling. Then slowly—He stood up. And when he raised his head again There was determination in his eyes.
"I'll trust you." His voice trembled slightly but remained firm. "I accept." He clenched his fists tightly. "I'll gather every piece of information I can. Even if it costs me my life."
Then his expression softened painfully. "And if I die before this ends…" His voice nearly broke. "Please…don't abandon my daughter."
Raven answered immediately.
"I already promised you."
The man lowered his head deeply in gratitude.
Afterward Raven explained carefully how he would secretly send information to us without attracting suspicion.
Once everything was settled—The man disappeared into the darkness of the city.
Then finally Raven turned away calmly.
"Let's go."
The cold night air brushed against my face as we walked deeper into the forest. For several seconds, only the sound of our footsteps and distant insects filled the silence between us.
Then I finally spoke. "I was sure you were going to kill him after the interrogation."
Raven glanced at me from the corner of her eye before a faint smile appeared on her lips.
"I gathered some information about him," she said calmly. "He is not a bad man. He's just desperate… willing to do anything to earn enough money to save his only daughter."
I hesitated for a moment before asking quietly, "Would you really have killed his daughter if he talked?"
Raven fell silent for a second. Then she smiled again, but this time there was something painfully sad hidden behind it.
"No," she admitted softly. "I would never go near his daughter. I only wanted to scare him."
I stared at her in silence.
For just a brief moment, her golden eyes looked unbearably lonely… as though she herself knew exactly what it felt like to lose someone precious.
As though she was one step away from breaking. But I did not dare ask why.
The forest around us had already grown darker as we moved farther away from Velmora's walls. Towering trees stretched endlessly toward the sky, their thick branches swallowing most of the moonlight. Only thin silver rays managed to slip through the leaves above us.
Raven spoke again. "I'm sorry," she said casually, "but I'm going to carry you."
My eyes widened.
"What—"
Before I could even process her words, Raven bent slightly and lifted me effortlessly into her arms.
"Hold on tightly."
"W-Wait, what do you mea—?!"
In the next instant she jumped.
The ground disappeared beneath us as Raven leapt high into the air, landing smoothly on the branch of a massive tree before immediately jumping again toward another.
I instinctively wrapped both arms tightly around her neck. The speed was terrifying. The trees blurred past us one after another while cold wind rushed against my face.
Raven looked down at me with an amused smile. "Relax. You'll be fine."
"How can I relax?!"
She chuckled quietly. "There are too many monsters wandering around the forest. Traveling through the trees is safer."
I swallowed nervously and nodded weakly, tightening my grip around her even more.
For several minutes we continued moving across the forest like shadows beneath the moonlight until finally I noticed two figures waiting high above us among the branches.
Kalina crossed her arms and smiled the moment she saw us.
"Oh? You finally arrived," she whispered. "I didn't even sense you approaching."
Kara sighed softly.
"You're late. What happened?"
Before I could answer, Raven leaned slightly closer and whispered near my ear,
"You look very comfortable. Are you planning to stay like that all night?"
I blinked in confusion. "What are you talking abou—"
Kara suddenly coughed into her fist, clearly trying not to laugh.
she said with a smirk , "Hey, Lyria… are you planning to stay in Raven's arms the entire night?"
Slowly… painfully slowly… I looked down. My arms were still wrapped tightly around Raven's neck. My head was resting against her shoulder.
Heat exploded across my face instantly. I had been clinging to her this whole time in front of Kara and Kalina. This was mortifying.
Kalina stared at us silently, looking genuinely surprised.
"I-I'm sorry!" I stammered immediately. "I was distracted… can you put me down please?"
Raven nodded calmly and lowered me gently onto the branch.
But the moment my feet touched the wood, I looked down——and immediately regretted it. The ground below us looked impossibly far away.
My vision spun slightly. We were standing on an enormous branch near the very top of the tree. Without thinking, I grabbed Raven's arm tightly again.
Kalina raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong, Princess? Do you have a problem with heights?"
"I-I'm fine," I lied with an awkward smile. "I just felt a little dizzy."
Raven glanced at me before speaking quietly. "You'll be fine. Just hold onto me if you need to."
My face somehow became even hotter. Thankfully, Raven turned toward Kara before anyone could tease me further.
"So," Raven asked calmly, "did you find the monsters?"
Kara nodded immediately and pointed toward the distance below us. Hidden between the trees was a massive cave entrance surrounded by jagged rocks.
"We found them," Kara whispered seriously. "They're hiding inside that cave. Every hour exactly two of them leave to patrol the area. In around ten minutes another pair should come out."
She looked toward Raven.
"What do you think?"
Raven narrowed her eyes slightly while studying the cave in silence. Then she answered, "We'll ambush them. But not near the cave."
She pointed toward a rocky cliff farther away. "We'll wait there instead. It's open enough for a clean capture."
Kalina nodded slowly. "That's probably the safest option…"
Then her eyes drifted back toward the cave with curiosity. "But now I'm interested. What exactly are they hiding inside there?" A faint smirk appeared on her lips. "I kind of want to go in."
Kara immediately shook her head.
"That would be dangerous. There are too many of them. Fighting that many monsters with only the three of us would be difficult."
Raven remained silent for several seconds, carefully sensing the area. "I don't feel anything strange inside the cave besides monsters… and a large number of them."
"And we cannot approach carelessly. We don't want the person controlling them to realize we're investigating."
She looked toward us calmly. "So for now we move quietly."
Cold wind passed through the trees while distant growls echoed somewhere deep within the forest.
Raven looked toward the cave one final time. "The patrol monsters are about to come out."
Without hesitation, Kara and Kalina jumped down from the tree toward the forest floor below.
I instinctively stepped closer to Raven.
She looked at me before smiling faintly. "Hold on tightly, Princess."
Before I could answer, she lifted me into her arms once more and leapt gracefully down from the tree.
The night forest had become unbearably quiet.
we moved carefully toward the cliff overlooking the cave. Moonlight barely reached the ground beneath the enormous trees, their twisted branches swallowing most of the silver glow above us. Every shadow looked alive. Every sound made my heart tighten.
"We'll need bait if we want to lure the monsters here," Raven said calmly as we stopped near the edge of the cliff.
The rocky clearing below us was open enough for an ambush. Behind it, dense trees created the perfect cover for hiding. It was a dangerous place… but also the only place far enough from the cave to isolate one of the creatures without alerting the others.
Kara crossed her arms immediately. "I'll do it. I'll let them see me and lead them back here while you three wait."
Kalina clicked her tongue and shook her head. "No. I should be the bait. I'm faster than you, Kara. And those creatures are extremely quick. If something goes wrong, I have a better chance of escaping."
Raven remained silent, listening to them without interruption.
Before either of them could continue, I stepped forward. "If we're talking about the perfect bait…" I said carefully, "then I think I should do it."
All three of them turned toward me at once.
"As you know," I continued, "those monsters can sense mana. You and Kalina are both very powerful. If they sense such strong energy, they may become cautious… or retreat back to the cave and alert the others."
I hesitated briefly before adding with a small smile, "Compared to all of you, I'm probably the weakest here."
Kara frowned immediately. "You're right about the mana part… but absolutely not. It's too dangerous."
Kalina nodded in agreement. "We can't put the princess in danger."
Beside me, Raven suddenly spoke. "You're correct about everything, Princess," she said softly, "except for one thing."
I blinked and looked at her.
Raven turned toward me with a faint smile. "In terms of magical energy and mana… you're actually the strongest among them ."
Kara stared at her in disbelief. "Wait… what?"
Kalina's eyes narrowed slightly. "Are you saying the princess has more mana than us?"
Raven nodded once. "Yes. Far more."
Even I hadn't known that.
"But physically," Raven added calmly, "you two are stronger since you are a fighter and she is a healer ."
Kalina folded her arms slowly, clearly surprised. "So the princess has the highest mana reserves here…"
"Yes," Raven answered. "Which is exactly why she cannot be the bait."
Kara looked at Raven with disbelief. "Then you definitely can't do it either. You're the strongest out of all of us."
Raven simply shrugged. "I can suppress my mana completely," she said. "To the point where it becomes almost nonexistent."
Kalina looked genuinely stunned by that.
Raven removed her cloak before speaking again. "You three stay hidden here," she said calmly. "I'll lure them out. Be ready."
And just like that, she turned and walked away into the darkness. The shadows swallowed her almost instantly. I stared after her silently until even the sound of her footsteps disappeared.
"Should we really let her go alone?" Kalina asked quietly. "I don't know how strong she truly is, but those creatures are dangerous."
Kara moved beside me protectively, positioning herself between me and the direction of the cave before answering.
"When I said Raven was strong," I told Kalina softly, "I meant it. No one knows the limits of her strength yet. So you don't need to worry about her."
Kara snorted lightly.
"That girl could walk into that cave alone," she muttered, "kill every monster inside, and walk out without a single scratch."
Kalina's eyes widened. Then slowly… a strange smile spread across her face. "So she's that strong…" she murmured. "How interesting."
Then Kalina suddenly turned toward me. "Princess Lyria," she said casually, "is Raven your personal guard?"
I hesitated. For one foolish second, I almost lied.
If I told Kalina Raven was officially assigned to me… perhaps she would stop looking at her like that. But the lie wouldn't last long. So instead, I shook my head.
"No. She isn't."
Kalina raised an eyebrow. "Then is she a knight like Kara? Or a royal soldier?"
"No," I answered quietly. "She's neither."
Kalina looked genuinely confused now. "Then in what capacity is she here protecting you?"
I straightened slightly before answering. "She's here as my friend," I said. "I'm the one who asked her to come to Velmora with me."
For a brief moment, Kalina simply stared at me. Then her smile slowly returned. "So she doesn't work for the royal family…" she murmured. "Interesting."
Kara answered before I could. "Raven is an independent hunter. She doesn't belong to anyone."
Kalina tilted her head slightly, amusement flickering across her face. "So if someone offered her a position…" she said with a smirk, "does that mean she might accept?"
Kara immediately interrupted her.
"Don't get your hopes up," she said dryly. "Raven doesn't have any position because nobody wants her. She works alone because she chooses to."
Kalina remained silent.
Kara continued. "The king himself offered her wealth, titles, and high-ranking positions before. Many others did too. She rejected every single offer."
Kalina hummed softly, clearly even more intrigued now.
Before I could understand the feeling, Kara suddenly stiffened. Her expression sharpened instantly as she looked toward the forest below.
Then she spoke quietly. "Enough talking. Raven's coming back…"
A second later, I felt it too. A strange killing intent moving silently through the darkness.
Raven emerged from between the trees at full speed. The moment Raven appeared from the darkness between the trees, Something inhuman was following her.
We stood near the edge of the cliff, hidden between thick trees and broken rocks, waiting.
she ran straight toward the cliff's edge before stopping there calmly, as if she had planned every step perfectly.
And a second later Two monsters burst out of the forest behind her. Massive. Terrifying. Their footsteps shook the ground beneath us.
For a brief moment, it looked as though Raven had cornered herself. The monsters slowly approached her from behind while the cliff stretched before her with nowhere left to escape.
But they did not realize the truth. They were the ones trapped.
We stayed hidden until the monsters completely passed our position. Then Kara stepped out first. Kalina moved from the opposite side at the same time, her sword already drawn.
I followed behind Kara while she instinctively placed herself between me and the monsters.
Steel left its sheath around me. The sound echoed sharply through the night.
Raven did not even turn around as she spoke. "Do not kill them," she said. "We need them alive."
The monsters froze. At last they realized something was wrong. Slowly, their black eyes darted around.
Raven and the cliff stood before them. Kara, Kalina, and I blocked the only path behind them. No escape.
Up close, they looked even worse. One of them had four massive arms covered in black veins pulsing beneath black skin. The other was taller, its shoulders unnaturally broad, with claws so long they scraped against stone.
Their eyes were completely black. And their mana…Gods. The energy pouring from them felt wrong. Heavy. Violent. Rotten. Even breathing near them made my stomach twist.
I saw tension appear on Kara's face for the first time since arriving in Velmora. Even Kalina's usual confident smirk had disappeared.
And me—I realized my hands were trembling. I quickly curled my fingers into fists, trying to hide it. I did not want to become a burden.
the monsters had no intention of surrendering quietly. Suddenly both creatures lunged toward Raven at the same time, attempting to break through the only opening.
Raven looked at them calmly. Then—An enormous wave of pressure exploded from her body. The air itself shook violently.
The monsters stopped instantly. Both creatures staggered backward several steps, fear suddenly appearing in their eyes. Not fear. Terror.
As if they had just realized they were standing before something far more dangerous than themselves.
The monsters let out enraged roars and raised their claws. Huge fireballs burst into existence around them.
"Move," Raven said immediately.
The night exploded. Flames shot toward us like falling stars.
Kalina jumped upward into the trees with incredible speed, but another fireball immediately followed her. She cursed under her breath and leapt again to another branch moments before the explosion melted straight through the tree she had been standing on.
The attacks were horrifyingly powerful.
Kara grabbed my wrist and pulled me backward as multiple fireballs crashed around us.
The forest erupted into flames. Heat slammed against my face. Another fireball rushed toward us. Then another.
And another. They came endlessly, like burning rain falling from the sky, We avoided some of them and Kara stopped some of them, but there was no end..even kalina was having difficulty avoiding.
Kara moved in front of me instantly, sword raised despite knowing she could not fully block that kind of attack. "Stay behind me!" she shouted.
A gigantic fireball descended directly toward us. Too close. Far too close. I didn't think we would survive this one.
And then—Raven appeared before us. She raised one hand. And the fire vanished. The flames, mana, and energy were all absorbed into her hand as though swallowed by darkness itself.
For a moment the only thing burning was the sleeve of her shirt. The fire crawled across the black fabric, but Raven merely looked down at it with complete indifference before extinguishing it with her bare hand.
As if fire itself could not hurt her.
Then her expression changed slightly. The monsters. They had used the distraction to escape.
I turned sharply toward the cliff just in time to see both creatures leaping off the edge.
The cliff was impossibly high. No human could survive that fall. But the monsters landed safely far below and immediately began sprinting back toward the cave. Toward the others.
Raven clicked her tongue softly. Then she looked at Kara.
"Take the princess and return using the same route we came from," she said calmly. "I'll meet you halfway. Protect her carefully."
Kara stared at her.
"Wait—you're not seriously—"
Raven jumped.
My eyes widened. Without even a second of hesitation, she stepped off the cliff and disappeared into the darkness below.
"RAVEN!"
Fear tore through my chest instantly.
Kalina suddenly grinned beside us. "Well," she said with a smirk, "if she can do it, then so can I."
"Kalina, don't—"
Too late. She jumped.
The moment her body disappeared over the edge, I saw the confidence vanish from her face. Regret hit her immediately.
"RAVEN!" Kara shouted furiously. "Catch her!"
Below us, Raven moved.
She kicked off the side of the cliff, landed briefly on a tree growing from the rocks below, then launched herself upward again with impossible speed.
She caught Kalina midair effortlessly.
And then both of them landed smoothly on the ground far beneath us.
Kara let out a long exhausted sigh beside me. "…Unbelievable." Then she grabbed my hand again gently. "Come on," she said. "Let's meet them halfway before those idiots kill themselves."
The forest had become unbearably loud.
Cold sweat slid down my back as Kara and I ran through the darkness toward the place where Raven and Kalina had gone after the monsters.
And eventually we found them. Kara stopped so suddenly that I nearly crashed into her.
The four-armed monster was pinned flat against the ground beneath Raven.
No… pinned was too gentle a word. She was forcing it down.
Both of Raven's hands were pressed against the creature's chest while black vein-like lines crawled from the monster's body into her arms. They pulsed beneath her skin like living shadows. The creature screamed so loudly my ears rang. Its four arms clawed wildly at the earth, trying desperately to push her away, but it could not move her even an inch.
Raven looked terrifying. Her expression was completely calm. Cold. Focused. As if the screaming beneath her meant nothing at all.
The monster's massive body trembled violently while its mana was ripped away piece by piece. Dark energy leaked from its skin like smoke, flowing directly into Raven.
For the first time since meeting her…I felt genuinely afraid of her. Not because I thought she would hurt me. But because I suddenly realized I had no idea what she truly was.
"Raven!" Kara shouted.
Raven glanced toward us without removing her hands from the creature. "Help Kalina," she said calmly. "I'm fine."
Only then did I notice the second monster.
Kalina was fighting several meters away between shattered trees and broken stone. Sparks exploded every time her sword collided with the creature's claws. Unlike Raven, Kalina was clearly struggling. The monster was enormous — taller than any man, with blackened skin stretched over bulging muscles and glowing eyes filled with madness.
Its attacks were monstrously heavy. Kalina blocked another strike and slid backward across the dirt.
"Damn it—!"
Kara rushed forward immediately, drawing her sword.
"I'm coming!"
The two of them attacked together, moving with practiced coordination. Kara aimed for the creature's legs while Kalina struck from above, forcing it backward step after step.
Meanwhile, the monster beneath Raven was weakening rapidly. Its screams became quieter. Its movements slower. The black veins spreading into Raven's arms faded little by little until finally the creature could no longer resist at all.
Raven removed one hand from its chest. Then—She punched it. The impact shook the ground beneath my feet.
A shockwave exploded outward, sending dirt and dead leaves flying through the air. The monster's head slammed into the earth hard enough to crack the ground beneath it before its entire body went limp. Unconscious.
My breathing caught in my throat. That single punch…It had felt like watching a giant strike the earth itself.
Raven stood slowly and looked down at the unconscious creature to make sure it would not rise again. Then she turned toward the others.
Kara and Kalina were still fighting.
"They're almost done too," I said quickly. "Let's wait—"
"We don't have time," Raven interrupted. Her voice was calm, but sharp. "More monsters will come soon. We made too much noise. They definitely heard the explosions."
She began walking toward the second creature. The monster roared and swung one massive arm toward her head.
Raven caught it. For one impossible moment the entire creature stopped moving, as if its body could not even comprehend that someone had physically overpowered it.
Then Raven twisted. She grabbed the monster from behind and threw it.
The creature flew through the forest like a broken doll, crashing through several trees before smashing into a giant boulder. The rock cracked from the impact.
But Raven was already moving. She vanished from where she stood and appeared above the monster almost instantly.
Then she drove her knee into its stomach. The boulder behind it shattered like glass. Hundreds of stone fragments exploded into the air.
The monster coughed blood before collapsing unconscious onto the ground.
Silence fell over the forest. Even the wind seemed stunned.
Kalina stared at Raven for several seconds before speaking.
"I could have handled it without your help."
Raven glanced at her briefly. "I know," she replied. "But we're out of time."
She knelt beside the unconscious monster. Then she placed one hand above its heart and closed her eyes. Purple lines spread slowly from Raven's arm into the creature's chest. At the same time, black mist began leaking from her body, curling around her like smoke.
The air grew colder. Heavier.
Several long seconds passed. Then Raven opened her eyes. And something about them had changed. They looked colder than before.
"I hoped I was wrong," she said quietly. Raven looked down at the unconscious creatures. "These monsters…" she said slowly, "…are human."
Everything inside me froze. Kara's eyes widened. Kalina stared at her in disbelief. For several seconds none of us could even speak.
Finally Kalina stepped forward angrily. "That's impossible." Her voice echoed sharply through the trees. "How can these things be human? Are you joking right now? Do you seriously think this is the time for jokes?"
Raven looked at her silently. That silence alone was enough to make the anger in Kalina's voice weaken slightly.
Kara exhaled slowly and lowered her sword.
"Let's calm down first," she said quietly. "We need to think about what we do next."
I looked at the unconscious monsters lying on the ground.
Human.
The word refused to settle properly in my mind. Those creatures had tried to kill us. Their mana felt corrupted. Twisted. Wrong.
And yet…They had once been people. My chest tightened painfully.
I turned toward Raven. "Can you turn them back?"
Raven looked at me silently. Then toward the monsters. For a long moment she said nothing.
"I don't know," she admitted quietly. "I'll need to study their condition more before I can know if reversing it is even possible."
"Then we'll take them back to the duke's palace," I said immediately. "You can examine them there."
Kalina blinked at me in surprise. "And how exactly are we supposed to move them?" she asked. "These things are enormous."
I looked at her seriously. "Kalina, I need you to return to the palace immediately. Bring a large covered carriage. And tell no one," I continued. "Not even the duke. We transport them in secret until we understand what's happening."
Her expression sharpened instantly. Kalina stared at me for a moment before nodding. "…Understood."
Kalina turned and disappearing into the darkness of the forest at full speed.
The palace had finally fallen silent. Raven was watching the surroundings, and luckily for us, no other monsters came.
Kalina returned with the carriage, everything moved quickly. Faster than I expected.
She had somehow reached the city in less than five minutes and returned shortly after with a large closed transport wagon and no guards accompanying her. Even Kara looked impressed by her speed.
The monsters had been restrained with enchanted chains before we loaded them into the carriage. Even unconscious, their presence felt terrifying. The dark mana leaking from their bodies made the air inside the wagon heavy and suffocating.
We entered Velmora through one of the lesser-used gates under the cover of night. No one noticed us. Or at least… I hoped no one did.
The moment we arrived at the duke's palace, I went directly to Duke Alistair and told him everything.
I would never forget the look on the duke's face. Shock. Fear. Disbelief.
For several long moments, he simply sat there speechless, staring at me as if hoping I would suddenly laugh and admit it had all been some terrible misunderstanding.
In the end, the duke ordered the underground prison cells beneath the palace to be emptied immediately. Prisoners were relocated, guards dismissed from the lower corridors, and the area sealed entirely from the rest of the palace.
No one besides the five of us would know the truth. If the people of Velmora discovered that the monsters attacking the city were once human…The city would fall into chaos overnight.
Even the council could not be trusted with this information. Not until we understood who was behind everything.
By the time we finished speaking with the duke, it was already very late.
Kara returned to her room almost immediately, clearly exhausted after the battle.
Raven walked me back to my chambers in silence before quietly leaving for her own room.
I entered my room slowly and closed the door behind me. Only then did I realize how exhausted my body truly was.
I removed my cloak and clothes before heading directly toward the bath. The moment I stepped into the warm water, a long breath escaped my lips.
Heat spread through my body. The dirt. The sweat. The blood. The fear. For the first time since entering the forest, I finally allowed myself to relax.
I washed away every trace of the night while my thoughts wandered endlessly back to Raven. The way she had stood before the monsters without fear.
The cold look in her eyes. The way she protected me without hesitation. The way she jumped from that cliff as if death itself could not touch her.
By the time I finished bathing, my body felt lighter. I wrapped a towel around myself and walked toward the wardrobe, changing into my black short nightgown before finally collapsing onto the bed.
I fell onto my back with a long exhausted sigh.
"Ahhh… what a tiring day…"
I stretched one arm lazily across the bed. Then my hand touched something sharp. I blinked before sitting up.
Raven's dagger. I had completely forgotten she gave it to me earlier. I stared at the weapon for several seconds.
Should I return it now?
Or wait until tomorrow morning?
A small smile slowly appeared on my lips. "This is a good excuse to see her again…"
The moment that thought crossed my mind, I stood immediately. I walked toward the mirror, fixing my hair carefully before applying a light shade of red lipstick. My heart beat strangely fast the entire time.
Why was I nervous?, It was only Raven.
I picked up her dagger and left my room quietly. Our rooms were only a few steps apart. Yet somehow the short distance felt unbearably long. When I stopped before her door, I took a deep breath and knocked twice gently.
No response.
"Raven?" I called softly. "Can I come in?"
Still nothing. I hesitated. Maybe she was asleep already. Part of me told me to leave. But another part—A far stronger part—Wanted to see her.
Even just for a few minutes. So slowly, carefully, I opened the door and stepped inside. The room was dark except for pale moonlight spilling through the large window.
At first, I thought the room was empty. The bed had not been touched. I frowned slightly and looked around before finally spotting her.
She was asleep on the sofa near the window.
My chest tightened unexpectedly.
Raven lay on her back with one arm resting loosely across her stomach. Her short black hair was still slightly wet, strands sticking softly against her forehead. It seemed she had fallen asleep immediately after bathing.
She must have been truly exhausted.
The little fox was curled peacefully on top of her stomach, sleeping comfortably against her.
The sight was strangely adorable.
Quietly, I approached her and sat down beside the sofa on the floor. For several moments…I simply looked at her. Raven was beautiful.
Even while asleep, there was something sharp about her features. Her jawline. Her straight nose. The faint shadows beneath her eyes from exhaustion.
And her lips…
Soft.
Red.
Dangerously kissable.
My gaze lingered there longer than it should have. I swallowed slowly. A dangerous warmth spread through my chest.
I raised my hand carefully and brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
She did not wake.
I leaned closer. Close enough to feel her warm breathing against my skin. Close enough that one more inch would—
I hesitated. My heart pounded so loudly I was sure she would hear it. But in the end…
Desire won.
I leaned down slowly until my lips touched hers.
Warm.
Soft.
Gentle.
The kiss lasted only a moment, but it felt enough to make my entire body tremble.
When I pulled back slightly, Raven still hadn't woken. I stared at her quietly before my fingers brushed softly against her lower lip.
Gods…
I wanted to kiss her again. This time I didn't hesitate.
I leaned down once more and kissed her deeper, longer, unable to stop myself now that I had started. A quiet hum escaped my throat as I gently sucked on her lower lip before finally forcing myself to pull away.
My cheeks burned.
"Sorry, Raven…" I whispered softly. "But you never give me a chance to get closer to you…"
I carefully wiped the lipstick mark from her lips before noticing the sleeves of her shirt.
Suddenly remembering the flames from earlier, I quickly lifted the fabric slightly to check her arms.
No burns. No injuries. Relief washed through me so strongly I almost laughed.
"Thank gods…" I whispered. "You weren't hurt…"
I stayed there beside her for several more minutes, simply watching her sleep while moonlight painted silver shadows across her face.
Then finally, I leaned forward one last time and kissed her softly on the cheek.
"Goodnight…" I whispered with a small smile.
"My love."