The Architect led them deeper into the forest.
Not the bright, living part of Beastworld.
But the roots—where ancient magic slept in the bones of the earth.
Owain followed with steps that trembled not from fear, but from the weight in his chest.
He could still hear Kanah's voice echoing in his skull:
"OWAIN—HELP—!! PLEASE—!!"
His throat burned.
He couldn't bear the sound.
Not ever again.
The Architect stepped into an opening hidden by thick branches.
The clearing looked dead.
No birds.
No wind.
No light.
Only a circle of jagged stones arranged around a black pit.
Gerrin sucked in a breath.
"No… Architect… not that place."
Helion froze. "What is that?"
Yllas exhaled shakily.
"Owain… that right there is not training.
That is where Devourers were born."
Owain's heartbeat thundered—but he didn't stop walking.
"Then it's where I go."
Gerrin reached for him.
"Owain, wait—let us—"
Owain didn't stop.
"No."
"OWAIN—"
He kept walking.
"If the thing holding Kana is a monster… then I need to become something that can kill a monster."
The Architect smiled faintly.
"Well said."
Owain stepped to the edge of the circle.
"What do I do?"
The Architect's voice echoed strangely in the stillness.
"You must enter the Hunger Pit."
Owain didn't even blink.
"Fine."
Gerrin lunged forward.
"Owain—NO—!! A Devourer trial isn't a test—it's a death sentence—!! Only three creatures have survived it!"
The Architect corrected calmly:
"Four."
Yllas scowled. "Fourth?"
The Architect gestured toward the pit.
"Her father."
Silence slammed into them.
Owain's pulse spiked.
"Then I go in."
Helion swore violently. "Do you have a death wish?!"
Owain stared into the darkness below.
"No.
I have a mate."
The Architect bowed his head.
"Very well. You must offer something to the Hunger before it teaches you."
Owain tightened his fists.
"What does it want?"
The Architect's gaze darkened, voice lowering.
"Your memories."
Owain froze.
Helion stiffened.
Gerrin went pale.
Yllas cursed softly.
Owain's voice turned sharp.
"Which memories."
The Architect answered gently.
"The ones you cling to.
The ones that make you weak.
The ones that stop you from becoming what you must."
Owain's breath froze in his chest.
"…You mean Kanah."
The Architect didn't confirm.
But he didn't deny.
Owain stepped back, jaw tight, breath cracking.
"If I give them up…
will I forget her?"
The Architect raised a brow.
"Yes."
Silence broke over them like a cliff collapsing.
Owain felt his ribs tighten until it hurt to breathe.
Forget her.
Forget her laugh.
Her tears.
Her voice whispering his name.
The way she says "Owain" like it hurts and heals at the same time.
Forget her warmth.
Her stubbornness.
Her bravery.
Forget—
His mate.
He shook his head instantly.
"No."
The Architect blinked.
"No?"
Owain stepped backward.
"If I forget her…
I lose the reason I'm fighting."
Gerrin exhaled in relief.
Helion muttered, "Thank the stars—"
Owain turned back toward the pit.
"And if I remember her…
I fight harder."
The Architect studied him.
"Then you refuse the price."
Owain nodded once.
"Yes."
The Architect's eyes narrowed.
"Then the pit will take something else."
Owain stood tall.
"Let it."
Gerrin whispered desperately, "Owain—DON'T—!!"
Owain didn't look away.
"I'm not trading her away.
I'll face whatever it takes.
Kanah is not negotiable."
The Architect exhaled.
"In that case…"
He lifted one hand.
The ground shook violently.
The stones flared with ancient light.
And the pit opened.
Owain took a breath.
A long one.
A final one.
Then he stepped forward.
And jumped.
Gerrin shouted his name.
Yllas reached out too late.
Helion cursed and turned away.
Owain disappeared into the darkness.
KANAH — IN THE FORTRESS
Her chamber was too clean.
Too quiet.
The soft robe they gave her felt like mockery.
Her hair was braided neatly by Ilai's trembling hands.
Her wrists chained loosely so she could still walk, but not fight.
Kanah sat on the cold stone floor, hugging herself tightly.
Every part of her felt wrong.
Her father's voice echoed in her head.
"You cannot run from your blood."
She curled in tighter.
"I'm not like you…" she whispered.
Her resonance trembled faintly—
a soft golden glow leaking from her collarbone.
Ilai entered the chamber quietly.
"M-my lady?"
Kanah wiped her face quickly.
"Yes?"
Ilai knelt before her.
"I… I brought food. You haven't eaten."
Kanah shook her head.
"I'm not hungry."
Ilai hesitated.
Then she whispered:
"Your father will come again at dusk. You must… you must be stronger than him."
Kanah looked up sharply.
"You're… helping me?"
Ilai nodded quickly.
"I don't want him to break you."
Kanah stared at the floor.
"He already is."
Ilai bit her lip hard.
"Then let me help you fight."
Kanah's fingers dug into the stone.
"I don't know how."
Ilai leaned closer.
"You have powers he fears."
Kanah blinked.
"He said I'm half Devourer. I don't… I don't want that."
Ilai swallowed.
"Yes. But you are also half Queen.
And your mother's blood was stronger than your father's darkness."
Kanah's throat tightened painfully.
"My mother… she died because of them."
Ilai squeezed her hand.
"I saw the arrow. They killed her because she betrayed Veylor."
Kanah's breath hitched.
"And they'll kill you too if they know you're helping me."
Ilai smiled sadly.
"I know."
Then whispered:
"Worth it."
Kanah's eyes filled with tears.
"You're… kind."
Ilai shook her head.
"No.
Just tired of living in fear."
Kanah took her hand.
"Me too."
Ilai looked at the glowing chains and whispered:
"I can loosen them. Not remove them. But you'll have more use of your hands."
Kanah nodded gratefully.
Ilai worked in silence.
Then—
Kanah froze.
The bond.
It pulsed.
Faint.
Weak.
Like someone shouting inside a storm.
Kanah gasped softly.
"Owain…"
Ilai looked up.
"M-my lady?"
Kanah pressed her chest.
"Owain… he's… he's hurting. He's—"
A tremor shook her entire body.
Something was happening to him.
Something violent.
"Owain—stop—please—don't hurt yourself—don't—"
Ilai grabbed her shoulders.
"Kanah? What is wrong?"
Kanah trembled violently.
"He's in pain.
He's in so much pain.
I can feel him—
Ilai—he's—"
She couldn't breathe.
Ilai held her.
"What can I do?!"
Kanah gasped:
"Just—stay with me—please—"
Ilai nodded quickly.
But something else was happening too.
Something inside Kanah's chest—
—shifted.
Not just resonance.
Something darker.
Hungrier.
Kanah's pupils dilated.
Her heart hammered.
Her breath hitched.
"Ilai… something is wrong…"
Ilai pulled back slightly.
"Your eyes—my lady—they're—"
Kanah shuddered violently.
Her blood felt like fire.
Her bones felt too tight.
Her skin felt wrong.
"I—Ilai—get back—get away—!!"
Ilai stumbled, panicked.
"K-Kanah—?!"
Kanah clutched her head, trembling violently.
Her father's words echoed:
"Inside you is a seed.
A hunger.
It sleeps now."
Kanah screamed—
"NO—NO—NO—STOP—!!"
Ilai fell back, terrified.
Kanah's left eye—
glowed gold.
Then black.
Then—
slit like a predator.
Ilai gasped.
"My lady…"
Kanah sobbed, voice breaking:
"NO—PLEASE—
I'M NOT A DEVOURER—
I'M NOT—!!"
But her eye—
opened fully.