Raven's POV
A week had passed since my unexpected encounter with the princess.
A single, ordinary week—yet enough for everything to begin collapsing in silence.
Inside the royal palace, the princess's body started to fail.
Her strength vanished, her skin paled, and she struggled even to keep her eyes open.
Healers from every corner of the kingdom tried their magic, but none could find the cause.
Even the queen—blessed with the strongest healing power in Aurelia—could do nothing.
Hope drained from the royal family day by day.
Meanwhile, I trained with Elyra every morning.
My abilities had grown much sharper, far beyond what I had shown anyone.
One afternoon, when I told her about my absorption skill, It has evolved a lot ,she froze mid-movement.
"Absorbing… emotions? And illnesses? And wounds and Magical Energy from everything ?" she repeated slowly, as if unsure she heard me right.
I didn't answer with words.
I took her hand, formed a small black dagger from my energy, and said:
"Don't worry. Just a tiny wound."
I cut her palm lightly.
Then I activated my ability.
The pain and injury flowed from her into me like a cool current—and then vanished entirely from my body.
Elyra stared at her healed hand, stunned.
"Riven… this is not normal."
I only smiled.
I did not mention time manipulation.
Nor the demon-sorceress Morrivayne sleeping inside me like a burning shadow.
When the king and queen finally lost all hope, the king suddenly remembered the question from previous meeting with Riven
the way she had asked about his daughter's health.
His voice shook when he ordered:
"Bring me Riven Nightthron . Immediately."
By the time the sun had fully set, two royal guards found me at Elyra's home, soaking in the quiet of the night.
"Riven Nightthorn," one guard said urgently. "The king summons you at once. It's dire."
Elyra and I exchanged a brief, heavy glance.
"Will you go?" she asked quietly.
I nodded.
"It's a royal order. I don't really have a choice."
"I'll come with—"
"No. Don't worry. Whatever this is… it won't be dangerous."
I left with the guards, walking through the stone corridors of the palace until we reached the royal chambers , everything was so quiet .
The king and queen were waiting outside the princess's room—eyes red, faces carved with fear.
The moment the king saw me, he lost his composure entirely.
He seized the front of my loose black shirt, lifted me slightly off the floor, and roared:
"What did you do to my daughter?!
When you first came here—did you curse her? Are you the cause of her illness?!"
The queen tried to calm him, but he was too consumed by panic.
And though I could've broken his grip effortlessly… I didn't.
Not now.
I answered in a steady, cold tone:
"I did nothing. The princess was unwell long before I met her."
The king froze.
His grip slackened.
My feet touched the floor again.
He released me completely, shoulders trembling with shame and despair.
The queen spoke, her voice breaking:
"Please… we beg you… can you help her?"
I exhaled softly.
"Let me see her first."
The king pushed the door open.
The princess lay on a large bed, but she barely resembled the bright girl I had met a week ago.
Her skin was ghost-pale.
Her breathing shallow.
Her eyelids fluttered weakly as if even staying conscious was a battle.
I sat at the edge of her bed, placed my hand over her heart, and closed my eyes.
The moment my energy touched hers…
I found it.
A curse.
Ancient.
Hidden so masterfully that no healer could ever detect it.
A curse meant to consume slowly… silently.
I opened my eyes.
"She's suffering from a powerful, ancient curse," I said, my voice calm but firm.
"It was placed on her heart when she was one day old."
The entire room froze.
"The curse activated when she reached adulthood," I continued.
"From that moment on, it has been eating her body from the inside—slowly, without pain.
Now… it has reached its final stage."
The queen collapsed into loud, heart-shattering sobs.
The king clenched his fists so tightly blood stained his palms.
"Who… would dare…" he whispered, a dangerous tremor in his voice.
Then he turned to me, desperation overtaking anger:
"Can you save her? Please, Riven … save my daughter.
I'll give you anything—anything you ask."
I looked down at the princess.
Her exhausted eyes trembled, watching me through half-closed lids.
I touched her chest again, above her heart.
And activated my time magic.
I reversed the state of her body three days back—undoing the worst damage.
Then I froze time inside her, holding the illness at bay.
The princess gasped weakly, then relaxed, breathing steadier.
"Rest," I whispered, brushing a stray strand of hair from her forehead.
"You'll be fine for now. I'll return tomorrow to end this."
A single tear slipped from her closed eye.
I stood up and faced the king and queen.
"I'll come back at dawn. Don't move her."
Then I left the room.
The moment I stepped into the dark hallway, Morrivayne materialized beside me—
a tall, fiery-haired apparition with crimson eyes and black horns, invisible to all but me.
"Are you truly planning to heal her?" she asked, voice dripping with mockery.
I smirked faintly.
"Having the princess owe me her life isn't a bad thing…
and having the king in my debt sounds convenient."
"Oooh… ambitious."
Morrivayne laughed, a sharp, wicked sound.
"But that curse is strong enough to shred your soul. You might die."
"I won't," I said simply.
"I've already seen my own future. I'll just lose consciousness for a few days.
You'll guard my body."
She lifted her chin proudly.
"Guarding your unconscious body?
How very… intimate."
I rolled my eyes.
"Better that than waking up dead." and I trust you.
Her laughter echoed through the hall.
And I walked onward, calm and certain—
ready for the fight waiting for me at dawn..