The sound of shouting echoed behind me—men and horses crashing through the forest, closing in fast. My lungs burned as I sprinted between the trees, branches whipping against my face. Every step felt heavier, every breath sharper. I couldn't afford to stop, but my body screamed for rest.
I stumbled beneath a massive oak, my chest heaving. "Lurthar, you're bleeding—from your eyes!" Oriane's voice quivered, fear clear in every word.
She was right. I could taste iron on my lips. When I touched my face, my fingers came away slick with blood—not just from my eyes, but my ears and nose too. I wiped it away with my sleeve, forcing a shaky grin. "It's fine. When we reach the city, I'll get healed."
Her eyes said she didn't believe me, but there was no time to argue.
I gathered what mana I could. It felt like fire crawling through my veins, barely contained. With a deep breath, I pushed forward, running until the trees thinned and the open field came into view. For a heartbeat, I thought we'd made it. Then I saw him.
Viper stood waiting, arms crossed, a cruel smile stretching across his scarred face.
"Well, well," he drawled. "Look what we have here—a little knight trying to save his princess. How touching."
I froze. Running was pointless; he'd catch us either way. Gritting my teeth, I set Oriane down. "Stay back. I'll hold him off. When you see a chance—run."
"But what—"
"No buts!" I barked, more forcefully than I intended. "Do it now."
Her eyes widened, but she obeyed, stepping behind a tree.
Viper tilted his head, laughing. "Done playing hero? Good. Let's make this quick."
He lunged—not at me, but straight toward Oriane. My chains snapped forward, wrapping through the air like living serpents. He barely dodged, twisting midair and using a low branch to spin himself back at me. His dagger flashed toward my face.
Instinct kicked in. I raised my chain-wrapped arm, blocking the strike with a metallic crack. His strength rattled my bones, and his follow-up kick slammed into my stomach, knocking the wind out of me.
"You've learned to use mana," he sneered. "Should I kill you… or sell you?"
So that's his trick, I thought grimly. He only enhanced his body. He didn't know real mana control.
I rushed him, swinging my chains. He dodged to the side—but I bending their path midair. They coiled around his leg, and I yanked, slamming him into the ground.
He roared in fury and hurled his dagger. The blade buried itself deep in my shoulder, hot pain shooting down my arm. Still, I held on, pulling hard enough to make the earth shake.
When I finally let go, he was coughing and bloodied—but somehow still getting up.
"You damn brat," he spat, eyes burning red. "I'll kill you for that!"
I was running out of mana, my vision blurring, "Viper," I said, stalling for time, "what happened to Corven and his group?"
He paused, confused, then smirked. "I killed them. Just like I'll kill you."
He charged again, dagger raised. I dodged one strike, then another—but the third nicked my ribs. Pain exploded across my side. My focus wavered.
No choice left.
I whipped my chains forward, channeling everything I had into them. The energy overloaded, the metal glowing before shattering. The blast sent shards flying. Viper screamed, clutching his face as debris tore into him.
Before he could recover, I lunged—driving my fist, packed with pure mana, straight into his stomach. The impact echoed across the clearing.
He flew backward, crashing to the ground and going still.
I collapsed, gasping. The pain hit all at once—my right arm hung twisted and broken, bone piercing through flesh. "Ahhh!" I cried out, falling to my knees.
Oriane rushed to my side, tears in her eyes. "Oh my god—your arm! What do I—"
Before she could finish, a bloodied hand shot up from the ground. Viper's.
He grabbed Oriane by the throat, lifting her off her feet. Her terrified eyes locked on mine as she kicked and clawed.
"No! Let her go!" I grabbed his arm, pulling with everything I had, but his grip was too strong. Seeing her choking, something in me snapped.
My hand brushed against his fallen dagger. Without thinking, I snatched it up and drove it into his chest.
Warm blood splattered across my hands. I pulled it out—and stabbed again. And again. I didn't stop, not when he gasped, not when he went limp. The world blurred into red.
Oriane fell to the ground, coughing, but I barely noticed. All I saw was Viper's lifeless face beneath me.
Then a shadow fell over us.
I looked up—Iskar stood there, fury twisting his expression. His fist came down like a hammer, smashing into my jaw.
"My little brother," he snarled, "I'll kill you for that, you worthless slave."
My vision dimmed. Through the haze, I saw light in the sky—a man hovering above the clouds. A bolt of lightning tore through the heavens, striking Iskar down. The flash swallowed everything.
Oriane Evermore
Who is Lurthar? He broke those chains like they were nothing—was that mana? He's my age, yet he fought like a knight twice his size.
When we first escaped, he knocked out the guard before I could even blink. The door flew open, and we raced upstairs. He fought those soldiers like it was nothing—one blow after another, precise and brutal. I'd never seen anything like it.
But then I saw it—blood streaming from his eyes. I wanted to ask what was wrong, but he grabbed my hand and pulled me along. We didn't have time to stop.
Outside, we found a carriage. "Do you know how to ride it?" he asked. I almost laughed. A commoner asking me that? That's what servants are for. Before I could respond, one of the guards blew a whistle. The alarm echoed across the estate.
Without hesitation, Lurthar threw me onto his back and sprinted toward the city walls. I'd never felt such speed before. The wind roared past us, and I could feel his body trembling with strain. Blood soaked through his shirt.
When we reached the forest's edge, he could barely stand, yet he still smiled at me. That's when we met the man called Viper.
Lurthar told me to run. I wanted to argue, but when he yelled, something in his voice made me freeze. I'd never heard such desperation.
The battle that followed… I'll never forget it. They moved too fast to follow—chains snapping, blades flashing. I saw Lurthar's arm break with a crack that made my stomach turn. Still, he fought.
When I thought it was over, that monster grabbed me. His hand crushed my throat; I couldn't breathe. I prayed—Mother, Father, anyone—please, help me.
Then Lurthar screamed, a sound full of rage and pain, and drove a dagger into the man's chest. Again and again.
By the time it ended, I was free, but he was covered in blood and tears.
Then another figure appeared—taller, crueler. His blow sent Lurthar crashing to the ground. I thought he was dead. But then… lightning split the sky.
And through the blinding light, I saw a face I recognized—floating above us, watching.