>>Ophelia

I was drifting into a peaceful slumber, the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the curtains, casting delicate patterns on the walls of my chamber. The tranquility of the night was soothing, and I felt myself slipping into a deep, restful sleep.

Suddenly, a frantic knock on my door shattered the stillness. I groaned, irritation flaring as I reluctantly pulled myself from the comfort of my bed. "What is it?" I called out, my voice laced with annoyance.

The door creaked open, and Lena, my maid, rushed in, her face flushed and eyes wide with urgency. "Your Highness, I'm sorry to wake you, but you need to hear this."

I sat up, glaring at her. "This had better be good, Lena. I was just about to sleep."

Lena stepped closer, a gleam of excitement in her eyes. "You'll like the news I brought, Your Highness. It's about the saints—Saint Amber and Saint Illaris."

My annoyance melted away, replaced by curiosity. "Go on," I said, my tone sharp with interest.

Lena took a deep breath, her words spilling out in a rush. "There was an argument between them in the corridor near their rooms. Saint Amber pushed Saint Illaris, and Illaris fainted! There was a light—something unusual—and then she just collapsed. The guards had to carry her to the infirmary."

A slow smile spread across my face as I processed her words. "Illaris fainted after an altercation with Amber?" I repeated, my mind already racing with possibilities. "How... delightful."

Lena nodded eagerly. "Yes, Your Highness. It happened just a little while ago. The palace is buzzing with whispers already."

I swung my legs over the side of the bed, my earlier irritation completely forgotten. "This is perfect," I murmured, more to myself than to Lena. "We can use this to our advantage."

Lena looked at me expectantly, awaiting instructions. "What should we do, Your Highness?"

I stood up, pacing the room as I formulated my plan. "We will ensure that everyone knows how volatile and dangerous Saint Amber is. We will frame this incident in such a way that it raises doubts about her suitability as a saint. First let's check on Illaris and see how bad it is."

"What if she simply fainted from exhaustion?"

"We'll use something to make sure she doesn't wake up."

"But Your Highness, wouldn't that be bad?"

"No," I said, "We only need a little time. Enough time to make sure that Amber gets in trouble."

Lena's eyes sparkled with admiration. "A brilliant plan, Your Highness."

I smiled, pleased with the turn of events. "Spread the word subtly, Lena. Make sure the right people hear about it. Emphasize Amber's aggression and Illaris's vulnerability. We want the court to question Amber's ability to fulfill her duties."

Lena bowed, a determined look on her face. "Yes, Your Highness. I'll see to it right away."

As she hurried out of the room, I walked to the window,

I was worried because nothing happened in the forest. But I'm so happy we got a natural opportunity! She landed herself in trouble.

I smirked

What an idiot.

***

>>Amber

I was angry because there was a chance that what we went through might have been planned.

But then again, it might simply be because we had shitty luck.

It's a fact that the forest has corrupted animals in there. But the outer layer is relatively safer and Serena and I ended up quite deep in the forest.

I don't have answers and that's what made me so angry! I get that the game was rigged. I don't even mind that it was rigged, I never planned on winning anyway.

But how no one cared to stay behind to see how we were doing got on my nerves.

"I get that you were angry,"Serena was in my room, "But how did this happen?" She sat on my bed while I strolled in the room anxiously.

The guards had to be called to transfer Illaris to the temple and see what was wrong. And the news spread pretty fast, waking up most of the people who had fallen asleep.

"I don't know," I shook my head, "I didn't even push her that hard! She fell down on her own!"

"Corvina, are you sure?"

I stopped and looked back at her, "I am," I said, "I know I was angry, but I'm not aggressive!" I ran a hand through my head, "I didn't even mean to push her lightly, I was scared and it came out as anger!" I frowned, "I didn't mean for that to happen!"

I felt Serena's arms come around me as she pulled me into a hug, "I know," She said, "I was there with you and I knew how terrifying that was."

I looked at her but she was embracing me with her eyes closed, "I can't get it out of my head," I whispered.

"I know," She hugged me tighter, "I couldn't sleep either," I wrapped my arms around her, "Everytime I close my eyes those hollow white eyes come right in front of me."

"..." My gaze lowered, "There were so many corrupted beasts in the forest too."

"Yea, but we're safe now." She said, 'We made it back." She looked at me and I looked back at her

"Yea..." I broke the hug and stepped back, "But what was that thing?"

"..." Serena looked away, "I wish I knew..."

I closed my eyes, "I can't get it out of my head and," I let out a sigh, "I messed up so bad."

"Hey," She stepped towards me, "Maybe Saint Illaris was just tired, that's why she fainted."

I opened my eyes and looked at her, "No," I shook my head, "Something happened," I began to get frantic again, "Light left her body," I started moving around the place again, "She looked exhausted and all, but nothing can explain the light that left her body like that!"

"Corvina! Calm down,"

"I can't!" I glanced back at her, "Too many weird things have happened and I can't explain a single one," I clenched my dress over my chest, "I- it's making me, I don't know, anxious!"

"Hey, we'll get through this," She approached me, "We'll get all our answers too." She placed her hands on my arm, "It's true that the King should have left the guards behind for us. We'll ask him about it." I looked at her with a frown, "Maybe it wasn't intentional." I nodded, "And for how the corrupted have increased so much in the forest, it's bound to happen. Only a saint can purify them, otherwise they will only multiply."

I thought about it, then took a deep breath.

"Yea, you're right."

"And for what's wrong with Saint Illaris, we'll have to wait and see."

"Yea," I sighed but I knew something was wrong. The anxiety in me isn't settling down. I looked at Serena, "You need to stop calling me Corvina," I said, "I'm Amber now,"

"Ah, right, sorry. I'll be careful." She began to drag me to bed, "I'll work on that but you should try and calm down too."

Both of us sat down on the bed and I nodded, "Okay."

>>Lyal

My hand was frozen in the air, my palm facing me while my fingers were curled in a knocking position yet I couldn't bring myself to knock on the door.

Not after what I heard. I almost couldn't believe it, even though it made so much sense. It was far more believable than the lie all of us were told. Everyone thinks the exact same thing when they see her face but chooses to believe that it can't be true. After all, the whole manor burned down and 'no one' survived.

I stood outside Saint Amber's room while she and Lady Serena talked.

No

Not Amber

Corvina

Corvina Cory, my ex-fiance.

***

>>Hael

I couldn't see anything in the pitch blackness, and Eldias was nowhere to be found. I quickly conjured another light orb, but the miasma devoured it instantly, darkness swallowing light like a ravenous beast.

"Damn it," I muttered under my breath. I needed to find Eldias, and fast. Summoning all my focus, I crafted another light orb, this time wrapping it in a protective coating of magical energy. The orb flared to life, its glow much more intense and resilient against the miasma.

Holding the orb aloft, I began to search for Eldias. The eerie silence pressed in around me, broken only by the faint crushing under my foot.

I tried to see but the darkness didn't allow anything.

So this is what it was? The danger that the forest constricted. But how? How did the miasma move on its own? Not only did it move, it ate up everything here.

"Eldias!" I called out again, my voice didn't seem to reach anywhere at all.

Still no response. The silence was making me believe he's either corrupted or somewhere too far from me..

I pressed forward, the light orb casting eerie shadows but my view was even more restricted than before. The fog seemed to part before the protective glow, but it was still thick and oppressive.

As I moved deeper into the forest, my unease grew. There was something wrong here that I couldn't quite pinpoint. The forest felt alive, as if it were watching me.

I made the light orb bigger to get a better view of the place. I need to find the source, where did the miasma come running from?

Could it have something to do with the rift Eldias mentioned?

Something crunched under my feet again but I didn't pay it any attention, although when I heard that sound, I paused.

The Chittering sound made its way to my ears.

This time it was closer.

A little too close.

!!!!

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw it. Two pairs of hollow eyes hovering in the darkness, about eight feet off the ground. They were faint, barely visible in the gloom, but unmistakable. They were on either side of me. One pair of white circular hollow eyes to my left, while the other was to my right.

What the hell is that?

The eyes were eerily still, watching me with an unblinking, predatory gaze.

How come I didn't hear them?

I didn't hear any footsteps! Heck! I didn't notice their presence either!

Out of the blue, they're just there? Staring at me from above? From two opposite directions??

The orb flickered again and it caught my eye. I looked at it for a split second and that alone was my biggest mistake.