>>Amber

It took only a few seconds before recognition dawned on us all. That was no ordinary alarm. It was the alarm from the temple.

SHIT!

They must have found that Illaris is missing!!

Panic surged through me, my heart racing as I looked over at Hael. My mind flooded with worry—had we been discovered? Were they coming for us?

Hael's calm gaze met mine, and for a split second, I saw a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. Then, to my surprise, he passed me a smirk, a silent, confident reassurance that made my breath catch

???

He wasn't worried. If anything, he seemed almost amused by the situation, as if he'd been expecting it all along.Well, I mean this was expected but how come he wasn't worried at all. He was the one who said that the temple will blame the Magic Tower!

The others around us were still trying to grasp the situation, so I walked up to Hael

"You're not worried?" I whispered, "What if they demand to search the Tower?"

"I handed things over to May and told her to let them." He whispered in my ear. There was nothing to go crazy over yet his breath against my skin was making me feel giddy, "They can search all they want, they'll never find that room. Only The Tower Master can open that space."

"Oh,"

I shyly nodded at him and moved away, putting my hand on my ear that was turning red.

Gosh!

Control yourself you horny witch!! What is wrong with you!!! We're leaving for a deadly mission! It's not the time to feel all tingly!!

I went back to my original position but then I noticed something odd. I brought my hand down and looked around as I felt someone's gaze on me.

I looked to my side and noticed Lyal looking directly at me

!!!

I felt my heart skip a beat in fear

He didn't notice anything, did he?

"Everyone!" Hael used a spell to amplify his voice, "Attention. We're about to leave," All the knights looked back at him, "Whatever the temple is facing is not our concern."

The knights all straightened up.

Lyal didn't say anything and looked ahead.

Maybe he doesn't suspect us. But even if he does, like Hael said, no one will find any proof. Unless he has some other way of proving that it's us.

"Make your barriers, and take out your scrolls. We'll be landing in the deepest part of Hollow Woods that's infested with poison, miasma, and bonewraiths. So before you use the scroll to teleport, be ready to fight."

Tension ensued in the place but Hael didn't bother to say any encouraging words. I don't expect him to either but I doubt other people know how Hael is.

But well, since he knew himself well, he and Deus stepped aside and let Lyal take over.

"Scrolls out!" His voice boomed and all the knights took out their scrolls. None of the knights were wearing armor, because in a place like Hollow Woods, everyone needed mobility. Everyone here was wearing pants and tight fit shirts while I wore a sports dress which is very easy to move in, but I secretly wanted to wear pants too. "You all are the finest warriors this kingdom has ever seen. I have trained each of you, witnessed your strength, your determination, and your unyielding courage." His voice was so strong, it affected even me, "The place we're about to go to would make lesser men tremble, but not you. I believe in you all."

Wow

He's royalty alright. They have a way with words. I noticed the morale of the knights getting better.

"And I know, as your prince and your commander, that there is no force within those woods that can break you. We will march into those woods, and together, we will emerge victorious!!"

Lyal then got his scroll out and opened it. Everyone else copied him and opened their scrolls except Deus and Hael

And well, me

Because I wasn't given one.

I noticed how I was the only person who didn't have a scroll. I patted my dress looking for an imaginary scroll but of course, there wasn't one.

I looked at Hael and he smirked, then extended his hand to me.

Right

Of course he'd be taking me. I let out a breath and walked over to him again, giving him my hand.

"Remember your training. Remember your strength," Lyal grabbed the scrolls from the top, ready to rip it into two pieces to activate the magic, "Stand tall!" He looked at the knights, "Ready?"

"Yes, Your Highness!" They all roared back

Hael pulled me close, I crashed into his body and he wrapped his arm around me, then started his spell, Deus did the same thing

Lyal then ripped his scroll, followed by all the knights ripping theirs.

Multiple glows appeared beneath the people, the wind caught speed and I closed eyes as we all flashed out of there.

***

The black miasma clung to everything, swirling like a malevolent fog that sought to consume all light and life. I clung tightly to Hael's arm, feeling the warmth of his presence steady my nerves. He walked beside me with unyielding confidence, his steps sure and unfaltering, as if the creeping shadows and the ominous miasma held no power over him.

The holy shield around us glowed softly, casting a warm, protective light that kept the darkness at bay. I could feel the weight of the miasma pressing in on us, but the shield repelled it, turning the inky tendrils into harmless wisps that dissipated as they touched the golden barrier. The soldiers behind us moved in unison, their magic barriers flickering with pale light.

Hael's calm demeanor was a stark contrast to the eerie silence and the overwhelming sense of dread that permeated the air. His grip on my hand was firm, a silent assurance that he was there, and nothing would harm me.

I took solace in that, even as my heart raced with every gust of miasma that surged toward us, only to be repelled by the shield. I'm so glad I trained to perfect it!

The trees around us stood like dark, twisted figures, their branches reaching out like skeletal arms, but Hael paid them no mind. His focus was on the path ahead, and I found myself matching his pace, drawing strength from his fearlessness. The ground was uneven, roots and decayed foliage crunching underfoot, but I barely noticed. All I could think about was keeping close to Hael, feeling the warmth of his arm against mine, the steady rhythm of his breath.

The silence was almost unbearable, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves and distant, unnatural sounds that made my skin crawl, but every now and then, I glanced up at him, his expression as unreadable as ever. But the way he walked, so sure, so confident, as if the miasma was nothing more than a minor inconvenience made me think.

This is the very place where he almost died.

How is he not afraid? Does he not fear death? Or is he confident now that he knows what's here?

I turned my head around and glanced at the others. Lyal and Deus were ahead of the platoon and the soldiers quietly followed behind.

"I'm worried that Lyal might be suspicious of us " I whispered and then turned my head to look at Hael

"You don't have to worry about him at all. Especially now that we're here."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It just means you don't need to fret over anything." He said, "I'll take care of it."

I rolled my eyes. I guess I really don't need to fret. It's not like he'll magically know we did something

The magic orb Hael, Deus, and Lyal had created floated above them, casting a faint glow that barely pierced the pitch-black surroundings. The light was limited, illuminating only their immediate area, leaving the rest of the forest shrouded in impenetrable darkness. Every step they took echoed faintly, the only sound in the otherwise unnervingly silent forest.

"Isn't it weird how quiet it is here?" I whispered.

"They're definitely watching," Hael's statement made goosebumps erupt on my body and my eyes went wide.

"What?" My voice came out squeaky, "H-how can you say that?"

"Look," He pointed with his free hand.

As we moved cautiously, the dim light revealed a grim sight—bones, bleached and brittle, scattered across the forest floor. Some were piled in small heaps, others strewn haphazardly as if left behind by some terrible force.

!!!!

OH LORD!

The sight of these skeletal remains sent shivers down not only me, but also the soldiers' spines, their nerves frayed by the knowledge that they were not alone in this forsaken place.

"It's alright," Lyal noticed, "Keep together!" His voice boomed for a second, then died down.

The silence was almost unbearable, amplifying every rustle of leaves, every crunch of their footsteps. The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances, their hands gripping their weapons tightly, eyes darting nervously to the shadows beyond the reach of the light. The fear was palpable; they knew all too well that the real danger lurked in the darkness—the bonewraiths.

But the terrifying part was that onewraiths made no sound as they moved, their gaunt, emaciated bodies slipped through the shadows like ghosts. The soldiers knew this, and it was the absence of sound that unnerved them the most. The tension was thick, every heartbeat loud in their ears as they strained to catch any hint of movement, any sign that the bonewraiths were near. But there was nothing—only the oppressive silence and the faint, eerie glow of the light orb.

And God! It was unnerving!

The forest seemed endless, the trees towering above them like skeletal sentinels, their bark rough and gnarled like the texture of a bonewraith's skin. The darkness was suffocating, pressing in on all sides, and the occasional glimpse of bones only served as a grim reminder of what could be waiting for them in the shadows.

The light orb flickered slightly, casting twisted shadows that danced eerily on the forest floor. One of the soldiers gasped, his breath catching in his throat as he spotted a set of skeletal remains that looked disturbingly fresh. The others quickly glanced around, their fear escalating, but Hael motioned for them to keep moving.

He wanted to find the rift fast and refused to stop just because of minor inconveniences.

Suddenly, a soldier at the rear of the group gasped, making everyone stop and look back at him.

I looked back at him as well but I didn't stop because Hael kept moving. I saw knight's eyes wide with terror as he felt a cold, unsettling presence behind him. He spun around, his weapon raised, but there was nothing—just the darkness, endless and impenetrable. He swallowed hard, his pulse racing, but he said nothing.

"Keep moving," Lyal said as he shook his head at him.The knight's gasp did make everyone scared after all, "Do not let the fear get the better of you."

We pressed on, the light orb flickering as if struggling to stay alight in the oppressive darkness. The occasional crunch of bones beneath their feet was the only sound, each one sending a jolt of fear through the knights. The forest felt alive, as if it were watching them, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

I moved my head around, just as the tension reached its peak, there was a faint, almost imperceptible movement in the shadows—too quick to be certain, but enough to send a chill down everyone's spine.

"Hael," I whispered, clutching his arm strongly, "I think I saw something."

The soldiers froze, their breaths caught in their throats, their eyes locked on the darkness where the movement had come from. But there was nothing—just the endless void of the forest.

"Keep moving," He said, "The rift should be here somewhere-" The light orb above them flickered and Hael suddenly came to a pause, a look of surprise on his face.

The suddenness of it sent a jolt of fear through the group, and every soldier froze in place as they all stared at Hael, whose normally unshakable demeanor was replaced with a rare expression of surprise. The fact that Hael had stopped, that something had made him pause, was enough to send a wave of dread crashing through the ranks.

My heart began to pound so much in fear, I heard my own heartbeat drum in my ears.

The light orb flickered again, casting erratic shadows that only deepened their anxiety. For a moment, there was nothing—

But then Hael looked up and everyone followed his gaze.

Six pairs of hollow, white eyes materialized out of the darkness, each one staring down at them from a terrifying height of eight feet. The eyes were empty, soulless, yet they seemed to pierce through the darkness with an intensity that sent a chill down everyone's spine. The eyes glowed faintly, the only features visible on the ghastly, featureless faces of the creatures that had emerged from the shadows.

The kngihts' terror skyrocketed, their hearts pounding in their chests as everyone realized something.

The six hollow eyes were facing us in a circle, that meant six bonewraiths had us trapped between them.