>>Amber

His gaze wouldn't stop traveling down to my body. It was as if he just couldn't keep his gaze away from the allure and as soon as I noticed that, my heart began to act up

"T-the Queen asked me to wear this," I felt self-conscious. I knew what I was getting myself into and I only wore this dress because I secretly wanted to see his reaction. I wanted to see how Hael would react and I'm not disappointed

"Why?" He asked

But I did push myself into this situation where I can't explain it right.

"Apparently, I'm a prize." I replied

"A prize?!?! For what?" He sure was rattled. Seeing me like this must make him feel something

That thought gave me power and that fulfills my purpose but now what? How do I get myself out of this situation?

"For the game tonight." I said softly as I looked into his eyes. His gaze was confused and his pupils were shaking.

I gulped

It was a different sort of elation, knowing that seeing my skin had this kind of an impact on him.

"What game-" He paused as soon as he asked the question. I think he remembered what game. He must know since he used to live here, "Shit, that game," He looked away momentarily as he grimaced. Then looked back at me and grabbed my hand, "You can't go, especially not looking like that,"

"But," I had no protests to give and I said 'but' for no reason at all. I didn't want to go out looking this appealing either.

"No buts!" He dragged me with him, taking me towards my room.

"Hael!" I yanked my hand away, "This was an order from the Queen." I stood in my place and he turned to look at me sternly,

"She's not your Queen." He was clearly angry, but he kept his voice under control,

"It doesn't change the fact that she's the ruler here and we're in her kingdom." It was my desperate attempt to hide my real intentions. But it wasn't like I was lying. Queen Helena did give me this dress and she asked me to wear it as well.

He looked straight into my eyes, "I can't have you going out looking like that." He said, "Do you even know what happens when someone wins that game!"

"Yes, they get to dance with me!" I said, "It's the dance after the game, around the bonfire."

"No," He said, "You have to dance for him!"

My mouth hung open, "What?"

"Yes," He shook his head at me, "Whoever wins the hunt gets to have the prize to themselves, if the prize is a human, they get to have them for the whole night."

Oh...

I pouted

Hmmm. That sure is an important detail no one chose to fill me on.

But wait, this can be an opportunity, "Anyone can participate, how about you play too and win." I folded my arms, "If you're that worried about me going to someone else, you can win." I smirked, "You're the master of the magic tower, it shouldn't be that hard for you, right?"

Why am I even saying this? I should just say yes and take off these clothes. I can give Helena some excuse.

Hael paused, "..." and actually began to think about it, "That's not a bad idea."

!!!

"What?" I was baffled

He grabbed his cloak, took it off his shoulders and draped it over mine, "Let's go," He grabbed my hand and took me out, "I'll win this thing." He looked at me and then passed me a smirk, "I'd love to see what kind of performance you'll give me."

!!!

Oh shit,

This is not what I wanted! This is not what I was told!!!! This is sooo not what I was going for!! Oh LORD! I dug my own grave!!!

***

With Hael's cloak draped over me, I was covered completely. The Queen saw that as we both sat on the two chairs on a makeshift stage, but she didn't say anything about it, so I didn't say anything in return either.

The moon was high above the sky. A full moon. It was illuminating the whole place.

I looked at Hael, he stood at the start line, (which was basically the entrance to the city of elves) along with other elves, all of them were staring at him. The word had spread that he was Hestia's son, that meant he was also a prince. Their prince. But Hael ignored everyone and kept his eyes to the front.

The Queen stood up from the chair and walked ahead, "Hunters, on your mark." This was a hunting competition. All the hunters are supposed to hunt these special creatures called moon-ferals. They're Small animals, like sables but they're completely white, their eyes the color of the mana core, and their fur shines in rainbow hues when the moonlight hits them in the night. I can't wait to see them with my own eyes! They sound so majestic!

The Queen brought her index finger up, "Ready," Her voice was clear. All the participants, men and women, took their marks, and then from the tip of Helena's finger, she blasted a firework.

That was the 'Go' mark and all the hunters went into the forest to hunt. Moon-ferals are elusive, they tend to slip away pretty fast. And the hunters have only two hours to catch as many as they can.

Helena came over to sit down next to me, "I see you're wearing his cloak,"

I gave her an awkward laugh, "Well, Hael was very unhappy with my dress."

She chuckled, "Seems like you have him under your charm."

!!!

"Me?" I pointed at myself, "I wish," I let out a sigh as I waved her words away.

But then I paused and thought about it

Do I?

***

>>Hael

Under the silvery light of the moon, I went deep into the heart of the elf forest, my senses keen and my magic crackling with anticipation. The night air was thick with the scent of moss and earth.

"I don't get it. What do I need to do for her to give me more attention? For her to want me? She seems to care for everyone else but me. It's frustrating.

I recalled the potion I was making. In order for the silver liquid to consume the black one, I added some magic. But what kind of magic do I have to use here for her to get consumed by my thoughts?

I want her to think of me and only me.

I moved quietly, my footsteps barely making a sound as I tried to find the moonlit ferals. It's said they're pretty sharp, I should use concealment magic as well.

I waved my finger and put the spell on myself. Concealing my presence and my form by using stealth magic.

I felt the pulse of the forest around me, a symphony of life and magic that filled me. The elf forest sure is different. It's hard to believe miasma reached such a place too.

I reached out with my senses, searching for the faint traces of magic left by the creatures as they darted through the underbrush. Full moons are also their hunting night, I should spot one sooner than later.

She listened to Helena, even wore those clothes. She's ready to be with another person but not me

Why? What am I doing wrong?

Is it because I forced the holy power on her? But that's the only way she can stay above other people

As the night wore on and the moon reached its zenith, I moved further into the forest.

And then, in a clearing bathed in silvery moonlight, I spotted it: a flash of rainbow fur darting through the underbrush.

!!!

Without hesitation, I sprang into action, calling upon my magic with a fierce intensity. I didn't want to miss it.

With a burst of energy, I created a shimmering barrier that blocked the feral's escape. The creature froze in its tracks, its rainbow fur shimmering in the moonlight as it gazed up at me with wide, fearful eyes as I locked it in my magic cage. Other hunters took a physical cage made of wood but I had no need of that.

Oh, so this is what you look like.

I smiled as I stared at it.

It's my first time seeing one so clearly.

When I was here as a kid, the elves didn't let me participate, saying a human can never compete with them.

I roamed around the feral as I brought the magic cage up in the air.

Hmmm

My smile got wider.

You know what?

It would be fun to see them all lose miserably.

***

>>Amber

Two hours were a long wait since I was waiting on stage alone. Helena had to leave for some urgent work and she only just came back.

"My apologies," She sat down on her chair, "Being a leader isn't easy,"

I smiled professionally, "I'm sure it isn't."

"So," She turned to me, "We were talking about Hael being protective over you,"

"Yes," I looked at her, "On that note, why are you so sure he's into me?"

Helena let out a chuckle, "You're not?"

"For your info," I paused and looked around us, there was only us there at the moment. So, I looked back at her, "He murdered my entire family, my entire manor at that."

The color drained from her face, "He did what?"

I shrugged, "Now tell me why you think he's into me,"

She was still horrified by the news when a hunter came back.

I stood on the stage as I recognized the participant. Bathed in the soft glow of moonlight, my eyes widened in wonder as Hael approached the stage with two moonlit ferals floating in front of him. He must have put them in an invisible cage. Their rainbow-hued fur shimmered in the moonlight, casting prismatic reflections that danced across the stage in a mesmerizing display.

OH MY GOD!

I had never seen creatures like these before, their ethereal beauty captivating me in an instant. With each graceful movement, they seemed to exude an aura of enchantment, their delicate forms pulsating with the magic of the forest.

"My Lady," He passed me a smile as he reached the stage. Then presented the ferals to me.

A sense of awe washed over me. I reached out tentatively, my fingers going through the invisible cage and brushing against the soft fur of one of the creatures. As soon as my fingers touched them they jumped back. But I kept my hand in place. The ferals stared at it while I stared at their mesmerizing fur. After a few seconds, they moved and rubbed themselves against my fingers, making me feel a surge of warmth and wonder coursing through me.

"They're beautiful," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper as I gazed at the creatures in awe. "I've never seen anything like them."

Hael smiled, his eyes alight with pride as he watched my reaction but then another person spoke, breaking the peaceful moment.

"Wipe that smirk off your face!" Ezio's voice reached us, "You think catching two moon-ferals is enough?" We all turned to look at him bringing a whole bunch of moon-ferals in his big cage that he carried in his hand, "I caught ten of them, so move, the saint is mine for the night,"

I expected Hael to be angry but he wasn't. He watched Ezio with a cunning smile, looking at him as if he was a fool.

What is he doing? I stared at Hael. Someone else is claiming me and he's not going to do anything about it but smile? Um, hello?!? Say something Hael.

"You caught ten?" Another elf hunter looked at his own cage, "I was only able to catch six,"

Many other hunter came back, the allotted time was over after all, "I caught four,"

"Two hours is way too short to catch these creatures, I only caught one."

"I caught one too."

"I didn't get anything." A young elf said, but the others boosted his morale by saying it was okay and that he'd do better next time.

So many people failed, how the hell did Ezio catch ten of them? Even Hael caught only two. I looked at his moon-ferals. They looked like a couple.

"I told you to wipe that smile off your face," Ezio came and stood in front of Hael, "I won this match,"

Hael shrugged, "I would move," He said, "If you actually won, that is."

"What?" He squinted his left eye and raised his other brow, "I won, I have more ferals, what about that do you not understand?"

What is Hael doing?

"Are you sure about that?" Hael's smile only widened.

"Are you blind?" Ezio said, "Can't you see I've caught the most hunts,"

Hael let out a chuckle, "I think you're the one who's blind," He pointed at his cage while his gaze remained on his cousin, "Your cage is empty,"

!!!

All eyes went on Ezio's cage. He panicked as well and brought his cage up to look at it.

The lock wasn't broken, the door was still firmly closed, but still the cage was empty. There wasn't a single moon-feral in it.

"On that note," Hael looked at the other hunters, "All of your cages are empty," All the other hunters looked at their cages.

Not a single one of them had anything in their containers.

Hael let out a snicker, "And you call yourselves hunters," He looked down on all of them, "Pathetic."

Hael then turned to me and offered me his palm, "Well then, My Lady," He smirked, "You're mine for the night, aren't you?"

My heart skipped a beat at his words, then it started pounding.

Oh no,

What do I do now?