𝕾𝖔𝖚𝖑𝖘 [𝗲𝗻𝗴 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻]

★[𝐜𝐩𝐭.𝟎𝟑]★

𝐎𝐫𝐚 𝐏𝐎𝐕...

After Alice had driven away the strangers, she ran to me, panting. "What's happening, Ora?" she asked anxiously. I had taken out my magical book, untouched since the connection with Rheos. I flipped through the pages but found nothing about the underworld, at least nothing indicating an escape. "I want to know too. These men are from the kingdom, and they say Rheos sent them..." Her breath caught. "R... Rheos?" "I don't know. Escaping the underworld is impossible. It can't be him." My trembling fingers continued flipping until Alice stopped me. "Is that a Siren?" I nodded, answering with a sorrowful tone, "That's Dorea. She ruled over the water, but after the forest fire, I never saw her again. She probably moved to the sea." Alice embraced me. "I can fly to the kingdom and let you know if it's Rheos," Alice suggested. "No! Under no circumstances am I letting you into the kingdom. If Rheos senses your presence and discovers you belong to me, he'll kill you instantly." "If it's even the right Rheos," I added, pondering. At that moment, Alice yawned. "Go back to sleep. I unfortunately woke you up. I'm sorry." "It's okay, but you're right. I need to keep sleeping; otherwise, I can't go hunting." With a hug, she bid farewell and disappeared through the door.

In the night, I would go to the kingdom myself. I hadn't been there for a long time, precisely 117 years. Back then, I needed a blossom that only grew there to heal a wound. Since then, I hadn't set foot in the city. A former friend had helped me. Was Eros still alive? Maybe I could also say "hello" to him. A breeze snapped me out of my thoughts. A strange figure was here. I gathered magic in my hands to protect myself. Suddenly, I was pounced from behind, the creature pinning me to the ground and rolling me so I could look into its face. I hesitated for a moment, then I felt a wet tongue on my face. "Arox!" I exclaimed joyfully, scratching his black-turquoise shimmering fur. He got off me and sat on his hind legs. He waited for me to tell him about today's events and my plan for tonight. "You're not coming. I have to do this alone," I told him, and he growled at me. "No, Arox, it's really better. I don't want anything to happen to you. I've lost you once. I can take care of myself!"

Night descended over the forest as I prepared to go alone to the kingdom. The path was long familiar, but the darkness lurking between the trees seemed more ominous this time. Arox watched me, his eyes gleaming in the twilight. I promised him to return soon before venturing into the shadows of the trees.

The journey through the forest was a trip into the past. It led me to the forgotten corners of nature, to places where I once sought healing. The trees whispered stories to me, and the ground beneath my feet seemed alive. The darkness was pierced by the sparkling lights of fireflies illuminating the way.

Finally, I reached the border of the forest and ventured into the kingdom. The city was no longer the same as 117 years ago. Modern towers soared into the sky, and the whispers of nature were drowned out by the noise of civilization. But I couldn't refrain from searching for Eros, an old friend who once existed in the shadows of this city.

The streets were bustling, and I noticed curious glances resting on my hood. People hurried through the illuminated alleys, and the scent of steel and smoke filled the air.

An uneasy feeling passed through me as I stood before the gates of the castle. Too many people crowded there, and soldiers with katanas guarded the entrance. I decided to walk through the busy city and ponder how I could find out if it really was Rheos.

As I strolled through the crowd, my eyes fell on a poster in front of me. It announced a fireworks display in two days, with the king personally attending. This was my chance. Determined, I decided to return in two nights.

On the way out of the kingdom, someone suddenly grabbed my shoulder. Surprised, I turned around and saw a soldier standing beside me. "I'd like to see your ID," he said. Confused, I looked at him. "What's that?" "Peasant girls shouldn't be wandering here at night. We have to lock you up until tomorrow morning." Anxiously, I considered how I could escape, but maybe it would bring me closer to Rheos. The soldier handcuffed me and grabbed my arm. "Can you be gentler?" I complained, but he ignored it. The townspeople stared at me disgustedly. Peasants seemed unwelcome here. In the castle, I was dragged to my cell, where he let go of me and pointed the way to the dungeons.

Disgusted, I looked at my cell when suddenly steps from two men were audible. "She was a witch! She had purple eyes, like a beast, and with a flame, she shot down the chainsaws," I heard a man angrily approaching the soldier. "What nonsense are you talking about? There has been no magic for years. The king eradicated it all!" said the other man to the soldier. The men bid farewell, and I noticed they had a shift change. The soldier checked every cell to make sure the "culprits" were still there. Since I was new, he lingered a bit longer at my cell. I sat on the hard bed and looked up at the young man. I hesitated for a moment. He looked like Eros. "Eros?" I asked. Just as he was about to turn around to continue checking the cells, he hesitated. "How do you know my name?" he said with a rough voice. "Maybe you've forgotten me, but back then, you helped me get the blossom." "I don't know what you're talking about. Be quiet!" With these words, he resumed his work.