He's a battle-hardened knight; she's from the modern world.
He faced the unthinkable; she was sheltered in comfort.
His body and soul bear scars, while she still believes in wonders.
He seeks redemption and peace, and she craves true love.
But in hi...
William and Dan burst into the clearing where they had left Elizabeth. But what they saw was beyond their expectations: she was cornered against a tree, her body stiff with terror. A black snake with eyes glowing a sinister yellow was slithering toward her. The snake hissed, writhing as it drew closer and closer to the terrified Elizabeth.
Without hesitation, William sprinted forward, his sword cutting through the air with a metallic flash. In one fluid motion, he cleaved the snake in two. But to everyone's horror, after the snake let out a final, unsettling hiss, it dissolved into a dark mist that quickly disappeared into the air.
Rushing to Elizabeth's side, William grabbed her shoulders. "Did it bite you? Tell me!" Overwhelmed by the terrible encounter, Elizabeth could only shake her head, unable to speak.
William's gaze swept over her body, searching for any sign of injury, before locking onto her eyes to ensure she was well. After a tense pause, he exhaled a sigh of relief, grateful to find her unharmed.
"What the hell?" Dan's voice quivered, his eyes wide with shock as he tried to make sense of the snake's mysterious disappearance.
"It looks like some kind of sorcery," William said, his breath still heavy. "It reminds me of the serpent Ciaran told us about—the one whose bite can turn people into bloodfiends. I've never seen such a creature before. It's definitely not normal."
Putting aside their animosity, the two men shared a concerned look as Elizabeth tried to steady herself.
"It really looked like the snake Ciaran described," she said, her voice trembling from the shock.
"So, it can bite any of us and turn us into monsters?" Dan asked with a shudder. "What happens if one of us becomes a bloodfiend?"
"Then that person must be eliminated," William said grimly, wiping dark stains from his sword. Their colour was like the blood of the monster he had slain in the village. "It's a law in my kingdom. Maybe it's the only way to stop them. Maybe..." His gaze wavered, betraying his doubt. Silence fell as everyone contemplated the dreadful possibility.
"Are all bloodfiends so desperate for blood? Can they resist it by sheer willpower?" Elizabeth asked.
"It seems not," William replied, his gaze growing distant as if he were reliving some memory.
Dan frowned. "But is it true we can walk safely during the day, that they don't hunt at this time?"
William nodded. "They can't tolerate sunlight."
"And where do they hide from the sun?" Elizabeth asked, peering into the indistinct darkness among the trees.
"In the shadows of dense forests, deep hollows—anywhere they can, waiting for twilight to begin their hunt," William replied. "But usually not far from settlements. I hope this forest is safe, yet..."
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