A-Game ✔

forest shadows / episode three / orhan and sophia

The moon hung high above, casting silver light over the dense forest that stretched across the borderlands of Hungary. Shadows danced among the trees as Sultan Orhan led his forces through the thick underbrush. They moved silently, like ghosts, cloaked in darkness, the sound of their steps barely audible over the rustling leaves.

Orhan rode at the front of the group, his eyes sharp and focused. His mind was set on one goal: capturing Hungary. This kingdom, with its strategic position and untapped wealth, was the key to expanding the Ottoman Empire's dominance in Europe. Hungary's defenses had grown weak, its rulers distracted by internal strife. Now was the time to strike.

But this mission was not one of brute force. Orhan knew that a direct assault would only lead to unnecessary bloodshed. Instead, he had chosen a more subtle path, sneaking through the forests that bordered the kingdom. This forest, wild and dense, offered the perfect cover for their approach. If all went as planned, they would be upon the Hungarian capital before anyone knew they had arrived.

➣ "We're nearing the edge of the forest, my Sultan," whispered Pasha Kemal, his closest advisor, riding just behind him. "Soon, we will reach the open fields beyond, and from there... the kingdom of Hungary awaits."

Orhan nodded but kept his gaze forward, scanning the trees. This mission carried not only the weight of empire, but also the pressure of his mother's last wish. With Hungary under his control, he could stabilize his reign and begin searching for a queen consort, someone who could fulfill the future his mother had envisioned for him.

But first, there was Hungary—and the quiet, untamed forest that stood between him and his goal.

✧

Meanwhile, deep within the forest, Sophia Fazekas was wandering along the familiar path that led from her cottage to her favorite meadow. The cool night air whispered through the trees, the stars above twinkling like tiny candles in the sky.

 This was her sanctuary, a place she could escape to when the weight of the world felt too heavy. Ever since her accident, she had found solace in the quiet of the woods, where she could walk without the constant reminder of her limp or her past.

She had no idea that danger was approaching.

As she knelt by a small stream, her fingers brushing the cool water, she heard something—a faint sound, like the rustling of leaves but heavier. Sophia froze, her heart skipping a beat. She had grown up in these woods and knew every creature that lived here, but this sound was different. It was... human.

She turned, scanning the dark trees around her. For a moment, all was still, the only sound the soft trickling of the stream. But then, from the shadows, she saw them—figures moving swiftly through the forest. Men. Armed.

Sophia's breath caught in her throat as she backed away slowly, trying not to make a sound. Her instincts told her to run, but her body felt frozen in place, her mind racing. Who were they? Bandits? Soldiers? And what were they doing here in the middle of the night?

Suddenly, her foot snapped a twig beneath her, the sharp crack echoing through the quiet woods. The figures stopped. Heads turned. Eyes locked on her.

Panic surged through her as she finally found the strength to move. She turned and bolted through the trees, her limp making her steps uneven and slow. She could hear the men behind her now, their voices muffled but urgent, and the sound of footsteps growing closer.

➣ "Stop! Someone's there!" one of the men shouted.

Sophia's heart pounded in her chest. She could feel the cold sweat on her skin, the burning in her legs as she pushed herself forward. The trees blurred around her, but no matter how hard she ran, the footsteps kept coming.