Naseria returned on foot, taking her time as she walked back to her forest home. But as she drew closer, the acrid smell of smoke reached her nose, and panic surged through her. She broke into a run, her heart pounding with dread.
When she arrived, her home was engulfed in flames. The first thought that raced through her mind was of her cat. "Stark! Stark!" she yelled desperately, searching through the smoke and chaos.
A faint meow cut through the crackling of the fire. Naseria followed the sound and found Stark huddled near a tree, scared but unharmed. She rushed to him, tears of relief streaming down her face. "I'm so happy you're safe," she whispered, clutching the purring cat to her chest.
But relief quickly turned to rage as she stared at the ruins of her home. "On my word, those sea people..." she muttered furiously. Without hesitation, she gathered what little of the umbra herbs remained and began the long, vengeful walk toward the kingdom of Cascadea.
It took her days on foot, the journey fueled by pure anger. She didn't eat and barely slept, consumed by her desire for retribution. The betrayal by King Theon and the destruction of her home weighed heavily on her, her thoughts a storm of curses and plans for revenge.
On the top of a hill, hidden behind a large tree, Naseria gazed out at the vast expanse before her. From her vantage point, she could clearly see the bustling port and the massive Kingdom of Cascadea, a fortress surrounded on all sides by the endless sea. The kingdom was unlike any other, with its only bridge perpetually following the flow of the sea water, connecting the land to the majestic stronghold.
The Kingdom of Cascadea was shielded by towering walls, so high and impenetrable that they concealed everything within, leaving the kingdom's interior a mystery to those outside. The only way to reach the entrance was by boat, but even before setting foot on one, travelers had to pass through a formidable guard house, a structure as intimidating as the kingdom it protected.
This guard house was unlike any Naseria had encountered before. A strange device that she had never seen, adding another layer of impenetrability to the already daunting kingdom. From her hidden spot, Naseria observed the scene, her mind filled with thoughts of what lay ahead and how she might overcome the obstacles that awaited her.
Naseria returned to her hiding spot, placing Stark gently on her lap. "What should we do, Stark? We've lost our home, and getting into the kingdom is nearly impossible, how did they built that kingdom so big, so fast?" she murmured, her voice heavy with frustration.
Stark merely meowed and purred, offering her a small comfort in the midst of her troubles. Naseria had spent days observing the patterns of the people in Cascadea, and she noticed a potential weakness: every three days, a carriage carrying livestock would enter and exit the kingdom.
Determined to exploit this opportunity, Naseria followed the hunters into the woods, careful to stay out of sight. She couldn't afford to wait another three days, so this plan had to work. As she trailed the hunters, she studied their movements, waiting for the right moment to act.
When the hunters paused to check their surroundings, Naseria silently moved closer, hiding behind a thick grove of trees. She watched as they loaded the livestock into the carriage, leaving the back gate open as they briefly stepped away to gather more. Seizing the moment, Naseria swiftly darted forward and slid into the carriage, tucking herself between the large crates of livestock. Stark followed, slipping in just before she carefully closed the gate, making sure it appeared undisturbed.
She lay still, her breath shallow as she heard the hunters returning. The carriage jolted as they resumed their work, and soon they were on their way back to the kingdom. Hidden among the livestock, Naseria and Stark were finally on their way into Cascadea.
