Shadows of Stars

Chapter 3: The First Taste of Freedom

Elara felt the cold night air hit her full force as she stepped out of the castle. For the first time in a long while, there were no walls surrounding her, no ceiling pressing down on her, nor the scornful gazes of her family piercing her back. The sky, dark and endless, stretched above her, covered with stars that twinkled as if Lunaris himself was watching. She breathed deeply, letting the cold wind fill her lungs. Her cloak fluttered softly, and though the cold bit into her bones, it was a different kind of cold—not the damp, oppressive cold of the dungeon, but the cold that carried the promise of freedom.

She had escaped.

The sky unfolded before her like an infinite expanse, the stars twinkling like winks from Lunaris. For the first time in a long while, there were no limits. No walls to trap her. No ceiling to oppress her. She was free, and the simple act of breathing fresh air reminded her that she was no longer bound to her past. The relief was so immense that, for a moment, she wanted to cry, but fear still lingered, lurking, mixed with confusion. Her heart pounded in her chest, and every sound the wind carried—the creaking of branches, the rustle of dry leaves beneath her feet—made her jump. She was scared. Though she had dreamed of this moment, now that she was living it, she felt vulnerable. Outside the castle walls, the world stretched out before her like a dangerous and unpredictable place. She had no idea what dangers awaited her in the dark, nor how much time she had before someone discovered her absence.

She paused for a moment, turning to take one last look at the castle she had left behind. The tall, dark towers loomed like giants in the night, with the twinkling lights of the ball still shining in the highest windows. The distant echoes of music and laughter reached her, reminding her that her family continued celebrating, unaware that she was already gone.

Where should she go?

Elara looked around, desperately searching for any sign that would show her the way. But there was nothing, only the vast, dark landscape stretching out before her. She had exited through one of the castle's side gates, one that led to the fields and the nearby forest. The path that was clearly visible during the day was now covered in shadows, and the thick foliage of the trees seemed to create an impenetrable maze. She was completely disoriented.

She had no concrete plan. She only knew she had to get away, as far as possible. But how far would be enough? She had no idea how far she would have to run to be safe, nor how long it would take before her family realized she was gone. Her father, Count Aldric, wouldn't suspect anything until they returned from the ball. But when he did, she knew he would send men after her, guards with strict orders to bring her back. She might not survive if they caught her again.

But this was better than staying. It had to be.

Despite the fear and confusion, Elara clung to that conviction. She couldn't go back. She thought of her father, with his cold authority, and how he had punished her mercilessly. She remembered her mother, always distant, always judging her with her gaze, as if she didn't deserve the noble title that came with her family name. And Theron... Theron, with his cruel mockery and arrogance. At that moment, she thought of the possibility that she might never see them again, and the idea didn't bring her as much relief as she had hoped.

There was a weight in her chest. Despite all the pain and contempt, that castle had been her home. A home that had never truly wanted her, but it was the only thing she had known. Elara took a deep breath, feeling a slight lump in her throat. Had she done the right thing by escaping? It was the question that kept repeating itself in her mind.

But when she thought about what would have happened if she had stayed, about the future that awaited her at the side of Prince Roderic and under the constant shadow of her father, she knew she had no other choice. Her life didn't belong to her in that place. Now, in the middle of the darkness and the biting cold of the night, her destiny was in her own hands. Maybe her decision had been impulsive, maybe the future awaiting her would be just as uncertain and dangerous, but there was something deeper, something more powerful than any doubt: the desire to be free.