Cursed By Fate

Phantom

After the incident with the giant beast, the other guards stared in awe as Aria mounted the creature. It was a sight no one had expected—Aria, the quiet and mysterious girl, now sat atop one of the most feared beasts in the entire kingdom. The stablemaster, still in disbelief, shook his head but couldn't deny what he had just witnessed.

"Well," he grumbled, "I suppose it's yours now."

Aria gave a slight nod and guided the beast forward. Its massive wings fluttered slightly, testing its freedom, but it remained calm under her command. The other royal guards mounted their own mystical creatures, some hesitant after seeing what had just happened, but the stablemaster urged them forward.

"Time to head back," one of the senior guards called out, leading the group toward the castle. Aria followed at the back, her beast moving with powerful strides.

As they rode back, the air around Aria felt different. The whispers of her fellow guards filled the air, and she knew they were talking about her. They hadn’t expected much from her, but now, after seeing her tame the wild creature, they regarded her with a mix of respect and fear.

Prince Ryker was waiting for them as they returned to the castle grounds. His eyes scanned the group until they landed on Aria and her new mount. His lips curled into a smirk, but his eyes remained cold and calculating, as always.

“Little Shadow,” he called out as she dismounted the beast. “I see you’ve made quite the impression.”

Aria didn’t respond immediately, simply giving the prince a steady look. She had grown used to his teasing, but there was something different in his tone this time—something almost like approval.

“You surprise me,” he continued, approaching her. His gaze flickered to the massive bird-like creature behind her. “I didn’t think anyone would dare to claim that beast, let alone tame it.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t underestimate me, then,” Aria said coolly, keeping her expression neutral.

Ryker chuckled softly. “Oh, I never underestimate you, Little Shadow. I’m just waiting to see how far you’ll go.” He stepped closer, his voice lowering. “But remember, taming a beast doesn’t make you invincible.”

“I’m not trying to be invincible,” Aria replied. “I’m just doing what needs to be done.”

The prince’s smirk deepened, and he reached out, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. “Good. You’ll need that attitude if you plan on surviving as my guard.”

Before Aria could respond, Ryker turned his back to her, his commanding presence drawing the attention of the other guards. “Dismissed,” he ordered, waving them off. “Get some rest. Tomorrow, we begin training with your new mounts.”

As the guards dispersed, Aria gave her beast one last glance before heading toward her quarters. Her mind swirled with thoughts of what lay ahead. Taming the beast had been just the beginning. Being Ryker’s royal guard meant more than she had anticipated, and she could feel the weight of it pressing down on her.

But she wouldn’t back down. Not now.

---
The next morning arrived quicker than Aria expected. As the first light of dawn filtered through her window, she could already hear the sounds of the other guards preparing their mounts. Today would be the first day of training with the mystical beasts, and Aria knew she had to be ready.

She quickly dressed in her royal guard uniform, a crisp and practical attire that still felt unfamiliar on her skin. Strapping her sword to her side, she stepped out of her quarters and made her way to the stables.