Warrior Love

Chapter 2

When I opened my eyes, the world was hazy, like waking from the deepest, darkest dream. I felt like I’d been trapped in that endless sleep forever, but here I was, alive and awake. I hadn’t imagined the joy of breathing fresh air again, of seeing faces I had once missed terribly.

But I never expected the truth waiting for me.

The door opened, and in came Prince Kaelen, my fiancé, alongside Princess Liora—my best friend since childhood. Relief flooded their faces at the sight of me awake. For a brief, blissful moment, I thought they’d been waiting for me, hoping for my return.

“Zara,” Kaelen began, his voice tight and awkward. He shifted his gaze, and I noticed his hand in Liora’s. The gesture was subtle, but to me, it felt like a thunderclap in my heart.

“What is this?” I managed, my voice raspy from disuse.

They exchanged a glance, and Kaelen cleared his throat, as if he’d rehearsed this. “Zara… while you were in a coma… we had no idea if you’d ever return. We—Liora and I—grew close. Closer than we expected. We became partners in the tasks that… that were once meant for you.”

He didn’t have to say more. My mind raced, piecing together the betrayal, the unspoken words, the stolen moments between them. “So that’s it?” I demanded, my voice trembling. “You’re leaving me for her?”

Kaelen had the decency to look down, avoiding my gaze. “Yes. I’m sorry, Zara, but the engagement is off. Liora and I are… to be married.”

For a second, the world went silent. Then came the rush of emotions—grief, rage, betrayal—all at once. I turned to Liora, my best friend, the sister I’d never had. How could she?

Without thinking, I raised my hand and slapped her, the impact reverberating through the room. “How could you?” I whispered, my voice filled with the raw hurt I couldn’t hide. “Both of you… I trusted you.”

Neither of them had words. And with that, the shattering truth settled into my bones, cold and unyielding.

My voice echoed off the walls, raw and trembling with betrayal. “I just woke up, and this is how you two greet me?! GET OUT OF MY ROOM NOW!”

Kaelen flinched, a mix of guilt and frustration in his eyes. Liora’s face went pale, her mouth opening and closing as if she wanted to explain, to defend herself. But I didn’t want to hear it. I couldn’t. Not after everything they’d done behind my back.

Without another word, they exchanged one last glance and retreated, leaving me alone in the silence, my chest heaving with rage and heartbreak. The door shut, and I was left staring at the empty space they’d left behind, the walls closing in as I tried to process the betrayal of the two people I had once loved most.

...

As I returned to Skyskeep, the towering realm of winds and clouds that I called home, a sound caught my attention—a faint but haunting melody rising from the world below. It was the sound of someone crying, a voice woven with such sorrow that it pierced through the thick mists, reaching me like an echo in the stillness.

I stopped, letting the melody drift over me, closing my eyes to feel the ache within it. The voice was beautiful and fragile, yet broken, as if each note carried the weight of a thousand unspoken pains.

Who was this soul who sang with such sorrow? And why did her voice stir something deep within me—a pull, an ache I hadn’t felt before?

Compelled by a force I couldn’t name, I moved to the edge of Skyskeep and looked down upon the mortal world, where her song floated up like a whisper through the clouds.

Drawn by an irresistible pull, I descended from Skyskeep, the winds parting around me as I slipped through layers of clouds and down to the earth below. The closer I came, the clearer her voice became—fragile and pure, a melody woven with heartbreak. It was as if the very air around her trembled with sorrow.

And then, I saw her.

A girl, standing alone beneath the canopy of ancient trees, her figure bathed in the soft glow of twilight. Her eyes glistened with tears, and her gaze seemed lost in the distance, unaware of the world around her. I felt my breath catch, a sensation unfamiliar, almost unnerving, yet strangely… beautiful.

In that moment, time seemed to still. I didn’t know her name, her story, or the pain that brought her here. But something in her presence—a quiet strength beneath her sadness, a radiance within her vulnerability—struck me like a spark to dry kindling.

This mortal… she had captured my attention, perhaps even something more.

...

"Who's there?" I called out, my voice unsteady as I hastily wiped the tears from my cheeks. I felt a strange presence nearby, as if someone were watching me, yet I saw no one in the shadows of the trees.

The air around me felt different—charged, like a gentle breeze had stirred but never truly moved. My heart pounded as I glanced around, half-expecting to see a figure step forward. But all I could see was the quiet rustling of leaves, the soft glow of twilight casting long shadows across the ground.

I took a breath, gathering myself. "Whoever you are… show yourself," I whispered, my voice laced with a mixture of fear and curiosity.

"Can you just… please leave me alone," I murmured, my voice barely rising above a whisper.

I didn’t know who or what was out there, but I felt it—a presence lingering, watching me in silence. My chest tightened as I turned away, wrapping my arms around myself. I just wanted to be alone, to let my sorrow spill freely into the quiet of the woods.

Yet something kept me rooted here, a strange sensation tugging at me, as if the air itself was holding me close, refusing to let me go.

...

Her words cut through the silence, soft yet carrying an unmistakable plea. “Can you just… please leave me alone.”

I lingered in the shadows, feeling an uncharacteristic pull to ignore her request. She couldn’t see me, yet somehow, it felt as though she could sense my presence, my hesitation. Part of me wanted to leave, to respect her wish. But another part—something I couldn’t quite name—compelled me to stay, to learn more about the sorrow hidden in her heart.

From my place among the trees, I watched as she wrapped her arms around herself, her shoulders trembling in the fading light. I had seen mortals before, observed their lives from afar, yet never had I felt such an urge to reach out, to step closer, to console. It was strange… unsettling even, how a mere mortal could stir such an ache in my chest.

But I stayed silent, hidden, letting her words and her pain seep into the very air.

Despite the turmoil inside me, I found myself stepping forward, drawn to her in a way I couldn’t resist. As I emerged from the shadows, the last light of day illuminated my features, casting a soft glow around me. I could feel the weight of her gaze as it fell upon me, her expression shifting from surprise to confusion.

“Please… don’t be afraid,” I said, my voice calm and soothing, echoing the gentle winds that surrounded us. “I mean you no harm.”

She blinked, her eyes wide as she took me in. I could see the moment my appearance caught her off guard, her breath hitching slightly as she searched my face for understanding. I had seen countless mortals, yet none had ever captivated me like this girl standing before me, her vulnerability mingling with an undeniable strength.

“Who are you?” she finally managed to ask, her voice trembling