Outside the forest, the nobles gathered beneath silk canopies. Ladies clustered around the tea tables, sipping delicately from porcelain cups while their voices dripped with gossip, their eyes turned toward the tree line where the hunters had vanished.
Lilly sat among them, poised and perfect, though her gaze lingered on the dark edge of the forest rather than the pastries before her.
"I didn't see the Crown Princess today," remarked young Lady Maria, fanning herself idly.
"Mm, yes," Lady Lina agreed, lowering her voice. "Isn't she supposed to oversee court affairs? Strange, her absence."
Lilly smiled at that—polite, practiced—but the expression never touched her eyes.
"Did you see Lady Aria?" Lina asked next, curiosity bubbling through her tone. "Wasn't she striking in her uniform?"
"Of course," Maria chimed in. "She looked radiant. Truly, she's good at everything."
Lilly's fingers tightened around her teacup, though her smile remained flawless. "Yes… Aria is good at everything," she said sweetly.
Then, softer, almost to herself, she whispered into her tea, "Everything."
Blood splattered across the ground as the final beast of the pack collapsed, twitching before going still. The White Knights were drenched in sweat and blood, their breaths ragged, but their formation still stood strong around their prince.
Liam scanned the treeline, his instincts gnawing at him.
"They weren't attacking at random," he muttered. "They were protecting something—"
His words cut off as a massive paw struck him with bone-crushing force. He flew backwards, slamming into a tree trunk with a sickening crack. The impact drove the breath from his lungs, and blood trickled down his temple as his vision swam. Darkness clawed at the edges of his consciousness.
"Cover the prince!" a voice rang out, sharp and commanding. "Attack its flanks—now!"
The knights scrambled to shield him, but Liam felt hands tearing at the ties of his helm. His helmet fell away, replaced by the warmth of cloth pressed to his bleeding head.
"My love, stay with me. Look at me."
Liam blinked, forcing his eyes open. Through the blur, a familiar face swam into view—emerald eyes filled with fire. "Sylphira…? How… how are you here?" His voice was hoarse, broken.
"That doesn't matter," she whispered fiercely, cupping his face with bloodied fingers. Behind her, the earth shook as something massive prowled closer. "It isn't over yet. The female beast is here—furious, grieving her mate."
Her gaze hardened as she drew her blade, standing protectively before him. "If we don't kill it now, none of us will leave this forest alive."
The ground trembled. Branches split and fell as the female beast emerged from the shadows. She was larger than the males—her body a wall of muscle, fur matted with blood, her golden eyes burning with grief and rage. Her jaws parted, revealing rows of jagged teeth, dripping with venom.
The White Knights braced themselves, but exhaustion weighed on them like chains. Their formation faltered.
"Stay back!" Sylphira barked. She planted her feet before Liam, sword raised high, her emerald cloak whipping in the beast's foul breath.
The monster lunged.
With a cry, Sylphira slashed upward, steel biting into its snout. The beast shrieked, pulling back, but the swipe of its massive tail sent three knights crashing into the undergrowth.
"Sylphira!" Liam's voice cracked, trying to rise, but pain forced him back down. His vision blurred again. If I fall unconscious now…
The beast lunged again, jaws wide enough to swallow a man whole. Sylphira darted aside, her sword flashing, slicing across its throat—but not deep enough. Dark blood splattered her face, yet the beast only roared louder, snapping at her with renewed fury.
"Archers!" one knight shouted desperately. Arrows rained from behind, striking its flanks, but the beast barreled through them like twigs.
Sylphira gritted her teeth, spinning her blade. She struck at its eyes, forcing it to rear back. For a heartbeat, the beast's chest was exposed.
"Liam!" she cried, glancing over her shoulder. "Your sword—throw it!"
Through hazy sight and trembling hands, Liam pulled his blade free. Every muscle screamed in protest, but he hurled it forward with all his strength. The sword spun through the air like a silver comet.
Sylphira caught it mid-motion, both blades now in her grasp. With a roar to match the beast, she charged straight toward its gaping maw.
The monster lunged—she dove beneath it. Rolling low, Sylphira drove both blades upward into its chest, piercing the soft flesh beneath the ribs. The beast shrieked, thrashing, blood gushing in torrents. She twisted the blades and ripped them free, crimson spraying across her armor.
The beast staggered, its massive body swaying. With one last scream of fury and grief, it collapsed with a thunderous crash that shook the forest floor.
Silence followed.
Sylphira stood in the shadow of the corpse, chest heaving, blades dripping. Slowly, she turned back to Liam.
He was slumped against the tree, watching her with a faint smile through blood-streaked lips. "Still… radiant as ever," he murmured, before his eyes fluttered shut.
"Liam!" Sylphira rushed to him, catching his face in her hands, her heart pounding. Relief warred with fear in her chest. "You stupid prince"
The White Knights encircled them, battered but alive, bowing their heads to Sylphira in silent acknowledgment.
The female beast was dead—but the forest was far from safe.
—————————————————
Abigel – Northern Front
The roar came from behind.
The Black Knights spun as one—but too late.
A monster burst through the trees, a massive hound with three heads, each maw snapping with jagged fangs that dripped steaming saliva. Its eyes glowed like embers, and each step scorched the ground beneath its paws.
Knights shouted, weapons raised, but the beast was faster. One head lunged, seizing a man by the shoulder, hurling him into the trees like a rag doll.
Abigel's expression hardened. Cerberan.
Of all places, here? In the hunting grounds?
"Form up!" he bellowed, his voice like thunder. "Frontline—shields! Archers, spread!"
The Black Knights obeyed without hesitation, shields slamming together in a wall. The beast crashed into them, the impact rattling bones and splintering wood.
Abigel didn't flinch. He surged forward, twin blades flashing. With a feral roar, he leapt onto its back, slashing at the thick hide of its neck. One head swung around, snapping at him. He drove a dagger straight into its eye. The head shrieked and thrashed, blood spraying.
"Strike its legs!" Abigel roared down to his men. "Bring it to the ground!"
Spears jabbed, arrows flew, cutting into its joints. The beast staggered, but the remaining two heads were merciless—snapping chains of fire from their jaws, forcing men back.
Abigel's horse thundered past. He vaulted onto it in one smooth motion, circling for momentum. With a cry, he launched himself high, blades raised, and came crashing down onto the beast's spine. His swords bit deep, black blood pouring as he carved downward.
The hellhound bucked wildly, slamming itself into trees, trying to throw him off. Abigel held fast, gritting his teeth, driving one blade between its shoulder blades to pin himself. With the other, he hacked relentlessly at its throat until cartilage gave way.
One head toppled.
The remaining two shrieked in fury, snapping at him. One grazed his side, ripping armor and flesh. Pain seared through him, but his glare only sharpened. "Is that all you have?" he spat, blood dripping down his cheek.
The Black Knights surged in, hacking at its weakened legs. Finally, with a shuddering collapse, the beast crashed onto its belly.
Abigel stood atop its back, one blade buried in its skull, the other dripping black gore. His chest rose and fell, his aura flaring dark and heavy around him.
The forest went silent.
He pulled his blade free and raised it high, his voice carrying like iron:
"The North does not bow!"
The Black Knights roared their victory cry, shaking the woods with their defiance.