The past three days had been nothing short of hell.
For Star and his sister, time blurred into an endless stretch of exhaustion and pain. They walked without pause, step after step, until their legs burned so fiercely that even standing felt like punishment.
They stopped only when their bodies could endure no more, collapsing wherever shelter allowed. Two or three hours of broken sleep was all they could afford before forcing themselves up again.
Again.
And again.
Their journey toward the New World was brutal.
Yet as terrible as that journey was, it paled in comparison to the horror of escaping their kingdom.
Nothing was more dangerous.
Beasts, demons, and monsters of countless forms overran the land, tearing through it like fragile cloth. Stone, flesh, and spirit alike were ripped apart.
Any soul unlucky enough to be caught was slaughtered, drained dry, and their final moments steeped in despair.
And wherever these creatures passed, they left behind something worse than death.
Thick, suffocating negative emotions.
That was their true weapon.
This force that annihilated the kingdom was known as the Woes.
It was nothing short of a miracle that Star and Ava had escaped alive.
Such survival was usually possible only through the Crown Veins: ancient emergency passages hidden beneath every great kingdom and meant to be used only in moments of absolute ruin.
These secret routes were the sole remaining paths of escape, as the Woes had surrounded the kingdom entirely, destroying everything except those hidden exits.
Even then, survival was rare.
For Star, his mother, and little Ava, it had been especially cruel.
Their father, the king, had denied them access to the Crown Veins.
Because of Star's weakness.
That decision had led to the moment their mother died, sacrificing her life so her children could live.
Yet escape was never simple.
The Woes did not merely destroy bodies.
They shattered minds.
Fear seeped into bones. Dread pressed heavily on chests. Illusions warped reality. Paranoia turned allies into enemies.
Some froze, limbs heavy as iron. Some fled in the wrong direction, chasing visions that did not exist. Others drowned in sorrow, forgetting why they were running at all.
Some succumbed to rage, attacking one another until exhaustion claimed them.
And when the Woes finished breaking them, they drank their souls.
Even the Spirit Warriors, those sworn to defend the kingdom, could not stop them. Many fought bravely. Many sacrificed themselves. Many died as heroes.
But it meant nothing.
The kingdom still fell.
Now Star walked on, bearer of the Three Crimson Moon Mark, his power still dormant, and guilt gnawing silently at his chest.
Perhaps he was a coward for running instead of fighting.
Or perhaps he was wise for choosing survival for himself and his sister.
Either way, he no longer cared.
His only goal was to make his mother's sacrifice matter, to keep Ava alive until they reached the New World.
After all, was he not the weak one?
The hollowed prince.
The disposable prince.
A source of entertainment for those whose powers had awakened, those stronger than him.
Why should he mourn them?
Let them perish, for all he cared. He was alive. He had escaped.
Yes, his mother's dying protection had played a role in their survival, but still, he lived.
And those who had mocked him, where were they now?
Dead. Torn apart while fighting the Woes.
Was it wrong that he felt glad?
That he wished they had died screaming?
That he dismissed their sacrifices entirely?
The only thing Star hated about their deaths was that he had not been the one to kill them himself and that they had died too quickly.
If he were a Woe, he would show them no mercy. He would drag out their suffering, strip away their pride, and teach them despair piece by piece. He would let hope rise only to crush it again, until they begged for death.
And then he would deny them even that.
If only wishes were horses, Star thought bitterly.
---
As usual, Star and Ava rested for a short while. They ate from the little food they carried, rationing it carefully so there would be something left for later.
When the sun had risen, they continued their journey eastward.
The weather was calm, though slightly cloudy. Before long, the sun slipped behind the clouds.
A gentle breeze passed through the forest, and birds chirped overhead, lending the air a sense of optimism.
It was what they needed, for places filled with happiness were inhospitable to Woes.
Trees swayed gently, leaves rustling like quiet laughter. Sunlight filtered through the branches, painting the forest floor in warm gold. The air smelled fresh and alive, untouched by despair.
It was a fragile peace, but it was enough.
Still, Star and Ava continued deeper into the woods.
Star held Ava's hand tightly as they moved through the dry leaves covering the forest floor.
They spoke little. Even if they wanted to, exhaustion left them without the strength, and strength was what they required most.
More importantly, they required silence. Though they were no longer in their kingdom, they had not yet crossed the borders of Throvarin. Therefore, it was safer not to draw attention or risk attracting the Woes.
They kept walking, their energy wavering, their steps growing weaker, their faces paler, and their breathing heavier. Star could not tell how many hours had passed, but he could tell it was already midday.
Still, he forced himself onward, ignoring how tempting rest had become.
But…
"I'm… I'm tired," Ava muttered weakly.
Her face was pale, her eyelids heavy, and her knees unsteady.
Seeing her like that broke something inside Star, and fear sank deep into his bones. He silently prayed to any god willing to listen that it was only exhaustion, not sickness.
They had already stopped, and Star did not know what to do.
'God, it's so hard being a parent,' he muttered inwardly.
However, they needed to move faster, yet he felt increasingly unprotected. He had the growing sense that his mother's dying protection had finally worn off.
But how could they go faster when Ava needed rest?
There was only one answer.
"We have to keep moving," Star murmured, crouching in front of her. "Climb onto my back."
Ava leaned onto him weakly, holding tight as Star stood and continued eastward with her on his back.
Seconds passed. Minutes. Hours. More hours.
Star kept walking, pushing through the forest, determination driving him forward. His body was drained to the point where his legs threatened to give out, yet he pressed on for his sister's sake.
"I need to keep her safe," he muttered whenever he felt himself falter.
His breathing grew faint, his throat dry, his vision blurred, and his legs trembled uncontrollably.
At last, he could go no farther. So he leaned against the nearest tree, panting heavily, his eyes squeezed shut.
"Here, brother," Ava whispered, handing him their waterskin while clinging to his back.
Star drank sparingly, though his throat burned. He could have emptied it several times over, but he restrained himself and handed it back.
He had barely rested his head against the tree when Ava gasped.
Star flinched.
For a heartbeat, he could not tell whether the sound was fear or danger. His body tensed, instincts urging him to move, to shield her.
Then he followed her gaze.
His eyes widened, and a weak but genuine smile touched his lips. He understood then that her gasp had been one of excitement.
They stood atop a gentle rise overlooking the forest.
From that height, the land opened before them, revealing what the trees had hidden all this while.
A vast chasm stretched ahead, spanned by an ancient suspension bridge made of thick braided ropes and weathered wooden planks. The bridge swayed lightly in the breeze, creaking like something old yet enduring. Moss clung to its ropes, and the planks bore the scars of countless crossings.
It was so long that its far end vanished into the haze.
Beyond it rose the distant silhouette of the New World kingdom.
That sight filled the siblings with warmth.
From afar, the kingdom stood like a promise of stone and light. Tall ivory walls gleamed faintly beneath drifting clouds. Towers pierced the sky, banners fluttering high above. The city looked alive, peaceful, and untouched by ruin.
It looked safe.
"Finally," Star murmured, joy stirring weakly in his chest.
Ava was already lost in her dreams. She imagined endless fields of flowers and butterflies dancing beneath everlasting sunlight, just like the stories Star once told her. She imagined herself wielding many shining swords, becoming the strongest female warrior the world had ever known.
"We made it," she said softly, clinging tighter to his back, her voice trembling with joy.
Tears filled Star's eyes, but they were tears of relief.
Forgetting his weakness, Star descended the hill. His legs wobbled, his steps unsteady, but he did not stop.
He was close.
So close.
He could already imagine rest.
Then something brushed his foot.
A dark thing.
Star looked down.
At first, he thought his eyes deceived him.
But there it was. Something like snow. Black snow. Warm.
Another flake fell. Then another. Then many more.
Black snow began to fall.
Star knew it instantly.
That was how it had begun in their kingdom.
"No, no, no," Star cried as he broke into a run, adrenaline surging through him.
He prayed it was not what he feared.
It was.
Dark clouds rolled in behind them, spreading rapidly across the sky and casting a shadow over the forest.
That was the next sign.
Star ran faster, Ava jostling against his back, tears streaming down her face.
Fear tore through him as his heart pounded violently in his chest.
His mother's protection had finally vanished.
The Woes had found them.