Alice's body went limp, and she fell from the horse.
Before she could hit the ground, the prince moved quickly, catching her in his arms.
Her face was pale, her breathing shallow.
He studied her for a brief moment.
"She's passed out," he said calmly. "Exhaustion."
Around them, the soldiers still stared at the injured creatures scattered through the trees, fear
and confusion clear on their faces.
But the prince's voice snapped them back to attention.
"We don't stop."
He lifted Alice onto his own horse, holding her steady.
"We keep moving."
The soldiers straightened at once.
"Strengthen formation," the prince ordered. "No gaps."
The riders tightened their circle, weapons ready as they prepared to move again.
The prince looked toward the distant horizon.
"Once we cross into the kingdom, we'll be safe."
His grip tightened slightly on the unconscious girl.
"A protective barrier surrounds our lands."
He glanced once more at the dark forest behind them.
"It will keep those creatures out."
Then he urged his horse forward.
And the riders charged toward the border—
hoping they would reach it before the darkness caught them again.
The creatures did not stop.
They followed.
This time, faster. Smarter. Hunting with purpose.
They weren't attacking randomly anymore.
They were chasing her.
The prince knew it.
And he had no intention of letting her fall into their hands.
He tightened his hold on Alice's unconscious body, keeping her steady as his horse raced
forward through the forest.
"Faster!" he ordered.
The horses thundered across the ground, branches snapping as they charged through the
darkness.
Behind them, shrieks echoed closer.
Too close.
The prince glanced back and saw shadows leaping between trees, gaining on them.
His expression hardened.
"Soldiers—gather!"
Immediately, the riders tightened formation around him, shields and blades ready as they rode.
The forest ahead began to thin.
The border was close.
But so were the creatures.
The prince reached into his coat and pulled out a small black candle etched with strange
symbols.
His last Zeras candle.
He lit it with a flick of his blade and hurled it behind them.
The candle shattered on the ground.
A thick silver mist exploded outward, swallowing the forest path behind them. The creatures'
shrieks turned confused and distant as the fog twisted and spread, hiding their trail.
Within seconds, the riders vanished into the mist.
And the hunters lost sight of their prey.
The chamber doors burst open.
"Sir!"
Damian rushed in, breathless, fear clear on his face as he dropped to one knee.
Arkon did not turn around.
He stood before the scrying bowl, dark water swirling slowly under his gaze.
Silence stretched.
Then his voice came, low and dangerous.
"Speak."
Damian swallowed. "W-we lost them."
The water in the bowl suddenly stilled.
Arkon's expression hardened, his jaw tightening.
"Lost them?" he repeated quietly.
Damian's hands trembled. "The mist… the Northern Prince used something to hide their trail.
The night trackers cannot find them."
The torches along the walls flickered violently.
For several long seconds, Arkon said nothing.
Then—
The stone bowl shattered.
Water exploded across the chamber floor as dark magic burst from him, forcing everyone
nearby to stumble back in fear.
His voice dropped into a cold whisper.
"So… Kael thinks he's won."
The room felt suffocating under the weight of his anger.
Arkon slowly clenched his fist, eyes burning with fury.
"Let him run."
A thin smile slowly formed.
"The girl's power has awakened."
His gaze shifted toward the dark window.
"And awakened magic always finds its way back to me."
Behind him, Damian did not dare move.
Because everyone in the chamber knew—
This was far from over.