Far away from the castle, Cassius tightened his grip on the reins of his black stallion. The beast, infamous for its wild temper and disobedience, yielded instantly to the subtle, commanding tug of the Crown Prince. Cassius dismounted with practiced ease, his boots landing softly on the forest floor. He adjusted his cloak, its dark fabric blending into the shadows that stretched toward the edge of the woods.
The forest loomed before him, dense and foreboding, its entrance shrouded in an eerie stillness. Cassius tilted his head, his sharp crimson eyes scanning the treeline as if searching for something, or someone, hidden in the depths. The faint rustle of leaves and the distant cry of a bird broke the silence, yet his expression remained impassive, unreadable.
A few men followed behind him, dismounting from their horses after a while. Each of them was breathless, as they had to gallop to be able to reach the crown prince's pace, who had instead seemed at ease and relaxed.
