columns the vast forest, where colossal trees rose like ancient pillars, the convoy surged forward like a green whirlwind, tearing through the silence with its wild rush. The horses pulling the carriages bore an indistinct green hue, as if they were formed from the very winds that stirred the trees, their bodies appearing to dissolve into the mist dancing between the high branches.
A halo of raging winds surrounded them, stirring the dry leaves and scattering them into swirling eddies, while light and shadow intertwined across the horses' bodies, further enhancing their spectral appearance. Their hooves left no fixed traces on the muddy ground; instead, they seemed to merely graze the surface for fleeting moments before propelling forward like phantoms that did not belong to this world.
As for the carriages themselves, they were crafted from dark, sturdy wood, adorned with mysterious engravings that flickered intermittently whenever the convoy passed through patches of dim light filtering between the trees. The wheels spun at a frenzied pace, yet they produced barely a sound, as if the entire convoy was part of the wind that howled through the forest.
In that enigmatic scene, it was unclear whether the convoy was racing toward something or fleeing from something silently pursuing it behind the veil of intertwined trees.
Inside the luxurious carriage, swaying gently with the convoy's rapid movement, the monotonous stillness that had settled in Valerian's mind remained unbroken. He had grown accustomed to the luxury his name and status had afforded him. seats upholstered in the finest leather, heavy curtains that isolated the noise of the outside world, small tables intricately carved and decorated with golden engravings that told stories of his family's past glories. Yet, despite all this, he could not escape the suffocating feeling of boredom.
His gaze lazily drifted toward the half-open window, where the scenery outside unfolded like an endless moving painting. The towering trees, their dense leaves swaying, seemed to whisper to one another as the wind caressed them. Among the high branches, he spotted a strange bird with iridescent feathers, like a shard of a rainbow that had slipped into this world. He watched it for a moment, but it quickly flew away, as if it had grown weary of the convoy just as swiftly as he had grown tired of watching it.
On the ground, grassy fields intertwined with small hills, where wildflowers swayed in the wind like dancers in a silent festival. Along the roadside, pools of clear water reflected the sky like blue mirrors scattered with drifting clouds. As the convoy passed by them, he could see gentle ripples forming on their surfaces, stirred by the currents of air.
But what captured his attention the most was not nature itself,it was those who were part of the convoy.
In the front carriage, he saw a group of armored soldiers, their armor gleaming despite the dust beginning to settle on them, their faces rigid as if they were carved from stone, showing neither fatigue nor boredom. Just behind them, a lone rider guided his horse with ease, sunlight reflecting off the blades of the weapons strapped around him, while he seemed to hum a tune to himself to pass the time.
"This is the first time I've been completely alone..."
The thought crept into his mind slowly, yet it struck his heart with a weight he had not expected. It was not a real farewell,there had been no one to bid him farewell in the first place. His family had barely acknowledged his departure, as if his leaving meant nothing to them. He had always known that their respect for him was nothing but a faint shadow of what they had bestowed upon his other siblings,especially his eldest brother.
He exhaled softly, directing his gaze toward the sky, where a lone bird soared between the white clouds. He watched it fly, imagining for a moment that he, too, had wings capable of carrying him far away from all the memories that still pulled him back.
"Carlos..."
The name echoed in his mind, unleashing a flood of memories all at once,the face of the old servant, his warm smile that carried all the meanings of kindness, his hands that had never hesitated to care for him. He was the only one who had ever treated him as someone of value, not just as a prince born in the wrong place. But he had not been able to bring him along. That had never been an option.
A tightness of sorrow gripped his chest, but he quickly pushed the thought away, trying instead to grasp onto the excitement of his new destination.
"The Academy..."
A spark flickered.
The road stretched ahead of the convoy like an endless thread, cutting through the dense heart of the forest, where the trees intertwined to form a natural arch above the travelers' heads. The wheels of the carriages continued their rhythmic turning over the dirt path, leaving behind tracks that were soon swallowed by the dust swirling in the wind, which stole the fallen leaves and scattered them without care. There was only the sound of the wind, the clatter of hooves, and, at times, the whispers of nature,whispers he could not tell whether they were the echoes of the forest or merely tricks of fatigue.
The journey was long…longer than Valerian had expected. At first, he had enjoyed watching the meadows stretching out on either side of the road, where dewdrops glistened on wild grasses like scattered pearls. But as the days passed, the road began to lose its charm. Everything started to look the same the repetitive trees, the mist creeping through the branches, and the sky shifting from a clear blue to a burning orange each evening before the darkness swallowed it whole.
Then, on one particular night, the routine of the journey was shattered.
There had been no prior warning, no sign of impending danger just an unusual moment of silence, followed by a faint snapping sound between the trees, as if something had stirred in the shadows. And then, before anyone could fully comprehend what was happening, the screams erupted.
The instant the strange sound pierced the night's stillness, bodies froze in place. The riders ceased their conversations, their hands inching closer to their weapons, while the soldiers exchanged wary glances. Even the wind, which had been whispering through the branches, seemed to hold its breath waiting.
Inside the carriage, Valerian straightened in his seat, his eyes fixed on the window, where darkness mingled with the flickering glow of the convoy's torches. The threat was not yet visible, but he could feel it,as if the very air had grown heavier, charged with an unexplainable energy.
Then, without warning, something lunged from the trees!
It moved too fast for the riders' eyes to follow until it was already too late. A sharp scream split the air, followed by a violent crash then silence, heavy and suffocating, lasting for just a single heartbeat before chaos erupted.
"They're attacking!"
The shouts rose as the sound of steel rang out, swords being unsheathed in haste, while flames flared from fallen torches. Amid the turmoil, Valerian caught glimpses of figures moving with unnatural speed, like shadows twisting around the convoy, striking without mercy.
One of the riders was yanked from his horse before he could even react, his body thrown forcefully to the ground before vanishing into the darkness. Another tried to raise his sword, but black claws sank into his throat, spilling his hot blood onto the damp grass.
"Defend the convoy!"
The command rang out, but the ambush was overwhelming, too sudden for the soldiers to organize their defense. One by one, the carriages ground to a halt as the earth beneath them grew unstable, as if something beneath was tampering with it.
Valerian knew staying inside the carriage was no longer an option. He shoved the door open and leapt outside, his feet sinking into the wet grass as his eyes darted across the battlefield. The attack was inhuman,that much was clear. These were no mere bandits or mercenaries.
The attackers were creatures unlike any he had ever seen,bodies covered in dark fur, eyes glowing a fierce red, and limbs ending in long, blood drenched claws.
He didn't have time to think. One of the creatures noticed him and lunged at him with demonic speed!
At that moment, his body moved unconsciously, as if his instincts had taken over. He spun lightly, dodging the first attack, then raised his right hand, where his small dagger was hidden in his sleeve. With a technique he had practiced countless times, he ducked under the monster's claws before plunging his blade into a fatal spot beneath its ribs.
A sharp scream tore through the air, but Valerian didn't stop. He swiftly pulled out the dagger before delivering a second stab to the creature's neck, ending its life in mere seconds. The monster's body collapsed lifelessly to the ground, but he had no time to celebrate his first victory.
The battle was still raging, and the enemies were not few.
"Valerian!"
He quickly turned toward the voice and saw Zeke, his former rival, fighting ferociously alongside some surviving soldiers. His back was smeared with blood,whether it was his own or his enemies' was unclear,but his eyes burned with merciless determination.
"Don't just stand there like an idiot! Either fight or run!"
Zeke roared as his sword slashed through the air, cutting one of the attackers in half with a single strike. There was no time for argument. Valerian tightened his grip on his dagger, took a deep breath, and then charged back into the heart of the battle, where his fate awaited him amid blood and darkness.
Valerian rushed forward, avoiding the corpse of the creature he had just slain, his eyes scanning the battlefield for any immediate threats. He quickly realized that the attackers were more numerous than he had thought, and they were increasing by the moment, as if appearing from nowhere.
One of them pounced at him from the side, its claws gleaming under the scattered torchlight, but he barely managed to evade the attack with a swift backward roll. He felt the tip of a claw graze his shoulder, but the pain was insignificant now. Using the creature's momentum against it, he spun around and, in a swift motion, drove his dagger into the back of its neck. The monster let out a faint snarl before collapsing to the ground.
"Valerian! Behind you!"
He turned quickly to see another creature lunging at him, but before he could react, a strange sensation flowed through his body,as if the air around him had slowed down. His eyes locked onto a single point,the enemy's movement, its pulse, its weak spot.
Without thinking, his body moved on its own. He dropped into a low stance, dodging the attack by mere millimeters, before driving his dagger straight into the creature's heart. Hot blood gushed over his hand, but he didn't care. What stunned him was the sensation that had overtaken him—the feeling that, for a fleeting moment, he could see the threads of fate weaving before him.
"What is this…?"
There was no time to ponder it. Another scream pierced the air, this time from the direction of the carriage. He turned quickly, his eyes widening as he saw a group of monsters surrounding it.
"Damn it!"
Without hesitation, Valerian sprinted forward, leaping over scattered bodies, trying to reach the carriage before it was too late. He saw one of the attackers raise its claws to strike Carlos, but before it could land its blow, a shadow emerged from the darkness, slicing the creature in half with a single strike.
Zeke stood there, his breath ragged, his sword dripping with blood. He said nothing, merely giving Valerian a quick nod before charging back into the fray.
"Move! We can't stay here!"
The commander's voice boomed through the chaos, trying to rally the remaining survivors. The caravan was in no condition to keep fighting; they had to escape before they were completely wiped out.
Valerian didn't need to hear more. He helped a wounded knight onto one of the horses before mounting his own, gripping the reins tightly. He glanced around and saw the remaining survivors doing the same, retreating under the protection of the surviving knights.
But the creatures weren't going to let them leave so easily.
From the darkness, a larger figure emerged, its crimson eyes burning like embers of hell. It stood in their path, letting out a roar that made the very air tremble. This one was different,taller, stronger, and far more menacing than the rest.
Valerian met its gaze, feeling his heartbeat quicken. This was no ordinary creature… it was their leader.
But there was no time for fear. If he didn't act now, none of them would make it out alive.
He tightened his grip on his dagger, took a deep breath, then leaped off his horse, charging straight toward the beast.
Valerian dashed toward the massive creature, his dagger raised, his eyes locked on his target. Every muscle in his body tensed, ready for the decisive strike. But just as he closed in, the monster moved with unexpected speed, sidestepping the attack effortlessly.
With a swipe of its claws, it slashed through the air beside Valerian, barely missing him as he managed to dodge at the last second. He immediately realized that this enemy was unlike the others,its strength and speed far surpassed anything he had faced so far.
But that didn't deter him. On the contrary, something inside him awakened,a new awareness, like a sharpened instinct, as if he could foresee his opponent's movements before they happened.
He moved swiftly, using his agility to his advantage, launching a series of rapid attacks,precise, lethal strikes aimed at the creature's weak points. Some of his blows landed, but they weren't enough to bring it down.
At that moment, Zeke joined the fight, his gleaming sword slicing through the air as he attempted to strike the monster from behind. But even with their combined assault, the enemy remained standing, its wounds seemingly unfazed.
"This isn't working…!" Zeke panted, stepping back to catch his breath.
Valerian didn't reply. His mind was racing. They didn't have time for a prolonged battle,they had to end this quickly. His eyes scanned the battlefield, searching for an opportunity, and then he saw is,a vulnerable spot on the monster's side, exposed whenever it attacked.
He exchanged a quick glance with Zeke, who seemed to understand his plan without the need for words.
Zeke moved first, launching a direct attack to keep the monster distracted, while Valerian slipped to the side, waiting for the perfect moment. When the beast lunged at Zeke, it left its flank exposed for a brief instant…and that was all Valerian needed.
With one swift strike, he drove his dagger into a vital spot, right between the ribs. The monster let out a deafening roar, its body convulsing before it staggered backward, then collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
For a moment, silence hung over the battlefield, the only sound being their ragged breaths. Then, as if a spell had been broken, the remaining creatures began to retreat, as if they had lost their source of strength.
Valerian exhaled sharply, watching as the enemies disappeared into the darkness. It was over.
The survivors quickly gathered, tending to the wounded and taking stock of their losses. The caravan had suffered greatly, but at least they had survived.
One of the knights approached, his face pale but his eyes filled with relief. "You did it, young master."
Valerian didn't respond. He simply looked down at his blood-stained hands and the bodies strewn around him.
This wasn't a true victory،it was merely the beginning of what was to come.
But at least, for tonight, it was over.
Perhaps that monster wasn't truly powerful, but it had taken too many lives for Valerian to believe that life was equal for everyone.