The sky above the forest turned dark, as if heavy clouds conspired to cover the moonlight. Seraphina stood at the edge of the ancient trees, her gaze sweeping across the forest that seemed like an endless, dark labyrinth. The cold air slipped through the gaps between the trees, carrying faint whispers that sounded like an ancient chant—or perhaps, a warning.
She tightened her cloak, her steps hesitant as she pushed through the underbrush. This was where it all began. The place where she first arrived in this strange world of Avalon. The place where the mystery started.
The leaves above her rustled softly, but it felt as if hundreds of eyes were watching her from the darkness. The scent of damp earth mixed with the fading fragrance of wildflowers, creating a sharp blend that reminded Seraphina of the secret-filled nights in the palace.
Suddenly, a branch snapped in the distance. Seraphina froze, her body tensed. She held her breath, ears straining to catch the faint sound. The wind whispered, carrying the sound of heavy footsteps drawing closer.
"Who's there?" Her voice trembled.
No answer. Only suffocating silence, before the sound came again—closer, heavier. Seraphina stepped back, her foot snapping a fragile twig, breaking the stillness of the night.
From the depths of the darkness, shadowy figures emerged. Their eyes gleamed red like embers, their bodies almost blending into the night. They were not human—that was clear. They were shadow creatures, like the dark tales that lurked in nightmares.
Seraphina ran. Her cloak snagged on a thorny bush, but she yanked it free, not caring about the tear it left behind. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her body crashing through branches and tree trunks, but she didn't stop.
The shadows' footsteps grew closer, their movements heavy yet swift, like wolves hunting their prey. Seraphina glanced back, catching the sharp gleam of the leader's eyes—larger, more menacing than the others.
"I have to find a way out," she whispered. But the forest seemed to twist around her, trapping her in an endless maze.
Suddenly, the ground beneath her trembled. Seraphina fell, her body hitting the cold earth. She struggled to rise, but one of the shadows had already leaped, its sharp claws gripping her arm.
She screamed, thrashing with all her might. But the grip was too strong, dragging her deeper into the darkness. The creature's eyes burned with hatred, its mouth curling into a grin filled with razor-sharp teeth, ready to consume the world.
"Someone, help me!"
Just then, a brilliant light flared from the opposite direction. It was hot and piercing, like the sudden explosion of sunlight in the dead of night. The shadow creatures shrieked, recoiling as black smoke rose from their bodies. Seraphina coughed, her vision blurred by tears and dust.
"Seraphina!" A deep, commanding voice shattered the silence.
She turned and saw a tall figure in a dark cloak, a gleaming sword in hand. Adrian. His face was serious, his eyes locked onto the creatures still lurking in the darkness.
"Don't move. I'll take care of them," he said.
Seraphina felt her racing heart slow, his presence bringing a sudden sense of safety. But the tension hadn't completely faded.
Adrian swung his sword, its light slicing through the darkness like lightning. One by one, the shadow creatures vanished, leaving behind wisps of smoke that dissolved into the air.
But before the last one disappeared, it spoke, "This is not over, Seraphina. The darkness will come for you soon."
Its words faded as its body disintegrated, leaving behind the sharp scent of sulfur.
Adrian turned, his gaze falling on Seraphina, still sprawled on the ground. "Are you alright?"
She gave a weak nod, but her eyes remained fixed on the spot where the creature had vanished. An uneasy feeling settled in her chest, as if something even greater was waiting beyond the darkness of the forest.
**
Adrian had just lowered his sword when another sound crackled through the trees. The shadows around them swirled like living mist, flooding the forest at an unnatural speed.
"Your Highness, they're coming back," Seraphina whispered, her eyes wide, her body frozen in near-paralyzing fear.
Adrian let out a low growl, stepping in front of Seraphina in a battle-ready stance. "Stay behind me. No matter what happens, don't lose sight of me."
The glow of his sword flared again, cutting through the darkness like a beacon of hope. But this time, the shadow creatures seemed more numerous, more dangerous. They moved in nearly perfect formation, like a trained army of the night.
The wind suddenly stopped. The forest fell silent, suffocatingly so. As if the world itself was holding its breath.
"We can't fight them here," Adrian muttered. "There are too many. We have to get out of this forest."
Seraphina obeyed, but her steps faltered under the overwhelming fear gripping her. "Where do we go? This forest is like a labyrinth."
Adrian turned to her, his gaze filled with determination. "Trust me. Follow me, and don't stop—no matter what happens."
Without waiting for an answer, he grabbed her hand and pulled her forward, running through the thick foliage. The tree branches clawed at their skin, but they kept moving. Behind them, the sound of pounding footsteps echoed louder, like war drums shaking the earth.
"They never get tired of chasing us, huh?" Seraphina panted, nearly twisting her ankle as she leaped over a tree root.
As they reached a more open area, the ground beneath them suddenly quaked. Seraphina stumbled, nearly collapsing before Adrian caught her.
"Seraphina!" He held her close. "Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine, I can stand," she replied, trying to steady her breath. But her eyes widened as they focused on something ahead. From the shadows of the trees, the largest creature of the group emerged.
Towering, with a body almost translucent and glowing red eyes that burned like embers. Its claws were long and sharp, capable of tearing through stone. The creature moved slowly, but each step felt like a hammer striking the ground.
"The Shadow Guardian," Adrian whispered.
"What do you mean?" Seraphina looked at him, panic rising in her voice.
"Ancient legends speak of this creature as the protector of the darkness's secrets. It never appears unless someone gets too close to something that should remain hidden."
Seraphina thought of the clues she had been searching for in this forest—a secret that might hold the answers about her mother's past. "Did it appear because I got too close to the truth?" she wondered.
Adrian raised his sword high. "We have to stop it. If we don't, we'll never make it out of here alive."
Seraphina stepped back, trembling. "But how? That thing is too powerful."
"Trust me. Stay here. I'll distract it."
"Your Highness, wait! Don't—"
But Adrian had already leaped forward, his sword blazing bright in the darkness. Seraphina could only watch as the fierce battle unfolded before her. The clash of metal and the monstrous roars filled the air, creating a terrifying symphony that echoed through the forest.
**
The creature moved with incredible speed, but Adrian was just as agile. He spun, dodging attack after attack, his sword slicing through the air with perfect precision. However, no matter how strong Adrian was, the creature was too big and too powerful.
His fears proved true. With one massive swing, the creature struck Adrian, sending him crashing into a tree. His sword flew from his grasp, its glow extinguished instantly.
"Your Highness!" Seraphina ran to him, her knees nearly giving out when she saw blood trickling from his temple. "Get up! Please."
Adrian slowly opened his eyes, his voice hoarse. "You must go, Seraphina. Don't let them capture you."
"No. I won't leave you." Tears welled up in her eyes.
The creature stepped closer, raising its claws high, ready to end everything.
"I'm sorry," Seraphina whispered, reaching for Adrian's sword nearby. The blade glowed once more, brighter than before.
For the first time, Seraphina felt something strange—a power flowing from the sword into her body.
The creature stopped, its eyes narrowing as if recognizing something it had never expected.
"What is this?" Seraphina whispered, staring at the shining blade, now merging with her own energy.
—
Heavy footsteps approached, shaking the ground like the beating of war drums. Seraphina stood frozen, her breath ragged, her body trembling before the colossal shadowy creature that dominated the surrounding darkness.
The creature advanced slowly, its sharp fangs glistening in the dim moonlight filtering through the canopy above. Its glowing red eyes locked onto Seraphina, like a predator preparing to devour its prey.
Seraphina tried to step back, but her foot caught on a tree root protruding from the ground. She fell, her hands scrambling for support, but all she felt was cold, damp earth.
The creature moved closer, a low growl rumbling from its throat as if savoring the fear saturating the air. Its massive claws lifted high, ready to strike the final blow.
Seraphina shut her eyes, her body tensed. In her mind, she recalled her mother's face, the gentle voice she had never heard before.
"Never give up, my child. Even in the deepest darkness, there will always be light—if you believe."
At that moment, a sudden bright light pierced the darkness like a sword splitting the night. Seraphina slowly opened her eyes, shocked to see Adrian standing before her.
"Leave this place, creatures of darkness!" Adrian commanded, his voice full of authority. He gripped his sword tightly, its blade glowing with a golden radiance that burned the air around it.
The shadowy creature roared in anger but took several steps back, as if fearing the light emanating from his sword.
"Your Highness!" Seraphina tried to stand, but her body still felt weak.
Adrian kept his sharp gaze fixed on the creature, ensuring it wouldn't launch a surprise attack. Only when the beast retreated into the shadows of the towering trees did Adrian turn to her.
"I always know when you're in danger, Seraphina," he said softly. "And I will never let anyone harm you."
His words, though simple, brought an overwhelming sense of relief to Seraphina. She managed a small smile, but it quickly faded as another rumbling sound echoed from a different direction.
"It's not over yet," Adrian said, his eyes tracking the shadows beginning to gather once more. "We need to get out of this forest now."
"But they will chase us," Seraphina replied, her voice anxious. "And we don't know the exact way out."
"I know a place," Adrian said, grabbing her hand. "Follow me, and don't let go."
They started running, following a narrow path between the trees. The sound of rustling leaves and snapping twigs beneath their feet competed with the howls of the creatures pursuing them from behind.
"Your Highness, they're getting closer!" Seraphina glanced back, seeing the dark figures leaping between the trees like flashes of black lightning.
"Don't look back!" Adrian shouted. "Trust me!"
Seraphina fought the terror rising in her chest. They kept running, their breaths ragged, but Adrian didn't slow down.
Finally, they reached a massive gap between two towering cliffs. Within it lay a small cave, shrouded in thick, ancient roots.
"Get inside," Adrian ordered, pushing Seraphina into the cave. "We'll be safe here for now."
As soon as Seraphina was inside, Adrian stood at the entrance, raising his sword high. He spoke words in an ancient language Seraphina didn't recognize, and a glowing barrier enveloped the cave's entrance, forming an invisible shield.
"This will hold them back," Adrian said, his voice laced with exhaustion. He lowered his sword and sat beside Seraphina.
"Your Highness, you're hurt," Seraphina said, noticing a small wound on his arm. She tore a piece of fabric from her skirt and attempted to bandage it.
"I'm fine," Adrian replied, looking deeply into her eyes. "I'm more worried about you."
Seraphina fell silent, her gaze lost in the darkness of the cave. "They called that creature the Guardian of Shadows. What does that mean?"
"It's a warning," Adrian answered seriously. "If the Guardian appears, it means we've entered forbidden territory. Something incredibly dangerous lies ahead."
"What kind of danger?" Seraphina asked, fear creeping back into her voice.
Adrian continued, "An ancient secret. Something connected to your mother's past and the war that nearly destroyed this world."
Before Seraphina could ask further, the rumbling noise outside grew louder. The protective light around the cave's entrance flickered, small cracks appearing along its surface.
"And it seems," Adrian said, gripping his sword tightly, "they won't stop until that secret is revealed."
—
Adrian stood at the cave's entrance, his posture firm, his sword glowing softly under the faint moonlight. Seraphina watched how different he looked in that light—not just an arrogant, enigmatic prince but a true protector willing to face danger for her sake.
"Listen carefully," Adrian said. "No matter what happens, don't leave this cave. Understand?"
Seraphina met his gaze. "But what about you, Your Highness?"
Adrian gave a small smile, though his eyes remained serious. "I've dealt with creatures like them before. I know how to handle this."
Before Seraphina could protest, shadows swirled outside the cave, twisting like a dark storm carrying the scent of sulfur. The creatures had returned, more of them than before, moving in formation like an army ready to strike.
Adrian stepped forward, raising his sword high. The glow from its blade intensified, forming a protective circle around them. Seraphina watched in awe.
She had never seen anyone fight like Adrian. His movements were swift yet graceful, each strike perfectly precise, like a deadly dance choreographed to perfection. The sword's light cleaved through the darkness, forcing the creatures back, but they refused to give up.
Seraphina could only watch, her heart pounding. The battle was far from over.