---
I quickly ran to Erica's room, hoping to find her there. When I walked in, I noticed she was seated at her study table, writing a letter. I also saw that she had a lot of scars and wounds. Seeing this, I walked over to her and leaned on the table.
"Erica, what happened?" I asked, already knowing who might have done this.
She turned to me with swollen eyes. I could tell she'd been crying a lot.
"Eve!" she cried. "My aunt wants to sell me off. I won't let her succeed in her plans. Eve, she wants to marry me off to some stranger!" She cried even harder.
I immediately hugged her, gently wiping the tears from her cheeks. I noticed her body temperature was hot, so I quickly helped her up and took her to her bed.
"Erica, you're injured. Lay down. Let me heal you."
"Eve, I'm tired," Erica said, holding my hands tightly.
"Don't talk like that, Erica!" I replied, my voice full of concern.
"Please, Eve," she said, her gaze fixed on mine. "Help me leave this realm."
"What?" I said, taken aback. "That's not going to be easy. Besides, the Gemlock is sealed around your neck, and I have no idea where the key is. Without access to your powers, I can't ensure your safety."
"Eve! I'll be fine. Anything is better than being a slave to someone else. There's no happiness here, only pain and suffering."
"I understand what you're asking, but I need time to think about it."
"Okay," she said, her face falling.
She laid down, staring at the ceiling. Seeing her like this, I sealed the entrance to the room with my powers. No one could enter or leave. Then, I spread my hands over her body.
Suddenly, dark matter began appearing from my fingers, spreading across her skin. It didn't take long for all her scars and cuts to disappear, leaving her skin smooth, as if the wounds had never existed. I noticed that she had fallen into a deep sleep.
"Sleep well, my dear," I whispered. "I promise, I'll never let anyone harm you again."
I left the room and was about to exit the hallway when a maid approached me, holding a sealed envelope.
"Miss Eve! My lady said I should give this to you, in the hopes that you'd help her uncle."
Knowing it was from Erica, I took the letter and went on my way. My horse was waiting outside. Without hesitation, I mounted it and rode off, determined to find a way to help Erica.
As I rode through the forest, I had a strange feeling. "Something's wrong. By now, I should be out of this place. Why am I still trapped here?" I thought to myself.
I dismounted, sensing that danger was near. Suddenly, vines sprang from the ground, entangling my legs and hands. I struggled, pulling out my sword and cutting through the vines. But more appeared, tightening around me, strangling me.
The trees seemed to crowd in, their branches stretching closer. Then I heard the sound of my horse, but I couldn't see it. "Why is this happening?" I wondered.
I decided to use my powers. Shadow techniques. Dark shadows crawled out of my body, their long talons gleaming. I commanded them to cut me free. With a slash, several vines were severed, but more appeared, quickly wrapping around me again. The forest seemed intent on my death.
A deep pit suddenly opened beneath me, and the vines began lowering me into it. I struggled, but it was no use. The more I fought, the faster I descended.
Then, everything stopped. Time itself froze. I found myself safely on the ground. The pit and the vines were gone, and in the distance, I could see the edge of the forest, with the sounds of people going about their daily business. "What just happened?" I asked myself.
"You should be mindful of the things you collect," a feminine voice said.
I turned to see a woman dressed in full white armor, her face hidden beneath a hood, only her snow-white hair visible. In her right hand, she held a strange golden staff with a blue orb at its edge, and in her left, she held the letter Erica had sent with the maid.
The letter burst into blue flames as she dropped it to the ground.
"Who are you?" I demanded, rushing to my feet. She didn't answer. Instead, she tossed the letter aside and placed her hand on my shoulder.
"My name isn't important," she said. "I'm not supposed to be here, but something terrible is going to happen if I don't intervene."
Her words sent a chill down my spine. She took my hand and pressed something into it.
"Take this key," she said. "You need to get her out of here. Hurry, you're running out of time."
I opened my hand and saw a key. A special key called the "FREEDOM PASS." It could unlock any kind of bondage. There was only one in existence, and it was kept by the Magistrate—the highest council in the realm. How did she get it?
"Who are you? Why did you give this to me?" I asked, bewildered.
"I am the keeper, the holder of the future," she said. "I keep the balance for everything to fall into place at the right time. This is what will happen if you don't act soon."
Suddenly, everything went black. I found myself in a vision of the future. The world was on fire, and everyone was enslaved by a mighty master—Erica. She looked different, no longer the innocent girl I knew. Her heart was dark, her eyes filled with anger and hate. She had conquered many and killed even more.
"Years from now, Lord Jarel will make a monster out of her," the voice said. "An untamable monster. She, alongside the greatest evil, will devour many. If not stopped in time, it will be too late."
Before I could process what I had seen, I woke up, lying on the ground, holding the key in my hands. My horse was nearby.
Shaken by the vision, I knew one thing for sure—I had to get Erica out of there tonight, no matter what.
I mounted my horse and rode off, planning my mission.
---
Evening arrived, and guests had already started to arrive for the event. My maids were finishing up, preparing me for the occasion. But despite the bustling activity, something felt wrong. I hadn't seen or heard from Eve, and a sense of dread settled in my chest. Something terrible had happened to her, I feared, but I tried to console myself by thinking she'd come with Uncle Christopher.
The maids finished their work, and I was dressed in a pink ball gown that trailed behind me, my hair styled in a bun and decorated with golden hairpins. My makeup was heavier than before, and the jewelry I wore was pure gold and a little heavy. After they were done, I sat before the mirror, waiting for my call.
I looked at myself, holding the only thing stopping me from using my powers—the Gemlock wrapped around my neck. It was painful to watch myself go through this. I wanted to believe everything would be all right, but my heart told me otherwise. A tear rolled down my cheek.
I wiped it away just as I heard my name being called. The room suddenly grew cold. I turned to see my window open, and a black raven sat on the sill, watching me. I walked over, curious about its presence. Then I noticed a piece of paper tied to its leg.
I removed the note and read: "Don't tell anyone. Get ready!"
Just then, a knock echoed at the door.
"My lady, it is time."
I chased the raven out and quickly closed the window.
The door opened, and Johnson appeared with five maids to accompany me downstairs. With a heavy breath, I followed.
The hall was crowded, and the council members filled the room. At the foot of the staircase stood Jarel, with his left hand behind him and his right by his side, waiting for my arrival. I could feel all eyes on me.
When I reached Jarel, he bowed and I offered my hand. He kissed it softly, saying, "My lady, you look beautiful."
His words irritated me, but I had no choice but to play along. "So do you, my prince," I replied, though my words felt hollow.
He smiled and took my hand, leading me to the altar where the magistrate sat.
I sat beside my uncle Christopher, the most powerful member of the council. His reassuring smile gave me some comfort. Then a man stood before the congregation and announced, "Let the test begin."
Jarel walked into the center, and my uncle stood up.
"If you wish to take one of our own, we must first ensure you are not from the Dark Carven." As he spoke, the other five magistrate members stood up, their hands raised. Their powers swirled around Jarel, creating a wall of light. If he was accepted, the light would turn blue; if not, it would turn black.
The light turned blue.
My heart sank, and I felt my world crumble. I didn't want to stay, so I slipped away, running down the hallway, tears streaming down my face. Suddenly, dark matter covered my eyes, and I was taken somewhere I couldn't see.
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