As the two were readying themselves to enter a deep sleep, things began to act stranger than before.

"Haven't you heard? A mortal had been caught in Everdaile!" A lady passing the room spoke.

"Not just that, demons had been seen at Derilla!" another lady reported.

"Oh, Alvanahan is really in chaos right now," the lady sighed. "Do you think it is the sign that Enchantria will meet its doom?"

"I heard that it is probably one of the effects of that Elven emperor who started the war hundreds of years from now." Cithara couldn't help but listen to what the ladies were talking about until it slowly faded away due to its distance from their room and where the ladies were heading.

Cithara's companion, Wil, was now in his sleep. However, the thoughts of home still bothered her mind.

Curious of what might happen to her wounded arm, she gently removed the bandage that Alvier placed there. Nevertheless, instead of a slowly healing arm, she was greeted by the presence of a slowly withering arm.

Although it doesn't hurt as much as the time she got it from the strange creature, she felt shivers down her spine as she encountered her arm slowly being covered by black.

"I hope that this will be healed soon," she whispered with a deeply worried heart. To somehow ease the fear that she was feeling, she wrapped the wound with the bandages once more.

Several rumors can still be heard until finally, she feels tiredness on her. As she was about to close her eyes to take the rest she needed, her attention was caught by the distracting sound of an opening door.

Alerted, she turned around to see if there was someone inside their room. "Wil, was that you?" she asked, gently patting his friend's shoulder.

She waited for the reply, but Wil was already asleep. She began to search around the room but found nothing.

"Maybe it's just because of my tiredness," she lilted, then went back to her bed. However, as soon as she laid her weary head down, she felt someone covering her mouth. She tried to struggle, but it was not worth it.

"Stop screaming, please," she heard a voice of a young man speak. "I'll let you go but promise me that you will not scream, okay?"

Cithara had nothing to do but to give a nod as a reply. Slowly, she was set loose.

As she turned her back around to see the one who came to her, she saw someone wearing a black coat with a hood.

"Who are you, and what are you doing here?" she asked curiously. She might have calmed herself up, but the alertness in her mind was still lurking there, a trick that she learned from most of her mistakes – trusting someone easily.

Before the man could even reply, a sudden loud bang interrupted their conversation. "We have to go now!" the man exclaimed.

"Wil, is that you?" asked Cithara once again. "Well, how do I know if you are not like that creature who changes its shape to another person?"

"I'm sorry, but I need to do this. It's for your safety," the man spoke as he shoved something from his pocket. Before she could even know it, Cithara had a huge needle pierced on a part of her neck, making her immediately fall asleep.

Several bangs had been heard ever since, all to be followed by fires slowly spreading across the area where the inn was built.

After a few moments, Cithara found herself alone as she lay down on the warm ground in the middle of a forest. "How did I end up here?" she asked as she sat down. "Once again, being knocked down. Really?" she added, teasing herself.

Her attention was caught by her wounded arm; stitches were made, and the strange black thing covering it was miraculously removed.

"What's happening here? Am I... Am I dreaming?" she spoke.

"You're awake!" She heard the voice of the man at the inn once more.

As she stood up from the ground, Cithara was greeted by a young man who hopped off a tree, unharmed, and landed on his feet as if he were an expert.

"Who are you, and why did you bring me here?" Cithara asked.

"Let's just say that I am here to guard you and the reason why I brought you here is because I want to cure that wound of yours before the shadows spread all over your body," the man spoke in his friendly voice.

"Shadows? What do you mean?" the curious Cithara asked. "You are the one who healed me?"

"Well, I just removed the poison from the Amaergon that you encountered," the man replied.

"Then who are you? How did you know that this is from an Amaergon or... or whatever that creature who attacked me was?" Cithara added. "You are one of them, right? Are you here to get me?"

Slowly, Cithara backed down. But with every footstep she made, the man just went a little closer and closer.

"Whoa! Slow down. There are too many questions," the man lilted. "I am not here to hurt you or to get you. As I said, I am here to protect and help you, my lady."

"You should be thankful that I left my bow at the inn," Cithara spoke, interrupted by the memory that she lost Wil and their belongings.

"How about I answer all your questions but with one condition?" asked the man.

"What is it? Does that have anything to do about trading souls?" Cithara replied.

The man raised both of his hands above his shoulders, showing that he is not a harm. "That one condition is that you should calm yourself up and listen to me."

"If I heard it right, you said a total of two conditions," Cithara notified sarcastically.

"You have a sense of humor; do you know that, my lady?" the man jested. "Anyways, yes. Yes, it's two conditions but all I need you to do is to listen to me."

Cithara was quiet like the stillness of the night as she began to listen to the stranger in front of her.

"I am sent here by your Deia. And I have to warn you that they are coming for you, You're Majesty!" the man warned as he kneeled in front of the young lady.

Glossary

⚔️ Alvanahan
- Enchantrian word: Immortal Realm

⚔️ Deia
- Elven word: Mother