Freya had thought it wouldn't be a big deal when Kael explained the task. "Find your way out of the maze," he'd said simply, almost too simply. She had assumed it would be easy — after all, how difficult could it be to find an exit?
But now, hours later, her hands scraped by sharp vines and her dress stained with dirt, she realized she had been horribly wrong.
Every turn she took led to a dead end. Every time she thought she had found the right path, it would crumble in on itself, leaving her back at the center, angrier than before. The maze wasn't just confusing; it was cunningly designed to deceive.
Freya wiped the sweat off her forehead and cursed under her breath. "Is this some kind of punishment?" she hissed to herself, kicking a loose stone.
Determined not to be made a fool of, she came up with an idea: If she couldn't find her way out, she would cheat. She looked up at the tall hedges, made sure no guards were nearby, then climbed swiftly over the maze walls. Her breath was heavy with excitement — she would outsmart them yet.
But when she jumped down and ran ahead… there was nothing.
No exit.
Just high, endless walls and another stretch of thorns blocking any way out.
Freya gaped. Her fists clenched in pure rage. "You conniving, arrogant—!" she bit her lip before finishing her thought, looking around in case anyone was listening. She had spent her entire day lost in circles, and now the sun was beginning to set, painting the sky a deep, mocking orange.
Meanwhile, back at the castle…
Kael leaned against the stone railing, arms folded, watching from a high balcony. He turned his head toward the tall figure beside him. "You gave her a hard one, Your Majesty."
Sebastian barely glanced at him. His silver eyes were narrowed, following Freya's every struggling move from afar. "She said she wanted to leave," he replied coolly. "If she can't even find her way out of a simple maze, how does she plan to survive outside?"
Kael shook his head slightly, a small grin tugging at his mouth. He knew Sebastian was enjoying this more than he let on. Only Kael could tell — the faintest, hidden amusement flickered in the King's usually unreadable face.
Still, there was something else.
Something dangerous and curious gleaming in Sebastian's eyes.
"You want to see her break," Kael said quietly, almost like a question.
Sebastian didn't respond immediately. His gaze remained fixed on the struggling figure in the maze, the wild, untamed girl who refused to bow even when it would have been easier.
"No," he said finally. "I want to see what it takes to make her fight.