The days that followed the stranger's cryptic warning felt heavier than ever. North had barely slept, her thoughts constantly consumed by the Emery. She couldn't shake the sense of urgency, the knowledge that the fate of the kingdom rested on something so powerful—and dangerous.
Her mother, the queen, remained oblivious to it all, focusing on the daily matters of the court, unaware of the shadows that loomed over their family. North knew she had to keep the Emery a secret for now. She couldn't trust anyone, especially not the queen, who had dismissed the idea of a returning threat from the Dark One.
So she kept the knowledge to herself, burying the questions and doubts deep within her. She couldn't risk anyone else finding out. Not yet.
But there was one person who had always had an uncanny ability to notice things—Prince Kaelen, the royal chief's son.
He was a regular at the royal court, often attending meetings with his father or assisting with the kingdom's military affairs. Tall, with dark eyes that always seemed to be observing more than they let on, Kaelen had a reputation for being astute, if not a little too curious for his own good. North had always found his inquisitive nature both irritating and oddly captivating. He often pushed her boundaries, testing her patience with his probing questions.
That day, after a particularly trying training session, North found herself retreating to the royal gardens, desperate for some solitude. She needed time to think, to plan. But she hadn't anticipated Kaelen's appearance.
He was standing by the fountain when she arrived, his dark coat fluttering in the breeze. As soon as he saw her, he stepped forward with that characteristic smirk of his.
"You're late," Kaelen teased, his voice low and teasing, though there was an edge to it. "I thought the princess of this kingdom was more punctual."
North gritted her teeth, already annoyed at his presence. "What do you want, Kaelen?" Her voice was sharp, but she couldn't hide the flicker of unease that settled in her chest. He was no fool. If anyone could uncover her secrets, it was him.
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by her agitation. "Nothing much. Just curious about what's been keeping you distracted lately."
North stiffened. Had she been so obvious? She had made every effort to conceal her inner turmoil, but perhaps Kaelen had noticed something after all. He always had a way of reading people.
She forced a smile, masking her unease. "I've been busy, Kaelen. That's all."
He didn't buy it. He was too sharp for that.
"Busy with more than just your usual duties, I'd say," Kaelen remarked, his gaze narrowing. "I saw you earlier, in the royal chambers. There was something... different about you. Something you were trying to hide."
North's pulse quickened, but she kept her composure. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Kaelen stepped closer, his eyes glinting with something like suspicion, but there was also a trace of concern there too. "I think you do. You're not fooling anyone, North. I saw the way you looked when you came out of the royal vault. There's something you've been hiding."
Her heart skipped a beat. The royal vault—she had nearly forgotten about it. She had gone there earlier to investigate an old family heirloom, the kind of thing she could easily pass off as a curiosity. But Kaelen had been watching her, and now, it seemed he had seen too much.
North's mind raced. She couldn't let him know about the Emery. If he found out, she would lose her chance to protect it, and worse, she could lose his trust entirely.
"It's nothing, Kaelen," she said quickly, her voice a little too forceful. "I'm not hiding anything. You're mistaken."
He tilted his head slightly, eyes still fixed on her with that penetrating gaze. "Am I?" He took a step closer, his voice dropping to a lower, more serious tone. "I don't think I am. I know you, North. I know when you're hiding something, and right now, you're hiding something big. What is it?"
North's breath caught in her throat. She felt cornered, trapped by her own secrets and by his unwavering persistence. She could deny it no longer, not if Kaelen kept pressing.
She took a step back, her hand instinctively reaching for one of the knives she always carried with her, just to reassure herself. "If I told you, would you believe me?" she asked, her voice quiet but filled with an edge of desperation. "Would you believe that there's something out there that could destroy everything? That I'm trying to protect the kingdom from something no one is ready to face?"
Kaelen's eyes softened, his expression now serious. "I don't know what you're talking about, North. But whatever it is... I'll help you."
She studied him, unsure if she could trust him with the truth, but something in the way he spoke—genuine concern mixed with an undeniable resolve—told her he might be the ally she needed, or at the very least, someone who could help her protect the Emery.from those who would use it for dark purposes.
Her mind made up, she stepped closer, her voice barely a whisper. "There's a magical artifact. A powerful object. And I believe it's hidden within these walls. It's called the Emery, and it could change everything—if the wrong person gets their hands on it."
Kaelen's expression shifted from confusion to understanding, and then to something darker, something more determined.
"Then we need to find it before anyone else does."
North nodded, relieved that he seemed to believe her—but also fearful. The path ahead was dangerous, and now, she couldn't turn back.
The royal dinner- tension and drama
The queen, ever the gracious hostess, had planned a grand dinner that evening, inviting the royal chief and his son, Kaelen, to discuss matters of state. The royal dining hall was adorned with rich tapestries, the flickering candlelight casting long shadows over the table where plates of roasted meats and fruit were served in abundance. The atmosphere was elegant, though there was a palpable tension in the air.
Princess North had hoped to avoid the dinner altogether. But as her mother had insisted, it was an important occasion to foster relations between the monarchy and the military families, especially with the growing instability in the kingdom. Still, North could not shake the feeling that something was off, something was wrong, and she couldn't quite place it. She hadn't told her mother about the Emery, of course—nor would she. The dinner was to be about diplomacy, not about dangerous secrets.
As she entered the hall, her eyes were immediately drawn to Kaelen, who was seated across from her. He looked as confident and composed as always, his dark eyes watching her with an inscrutable gaze. She could feel his presence like an itch at the back of her mind, reminding her of their shared secret.
The queen, ever the charismatic monarch, greeted the royal chief warmly, while North settled into her seat beside her mother. Kaelen sat across from her, exchanging polite words with the other guests. The tension between them, however, was undeniable. The air seemed thick with unspoken words, each glance loaded with meaning.
The dinner began without incident, the conversation light but strained. The queen spoke of matters of the kingdom, the royal chief of military movements, and the princess—always the dutiful daughter—listened quietly, her mind elsewhere. North's fingers lightly brushed the hilt of a dagger hidden beneath her gown, a habit she'd developed when she felt particularly uncomfortable. Tonight was no exception.
But then, the conversation turned to the royal family's future, and the queen—perhaps unknowingly—introduced an uncomfortable subject.
"North," the queen said, her voice calm but filled with the authority only a queen could possess, "I hear your skills with knives have been improving. You're becoming quite the expert, just like your father."
North felt the weight of her mother's gaze and shifted in her seat. She wasn't sure what to make of this sudden attention, especially since the queen rarely spoke of the late king, preferring to keep their memories in the past.
"I've been training, Mother," North replied, trying to keep her voice steady, though she couldn't help the flicker of unease that passed through her.
At this, Kaelen's sharp gaze flicked to her, a playful glint in his eyes. "I'm sure your skills could be tested, Your Highness," he said, his voice warm yet challenging. "Perhaps we could have a friendly competition, just the two of us."
North met his gaze, narrowing her eyes slightly. She knew Kaelen was trying to provoke her—testing her resolve, as always—but she wasn't in the mood for games. "Perhaps some other time," she replied coolly, taking a sip of her wine.
But Kaelen didn't let up. "Oh, come now, Princess. You must be as quick as your reputation suggests. Surely you wouldn't mind showing the royal court your prowess."
The queen, noticing the subtle tension between her daughter and Kaelen, intervened, though her voice was laced with subtle amusement. "Enough, Kaelen. North has more important matters to tend to than wasting her time with such frivolities."
For a moment, North felt a flicker of relief, grateful for her mother's intervention. But Kaelen wasn't finished.
"More important matters, Your Majesty?" Kaelen raised an eyebrow, his tone now dripping with curiosity. "Are we speaking of matters that are more pressing than her royal duties? Perhaps there's something more... personal on the princess's mind."
North froze. Was he deliberately stirring trouble? She could feel her temper rising, the heat of embarrassment creeping into her cheeks. The tension in the room suddenly felt suffocating.
Before she could respond, the royal chief spoke up, his voice booming with authority as he shifted the focus of the conversation.
"Enough, Kaelen," the chief said with a stern look. "There's no need for such talk at this table." His eyes turned to North. "Apologies, Your Highness. My son sometimes forgets the decorum expected in royal company."
North gave a tight-lipped smile, though inwardly, her frustration was growing. She could see the way Kaelen's smirk faded into something more calculating, his eyes never leaving her face. What was his game?
The queen, ever the strategist, had already steered the conversation back to more neutral topics, but the tension lingered like an unresolved chord. As the evening continued, Aeliana couldn't help but feel as though she was caught in some kind of twisted web—a mix of political maneuvering, veiled insults, and unspoken challenges.
A walk through the kingdom
The royal dinner had ended in polite formality, but the tension between Princess North and Kaelen still lingered in the air. Just as North stood to leave, the queen stopped her with a soft but firm tone.
"North," the queen called, her voice gentle yet commanding. "I need you to accompany Kaelen on a tour of the kingdom's outer quarters. There are matters I wish to discuss with the royal chief in private."
North blinked, taken off guard by the request. She had hoped to retreat to her chambers after the long dinner, to clear her mind from the evening's uncomfortable moments. The last thing she wanted was to play tour guide to Kaelen, of all people.
"But Mother, I—"
"No arguments," the queen interjected with a slight but unwavering smile. "It's important. Kaelen will show you around, and I trust you can both use the time to discuss your own affairs as well."
North's lips pressed together in a thin line. The queen's tone was final. North had no choice. Though she tried to mask her annoyance, she nodded stiffly.
"Of course, Your Majesty," she said with a bow of her head, her voice cold.
Kaelen, sitting at the end of the table, straightened as he rose to his feet. There was no hiding the flicker of amusement in his eyes as he approached her. North could almost hear his smugness, though his face remained carefully neutral.
"Shall we, Your Highness?" Kaelen asked, his voice laced with something almost teasing, as though he were relishing the prospect of spending more time with her.
North's lips twitched in a tight smile, not eager to play along with his games, but she did her best to conceal her irritation. The sooner they finished this, the sooner she could escape to her own thoughts.
The walk through the kingdom
As they stepped out into the cool evening air, the kingdom's stone streets stretched before them, bathed in the warm glow of lanterns. The sounds of distant chatter and the rustling of leaves in the wind filled the night air as North and Kaelen walked side by side. The night was still, the quiet of the kingdom almost too serene, as though it was holding its breath.
"So," Kaelen began after a few moments, breaking the silence. "I suppose the queen wants me to keep you entertained while she discusses whatever political matters are so urgent." His voice was casual, but there was an undercurrent of something else—curiosity, maybe? Or perhaps a hint of mockery.
North glanced sideways at him, trying to hide her frustration. "You don't need to keep me entertained, Kaelen. Just show me the sections of the kingdom I haven't seen recently. I'd rather not talk."
Kaelen raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Not talk, huh? Seems like you've got something on your mind. Am I wrong, Princess?"
She didn't respond immediately, unsure of how much she was willing to reveal. The last thing she wanted was to divulge anything personal, especially not to him.
As they passed through the outer gate of the royal castle and onto the cobbled streets leading into the marketplace, North's thoughts wandered back to the mysterious artifact she had been keeping hidden—the Emery. The secret weighed heavily on her shoulders, and Kaelen's presence only seemed to make it harder to think clearly.
The marketplace was still buzzing with activity despite the late hour. Merchants were packing up their wares, some haggling with customers, others laughing and chatting. The lively atmosphere was a stark contrast to the tension she felt inside.
"I can see why you don't come out here much," Kaelen said, his voice breaking into her thoughts. "You've got the palace's comforts to keep you busy, I suppose."
North gave him a sharp glance. "It's not that. I don't need anyone's comfort. I've spent plenty of time here on my own."
Kaelen seemed to be enjoying their back-and-forth, his eyes scanning the market and the people milling about. "Oh? You don't mind mingling with the common folk, then?"
North stiffened. There was something in his tone that suggested he didn't believe her, but she kept her composure. "I'm not so different from them," she replied coolly, her voice betraying none of the frustration she felt. "We all have our roles to play, Kaelen. I happen to have been born into mine. But I'm still human."
He met her gaze with a half-smile. "I never said you weren't. You're more complicated than I gave you credit for."
The words were casual, but they made her pause. What was he really trying to say? She wasn't sure, but the tension between them seemed to deepen.
As they continued through the kingdom, their path led them to the city's ancient clock tower. The structure was a marvel—tall and imposing, with intricate carvings etched into its stone face. A cool breeze rustled through the trees surrounding the tower, sending a shiver down North's spine.
Kaelen turned to her, his expression a bit more serious now. "I have to admit, Princess, I wasn't expecting to spend time with you like this. I didn't think you'd be interested in the less glamorous parts of the kingdom."
North's eyebrows furrowed as she met his gaze. "Why would you think that?"
Kaelen shrugged, though there was an underlying sincerity in his voice. "I thought you might be too… well, wrapped up in royal duties to care. But I was wrong."
North felt the weight of his words, and for a moment, she was tempted to ask him more about his life, his thoughts, and his motives. But the thought of the Emery and the growing pressure of her secret quickly made her close off.
"Let's just finish this, Kaelen," she said, her voice quieter now. "I don't have time for more of your games."
Kaelen seemed to understand that he'd pushed too far, and for a while, the walk was silent, each of them lost in their own thoughts.
The knife throwing challenge
As the evening wore on, the walk through the kingdom began to feel like an endless trek. The lively sounds of the marketplace faded as they reached a quieter area near the old training grounds, a place North had frequented in her younger years when she needed time away from the palace.
North's thoughts were still preoccupied with the secret of the Emery and her growing unease about the queen's mysterious conversation with the royal chief. The tension of the night was slowly pulling at her, and she was eager to leave it all behind.
But Kaelen wasn't ready to let her off that easily.
"So," Kaelen said casually, stopping as they reached a large wooden target near the training grounds. He turned to face her, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I've heard you're quite the expert at knife-throwing. But I'm curious... how much of that is just royal hype?"
North raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued despite herself. She wasn't sure if he was genuinely challenging her or just trying to provoke her—likely both.
"Is that a challenge, Kaelen?" North asked coolly, crossing her arms over her chest. She was no stranger to competition, and Kaelen's casual taunting only made her more eager to prove herself.
Kaelen shrugged, his eyes gleaming with that familiar mischievous glint. "Perhaps. I'm just saying, I've thrown my fair share of knives in my time."
"I'm sure you have," North replied, her tone dry. "But I don't think you can compare to me."
Kaelen chuckled, clearly enjoying the tension between them. "Is that so? Well, I suppose we'll find out."
He picked up one of the practice knives lying beside the target and twirled it effortlessly in his hand. Without warning, he threw it toward the center of the target. The knife struck with a solid thud, buried halfway into the wooden surface.
North's eyes narrowed as she assessed the result. The throw was decent—strong, accurate, but not flawless.
"Nice," she said, though her tone was filled with amusement. "But not good enough."
Kaelen raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? We'll see about that."
North reached down and picked up a knife, holding it in her hand, testing the weight. Her grip was firm but relaxed—perfectly balanced. She took a step back, squaring herself in front of the target, and with a swift, fluid motion, threw the knife.
The blade spun in the air and lodged itself precisely in the bullseye.
"There," North said with a satisfied smirk, her eyes meeting Kaelen's. "That's how it's done."
Kaelen's eyes flicked from the bullseye to her, a challenging glint in his gaze. "Impressive," he admitted. "But I'm not backing down."
Without a word, he grabbed another knife and tossed it again, aiming for a slightly different part of the target. The knife hit the edge of the bullseye, grazing the wood before it bounced off and clattered to the ground.
North bit back a laugh, unable to hide the amusement on her face. "Not quite there yet, Kaelen."
Kaelen shot her a playful glare. "Alright, alright, I'm warming up. Give me a second."
North crossed her arms again, leaning casually against the post, watching as Kaelen prepared for another throw. This time, his stance was more focused, his eyes narrowing as he took aim.
"You seem pretty confident," Kaelen said as he lifted the knife again. "But I'm curious, Princess. How far would you go to prove you're the better thrower?"
North met his gaze, her expression unreadable. "I don't need to prove anything to you," she replied, her voice steady. "But I will show you I'm better."
And with that, she threw another knife, this time aiming for a smaller target off to the side. The knife sailed through the air and buried itself deep into the wood, hitting the mark with pinpoint accuracy.
Kaelen, clearly determined not to let her have the last word, stepped up and threw yet another knife, this time with a sharp, confident motion. The knife lodged into the target—slightly off-center—but still a solid throw.
"Alright," he said, his smile widening as he took a few steps back. "I'll admit, you're good. But I'm still catching up."
North couldn't help the small smirk that tugged at her lips. She might have been more skilled, but Kaelen wasn't without talent.
"You'll need more than that to beat me," North said, her voice laced with playful arrogance.
Kaelen grinned. "We'll see about that. Let's make it interesting, shall we?"
The Queen's Dinner with the Royal Chief
The evening's meal had gone on longer than usual, and the air in the dining hall was heavy with unspoken words. Candles flickered around the long table, casting soft shadows against the stone walls, but the queen's focus had long since shifted from the food in front of her to the royal chief seated across from her.
The conversation had started civil enough, but now, it had veered into territory the queen wasn't prepared to discuss.
The Royal Chief his voice low and serious. "Your Majesty, there's something I must share with you. I've been hearing reports from my scouts. In the outer territories, there have been whispers of a strange power rising within the kingdom's borders. Something... unnatural. I believe it could be linked to the Emery."
The queen's brow furrowed as she lowered her glass of wine, her gaze cold and unblinking. She had heard of the Emery—a fabled artifact said to grant immense power, capable of shifting the very fabric of reality. But in her heart, she refused to believe in the rumors. It was just an old story. A myth.
The Queen shaking her head slightly, her voice firm."I've heard these rumors for years, Chief. And yet, here we are, still waiting for something that will never come to pass."
The Royal Chief leaned forward, a sense of urgency creeping into his tone. "But, Your Majesty, this is different. The signs are undeniable. There's a source of power awakening within the kingdom itself. The people who are seeking it are not mere bandits or fortune hunters. They're skilled, they know exactly what they're after."
The queen's face remained unreadable, though the tension in her jaw betrayed her growing discomfort. She didn't want to acknowledge this. Not now. Not when everything in her mind pointed to a different, more personal tragedy.
The Queen sharply, trying to dismiss the topic."Enough, Chief. I won't entertain these superstitions. We have enough to deal with. Dinner is done."
Her tone was final, and she stood abruptly, signaling the end of the conversation. The royal chief looked hesitant for a moment, as though trying to gauge her mood, but he said nothing.
The queen, with an air of finality, turned to leave the table. She hadn't even made it halfway to the door before a familiar voice rang out.
Enter the Princess and the Royal Chief's Son
Just as the queen moved toward the door, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed in the hall. North, followed by Kaelen, entered the room. The princess looked winded but more alive than she had in the past few days, her eyes sparkling with something that felt like energy, even if she had been distracted by her own thoughts.
Kaelen, of course, looked completely unfazed, his posture relaxed, as though their earlier conversation had not been filled with competitive sparks.
Princess North in her usual playful tone, clearly trying to change the subject. "Did we miss dinner, or is it just ending in a rather dramatic way?"
The queen froze mid-step. The princess was back—and with her, Kaelen, the royal chief's son. A quick glance toward the royal chief confirmed that he was watching them with a look that seemed both cautious and measuring.
The Royal Chief forcing a smile, though there was still a sense of tension in his voice. "Ah, just in time. We were discussing matters of the kingdom. Nothing too pressing, Your Highness."
Princess North eyes flicking between them, sensing the shift in the air. "Right... well, I hope it wasn't too boring. I can imagine how tedious royal discussions must be."
Kaelen, ever the smooth talker, shot the princess a sly grin, adding, "Well, at least dinner wasn't boring. But if we missed something important, we're ready to listen."
The queen, still holding her composure, turned to face her daughter. "It's nothing, North. Just... matters I'd rather not discuss with you at the moment."
Kaelen, sensing the subtle undercurrent of tension, tried to lighten the mood by stepping forward. "Actually, Princess, we've been practicing... a bit of a challenge. I have to say, it seems like you're not the only one around here with impressive skills."
North, sensing the opening for some banter, leaned against the wall. "Oh, really? What skills would those be? Knife throwing?"
Kaelen's smile grew wider as he grabbed a knife from a nearby table. "A bit of everything, really. Perhaps we could have another round of your challenge later on. What do you say?"
Well days had pass since the royal dinner.
The mysterious stranger
---
It was a cool evening when North and Kaelen decided to take a walk around the castle grounds. North, still restless from the earlier events and her ongoing rivalry with Kaelen, sought solace in the quiet night air. Kaelen, always the curious one, was eager to follow, his casual demeanor hiding a sharp intellect.
As they wandered deeper into the castle's vast garden, the dim lights from the torches cast long shadows across the stone paths. The world around them felt strangely still, as if holding its breath.
Kaelen teasing. "You know, I didn't think you'd actually take me up on that challenge. If you're just going to throw knives at the wall, you might as well teach me how to do it properly."
North rolling her eyes. "You're lucky I haven't already hit you with one of those knives. You're always so full of yourself."
Their playful banter continued, but a sudden rustling in the bushes caught their attention. Both turned, instinctively reaching for weapons or at least preparing to face whatever threat might be lurking.
From the shadows, a figure emerged—a hooded man cloaked in dark, weathered robes. His face was partially obscured, but his presence was undeniable. The air seemed to grow heavier as he stepped into the light, his gaze fixed on them with an unsettling calm.
Stranger in a low, deliberate voice. "I knew you would come. Both of you."
North and Kaelen exchanged wary glances, instinctively stepping closer to one another. The stranger was no ordinary traveler. There was something about him that seemed… ancient, as if he had walked through time itself. His voice held an eerie familiarity, and his eyes gleamed with a knowledge that made North uneasy.
Kaelen with a raised eyebrow "We've never met you before. Who are you?"
The stranger didn't answer immediately. Instead, his gaze lingered on North, as though he was studying her every move. After a moment, he spoke again, his voice barely a whisper, but somehow it felt like a thunderclap in the stillness of the garden.
The Stranger softly "You seek power, but you don't understand the cost. The Emery is not something you can simply claim. It belongs to the shadows."
North felt a chill run down her spine. She had heard the legends of the Emery—an artifact of great power that could change the fate of kingdoms—but she never thought someone would speak of it so freely. Kaelen, on the other hand, was more intrigued than scared.
Kaelen challenging, but with a hint of curiosity."And why should we believe you? You know nothing about us."
Stranger smirking, but his tone still eerie. "I know more than you think, young prince. More than you ever could imagine."
He reached into the folds of his cloak and produced a small, glimmering object—an amulet, engraved with ancient runes that pulsed faintly in the moonlight. It looked nothing like anything North or Kaelen had seen before, yet something about it felt… familiar.
The Stranger "This is but a piece of the Emery. It is the key to unlocking its true power. But be warned—those who seek it often find themselves consumed by it. It can bring great salvation… or destruction."
North stepped forward, her usual bravado taking over. "And why are you showing this to us?"
The stranger's eyes locked onto hers. "Because your destiny is tied to it. All of you."
Before they could react, the man turned and began to disappear into the shadows, as silently as he had arrived.
Kaelen: frustrated, but more intrigued than ever. "Wait! Who are you? What do you know about us?"
But the stranger was gone, leaving only the faintest echo of his voice lingering in the night air.
Stranger's Voice distant, fading. "The Emery will change everything. It is already too late to stop it…".
The Princess's Hidden Sanctuary
---
The grand hallways of the castle seemed emptier than ever, the shadows longer and more oppressive. North wandered aimlessly, the weight of her thoughts pressing down on her shoulders. The stranger's words echoed in her mind, a constant whispering, like a distant storm on the horizon. "The Emery will change everything." What did it all mean? And why had he spoken of her like he knew her fate already?
With every step she took, her pulse quickened, but she didn't stop. She couldn't stop. Not when the world around her seemed to be unraveling.
The queen had been away for days, attending some royal thanksgiving with noble families from distant regions. It was a celebration meant to unify the kingdom, but all it had left North with was a gnawing sense of isolation. She had been alone, trapped in a castle filled with people yet devoid of understanding. The weight of it all felt unbearable. She couldn't even talk to her mother—her protector and the only source of certainty—and now that the queen had left, she felt utterly abandoned.
Her feet carried her down familiar corridors and past guarded chambers, but none of these places felt right anymore. The world outside had started to feel like a dream—distorted, uncertain, and out of her control. North found herself walking toward the west wing of the castle, to the hidden garden she had often visited as a child, a place that felt more like home than any other room.
No one else knew of this place. It was her sanctuary, a secret garden concealed behind ivy-covered walls and tucked away from prying eyes. It was a place of tranquility, where she would escape the pressures of royal life, allowing the sounds of the night to soothe her mind.
As she stepped through the thick curtains of vines, the familiar smell of wildflowers filled the air. The garden had always been untouched—perfect in its quiet simplicity. But today, the calm didn't reach her. There was an unsettling stillness to the air, a heaviness that had never been there before.
She walked deeper into the garden, her fingers brushing the petals of the flowers, but something felt wrong. The shadows cast by the moon seemed to stretch longer than usual, reaching out like tendrils, pulling her deeper into the heart of the garden.
She reached the small stone bench where she often sat and closed her eyes, trying to push away the anxiety that clawed at her chest. "It's just a garden," she told herself, but even as she did, she couldn't shake the feeling that the world around her was somehow shifting. The air was heavier here, too, as though the garden was holding a secret, one that had never been meant for her to know.
Then, she heard it.
A whisper. Soft, almost inaudible, like a breath against her ear.
"You shouldn't be here."
North's heart skipped a beat, and she turned sharply, but no one was there. The garden remained as still and silent as ever. Her breath hitched as the cold realization settled over her. The whisper hadn't come from anyone. It was as if the garden itself had spoken.
Her mind raced back to the stranger's words. "The Emery belongs to the shadows." Was this what he meant? Was the Emery connected to this place? Had it been influencing her all along, drawing her to places like this?
Suddenly, the vines at the far edge of the garden began to shift, almost as if alive, and the air around her grew colder. Her instincts screamed at her to leave, but her feet remained rooted to the spot, frozen in both fear and fascination. The moonlight flickered across the garden, casting shadows that seemed to move on their own, as if the very ground beneath her feet was shifting.
North to herself, trembling "What is happening here?"
The shadows stretched toward her, and as they did, something flickered in the corner of her eye—a figure, standing motionless just beyond the reach of the moonlight.
It was him.
The stranger.
But this time, his face was clearer. His eyes locked onto hers, full of knowing, full of secrets.
The Stranger, his voice a whisper, carrying across the distance "It's not a place of refuge, Princess. It is where everything begins."
Comfort gone wrong
---
The moon hung low in the sky as North paced restlessly through the castle's hallways. Her thoughts were a chaotic swirl, each one tugging her in a different direction. The garden had only deepened her confusion. The Emery, the stranger's cryptic warnings, and the growing feeling that something was terribly wrong with her world—everything pressed against her chest like a weight she couldn't shake.
She hadn't wanted anyone to know about the turmoil raging inside her, but when she turned a corner, she found herself face-to-face with Kaelen. He must have been looking for her, his expression concerned but unreadable.
Kaelen softly, stepping toward her. "North, I've been looking everywhere for you. What's going on? You've been acting strange."
She didn't want to break down in front of him. She didn't want to admit how completely out of control she felt. But his concerned eyes were like a mirror, showing her everything she was trying to hide. With a sharp intake of breath, North snapped.
North frustrated, her voice trembling. "I don't know! I don't know what's happening. I feel like I'm losing my mind. Everything is changing, and I can't make sense of it. I'm not like everyone else. I—"
Kaelen gently placing a hand on her arm. "You're not alone. Whatever you're facing, we can figure it out together. The Emery… I know it's a lot, but I'm here for you."
His touch was meant to be comforting, but it felt like a chain wrapping around her chest. She pulled away sharply, eyes wide with panic.
North breathing heavily, voice breaking. "You don't understand! You don't know what it's like. You don't know what this is… what it means. I have to fix this… I have to find answers. I can't be like this anymore. I can't—"
Kaelen his voice pleading, but desperate to calm her down. "North, please—"
But it was too late. Her mind was already spiraling, unable to process his words, unable to understand why she felt so out of control. She turned quickly, pushing past him, the tension in her body making her movements sharp and erratic.
The Princess's Desperate Decision
The next morning, North woke with a start, her mind still clouded by the confusion of the night before. Everything felt wrong. The walls of the castle seemed to close in on her. She couldn't trust anyone—not even Kaelen. And the queen was still away, leaving her alone in her turmoil.
Something inside her snapped. The only way out was to find the Emery. She couldn't wait any longer. She had to see it for herself. She needed to understand what it meant, what it had to do with her, and why it was pulling her toward it.
She slipped out of her chambers without anyone noticing, her heart pounding in her chest. The guards were distracted by the festivities of the upcoming royal event, and the corridors were eerily quiet.
North's feet carried her to the hidden vault where the Emery was said to be kept. She hadn't told anyone about the encounter with the stranger, not even Kaelen. She couldn't risk it. She couldn't risk anyone stopping her.
But as she reached for the door to the vault, a cold, creeping sensation washed over her. She hesitated, but only for a moment. Then, the door creaked open, revealing the dark chamber beyond. The Emery lay there, glowing faintly, just as the stranger had described.
Before she could step closer, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. The air was heavy, thick with an energy she couldn't explain. And then—before she could take another breath—something shifted.
The chamber suddenly grew colder. Shadows twisted unnaturally around her, closing in as though the very room had come alive. A sinister whisper filled her ears, the same one from the garden.
Stranger's Voice. "You shouldn't be here."
The shadows seemed to move closer, and North realized, with rising panic, that the Emery might be more dangerous than she ever imagined. The ground beneath her feet seemed to tremble as if warning her away. But it was too late. Her fingers brushed the artifact, and a surge of dark energy pulsed through her, throwing her to the ground.
The Royal Chief's Son to the Rescue
Back in the castle, Kaelen had spent hours searching for North. The uncertainty gnawed at him, and when he couldn't find her, he began to fear the worst. He had no idea where she had gone—no clue as to the dangerous path she might be walking.
As he passed through the castle's lower halls, he saw movement up ahead. It was her—North. But she was staggering, pale, and unsteady on her feet.
Kaelen rushing to her side, his voice laced with panic. "North! What happened? Are you alright?"
She looked up at him, her eyes wide with fear, her hands trembling.
North whispering, in a daze. "It's too late. It's too much. I... I touched it. The Emery—it's more than I thought. It's—"
Before she could say more, the shadows around them seemed to pulse with dark energy, and Kaelen's instincts kicked in. He grabbed her arm and pulled her back toward the castle, trying to shield her from whatever was coming.
But the moment they turned to flee, a guard appeared from around the corner, spotting them. Kaelen's heart raced as he tugged North behind him, only to be blocked by more guards.
A Guard called out. "Halt! What are you doing with the princess?"
Kaelen's mind raced. He had no choice but to act fast. With a surge of adrenaline, he pushed North behind him and confronted the guards with fierce authority, using the royal chief's son's influence to momentarily stall them.
Kaelen with a commanding tone. "Move! The princess is unwell. We need privacy—now!"
The guards hesitated but obeyed, giving Kaelen just enough time to pull North into a hidden passage. But the danger wasn't over. Kaelen could feel the weight of the situation—the Emery had begun to take its toll, and North was already starting to slip further from reality.
The calm before the storm
---
It had been days since the incident. Days since North had touched the Emery and felt its dark, overwhelming power course through her. Days since she had heard from Kaelen—since the night her world seemed to fall apart. The royal chief's son had vanished without a trace, and North had chosen to bury everything beneath the weight of her responsibilities.
She had become like her mother—focused, detached, and determined to fix the kingdom's issues. No more wandering thoughts, no more dark energies or strange whispers. The castle walls, once filled with strange echoes and uneasy shadows, now seemed like a fortress of stability. The royal matters took precedence, and for the first time in days, North felt like she had control.
Her mind was consumed by the royal duties her mother had always championed—preparing for upcoming events, discussing political strategies, and overseeing the kingdom's resources. The Emery felt like a distant dream, one she had pushed so far away that it hardly felt real anymore. There was no place for it in her life, not with everything else that needed her attention.
She hadn't allowed herself to think of the Emery—or Kaelen. In fact, the absence of him stung, but she buried it quickly. After all, what good was a royal chief's son in a world that was shifting so rapidly? What good was comfort if it came with chaos?
In the grand dining hall, North sat at the head of the table, papers scattered before her, her quill poised above the parchment. The conversation around her was about the harvest season and preparations for the upcoming festival, but she was hardly listening. Her thoughts were mechanical, practical. The only thing that mattered now was the kingdom.
The queen had returned from the royal thanksgiving, her mind clearly preoccupied with other matters. She'd barely noticed the subtle change in her daughter—how she had hardened herself, how she no longer spoke of the Emery or anything related to the mysterious forces lurking around them.
The Queen, leaning forward, her voice full of authority "North, I need you to handle the upcoming negotiations with the neighboring kingdoms. The future of our alliances depends on it. We can't afford any mistakes."
North nodded, the words sinking into her like they always had. She was determined to prove herself, to show her mother that she could handle the weight of the kingdom. No more distractions, no more uncertainty. Just focus on the mission at hand.
As the day wore on, North walked the halls of the castle, overseeing preparations, her mind never straying too far from the kingdom's needs. She ignored the nagging feeling deep inside her—the feeling that something was missing. Her life had fallen into a rhythm, and for the first time in weeks, it felt like everything was right again.
But was it really? Could everything truly be back to the way it was?
She didn't know, and she didn't care to question it.
But even as she dismissed it, a cold shiver ran down her spine—a fleeting moment of unease—as though the kingdom itself were whispering to her, reminding her that peace was fragile. And just below the surface of her calm composure, a storm was waiting.
North had been the Queen's replacement since last year, although she had seen and invited the royal chief's son to some events, they had never been together for longer than 25 seconds. Days, even months, had passed, and the kingdom remained in order, until the day of the princess's 18th birthday, where she would be regarded as the next in line for the throne.
At eight on the dot, as the crown was placed on the princess's head, a shadow appeared. Guests from other kingdoms screamed in fear. 'What could this be?' The Queen asked. 'The Dark One,' she whispered.
The shadow moved like darkness itself. 'No. Not this time. Not ever,' the Queen said, revealing something no one in the kingdom knew about."
---
The power of essokinesis
The power to control reality. The guards were shocked and even defenseless at the moment. Queen Nora released her power causing everywhere to tremble. North couldn't believe what she was seeing. "How is possible,did mother touch the Emery,how can she...". The queen was strong but Lilith was stronger controlling darkness itself as Lilith spotted North shadow flies straight at her before she could react. Kealen had pulled her away. The royal chief with the help of the guard led the guest to safety so they did so with North, leaving only her mother to face the darkness. The princess tried to protect her people but couldn't do anything then she thought to the head-- "the Emery".she left the guest and ran to the kingdom hidden walls. No one noticed except kealen,he followed he. He couldn't had thought it was the Emery. North unlocked the hidden walls and there it was-the Emery. One side of the Emery shined black and the other pink. The princess ran in front of it. Kealen came right in time. "North!",this was the first time calling her name after years. "This has to stop, you can't handle it". Just as kealen was about to come closer to her. A messenger cried out "the queen is dead" without hesitation North placed her hand in the middle of the Emery. A great light exploded in the air. The shadow vanished so did North.
The Emery's Truth
The moment the princess's fingers brushed the cold surface of the Emery, everything around her seemed to shudder. A wave of dizziness overtook her, and the ground beneath her feet seemed to fall away. Colors twisted and blurred into one another—shadows swirling into the air, becoming shapes, then vanishing into the darkness. The world around her felt like a dream, unreal and distant, yet hauntingly familiar.
Then, everything stilled.
She blinked, unsure if she was still in her world or somewhere else entirely. The air was thick with an ancient presence, heavy with the weight of forgotten things. The landscape around her was unrecognizable, yet it felt like home. Towering spires rose in the distance, crumbled marble statues that seemed to whisper to her, and the sky was a muted shade of red, as if the world had been caught between dusk and dawn.
She took a step forward, her heart pounding in her chest. It was as though she had crossed into another time, another place. This was not the kingdom she had known.
Then, a sound reached her ears—soft whispers, like a distant cry. She turned, and the air shimmered before her, as if the very fabric of reality was bending. Before her appeared a vision: a younger Lilith, dressed in royal garb, standing beside a throne. She was laughing, her eyes filled with light, her face full of hope. The Lilith she saw was nothing like the dark figure who haunted her nightmares. This was a girl—no, a princess—radiant in her youth.
The princess gasped, stepping closer, but the vision shifted. Time seemed to rewind, and she saw another scene unfold.
Lilith, standing in a royal garden, dressed in regal clothes, was laughing beside someone else—a figure who, though unclear, seemed familiar. The connection between them was undeniable, an unspoken bond of shared history. The princess's chest tightened, as though some forgotten memory was stirring at the edges of her consciousness. But before she could grasp it, the vision shifted again.
The air grew thick, the sky darkening above them. Lilith's face grew cold as shadows crept over her, her expression hardening with sorrow, or perhaps anger. She was clutching something—a dark, glowing artifact—its power pulsating in the air. The ground beneath her feet seemed to tremble with the force of her emotions. She looked up with an expression of desperation, speaking to someone—though their words were lost in the air.
The princess reached out, her heart racing, as if some part of her was trying to connect the dots, but the scene changed once more.
Lilith was alone, her eyes hollow, her once-bright demeanor now gone, replaced by a darkness that seemed to seep into the world around her. A shadow wrapped around her like a cloak, twisting her once-beautiful features into something unrecognizable. The power that had once radiated from her now seemed to consume her, until she was nothing more than a flicker in the dark.
The princess stared, her breath caught in her throat. There was something so familiar about Lilith's pain, her struggle, that it sent a chill through her bones. The pieces of the vision seemed to hint at something deeper, something she was not yet ready to understand.
As the vision began to fade, the princess reached out with everything in her, but the world around her grew darker, the pull of the Emery stronger, and she felt herself being torn away.
No! The princess screamed in her mind, but it was as if the very dimension itself was rejecting her presence. Her vision blurred, and the space around her shattered like glass, the images of Lilith, of the dark artifact, and the mysterious figure vanishing in an instant.
Then, as quickly as it had begun, everything went black.
The princess gasped for air, her chest heaving, as she was pulled back into the real world. Her feet hit the cold, familiar stone floor, and the towering spires of her kingdom loomed in the distance. The Emery sat before her, still and silent, its dark and pink sides pulsing faintly, as if nothing had changed.
But she felt different. She felt as if the world had shifted beneath her, leaving her with a deep, unsettling question: What had she just seen?
She stumbled back, her mind reeling with the strange visions. Who was that girl she had seen beside Lilith? Why did she feel like there was something she should have understood, but couldn't? Her heart pounded in her chest. There was something there—some connection that she couldn't grasp yet. It was as if the past was trying to whisper to her, but the words were too faint to hear.
Lilith had not just appeared out of the shadows. There was something more to her—a history, a story that was far more tangled than she had ever imagined. The princess's thoughts spiraled, but she didn't have time to sort through them. The shadow of Lilith was still out there, and the kingdom was on the brink of disaster.
The princess steadied herself, taking a deep breath. She had to focus. The past would have to wait. She had a destiny to fulfill, whether she understood it or not.
But in the back of her mind, the vision lingered, as if something was waiting to reveal itself in time.