The morning sunlight filtered gently through the tall curtains, but Elira barely noticed.
She hadn't slept.
Her eyes were wide, haunted, fixed on the door. Every little creak made her jump. Every gust of wind set her nerves on edge.
The memory of last night burned behind her eyelids:
The snarling. The claws. The eyes.
And then—
A knock.
She jolted upright on the edge of the couch, heart slamming into her ribs.
Another knock. Firmer this time.
Elira stared at the door, frozen. What if it's that… thing?
But no creature knocks politely.
She stood, legs unsteady, and cautiously walked toward the door. Her hand hesitated over the latch.
You're not weak, she told herself. You faced it and lived. You can open a door.
With a shaky breath, she unlocked and pulled the door open—
It was him.
Prince Elric. Human. Calm. Unscarred.
Elira let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "Oh, thank god."
He raised a brow. "Didn't realize my presence brought divine comfort."
She exhaled, pressing a hand to her chest. "Sorry. I just… you scared me."
"I knocked." He smirked faintly.
"No, not now. Last night."
That wiped the smirk from his face—just for a second. "Last night?"
She stepped aside and let him in, then quickly shut the door again.
"I saw something," she said quietly, turning to face him. "I shouldn't have left the room, I know, but… I heard this growling noise, and I followed it."
His eyes narrowed slightly. "You followed a growl?"
"I'm curious, not suicidal," she snapped, then softened. "I didn't mean to go far. But there was this… hallway. Hidden. I went down it and… and…"
She swallowed.
Elric crossed his arms, keeping his face unreadable. "And?"
"There was this thing. A beast. Huge. Black fur. Glowing silver eyes. Claws like daggers."
His expression didn't change. Not a flicker.
Elira shivered just from remembering. "It looked like it could rip a wall apart. I swear it looked at me. Like it knew I was there."
"Did it chase you?"
"No. Just… stared. And roared. I ran before it could do anything."
He walked over to the window, pretending to observe the courtyard as he steadied himself.
Inside, his thoughts were chaos.
She saw me.
She was that close.
And I didn't lose control… I stopped myself. Because of her.
He turned back to her with a calm, practiced smile. "That sounds… intense."
"That's it? Intense?!" she cried. "I almost died of fear!"
Elric stepped closer. "You're safe now. Whatever you saw must've been part of the old palace. There are many things here that haven't been touched in centuries. Old wards, ancient guardians."
"Are you saying it's not real?" she challenged, frowning.
"No," he said carefully. "I'm saying… some truths are buried for a reason."
She blinked at him. "You believe me?"
"I do."
He reached out, gently brushing her wrist where she still trembled.
"I don't think you're lying, Elira. And I won't let anything harm you while you're under my roof."
Her eyes searched his. "You don't seem surprised."
"I've seen worse than shadows with claws," he said smoothly. "But what matters now is that you're alive. You were brave enough to come back."
"I ran," she muttered.
"You ran smart," he corrected. "Fear doesn't make you weak. Ignoring it does."
She lowered her gaze, unsure how to feel. "So... what was it?"
He exhaled slowly, choosing every word like walking a blade.
"A remnant of a curse," he said. "Maybe something left behind by the mirror. There are stories about such beasts appearing when the balance of fate is disturbed."
"And I disturbed it?"
"Maybe," he said softly. "Or maybe… you were meant to see it."
Her breath caught. "Why?"
His eyes darkened—but his voice remained smooth. "Because some beasts… only awaken when she is near."
Elira blinked. "She?"
He didn't answer. Instead, he stepped back.
"I'll have breakfast sent up," he said. "And I'll look into what you saw. But I'll ask one thing, Elira—"
She looked up.
"Don't tell anyone. Not yet. Not until I understand what this means."
She nodded slowly, still shaken.
He moved toward the door, pausing only once before leaving.
And in a voice softer than she expected:
"Thank you… for not screaming."
Then he was gone.