The kingdom of Elpida. Home of the mightiest warriors and powerful sorcerer and ruled by the Kings who have the blood of a guardian is one of the most powerful kingdom. Due to it's residents, countless stories about magic and heroism have spread throughout the kingdom. However... there is one particular tale that almost everyone knows. The legend goes as follow...

Once there was woman with a very beautiful voice. People began saying that her voice even surpass the Guardian of Music. It soon reached the Guardian's ears. The guardian became extremely jealous that she cursed her voice. Whoever hear her voice will suffer from an incurable illness and die. The other guardians feeling pity for the poor girl decided to do something for the human girl. However, no one can undo the curse. So the Guardian of healing blessed the girl that whoever hear her sing will be cured from any illness except from the illness that she brings and grant her immortality.

However, this did nothing for the poor girl. Anyone refuses to let her talk or sing. She was regarded as a monster. People will constantly bully her. Her family threw her out. She was so close on giving up on life when one day she met a man.

That man was the prince of their country. He was the only one who showed her kindness. He would often sneak out of the palace to meet the woman. Soon enough the two of them fell in love. In fear of her voice, the woman never spoke to the prince and will only write everything she wants to say.

One day... the prince told the woman that he will go back to the palace to ask his father for permission to marry her. The woman promised that she will wait for him no matter what and the prince departed.

But countless days had gone by yet still no sign of the prince returning. The woman couldn't take it anymore and went to the palace herself. She soon regretted that decision.

When she arrived, she saw her beloved with another woman at his arms. That woman was the princess of a another kingdom. The woman with the cursed voice soon learned that the prince and the princess was supposed to get married in a few days.

As soon as the princess left she confronted the prince. She wasn't able to keep her emotions under control and let out an angry voice full of accusations and insults towards the prince. She ran full of tears.

After a few weeks news about the prince dying spread throughout the kingdom. The woman heard the news and felt extremely guilty. She left the kingdom and hid deep within the Enchanted Forest never to be seen again.

Legend says that she still live there and became the protector of the forest.

Now the current Queen of Elpida suffers from an illness. The king already summoned all the best doctors yet no one made any progress on healing the Queen. The royal sorcerer offered a suggestion. He will find the woman with the cursed voice and bring her back to heal the Queen.

Together with the girl who lives in the mountains, what awaits the two of them on their journey to find the cursed woman?

Third Person's POV

It's still very early in the morning but the palace is in full chaos. Servants have been running around and knights have been ordered to look for the high priestess. The Queen once again collapsed, the imeprial doctor couldn't do much so the king called for the high priestess.

"This is happening almost everyday, will her majesty be really cured?"

"Hush, if someone heard us our heads will be off"

Maids are chattering as they go. It's been months since the queen fell ill. Doctors after doctors have been already summoned yet the queen shows no signs of getting better, in fact the queen's condition seems to be getting worse. Even the high priestess can only do much.

_________

"Your majesty! Please consider our suggestion. Her higness' condition is not improving. Even the high priestess couldn't cure her majesty!"

"It will be hard for your majesty if her majesty dies"

"Please choose from the princesses"

Loud voices of the royal court rings throughout the throne room.

"Nonsense! The queen will not die! Do you realize just who are you speaking ill about?! I will not consider anyone as my wife! You may now take your leave"

The royal court looked at each other. If a queen dies it's normal for the king to remarry or the kingdom will loose a queen and a chance for it to fall is not very slim. Yet this king is very stubborn. Unlike other rulers, the current king and queen of Elpida truly loved each other. Hence the reason the king refuses to marry another woman despite the current queen's status and the nobles that visits him.

The royal court couldn't say anything more and took their leave. The king sighs as he sat on his throne. He knows that the queen's illness is impossible to be cured. Yet he hopes that there is still a way. His son is still a child to take over the throne and he has no brothers.

"Looks like they're still pushing that topic huh?"

The king looked at the man at the corner.

"And what brings you here? Eudon?"

The young man looked at the king and stepped closer. Eudon Nou. The royal sorcerer. He is a prodigy that succeeded his father at the age of 10, 11 years ago. He is one of the people that king trust the most.

"I came back from assisting the high priestess"

"I see, how's Celira doing?"

Eudon stared at the king. The silence was the onlu answer the king needed to know what Eudon mean.

"Even when the high priestess and you worked together nothing still happened huh?"

Eudon starred at the king. The king's eyes is full of sadness. He knows how much the king wanted to save the queen yet he also knows that are is not much hope. But he still has an ace up on his sleeve.

"I like to propose a plan"

As soon as those words came out of Eudon's mouth he already got the king's full attention.

"State your plan"

"I'm sure you're already familiar about the legend of the cursed woman?"

"You mean the woman with the cursed voice?"

Eudon nodded ,"If the legend is true then her voice could possibly cure Queen Celira."

The king looked at him at disbelief "Eudon, do you want to rely on a legend to save the queen's life?"

"There is a possibility that this is not just a legend. I came across some books from the old library that shows some records of the so-called prince that died because of the cursed woman. Also we don't have many choices left. If I nor the high priestess couldn't even do anything then there's no hope for the queen left. I like to call this doing everything I can"

"Even if what you say is true, the story of the woman dates back 500 years ago. It's possible that the woman is dead"

"The woman was granted immortality by the guardian of healing. If she resides in the enchanted forest there is a chance that she is still alive. And not to worry, I will personally go look for the woman myself."

"Eudon, you do understand that the enchanted forest is also another legend that's been told for centuries? How can you look for a legend without knowing that the other legend is true?"

"Not to worry my king, I've heard about a clan that resides in the mountain of Nyx. It is said that the clan are the gatekeepers of the enchanted forest. Oh and not to worry, I've travelled to the mountain of Nyx a few times already. And I only ask for myself and no other companies so it wouldn't be much trouble for the kingdom."

The king sighed and looked at Eudon's smiling face.

"I will approve of this plan of yours but I do have one question, why are you doing this much just to find to cursed woman?"

Eudon wasn't able to hide the surprised look on his face. Yes, he wasn't doing this mainly to save the queen but to look for the woman. In the end he still couldn't hide anything from the king. He regained his composure and smiled faintly.

"I have my personal reasons"

And with that he went off to the mountain of Nyx

Alessa's Point Of View

I awoke when I heard a the loud call of my hawk. I put a pillow on my face to block the noise.

.

.

.

.

...Yet he still wouldn't shut up.

I opened the door of my small cabin and called for my hawk.

"Zephyr! Didn't I tell you not to be so loud while I'm sleeping?!"

"Kee-eeeee-arr!"

Zephyr a giant hawk that I have been taking care of since I was a child always wake me up for no reason like this.

"Yes I know it's already noon! There's no law that says we can't oversleep!"

"Kee-eeeee-arr!"

"Don't talk back at me!"

"I didn't know that the infamous clan is actually an air head"

I slowly turned my head and looked at the person behind me.

Huh?

Who the hell is this?!

I point at him and said "Who the hell are you?! How did you get here?! Why are you here?! And who are you calling an air head?! Is that anyway to treat a lady?!"

"And is that anyway to welcome a man young lady?"

At his words I realized how I looked like. Messy hair, sleeping clothes and I just got out of bed.

"And so what?! Why do I need to look presentable infront of a trespasser like you?!"

He sighed as if he's done with me, well jokes on him! I AM done with him!

"Are you really a girl? You're not acting like one. Is this what the gatekeepers all act like?"

"What the hell do you mean not like a girl?! And you're-- wait. Did you just say gatekeepers?"

He then looked serious. I see, so that's what he's here for. Now that I look closely his clothes looks like he's from the royal palace. And his face.... He has an annoying face.

"Wait here, I'm going to change to look more presentable to you and we'll talk. Also don't try anything funny or Zephyr is going to eat you."

________

"Back to business, who are you?"

We're sitting inside my cabin and I started questioning this suspicious man.

"My name is Eudon Nuo, I was sent on a mission bh his royal majesty the king of elpida. I'm the royal sorcerer and--"

"Blah blah blah too many introductions just get to the point"

he glared at me then continued.

"As I was saying I came from the palace by order of his royal--"

"I said get to the point!"

"I am getting to my point!"

We glared at each other for a while then I speak up.

"This mountain is only habited by 10 people due to it's dangerous environment. And to think that you went hear at come to me must mean that you need my help for something right? Although I already have an idea on what it is."

"That's right. I need your help to find the enchanted for--"

"Not happening!"

He looked taken aback on what I said.

"What? What do you mean not happening?"

"I meant no. I'm not helping you."

"Why?! Your clan are the gatekeepers of the enchanted forest, there's no one else knows where to find it!"

"We used to be the gatekeepers. Also what do you need in that place? gatekeepers exists to keep you out of there ya know? That place is too dangerous for any human beings"

"You still haven't heard my reas--"

"I don't need to hear it"

"Hey! Wait!"

I pushed him outside and close the door.

__________

The next morning I awoke again to Zephyr's loud call.

"Zephyr I told you not to wake me up this early!"

"Kee-eeeee-arr!"

"The sun is still rising! Oh and hi strange man.... as I'm saying-- wait." I looked back at I see the man from yesterday.

"What are you still doing here?!"

"Again my name's Eudon, and please work on how you present yourself to others. Also it's rude for you to kick me out. Luckily I am a very skillful sorcerer and--"

"Argh! that's not what I meant! I already told you that I'm not helping you! So go back to your palace already!"

"Well you're unlucky because I myself doesn't take no for an answer."

and just like that he never left.

_________

it's already been a week and this guy really didn't leave. Lucky him that I'm kind enough to let him stay the night inside. Right now he's even eating my food.

"When are ya leaving?" I asked him with an annoyed tone.

"When you say that we're going to the enchanted forest."

"Argh! Why is this so complicated! Why do ya even need to go there?!"

"Oh so you're going to listen to my story now?"

"If that's what's going to make you leave then fine!"

He put down his plate then faced me.

"I need to find the woman with the cursed voice."

as soon as I heard that my eyes went wide.

"How did you know that she exists?"

"So she really is not just a legend?"

"Of course she's not. That woman is the protector of the enchanted forest ya know? But other than that what do you want from her?"

he sighed and looked serious.

"The queen fell into an illness, we need to ask that woman a favor to treat the queen."

"Wait didn't ya say you're a royal sorcerer? Why can't you heal her then?"

"Unfortunately no one can heal the queen. Not me or the high priestess. This the only way I could think of. But without your help I can't reach the enchanted forest. That's why I'm asking you to help me."

I looked at him then sighed.

"You guys are really devoted to the royal family aren't ya?"

He looked confused for a second. "Well aren't you?"

I shake my head "Not only me, but my clan and other clans that have special roles. We're not under the rule of the royal palace that's why we live in isolated place like this. We are the subjects of the guardians"

"I see, so that's why you won't help me then?"

"Well not really. I don't mind helping other people. It's because of the enchanted forest"

"You mentioned that's it's dangerous, why?"

"The enchanted forest is home not only to the cursed woman but also to many other mystical beings. Many of them are dangerous. My clan kept people out and beings in. But then they grew too powerful that my clan ended up being massacred. I'm the remaining survivor."

He looked at me for a second then grew solemn

"I'm sorry"

"Stop pitying me it's disgusting"

his face then looked irritated.

"Is that what you say to someone trying to show you some sympathy?!"

"I don't need sympathy from a suspicious man!",

"I already told you that my name is Eudon!"

"Ah forget it! Let's go!"

I pulled him up then grabbed some stuff.

"Go? Go where?"

"Well didn't you say that you want to go to the enchanted forest?"

"Wait, so you mean?"

"Let's just go before I change my mind!"

I called for Zephyr then I hopped on his back. While Eugene just stands there dumbfounded.

"Hop on Eugene he don't bite"

"My name's Eudon, and you told me before that he's going to eat me"

"Well he's not eating anyone unless I say so, so let's go! Zephyr here would take us into the entrance of the enchanted forest"

I offered him my hand and he took it.

Just like that, our journey began

... To Be Continued...