Chapter 5

Far beyond the reach of the kingdom of lunaria, other nations and forests, there lay a vast wasteland,an endless stretch of barren earth, where only a few stubborn plants clung to life and ragged animals scavenged in silence. It seemed like a place utterly forsaken. But beneath its cracked surface, hidden in the darkness, there existed life the in shadows.

Deep below, in the heart of a deep cavern, a girl knelt trembling before a stone prison carved with ancient words and symbols with a dark aura immensing out no doubt it was definitely a prison. Whatever or whoever was imprisoned there radiated a suffocating darkness, so powerful it made even the air heavy.

“My lord,” the girl stammered, bowing her head lower. Her voice wavered like a candle in the wind. “Forgive me… I… I failed to find the Water Phoenix Sapphire. My monsters only uncovered fakes in Lunaria.”

A deep, furious growl could be heard from the stone prison, shaking the entire cavern.many demonic creatures quickly hid as dust rained from above.

“You failed me again?” The voice was deep, monstrous, echoing with rage. “You dare come before me empty-handed? Every passing day in this cursed tomb is like hell! I feel my enemies awaken slowly every passing day?”He yelled as the girl's magic chains started suffocating her before she was let go to breathe.

“They won’t, my lord!” she cried, her eyes glistening with terror. “I… I just need more time. Perhaps I followed the wrong map in the Forbidden Archive, but I swear on my life...I will retrieve the descendants’ jewels of the guardians before they rise. You have my word and undying loyalty.”

Silence hung heavy in the air, until a slow, mocking laugh echoed through the chamber.

“Well, well, well… still making empty promises, I see.”

A masked man emerged from the shadows, his voice smooth but dripping with scorn. His confident strides carried him closer to the stone prison, where the dark aura seemed to pulse in recognition.

“I told you, Master she’s useless. Her plans? Useless,” he sneered, the faint smirk on his lips hidden by his mask.

“Speak your mind then,” the imprisoned voice rumbled, low but curious.

The masked man tilted his head. “I have a better plan. One that will bring you all ten jewels one by one. But…” He raised a finger. “It requires patience.”

“Patience?” The word thundered like a war drum to the being. “I have rotted here for centuries! And you expect me to be patient?”

“Better wait than regret, Master,” the man said calmly, his smirk widening beneath the mask. “Trust me. When the time is right, you’ll not only be free😈you’ll be unstoppable.” He turned his cold gaze to the kneeling girl. “Next time, little demon girl, be smarter. Or stay out of the way.”

The girl’s hands balled into fists, but she said nothing as the masked man chuckled darkly, now clearly in charge of the operation.

Back in Asteria

Morning sunlight poured through the delicate curtains of the maid’s quarters it was warm and calming.Birds chirped in the gardens outside, but inside, Kiara was deep in slumber, her face serene...until a faint meowing echoed in her dream.

She was standing in a dark, unfamiliar place. Shadows curled around her feet, and faint movements stirred in the corners of her vision. She called out, her voice sharp.

“Who’s there? Show yourself!”but she heard was the meowing of a cat .

Suddenly, a voice soft and distant voice whispered her name.

“Kiara…”

Her eyes shot open.

“Kiara!” Rin’s voice yelled right above her as she shook her shoulder. “You overslept again!”

Kiara groaned, rolling onto her side. “Ugh… I said I wouldn’t…”

“Yes, and yet here we are,” Rin said with a sigh. “Get up. It’s cleaning time.”

After hours of working, Kiara found herself sweeping marble floors and dusting furniture, but her mind was elsewhere. When she was sure no one was watching, a mischievous smile curved her lips.

"Perfect time to sneak into the Crown Prince’s office".

She moved like a shadow down the palace corridors, her steps light and calculated. Servants bustled about, too preoccupied to notice her slipping past guarded doors and winding halls. Soon, she reached her destination. The door loomed ahead grand, with an aura of importance she spoke"easy as pie".

Inside, the room was silent and empty. She hurriedly ran to the desk and began rifling through documents and reports. Her fingers worked fast, eyes scanning pages for anything useful. After a while she saw a certain document and quickly snatched it up, about to open it when—

Click.

The doorknob turned.

Panic surged through her veins as she stuffed the paper into her maid gown. She grabbed a mop from the corner and started to “clean” with exaggerated effort, hoping to fool whoever entered.

The door swung open. Daniel—the Crown Prince stepped inside, his piercing eyes locking onto her.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, confusion evident in his voice.

Kiara forced a nervous smile. “Your Highness she bowed! I’m on cleaning duty today. Yep. Just doing my job.”

Daniel frowned. “Cleaning duty? On a Saturday? No one cleans here on Saturdays.”

Her mind raced. Crap, crap, crap!

“Oh… oopsy! I forgot. I’ve been so busy I didn’t even realize what day it was.” She laughed nervously, but her eyes avoided his.

Daniel’s suspicion deepened, "why aren't looking at me straight in the face"but he didn’t press. “Alright. you may leave.”

“Yes, Your Highness!.” She curtsied and hurried out.

As she passed a palace guard, he blinked at her in confusion. “Wait… how did you even get in—”

“You must have forgotten,” she said quickly, flashing a fake sweet smile before striding away.

Behind her, the guard scratched his head. Daniel stood still in the office, his sharp gaze fixed on the mop leaning against the wall. Something about that maid didn’t add up.

An hour later

Kiara had made up excuses about being sick so she could return to her room undisturbed. The moment the door closed behind her, she locked it and leaned against it, Pulling out the file she had hidden under her robes, she flipped it open, her eyes scanning line after line.

Monster attacks… in Asteria?

There were detailed reports on attacks in it three different locations. Whole villages destroyed. Survivors speaking of beasts with no clear form some with wings, others like shadows. Kiara’s brows furrowed. This wasn’t random.

She moved another page,the crown prince of Asteria, wasn’t just conducting trade for diplomacy. He was trying to strengthen his people’s arsenal. Lunaria have alot magic weapons able to repel monsters so trying to unite the two kingdoms would help them to fight those creatures if they came back stronger and could reduce the chance of war between the two kingdoms. And it also stated that if the rumors were true,if her kingdom was involved in the attacks happening here and in neighboring lands, His majesty would not hesitate to start a war unless he found a reason to settle it peacefully.

Kiara’s a little shocked. Monster attacks… how strange. Why hasn’t Lunaria been targeted Or maybe… because I’m not home yet? is someone from our kingdom actually causing chaos ?

She closed the file, her mind racing but she soon smiled. “I can finally go home tomorrow and release those two,” she whispered to herself.she suddenly remembered there was no time to waste. She needs to meet Kael immediately, to inform him and return the documents she stole. And most importantly, to apply the magic oil to prolong the mask’s enchantment. If her calculations were right, it only had a few hours left before failing. She couldn’t risk her face being revealed here she had gave everything to kael.

She cracked the door and peeked into the hall. Empty. Perfect. She stepped out swiftly and began making her way down the corridor.

But she didn’t get far.

“Lily,” a gentle voice called.

Kiara froze. She turned slowly to see the queen being pushed in her wheelchair by a maid. The queen’s kind eyes seemed to pierce right through her.

“Come. Walk with me,” the queen said softly.

Kiara’s stomach dropped. She couldn’t say no without raising suspicion. Forcing a smile, she nodded. “Of course, Your Majesty.”

Inside, panic churned like a storm. I just need to make this quick. I can still meet Kael before it’s too late…

Meanwhile, in the prince’s office, Daniel rifled through stacks of papers, his brows drawn in frustration. “Where is it?” he muttered.

A knock on the door made him glance up as Austine, stepped inside with a tired expression.

“Bro,we have a problem.”

Daniel straightened, his eyes narrowing. “What kind of problem?”

Back in the garden, Kiara pushed the queen’s wheelchair gently along the gravel path, Rin trailing close behind. The air was heavy with the scent of blooming flowers, but Kiara barely noticed. Her thoughts kept returning to the ticking clock of her mask’s enchantment.

“You’ve been acting… different lately,” the queen observed, her voice quiet but probing. “Is something troubling you?”

Kiara forced a small laugh. “No, Your Majesty. Nothing at all.”

But Rin frowned. “She’s right. You’re not like yourself. You’re… colder somehow.”

Kiara’s fingers tightened around the wheelchair’s handles. “I’ve just been tired. It’s nothing.”

She felt the creeping heat under her skin again. Was the mask already starting to falter she thought in fear?

At the palace gates, Daniel and Austine arrived to find Lily and John filthy, tired, and barely standing. Daniel’s eyes widened.

“Why did you request our presence out here and why do you two look like this?” he demanded.

Austine stared in shock. “How did you two even get out of the palace? I swear I saw you not even an hour ago.”

Lily tried to speak, her voice weak and cracked, but failed. John stepped forward.

“Those weren’t us,” he rasped. “They’re intruders. They stole our clothes. Used magic to take our identities. We’ve been trapped for days in the forest in a hidden part if not for the sorcerer’s daughter finding us…”

“What?” Austine repeated, his face pale.

John nodded. “We asked to meet outside so they wouldn’t no we are in the palace with them.”

Daniel’s mind raced. He remembered the maid’s suspicious behavior earlier in his office lingering too long, eyes darting around.

“My documents…” he said aloud, his voice hardening.

At that moment, Kael—still disguised as John emerged from a corridor, heading toward the gate. The moment his eyes locked on the real John, his expression shifted.

“Damn it…” he cursed under his breath.

He bolted.

“INTRUDER!” a guard shouted, weapons already drawn.

Daniel’s eyes blazed. “Don’t let him escape! Capture him alive!”

Steel rang out as soldiers lunged, but Kael was fast......inhumanly fast. His boots pounded against stone as he darted down hallways. His lungs burned, but he didn’t dare slow down.

Princess where are you…

He cursed again as he felt the faint tingle at his jaw. His mask...it was failing. The enchantment was breaking and he forgot to take the enchanted oil.

He skidded to a halt by a maid carrying a tray. “Where’s Lily?!” he demanded.

The maid blinked in surprise not knowing what was happening. “Oh! She’s in the garden with the queen. Why do you ask”

Kael didn’t wait,he tore off toward the garden, pulling out his crystal communicator. “princess pick up! Pick up!”

Nothing. Her line was dead.

In the garden, Kiara’s started getting wary and suspicious. The guards nearby had started whispering, She could feel their eyes on her. Too close. Too alert.

A faint, glowing crack appeared on her cheek like a spider web of light. She realized the mask was breaking.

Suddenly Kael crashed into the garden, sword drawn.

RUN!” he shouted.

The nearest guard’s eyes widened. As he drew his sword and aimed at kael.

Blades flashed as the soldiers closed in. The queen’s confused voice rose above the chaos.

“What is the meaning of this?!”As rin got close to her, then a guard spoke your highness the are assassins or spies

Every sword in the garden was suddenly raised against her and kael.

“SEIZE THEM!” Daniel’s voice roared from the distance

"Kiara,” he said without looking back, “we have to escape”

Kael swung his blade with precision, fighting guards and knights as he and Kiara stood back-to-back, surrounded. The clash of steel echoed through the palace courtyard.

Kiara’s breath came in shallow gasps, her crimson eyes narrowing behind the cracked mask that now threatened to split. As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows over the battleground.

And then they arrived.

The princes.

Daniel and Austine’s presence sent ripples through the courtyard. Their commanding aura silenced even the rowdiest of guards. But what made the hairs on Kael’s neck rise was not their authority but Kiara.

A laugh, chilling and unhinged, had escaped her lips.she sounded like a predator who had grown bored of its game. Goosebumps raced down a few knights spine as the watched her, crimson eyes gleaming under the fractured mask.

Finally, she stopped. The laughter ceased as abruptly as it had begun, and an eerie calm settled.

“I’ve grown tired of playing pretend,” Kiara whispered, her voice low and venomous.

In one fluid motion, she drew her sword, which emerged from the bracelet on her wrist like a serpent uncoiling. As she fought aggressively without hesitation.

“She’s strong,” Austine muttered, his deep ocean blue eyes narrowing as they tracked her every move.

“She’s dangerous,” Daniel corrected.

Without another word, the brothers leapt into the fray, blades drawn. Kiara’s sharp gaze flicked to them two predators closing in. She knew they wouldn’t last in a prolonged fight. Her fingers twitched as she reached into her belt.

“Kael,” she hissed.

“I know,” he replied.

The moment the brothers struck, Kiara hurled a small sphere to the ground. Smoke exploded in a thick, choking cloud, obscuring everything.

When the air cleared, they were gone.

“Where are they?” a guard bellowed in panic.

“They’re heading for the exit!” another shouted.

Daniel didn’t hesitate. He bolted forward with a burst of inhuman speed. Austine smirked, stretching his arms leisurely before joining his brother. Together, they cut through the guards with their agility leaving everyone else in their dust.

Outside the palace walls, Kiara and Kael sprinted through the darkening forest.

“How did they find out?” Kiara snapped, her tone sharp with irritation.

“They knight and maid escaped somehow,” Kael replied between breaths.

Kiara cursed under her breath. “I should’ve just killed—”

Suddenly, Daniel was there. With a swift motion, he tackled her, sending her tumbling. Her mask loosened, hanging precariously.

Shock flared in her crimson eyes. “How… how did you catch up?”

Daniel lunged again, but she met his attack, their blades clashing violently. Just beyond them, Kael struggled against Austine, clearly outmatched. Kiara’s gaze flickered in Kael’s direction,he was pinned, his sword knocked away.

“Damn it,” she hissed.

With a surge of strength, she shoved Daniel back and landed a punch squarely on Austine’s , catching him off guard.

“Kael, move!” she shouted, grabbing his arm and sword. Together, they vanished into the trees, branches whipping past them.

“Split up. Stay in contact. Don’t get caught,” Kiara ordered sharply and quickly.

Daniel tore after Kael while Austine pursued Kiara.

She leapt from tree to tree with grace and speed. But she wasn’t fast enough,An energy ball of ice whistled through the air, striking her shoulder. Pain flared as she missed her footing and slammed headfirst into a branch. The world tilted violently before she crashed to the forest floor.

Austine landed nearby, his boots crunching against the leaves.His breath calm , his eyes—those piercing deep ocean blue eyes,never wavered from her. He raised a glowing ball of cold energy in his palm, frost creeping over his fingers, but then he stopped making it disappear.

He took a slow, deliberate step forward.

“Who are you?” His voice was low, almost a whisper, but it carried the weight of command and curiosity. “Who sent you?”

Kiara stood trying to balance herself against a tree, her crimson eyes narrowing. Her mask, fractured and weak, clung to her face by a thread.

“Answer me,” Austine said again,He pinned her on the tree not to let her escape . “I don’t want to hurt you much so don't push me what were you planning.”

With a soft snap, her mask finally gave way and fell to the forest floor, landing with a muted thud.

And suddenly time seemed to stop.

Austine froze. His breath hitched.

she looked mesmerizing

The girl beneath the mask wasn’t just a shadowy spy or assassin—she was devastatingly beautiful. Her blue hair stood out ,her crimson eyes glimmered like rubies, sharp yet soft all at once.

“You…” His voice was hoarse now. “You’re… the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.”

Kiara’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What…?”

“Your eyes,” he whispered, his thumb unconsciously brushing her hair. “Your eyes their dangerous… but I can’t look away.”

“Stop looking at me like that,” she said sharply, though her voice was cold as ice .

His grip on her arm faltered.

Seeing her chance, Kiara kicked him in the stomach and twisted free.

“You’re insane,” she spat, sprinting toward the shadows.

But he caught her again “Tell me your name,” he pleaded. “I don’t even know your name…”

Kiara’s in shock stabbed him with a little dagger as his blood spurted, and she froze.

The scent hit her like a tidal wave.

No. Not now.

She hadn’t taken her blood-resistance pills in days and worst his blood was addicting and rare. Her fangs ached, her throat burned, and before she could stop herself, she pounced on him slamming him against the floor. He grunted as her hands gripped his shoulders tightly, Austine’s eyes widened as she sunk her fangs into his neck draining him of blood, but he didn’t fight back. Instead, a shiver ran down his spine as her breath brushed his neck.

“what…” he whispered, though his hands betrayed him, resting lightly on her waist.

He should’ve fought back—he could’ve—but he didn’t. Something about her touch, her warmth, rooted him in place.

Her lips lingered too long. The faint sound of knights approaching snapped Kiara back to reality. Gasping, she pulled away, blood dripping down her lips,As she tired to run.

“Wait—” Austine rasped, his hand catching her sleeve weakly from loosing too much blood. “Your name… please.”

“Forget me,” she said coldly, yanking free. Her crimson eyes lingered on him a heartbeat too long before she vanished into the shadows he knew he wouldn't be able to catch her.

Austine staggered, one hand clutching his neck, the other clutching his chest where his heart was pounding like a drum.

He looked down and noticed her bracelet glinting on the ground. Slowly, he picked it up, his thumb tracing its delicate engravings.

A faint smile curved his lips.

“Whoever you are… i will find you darling eventually…” he whispered as if meeting someone he had longed for as he gazed at the empty forest.

“Austine!” Daniel’s voice cut through the trees. “Did she escape?”

“She did,” Austine said hoarsely as he quickly kept her bracelet in his pocket..

Daniel’s eyes narrowed as he spotted the blood on Austine’s shoulder. “You’re bleeding a lot. she bite you a vampire?.

Austine smiled fingers brushing his neck where faint fang marks lingered but blood still oozed.

Daniel’s expression hardened. “She must’ve been sent by Lunaria though don't have many vampires who drink blood or Nightshade. We need to get you to the royal physician. Now.”

As they made their way back to the palace while trained and elite knights searched the forest for the spies, Austine’s fingers curled protectively around the bracelet in his pocket.

He couldn’t stop thinking about her—the girl with crimson eyes.

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