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Peace once dominated this world. And sadly, the only proof of its existence is engraved on deteriorated papers.
The once beautiful realm is now divided into four kingdoms, governed by each of their ruling classes. The Vampires from the Northern, the Werewolves from the Western, the Magicians from the Eastern, and outcasts from the Southern. Fates intertwine with each other, and yet they stray far from each other's orbits, almost but never touching.
Many yearn for the union, but some terrible mistakes cannot simply be bypassed, and thus, the ruins and the scars inevitably ruin all hope—perhaps, it may never mend. But there will always be dreamers, they say...
14It was wrong. Absolutely wrong to lambaste him with words. And every passing second, I shudder each time I remember.However, that thought caved in. I huffed. What was the point? Lorraine clearly stated the reason for his intentions. He continued to shake my emotions violently to the extent I acted unrulily.My teeth clacked. "Playing with me? You're not supposed to entertain the enemy..." There was a hint of dichotomy in my words. But he knew what I was trying to say.Alpha Knight didn't look pleased when he heard Lorraine speak. Maybe it was the way she intervened or the way she had professed the truth. I felt my heart constrict at the thought they were planning to lure me. Make a fool out of me."Cancel the meeting, Cha
15 Samos Lemir. The man that Chance wanted me to meet, was a rather shabby but enigmatic-looking man. He's a few inches shorter than Chance, with matted hair, and a gritty stubble. I could almost note the wrinkles on his forehead, making his age more apparent. After being invited inside, the door slammed behind us. Samos gestured his hand towards his wooden table and we obliged to his amenity. When we were finally settled, I couldn't help the gush of questions. "Kaleya? Why did you call me by that name? Do you know me?" Samos shook his head, tucking inside one of his wooden drawers. My gaze instantly landed on the bottle of whisk he pulled out of his hand. He held it out mid-air as if offering us a drink. I looked at Chance and realized we were thinking of the same thing, we kindly declined the offer. "No, I don't know you girl...but I may have what you're looking for," Samos replied, popping the bottle cap with his teeth. Absentmindedly, my eyes wandered to Chance who was also
16 "It is in my best interest to keep you both safe," A question briefly crossed my mind: What should he be cautious about? The location we had just visited wasn't remote by any means. In fact, it was only an hour's ride from the castle walls. Although I harbored some doubts and curiosity, the seriousness of his expression led me to believe that there might be something significant to watch out for. "Yesterday, someone was brutally murdered. A pack warrior just outside, guarding the castle walls," A look of startlement took me for a moment. "That—" Hesitation crossed. I couldn't even finish my sentence, and when I did, Alpha Knight took it in his hands to nudge the subject. "That day. The day I sent you to an errand with Wells," I nodded. He was right. I do remember. I distinctly recall our return to the palace, witnessing him dismounting from his steed. It was only then that I began to connect the dots between his absence and the recent rogue attacks. This realization deepene
17 "Yes," I replied, though the true answer remained concealed within me—indeed, I didn't even know the answer myself. When the coldness became more aggressive, I realized the need to go back inside. I was no longer clinging to him, no longer interested in talking with him. For once, I felt oddly empty but fulfilled. Contended? Safe? Clarified for once? Maybe that's what it is. What are you thinking? I want to ask him. Since he was out here, preoccupied in his trance, I knew he was thinking deeply about something. He mentioned there were numerous murders that have been happening lately, besides that, I knew there was something else that was about to happen, things he must've planned. "The ceremony will be sooner than expected. It is better to end us with haste," A frown crossed my features. "What ceremony?" "To break our bond," "You rejected me already..." "Rejection doesn't qualify as an official separation. One must go through the unwinding of two fates and two souls," Bene
18 "Are you sure you had a bruise here?" "I do," I almost exclaimed. The pack doctor, as others often referred to him, cast me a disapproving glance before making his way to his desk. He selected a handful of herbs hanging from a cluster of clay pots, deposited them into his mortar, and proceeded to grind them with the pestle. The gentle crunching sound sent shivers down my spine, and soon after, the aroma filled the air, enveloping my nostrils and surprisingly easing my headache. By the time he finished making a sticky paste-like consistency from his herbs, he walked towards me, his fingers lightly touching the area where my bruise was to apply his self-made medication. He managed to clean my face although he was quite bewildered. I didn't know if he was telling the truth or if the guard was lying, either way, I chose to ignore that matter today. "Nice to meet you again, Kaleya," I hastily spun around, only to meet Chance who was grinning from ear to ear. I dipped in a curtsy,
19I was a bit preoccupied with reading to take notice of someone approaching.Wells came to a stop right in front of me, arms crossed. While my initial instinct was to ignore his presence, a deeper sense of respect urged me to acknowledge him."You've been here for hours. Don't you eat sometimes?"I briefly raised my eyes to meet his gaze and shook my head. "I lost my appetite a while ago, maybe I'll eat later," I replied firmly.Since my encounter with Alpha Chance and Knight, I had chosen to keep a low profile and remain silent—too embarrassed to utter a word, let alone face them. My memories involving them were a jumbled mess, just as our interact
20As soon as I heard the king's voice, I obeyed, falling silent and moving forward, my steps hesitant yet steady. I entered the dimly lit room, illuminated by the soft glow of the moonlight. The room, though chilled, felt stifling and burning upon my arrival, and I couldn't help but think that it was nothing like how I remembered it to be.Despite my attempts to appear less intimidated, the fear still weighed heavily on my shoulders. Fortunately, his Majesty remained engrossed in his seat and documents, meticulously scanning through page after page without sparing me a glance. His lack of attention, which I was quite thankful for, afforded me the time I needed to steady my racing heart and become accustomed to my surroundings."Your name?"I jerked, utterly startled. "U-uhh Ka—Amethyst, your majesty,""Just Amethyst?"For the second time, I fidgeted. "Y-yes, your majesty,"King Lucian Strevus regarded me with a clammy state. His eyes linger on my face, tracing every feature that I ha
21As I grappled with comprehending the nature and impact of magic in this realm, I sought guidance from Chance, who displayed remarkable patience. While I marveled at the vast expanse of the kingdom, in a single panoramic view, I grasped the immense power it held. The sun gradually descended, shrouding the land in the creeping embrace of twilight. Surrounded by such beauty and serenity, I experienced a fleeting taste of what freedom truly meant. Perhaps it was just a glimpse, but my mind and body would forever savor the memory of that feeling."Expect that the sun isn't as sultry as in the Eastern Kingdom,"I shifted my gaze to the person who spoke beside me. With his strong, well-built physique, streaks of blonde hair, and tanned skin, General Cassius nearly left me breathless. He had captured my attention from afar, but up close, his features were strikingly handsome in an almost exaggerated way. He stood at nearly the same height as Alpha Knight, but the contrast lay in their aura