The Messenger's Burden.

The journey back to Alejandro’s kingdom was a nightmare. The messenger, a wiry man named Garrick, had been running for days, his body battered and his mind haunted by the horrors he had witnessed in Lucian’s fortress. The forest was dense and unforgiving, the shadows seeming to close in around him as he stumbled through. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his legs burned with every step, but he couldn’t stop. He had to deliver Lucian’s message—no matter the cost.

It had taken him nearly a week to make it this far, and he was running out of time. The parchment in his pocket felt like a lead weight, a reminder of the danger he was carrying. Lucian’s words were scrawled across it in jagged, angry letters, a chilling promise of wrath and destruction. Garrick didn’t need to read it again to know what it said. He could still hear Lucian’s voice, low and menacing, as he had handed it over. *“Make sure my brother gets this. And if you fail… well, you’ve seen what happens to those who fail me.”*

Garrick shivered, pushing the memory aside as he pressed on. He was close now, he could feel it. The trees were thinning, and the faint glow of torchlight flickered in the distance. But just as he thought he was safe, a figure stepped out of the shadows, blocking his path.

It was Lila, one of Yolanda’s most trusted allies. She was tall and lean, her dark hair tied back in a braid, and her sharp eyes narrowed as she took in Garrick’s disheveled appearance. “Who are you?” she demanded, her voice firm but not unkind. “And what are you doing here?”

Garrick froze, his heart pounding in his chest. He didn’t have time for this. He had to deliver the message. But before he could respond, a voice called out from the shadows.

“Lila, wait!”

It was Marcus. He stepped into the clearing, his expression serious as he moved to stand beside Lila. His eyes moved to Garrick, and he immediately recognized the fear in the man’s eyes. “Who are you?” Marcus asked, his voice low and steady.

Garrick hesitated, his hand instinctively moving to the pocket where the parchment was hidden. “I… I have a message,” he stammered. “For the king.”

Marcus’s eyes narrowed, and he stepped closer, his gaze never leaving Garrick’s face. “From who?”

Garrick swallowed hard, his voice barely audible. “From Lucian.”

The name sent a chill through the air, and Lila’s hand instinctively went to the dagger at her side. Marcus’s expression darkened, and he moved quickly, grabbing Garrick by the arm. “You’re coming with us,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

But Garrick panicked. He couldn’t let them take him, not before he delivered the message. With a desperate cry, he pulled a knife from his belt and charged at Lila, his movements frantic.

Lila reacted instantly, sidestepping the attack with ease, but Garrick was relentless. He swung the knife again, his eyes wild with fear and desperation. Just as the blade was about to strike, Marcus stepped in, grabbing Garrick’s wrist and crushed it until the knife clattered to the ground.

“Enough!” Marcus growled, his voice filled with anger. He pinned Garrick to the ground, his grip firm “You’re not helping yourself, you idiot.”

Lila stood back, her chest heaving as she watched the scene unfold. Her eyes met Marcus’s, and for a moment, there was something unspoken between them, a flicker of understanding, of connection. But there was no time to dwell on it.

Marcus reached into Garrick’s pocket and pulled out the parchment, his expression grim as he unfolded it. His eyes scanned the words, and his jaw tightened. “We need to get this to Alejandro. Now.”

Lila nodded, her expression serious. “I’ll take him to the palace. You go ahead and warn the king.”

Marcus hesitated, his gaze lingering on Lila for a moment longer than necessary. “Be careful,” he said, his voice softer now. “Lucian’s men are dangerous.”

Lila’s lips curved into a small smile, and she nodded. “I can handle myself. But… thank you.”

Marcus nodded, his expression unreadable as he turned and disappeared into the shadows. Lila watched him go, her heart pounding in her chest. There was something about him,something intense and magnetic despite his calm aura.

As Lila escorted Garrick to the palace, she couldn’t stop thinking about Marcus. The way he had stepped in to protect her, the way his eyes had lingered on hers, it had stirred something inside her, something she hadn’t felt in a long time.

When they reached the palace, Lila handed Garrick over to the guards and made her way to the training grounds. She found Marcus there, his back to her as he practiced his forms. She hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward, her voice soft but steady.

“Marcus.”

He turned, his expression softening when he saw her. “Lila. Is everything okay?”

She nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Thanks to you.”

Marcus shrugged, his tone casual but his eyes intense. “Just doing my job, but where did you learn to move like that?”

Lila stepped closer, her gaze steady. “Move like how? It was more than that,” he said. “i saw how you sidestepped the ugly messenger “ Lila giggled and said “I've been studying your moves” his eyes widened in surprise and he quickly turned his back against her face. She looked at him from behind him and to her surprise Marcus' cheeks has become red then he quickly recollected himself.

“I…I just wanted to say thank you” Lila said to him with her eyes to the ground.

Marcus’s lips curved into a small smile, and he nodded. “Anytime.”

For a moment, they stood there, the air between them charged with unspoken tension. Then Lila turned, her heart racing as she walked away. She didn’t look back, but she could feel Marcus’s eyes on her, and it sent a shiver down her spine.

Meanwhile, Marcus made his way to Alejandro’s study, the parchment clutched tightly in his hand. He knocked once, then stepped inside, his expression grim.

Alejandro looked up, his brow furrowing when he saw Marcus’s face. “What is it?”

Marcus handed him the parchment, his voice low. “From Lucian.”

Alejandro’s expression darkened as he unfolded the parchment and read the words scrawled across it. His jaw tightened, and his eyes burned with anger. “So it begins,” he said, his voice filled with resolve.

Yolanda stepped forward, her expression serious. “What does it say?”

Alejandro handed her the parchment, his gaze steady. “Lucian’s coming. And he’s not holding back.”

Yolanda’s heart pounded as she read the words, but she forced herself to remain calm. “Then I have to get back in training so I can be ready,” she said, her voice firm. It sent shivers down her spine, not just one but several. Alejandro put his hands on her cheeks. “I'll defend you with my life” he said low and steady.