LOGINAll I ever want was to go back to Woodhill. Where my life started. Where my heart belongs.. I did manage to secretly flee from father, but then got abducted to be fed to a living forest. Just great! And just when I was about to begrudgingly accept my unfortunate fate, my childhood friend saved me.. It was supposed to be a very touching and romantic moment, right!? But all of that delusions crumbled when he rejected me in front of everyone in the middle of his ice hockey game..
View MoreAya’s POV
This was not part of my plan.
I really ought to pray and ask for forgiveness from the Moon Goddess because I really cursed at her for my bad luck on this very day.
A series of bad luck, might I add.
It started simple. A cute one, in fact. I was just about to pack my things silently, but then the wind knocked off my things.
Oh dear.. Not now, please.
Please don't make him—
“Aya..”
Nevermind.
I exhaled first and then twirled around to face him. “Hehe, hi dad?”
He looked at me, at my bag, and sighed.
“No.” He firmly said.
“But dad! It has been ten years already! Ten years since we arrived here at Cladbridge! Ten years since we last set foot on Wood—”
“ENOUGH.” He roared.
Ten years since I last saw him…
I also want to add, but I think my dad would skin me alive. So I just looked at him with puppy eyes, hoping he would yield. But yield he not.
Seriously, this man!
“Aya.. You know how dangerous it is for you to leave here. You only know half of why it is dangerous! Much more to go back there. Besides, didn't we promise each other to find your mother?” Dad spoke in a tone that crumbled my heart. Especially the last bit.
“I know dad, but I am just going to visit!” I protested. He only looked at me and said, “My decision’s final dearest, please forgive me,” and then he took off after giving me a kiss at the top of my head. I closed my eyes and savored this very last moment.
‘Please forgive me too, dad.’
—----
And so here I am. Not in Cladbridge, also not at Woodhill. But currently abducted before I even spent an hour running away from home.
“I assure you this one is special,” said one of them.
“How on earth can she be special? They are all the same, you dumbass.”
“You really don't have any idea about anything!”
And they bicker and bicker until I grow tired of listening. I was slightly annoyed too because they left my bag way back to where they abducted me.
As hours passed of just walking, my feet grew numb, and my thoughts went to my father. I bet he’ll be so shocked to see me gone. Because all this time, for ten years straight, I always try to run away. To go back to where my heart and soul truly belong. In Woodhill.
With him.
But dad always says something to make me stay. He knows I have a soft spot for him and for my mom. The one who left us all alone. At this point, I don't even know how to react when I finally see her again.
But I still do wanna see her and ask why on earth didn't she come back for us? Why did she leave in the first place? Is she still al—
I was interrupted with my thoughts when this gross, huge man grabbed my arm and literally dragged me away. As if hurrying me.
“Hey! Gentle??” I complained, and he just sneered.
Huh! The audacity of this man?
I rolled my eyes at him, and, well, what else could I do but let myself be tugged?
We were in this huge forest. But every single time we took a step, I could hear the birds getting farther away from where we were heading.
I gulped. Because that single piece of information sent chills all over my body. It can’t be..
That only means one thing.
We are in Bloodbury.
At the eastern part of the whole wolf domain. And we are obviously heading to their infamous ‘living forest’.
My heartbeat was fast, and I froze. Stuck my heel to the ground. That made the man trip on a fallen branch, but instead of getting angry at me, he chuckled. “So, you noticed already, huh?”
I gulped but immediately turned around and ran as fast as I could. Hands still tied together in front of me. I should be thankful that they did not blindfold me, but I know the only reason they didn't was because they knew..
The three of them knew that my efforts of running would be for naught.
And we were all right.
The three men laughed and let me run for five minutes straight before I heard them wolf out to chase me. I should try to hide, but that is so stupid since.. well, wolves.. They could instantly find me with this obvious leaking scent of mine.
After just seconds, they instantly found me. The three of them cut my path and circled around. One of them spoke, “You are smart for running away and not hiding.”
“What do you want from me!?” I yelled. My tears were about to fall, but I stopped them. Would rather die than let them see me crying.
Oh Goddess, what have I done? My dad would be so devastated if he saw my lifeless body.. but that is, if I even have a body left. My soul left me for a moment and thought of my father looking for me all over the place. Thinking I only ran away, and he would never find out I was already dead and buried deep within the very soil he would wander.
Well, that itself is a blessing in disguise. He would be more devastated to know that I died rather than thinking that I lived. But he will surely still blame himself all the same.
“You already know where we are. So you should have half a mind of what we want.” The slimmest wolf snickered.
I tried to turn around and run again, but the third giant one immediately followed. “Fun’s over, missy. It is hungry.”
One of them bumped me into the giant one’s back, and then they started to glide through the woods. That was until I jumped off his back and rolled over the ground for five seconds. My whole body fucking ached. I thankfully didn't bump my head, but my face and arms are full of small cuts and some bruises.
I didn't mind the pain and instantly tried to stand as fast as I could. No matter how difficult it is with my hands tied. I heard them yell and curse at each other, so I tried my best to run away again.
It did not take long for them to find me, of course.
“You are one of those annoying ones, huh?” The giant wolf growled and turned back into his human form. He grabbed my hair and was about to bash my head somewhere, but the other two stopped him.
“Stupid! We will be dead too if you do that!”
“I’ll be at her back to hold her tight so that she won't dare to jump off again. So calm the fuck down, bro.”
The giant one glared at me. “Last chance, missy. I am not so patient. Either die with less pain or in a gruesome death in my hands. There is no other choice.”
I was cowering in fear deep inside, but I didn't let it show. The two of them wolfed out again with the other one at my back.
There goes my freedom. I haven't even seen him again, and now I’ll be dead. And what a pathetic way to go since they’ll feed me to this fucking living forest of theirs.
Yep, I swear on my life, this was really not in my plans..
Aya's POV Two days.Only two days.Forty-eight hours.Forty-eight hours since the corruption had been ripped out of me.Forty-eight hours since Mom nearly died.And apparently every single person in the palace had collectively decided that I was no longer a princess.I was a patient.A very heavily monitored patient. A patient who was not allowed to leave her room alone. A patient who apparently required healers checking her every few hours.A patient who definitely, absolutely, under no circumstances whatsoever, was not allowed anywhere near the forest for the meantime.Honestly?Rude.I stared at the ceiling.Then at the curtains. Then at the freaking bookshelf. Then at the window and then back at the ceiling.The room was beautiful. It was large, comfortable and filled with sunlight. It even has flowers and enough luxury to make most people cry.I was still bored to death though and worried af for my freaking cousin."Aya."I immediately looked innocent. Johanis didn't even glance
Aya's POVMom looked at me for a very long time.The kind of look mothers gave when they were trying to decide whether to support you or lock you in a room for your own safety.Unfortunately for her, I was almost twenty-one years old and had even already survived corruption. Good luck with that.The silence stretched.And stretched.And stretched.Until finally—She sighed."Oh, thank the Goddess," Dad muttered under his breath. Mom shot him a look. Dad immediately looked fascinated by a broken pillar. Pfft..My mother turned back toward me. "We are not charging blindly into an unstable forest."I opened my mouth, but the moment she pointed at me, I closed it. Barely."We are not rushing in emotionally."I opened my mouth again. Her finger remained pointed so what else should I do but close it again but with significantly more effort."We are not risking more lives without a plan."That one was harder to argue with, because unfortunately… She was right. Whether I like it or not.The f
Aya's POVNobody dared to move, not even a little. The words hung in the air like a challenge. "I'm not asking permission."Honestly? The second I said it, I knew it was a terrible idea. A spectacularly terrible idea..Because my mother was no longer looking at me as my mother. She was looking at me as the Fairy Queen. And apparently I had just challenged the Fairy Queen in front of half the palace.Wonderful.Absolutely wonderful. Dad looked like he was reconsidering every life choice that had led to this exact moment."Aya," he said carefully. I looked at him immediately. "Dad, please."His mouth snapped shut. Johanis made a strangled sound behind me, he was internally debating with Sora of what course of action to do next. And even the healers looked deeply invested in the floor.Cowards.Every single one of them..Mom remained perfectly still. "Ayreil."That was worse.Way worse…Nobody used my full name unless I was either about to get a lecture or accidentally start an internati
Aya's POVYeah.I figured that much already considering he literally traded places with corruption roots like some suicidal forest prince.I inwardly rolled my eyes. “What is he?”Mom hesitated for a little bit, she took a huge breath and then, “He was born from the forest.”I blinked once with what she just said. “What?”Dad’s expression darkened sharply. Johanis went completely still behind me. Mom’s gaze never left mine.“The forest was possessed by the corruption, right?” she whispered. “..but the forest predicted it earlier. That's why, long before you were born… it created guardians.”My heartbeat slowed painfully. What??And then my gut twisted in this awkward loop as memories flashed violently through my head. The silver wind of Eros. The forest sometimes listening to him for a split second whenever the corruption is distracted. Roots literally obeying him, accepting the swap.That smile.‘I could take your place…’Cold realization flooded my entire body.“He let me go,” I wh
Aya’s POVDay one.And I already want to riot..Because apparently, being last year’s representative of the interschool tournament does not grant Woodhill University any glorious advantage.No..It grants them a handicap.A freaking handicap!!They are required to defeat three teams.Three!!!While
Aya's POV “Guess who?”My heart nearly launched out of my chest. I twisted instinctively, fingers already reaching for the wrist covering my eyes, I swore I went as far as getting ready to attack whoever this maybe…And then—“Omg! Uncle Taviii!” The voice shifted from playful whisper to full-volum
Johanis POVRyan always does when it matters. He pushes hard left, signaling Kael forward.They move fast—faster than before. No sloppy collisions this time. No accidental body checks. They’re coordinated now. Leon hangs back, reading lanes.I secretly smirked as it was really a smart move. Finn sh
Aya's POV I don’t remember closing my eyes. One moment I was listening to the steady rhythm of his breathing, feeling the weight of his head against my shoulder, the faint hum of the bond brushing against my senses like a quiet lullaby. The next—Complete darkness. A stillness but one that is comf
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