CHAPTER 4: THE HUNTERS IN THE DARK

ROSELYN’S POV

The pounding on the door grew louder.

BANG!

BANG!

The entire cottage shook with every blow. Dust drifted from the wooden ceiling while the windows rattled violently. I clutched the crescent-shaped pendant against my chest. It was still warm from the vision, its silver glow pulsing like a heartbeat beneath my trembling fingers.

Outside, the cold voice laughed. “You’ve hidden her long enough, Roland.” My blood froze. They knew his name. Roland stepped in front of me, the ancient silver sword gleaming in his hand. The runes carved into its blade began to glow brighter, filling the room with pale light. “You stay behind me,” he ordered.

“But—”

“No arguments.” His voice was calm, but I could hear the strain beneath it.

“They’re here for me too, aren’t they?” I whispered.

He didn’t answer. Instead, he tightened his grip on the sword. Another powerful crash splintered the front door. Cracks spread across the wood.

“They’re going to break in!” I cried.

“I know.” Roland’s eyes darted toward the back of the cottage.

“There is a hidden path behind the house. If I tell you to run, don’t look back.”

“What about you?”

“I’ll buy you enough time.”

“No! I’m not leaving you.”

His expression softened. “You’ve always been stubborn.” A sad smile crossed his face. “Just like your mother.”

I stared at him. “You knew her… didn’t you?”

Before he could answer, the front door exploded inward. Wooden fragments flew across the room.

Three cloaked figures stepped through the cloud of dust. Each wore a black mask shaped like a snarling wolf. Dark cloaks concealed their bodies, but the murderous aura surrounding them was impossible to ignore. The tallest among them slowly removed his hood. A long scar stretched across his face, disappearing beneath the edge of his mask. His lips curled into a cruel smile.

“So…” He looked directly at me. “The lost child survived after all.”

Roland immediately raised his sword. “You’ll go no farther.”

The man chuckled. “You were once one of the greatest warriors in the Moon Kingdom.”

He tilted his head. “What a shame… Now you’re just an old man protecting a secret that should have died nineteen years ago.”

I stared at Roland in disbelief. A warrior? He had always told me he was nothing more than a healer.

“You should have stayed hidden,”

“I gave my word.” Roland replied quietly. “And tonight… I intend to keep it.”

The scarred man sighed dramatically. “Very well.” He lifted one hand. “Kill him.”

The other two attackers lunged forward. Steel clashed against silver. The cottage erupted into chaos.

Roland moved with incredible speed, nothing like the quiet man who gathered herbs every morning. His sword danced through the air with deadly precision. One attacker rushed from the left. Roland spun and drove his shoulder into the man’s chest before striking his sword aside.

The second attacker came from behind. Without turning, Roland ducked and slashed backward. The glowing blade sliced through the assassin’s cloak, forcing him to retreat with a hiss. My eyes widened. I had never seen anyone move like that. The scarred man laughed. “So the old wolf still has teeth.”

Then… He looked at me. His crimson eyes narrowed.

“There she is.”

“The pendant has accepted her.”

A dark smile spread across his face.

“Excellent.”

He suddenly disappeared.

Before I could even scream, he reappeared directly in front of me. His hand shot toward my throat.

“Roselyn!” Roland roared.

He abandoned his fight and lunged between us. The silver sword met the assassin’s black blade with a deafening clang. A burst of energy exploded through the room. The force hurled me backward. I crashed into the wall, the pendant slipping from beneath my dress. The crystal struck the floor.

The moment it touched the wooden boards—

A brilliant silver light burst from it. The entire cottage trembled. The attackers staggered backward, shielding their eyes. “What is this?” one of them shouted. The pendant rose into the air. Its glow became brighter and brighter until strange silver symbols appeared across the walls.

The scarred man’s confident smile vanished.

“No…” He whispered. “The seal…”

The pendant released another pulse of light. This time… The energy rushed straight into me. Pain tore through my body. I cried out as silver light spread beneath my skin like glowing rivers. My heartbeat thundered in my ears. Then… A voice echoed inside my mind. Soft… Ancient… Feminine.

“My child… The seal is breaking.” My vision blurred.

I barely heard Roland shouting my name. Barely saw the terror on the assassins’ faces. The last thing I heard before darkness claimed me was the scarred man screaming—

“She is awakening!”