1. The Man in the Forbidden Forest

The moon was nowhere to be seen that night.

Rizz walked alone through the dark forest, a large empty water jug swinging from her hand.

Every step felt heavier than the last.

Not because of the jug.

Because she was angry.

“Why does it always have to be me?” Rizz muttered as she kicked a small stone from her path. “The whole village is suffering from the drought, so why am I the one who has to fetch the water?”

She stopped for a moment and looked up at the dark sky.

There were no stars.

Not even a sliver of moonlight.

Only thick clouds covered the heavens.

Rizz sighed before continuing deeper into the forest.

“And if something happens to me in here...” she grumbled, tightening her grip on the jug. “My stepmother will probably complain that I took too long to come home.”

She scoffed at herself.

The village well had dried up several days ago.

The river had become nothing more than a muddy stream.

The only source of water left was the lake deep inside the forbidden forest.

And everyone knew what that meant.

No one went there.

Not unless they had a death wish.

Rizz, however, had no choice.

“I'll get the water and go home,” she muttered as she walked. “That's it. Nothing else.”

But then—

A strange light caught her attention.

Rizz stopped.

Something was glowing between the trees.

Silver.

Bright, shimmering silver.

She narrowed her eyes and stared at it.

The light seemed to be moving.

Slowly.

Coming closer.

Rizz should have been afraid.

Instead, curiosity took over.

“What is that?” she whispered as she cautiously stepped toward the strange light.

The closer she got, the clearer it became.

It wasn't an object.

It was a person.

Or at least, something that looked like one.

Rizz took another step forward.

“Hello?” she called hesitantly.

There was no answer.

The silver light suddenly moved faster.

Then—

Thud!

A man collapsed right in front of her.

Rizz gasped and nearly dropped the jug.

“Oh my God!”

She immediately crouched beside him.

The man was huge.

Far too big for someone who looked like he was barely clinging to life.

His black hair was messy, partially covering his face.

His clothes were torn.

Blood covered his chest, shoulders, and arms.

Yet despite the terrible condition he was in...

He was unbelievably handsome.

Sharp features.

A strong jaw.

Dark brows.

Full lips.

And a broad, muscular body that looked almost unreal.

Rizz stared at him for a second too long.

“Wow...” she whispered before quickly shaking her head.

She slapped her own cheek lightly.

“Rizz, focus. He's dying.”

She tried to lift him.

That was a mistake.

The man's body was much heavier than she had expected.

“Ah!”

Rizz lost her balance.

Thud!

She fell backward, and the man's body landed on top of her.

“Ouch!”

She struggled beneath him before finally pushing against his chest.

“You're so heavy!”

Rizz tried to move him again, but the man didn't react.

His eyes remained closed.

His breathing was barely noticeable.

Rizz's expression changed.

“Hey...” she whispered as she gently patted his cheek. “Don't die on me.”

Nothing.

She looked around.

Only trees surrounded her.

Darkness.

Silence.

Not a single person in sight.

“Help!” Rizz shouted as loudly as she could.

Her voice echoed through the forest.

“Someone, please help!”

Silence answered her.

Rizz shouted again.

“Help me!”

Still nothing.

She finally laughed bitterly.

“What am I doing?” she muttered as she looked around. “Who would come here? This is the forbidden forest.”

Her gaze returned to the injured man.

“Well, you're definitely in trouble.”

Rizz picked up some water from the lake and carefully poured it over one of his wounds.

The blood slowly washed away.

Then something strange happened.

A faint silver glow appeared beneath the man's skin.

Rizz froze.

“What...?”

She blinked several times.

The glow spread across his body like thin silver veins.

Rizz rubbed her eyes.

“Am I hallucinating?”

She scooped up more water and poured it over another wound.

The silver light appeared again.

Then—

The man's chest suddenly rose.

He took a deep breath.

Rizz jumped.

“You're alive!”

The man's eyes slowly opened.

Dark eyes stared directly at her.

The gaze was so intense that Rizz forgot what she was about to say.

The man didn't speak.

He simply stared at her.

At her tired face.

Her messy hair.

Her dirt-stained clothes.

Her exhausted eyes.

Rizz frowned beneath his gaze.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked awkwardly.

The man slowly raised one hand.

His fingers brushed against her cheek.

His skin was strangely cold.

Rizz stiffened.

“Hey...” she whispered.

Before she could react, the man pulled her closer.

His lips touched hers.

Rizz's eyes widened.

Her entire body froze.

She should have pushed him away.

She knew that.

But somehow...

She couldn't move.

It was as if an invisible force had taken control of her body.

The man's lips lingered against hers before he slowly pulled away.

Rizz remained frozen.

Her heart pounded violently inside her chest.

“What did you just do?” she asked breathlessly.

The man looked into her eyes as he spoke in a low voice.

“I will grant you one wish,” he whispered, “if you help me.”

Rizz blinked.

“A wish?”

The man gave a faint nod.

Rizz looked at him from head to toe.

Then she suddenly laughed.

“Fine,” she said with a teasing smile. “Can you make the well in my village stay full forever?”

The man stared at her.

Rizz waved her hand dismissively.

“I'm joking.”

But the moment the words left her mouth—

The silver light surrounding the man suddenly shot into the sky.

Whoosh!

Rizz looked up in shock.

The silver light formed a massive circle above the trees.

Then—

It vanished into the darkness.

Rizz slowly lowered her gaze.

“What... was that?”

The man looked at her with a faint smirk.

“Your wish has been granted,” he said calmly.

Rizz stared at him.

“Seriously?”

The man slowly pushed himself up.

“Now help me.”

Rizz rolled her eyes.

“Forget it.”

She stood and picked up her empty jug.

“You're half-dead and still hallucinating.”

She turned toward the lake.

“I'll get some water to clean your wounds. Then I'm leaving.”

She had barely taken two steps when—

A strong hand suddenly grabbed her wrist.

Rizz gasped.

“What—”

She was pulled backward.

Her body fell against the man's chest.

His powerful arm wrapped firmly around her waist.

“Let go of me!” Rizz protested as she struggled against him.

The man lowered his head beside her ear.

“Stay still,” he whispered.

“I don't want to!”

Before Rizz could escape, his hand covered her eyes.

Everything went dark.

She felt his breath against her face.

Then his lips found hers again.

Silver light exploded around them.

Rizz tried to move.

But her body refused to obey.

Something cold brushed against her stomach.

A strange sensation crawled beneath her skin.

Then—

Pain shot through her body.

“Ah!”

A silver symbol appeared on her stomach.

A serpent curled around itself.

Its eyes glowed red.

The mark slowly sank beneath her skin.

The man stared at it.

His eyes changed.

For a brief moment, his pupils became narrow and vertical.

Like a serpent's.

His voice dropped into a dark whisper.

“From tonight onward...” he murmured, “you belong to me.”

Rizz never heard him.

Her consciousness had already begun to fade.

The last thing she remembered was the cold feeling of his arms around her.

Then everything went black.

---

When Rizz opened her eyes again, morning had already arrived.

She was lying beside the lake.

Alone.

The mysterious man was gone.

There was no blood.

No silver light.

Nothing.

Rizz slowly sat up and rubbed her aching head.

“What happened last night?” she muttered, confused.

She couldn't remember.

Not clearly.

It felt like a dream.

A very strange dream.

Rizz looked around before grabbing her empty jug.

She had come here for water.

That was all that mattered.

She filled the jug from the lake and lifted it with both hands.

“I'm going home,” she muttered as she started walking.

She had no idea that, at that exact moment...

Something impossible was happening back in her village.

The villagers had gathered around the old well.

Someone suddenly shouted in disbelief.

“Water!”

Another villager rushed forward.

“The well is full!”

Everyone stared into the well.

Clear water had suddenly risen to the very top.

The same well that had been completely dry for weeks...

Was overflowing with water.

And at that exact moment—

Rizz walked into the village.

Her heavy water jug rested against her hip.

She stopped when she saw the crowd surrounding the well.

“What happened?” she asked in confusion.

No one answered.

They were too shocked.

Then someone slowly pointed toward the well.

“Rizz...”

The villager's voice trembled.

“The well... it's full.”

Rizz stared at the water.

Her face slowly went pale.

A strange chill traveled down her spine.

She remembered the man's words.

-Your wish has been granted.-