The first rays of dawn slipped through the heavy curtains of the royal chamber, casting a pale light over Princess Elena Ironhart’s pale face. She had been awake for hours, her restless mind refusing the solace of sleep. The quiet hum of the city waking up below did little to ease the unease knotting her stomach.

A soft knock came at the door, followed by the gentle voice of her maid. “Your Highness, are you awake?”

“Yes, I’m awake,” Elena replied, her voice steady but tired.

The door creaked open, and the maid entered, her steps light on the stone floor. She curtsied deeply before speaking. “The king wishes to see you before you depart, Your Highness.”

Elena nodded, brushing a hand through her dark-purple hair. “I’ll meet him shortly. Thank you.”

As the maid left, Elena rose from her bed and moved to the tall window. Her room offered a commanding view of the capital, Ironhart, gleaming in the morning light. Streets teemed with life as merchants set up their stalls, children laughed and chased one another, and workers bustled about their day.

It should have been a comforting sight, but Elena couldn’t shake the dread that lingered in her chest.

Too many had died in recent weeks. Reports of bodies torn apart by beasts—and more disturbingly, people vanishing without a trace—had spread fear across the kingdom. Even the capital, with its imposing walls and vigilant guards, was not untouched.

Elena closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The weight of the crown was not hers yet, but its shadow already loomed over her.

Moments later, she stepped out of the palace gates. A gleaming carriage awaited her, its polished wood and intricate engravings a testament to the kingdom’s wealth and power. Standing beside it was Theo Blackthorne, a tall, imposing figure in polished armor. He bowed deeply as she approached.

“Your Highness,” Theo greeted her formally. “I trust you’re well this morning?”

Elena gave him a small, polite smile. “As well as one can be, Theo.”

Theo studied her for a moment, his dark eyes narrowing slightly. “I’m honored to accompany you on this journey, but I was wondering—where is that idiot? She’s late again.”

Elena chuckled softly. “I’m sure she’ll make her entrance any moment now.”

Right on cue, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the stone path. A figure dashed toward them, waving her arms and shouting, “Elene! Wait!”

Elena turned just in time to see Mika Goldhart skid to a halt in front of her, out of breath but grinning from ear to ear.

“Sorry! Sorry! I overslept!” Mika gasped, her honey-colored hair bouncing as she straightened herself. “I was just so excited about this trip that I couldn’t sleep! We’re going to have so much fun!” Her eyes sparkled with childlike enthusiasm.

Theo crossed his arms, his expression stern as he addressed Mika. “You can’t keep us waiting, Mika. The princess’s health isn’t good, and punctuality is the least you can manage. Frankly, you shouldn’t even be here—you should be dealing with your family’s business affairs. Isn’t robbing the poor what you Goldharts do best?”

Mika’s eyes flared with mock offense, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Look who’s talking,” she shot back. “Someone who ran away from his first day of training. Don’t throw stones from your glass mansion, Blacky.”

The tension between them grew thick, but before it could escalate, Elena stepped between them, raising a hand. “That’s enough, both of you. Sit in the wagon—we have a long journey ahead, and I’d rather we start it in peace.”

Grumbling under his breath, Theo moved to the wagon, his boots crunching against the gravel. Mika followed with a cheerful shrug, clearly unbothered by his irritation.

As the wagon started rolling, Mika leaned toward Elena, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “So, where are we headed, anyway?”

“To Nemore,” Elena replied. “It’s a small town in Westfall.”

Mika tilted her head, frowning. “Nemore? What kind of name is that? I’ve never heard of it before. And why are we even going there?”

Elena’s expression grew serious. “We need help. The peace of the kingdom is threatened by these anomalies, and Nemore might hold answers.”

Mika waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, come on, Elene. These are just rumors! You shouldn’t—”

“They’re not rumors,” Theo cut in, his tone sharp and unwavering.

Both Mika and Elena turned to him, surprise etched on their faces. Theo’s jaw tightened as he continued, his voice lower now. “Five hundred soldiers were sent to the Forest of Dar to investigate strange reports. Not one of them returned. A search party was sent the next day, and all they found were corpses—ripped to shreds, with marks from animals no one has ever seen before. And that’s not all. There’s a drug circulating in the markets—something new. We’re still testing it to figure out its composition and effects, but it’ll take time.”

Mika blinked, her usual levity replaced with unease. “Why don’t I know about this?”

Theo’s gaze darkened. “The soldiers and search party were sent by direct order of the king.”

Elena frowned, her voice barely above a whisper. “Even I didn’t know about this…”

“It’s a brutal sight and grim news,” Theo said. “The kind of thing we’re trying to keep from spreading panic. As nobles, it’s our responsibility to protect the kingdom’s honor and peace. Not that we can expect much from the Redwicks or the Shahs.”

Elena’s lips tightened at the mention of the other noble families, but Mika quickly leaned closer to her, a reassuring grin on her face. “Don’t worry, Elene. The king is just worried about you. And besides, this guy—” she jabbed her thumb toward Theo “—is too much of a coward to let anything bad happen to us.”

Theo’s brow twitched, his irritation flaring again. “Watch your mouth. Address the princess with respect—her name is Elena, not Elene.”

Elena smiled softly. “It’s fine, Theo. I don’t mind.”

Mika smirked, leaning back in her seat. “See, Blacky? That’s how friends talk to each other. Not that you’d know anything about having friends.”

Theo’s glare could have melted steel, but Elena let out a small laugh, easing the tension once again. “Let’s focus on the journey, shall we? We’ll need all our strength when we arrive.”

The wagon came to a gentle stop, its wheels creaking against the dirt path as the royal guards opened the door for the princess. Mika stretched her arms dramatically, letting out an exaggerated groan. “Finally! I thought I’d die of boredom sitting in there.”

Theo shot her an unimpressed glance before turning to Elena. “Princess, where are we headed from here?”

Elena reached into her sleeve, retrieving a small, folded piece of paper. Carefully opening it, she revealed a strange symbol drawn on its surface: a gear-shaped circle with two horn-like arcs emerging from the center, curling around its edges. She held it up for Theo and Mika to see.

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“We need to find something that resembles this,” Elena said, her tone measured.

Nemore greeted them with its natural beauty as they stepped into the small town. Situated in the heart of Westfall, it boasted sprawling grassy fields, colorful flowerbeds, and a breathtaking cliffside that overlooked the glittering sea. The golden light of the setting sun only enhanced the town's picturesque charm. The cheerful laughter of children echoed through the streets, blending with the gentle hum of merchants chatting and villagers going about their day.

Elena approached an elderly man sitting by a fountain in the town square, his kind face weathered with age. “Excuse me,” she said politely, holding up the paper. “Have you seen anything like this symbol before?”

The old man adjusted his spectacles, peering closely at the drawing. “Ah, yes. If it’s this symbol you’re searching for, you should head to Fall Cliff. There’s something near the edge that bears a mark just like this.”

Elena smiled warmly and gave a slight bow. “Thank you.”

Returning to Theo, Mika, and the royal guards, Elena relayed the information. “We’re heading to Fall Cliff. Gather everyone.”

As they walked toward the cliffside, Mika marveled at the scenery, her eyes wide with wonder. “I’ll admit, this place is beautiful and all,” she said, “but I don’t see why we’d find anything important here. Maybe they’re hiding some secret weapon stash. Oh! What if it’s a whole artillery? Or—” she grinned mischievously—“maybe I’ll get a shiny new spear.”

Theo rolled his eyes. “Keep quiet, you idiot. If there were weapons here, the king would’ve sent soldiers, not us. And why would anyone hide weapons in a peaceful place like this?”

“Well, we’ll find out soon enough,” Elena said calmly, her gaze fixed ahead.

The path led them to the edge of the cliff, where the view opened up into a breathtaking panorama of the sea below. The sunlight danced across the waves, painting the horizon in warm hues of gold and orange. The serene beauty momentarily silenced even Mika.

“Hey! Over there!” Mika suddenly exclaimed, pointing toward a small house near the cliff.

They all turned to see an old, weathered structure, just big enough for one person to live in. A rusty rod stood beside the house, a tattered black flag swaying in the gentle breeze. The flag bore the same symbol as the one on Elena’s paper—the gear-shaped circle with horn-like arcs.

Theo stepped forward. “Princess, let me check inside first.”

Before Elena could respond, Mika brushed past him, grinning. “Not without me. And don’t you dare steal any spears, Blacky.”

Elena chuckled softly, watching them bicker as they entered the house. Standing outside, she allowed herself a moment to take in the scenery, the cool sea breeze brushing against her face.

Then, she felt it—a presence behind her. Her heart raced as she quickly turned around, a sharp gasp escaping her lips.

The sudden gust of wind sent the tall grass swaying, and the sunlight dimmed as the sun dipped lower. Everything took on a yellowish hue, casting an eerie glow over the scene.

Theo and Mika rushed out of the house, their weapons drawn. “Princess!” Theo called, his voice firm with concern.

“Are you all right?” Mika asked, her gaze darting toward the royal guards who had also tensed.

“I’m fine,” Elena said, her voice steady but her eyes fixed on something—or someone—standing a few paces away.

It was a child. A boy, no older than ten, with long, unkempt black hair and a frame so round that his shirt strained to contain him. He stood silently, his dark eyes locked onto Elena’s.

“Princess!” a voice called out from behind.

They all turned to see an elderly man approaching in a hurried shuffle, his face lit with recognition. “I greet the princess of Claymere!” he said, bowing deeply.

Mika, still on edge, narrowed her eyes. “Who are you?”

The man straightened slowly, his voice polite and calm. “Pardon me for startling you, and for not introducing myself sooner. I am Arsh Nemore the Third, the chief of this village.”

Mika raised an eyebrow. “Wait, Nemore? Isn’t that the name of this place?”

Arsh nodded, a faint smile on his lips. “Indeed. This town was named after my ancestor, the first Arsh Nemore.”

Elena stepped forward, her tone gracious. “There’s no need to apologize, Chief Arsh. It’s an honor to meet you.”

Arsh bowed again. “The honor is mine, Your Highness. I apologize for being late—I came as quickly as I could when I heard of your arrival. These old bones, however, are not as swift as they once were.”

“It’s fine,” Elena reassured him.

The chief’s eyes flickered to the flag by the house. “May I ask what it is you seek here, Your Highness? Perhaps I can be of assistance.”

Mika crossed her arms, nodding toward the flag. “We’re looking for this symbol.”

Arsh’s expression changed, his polite demeanor taking on a subtle edge of intrigue. “Ah… I see. So, you’ve come to meet the Nomade?”

“The Nomade?” Elena repeated.

Arsh explained, “For generations, a family of wanderers—the Nomades—has upheld a strange tradition. They leave a child here, old enough to manage daily tasks, in this house. The child lives here in solitude until adulthood, when they leave and eventually return with their own child. The villagers provide them with food and clothing. It’s said that, long ago, the Nomades did something of great importance for our ancestors. It’s even recorded in our family logs, though the exact details are lost to time.”

Mika snorted. “That might explain why this kid looks like he’s been eating for three.”

Arsh frowned. “Please, milady, be respectful. We owe this family much, though we no longer remember why.”

Mika scratched her head. “Right, sorry. I was joking.”

Theo smirked. “She’s an idiot by nature. Don’t mind her.”

Ignoring their banter, Theo asked, “Is there anyone who might know more about this symbol? Someone from the Nomade family?”

Arsh shook his head. “I’m afraid not. I’ve never met any of their elders. This is the third child I’ve seen, but their families always come and go without interacting with us.”

“That’s strange,” Mika muttered.

She approached the boy, who was now arranging items on a dusty shelf inside the house. “Hey, kid! I’m Mika Goldhart. What’s your name?”

The boy didn’t respond, continuing to sort through the shelf. Mika tried to lift him playfully but failed. “What do you eat, bricks?” she grumbled.

Arsh sighed. “He’s never spoken a word in the two years he’s been here. Neither did his predecessors.”

Intrigued, Elena knelt beside the boy, holding up the paper. “Do you recognize this?”

The boy stared at the paper intently before tilting his head. Elena mimicked the gesture, smiling gently. Suddenly, he grabbed her hand.

Startled, Elena gasped. Theo and Mika immediately drew their weapons, but the boy turned his gaze to Theo, his dark eyes glinting with an unspoken threat.

“Stand down,” Elena ordered. “I’m fine. He just startled me.”

The boy refused to let go of her hand despite her gentle attempts to pull away. Frustrated but calm, Elena stood. “It seems he’s coming with us.”

Arsh offered them the village guest house for the night, but Elena shook her head. “We can’t stay too long. We’ll return to the capital. If he wishes to leave later, someone can escort him back.”

Arsh nodded. “As you wish, Princess.”

As they boarded the cart, Mika grumbled, “No weapons, no answers... and now we’ve got a kid to take care of.”

Theo smirked. “You’re saying that, but you’re the one staring at his cheeks like they’re treasure.”

Mika pouted. “They’re squishy! What’s wrong with that?”

The cart rolled away as the sun dipped below the horizon, the sea glistening in the fading light. Their journey back to Ironhart had just taken a strange and unexpected turn.