Kaito's breath came in shallow gasps as he staggered backward, the weight of his sword pulling him down. The forest around him was a blur, the soft glow of his blade casting eerie shadows across the trees. The assassin—no, mercenary—was on the ground now, crumpled like a rag doll, his sword just out of reach. But it was the girl, the princess, who had taken his full attention.
Seraphina.
She was still there, leaning against the trunk of a nearby tree, her eyes closed in exhaustion. The blood-stained bandages around her waist and shoulders told a grim story. The attack had left her on the brink of collapse, but she still radiated a quiet strength—a fierceness that demanded attention. The way her silver hair glinted even in the faint moonlight only added to her otherworldly beauty. She was a princess, but more than that, she was someone who had fought, bled, and survived.
Kaito's pulse raced as he approached her, cautiously stepping over the mercenary's fallen body. He knelt beside her, wincing as his bruised limbs screamed in protest. She didn't stir at first, and he hesitated, unsure of whether she would be angry or grateful for his help.
"Hey," Kaito called softly, his voice cracking from exhaustion. "You okay?"
She opened her eyes slowly, her violet gaze meeting his with an intensity that made Kaito feel like he was being pierced by a thousand swords. Her lips parted as if to speak, but no sound came. She lifted her hand weakly, pointing toward the horizon—toward the fortress that loomed in the distance, half-hidden by the trees.
"There… Caelum's Edge," she whispered, barely audible. "You must get me there… before it's too late."
Kaito didn't understand what she meant by before it's too late, but he didn't have time to question it. His instincts kicked in. He pulled her up, supporting her weight with his own as she leaned heavily against him.
"How the hell did you get yourself into this mess?" Kaito muttered, his tone a mix of frustration and concern.
She didn't respond. The princess had already lost too much blood, and Kaito could feel her body growing heavier with each passing second. He looked down at her, his heart pounding as he carefully guided them both toward the distant fortress.
The path to Caelum's Edge was long, the trees thick and twisted as if they had been growing for centuries. The once-sturdy road was now crumbled and overgrown, signs of the kingdom's decay clear for anyone who cared to see. Despite the moonlight, the way ahead was shrouded in shadows, making every step seem like a step deeper into unknown danger.
By the time they reached the gates of the fortress, Kaito's legs felt like jelly, and Seraphina's breathing had become shallow, her head lolling against his shoulder. He barely managed to get them both through the heavy iron doors before they closed behind them with a deafening thud.
Inside, the guards barely looked up from their posts. They were too busy, too weary, and too used to the creeping sense of decay that had long taken over this place. But when Kaito stumbled through the entrance, dragging the princess with him, everything changed.
The captain of the guard, an older man with a weathered face and sharp eyes, stepped forward. He studied Kaito for a long moment, his gaze flicking from the princess to the bloodied stranger holding her.
"Seraphina?" he asked, his voice a mix of disbelief and dread.
Kaito nodded, barely able to speak. "She needs help. Now."
Without a word, the captain gestured sharply for two of the other guards to assist. They moved quickly, taking the princess from Kaito's arms and lifting her onto a stretcher. Kaito stepped back, watching as they rushed her toward the inner sanctum of the fortress.
The captain turned toward him, his eyes narrowing. "And who are you, exactly?"
Kaito swallowed hard, trying to steady himself. His body ached from the battle with the mercenary, his muscles still burning from the adrenaline. "I'm just… a guy. A guy who happened to be in the right place at the right time."
The captain didn't seem convinced. He stepped closer, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "You saved her, I know. But that doesn't mean you're welcome here."
Kaito met his gaze. "I didn't ask for any of this. I don't know what's going on, but I'm not going anywhere until I know she's safe."
The captain studied him for a long moment before giving a curt nod. "Fine. But don't think for a second that you're here without strings attached."
Kaito nodded, his mind already racing with the implications. What had he just gotten himself into?
It wasn't long before Kaito found himself sitting in a small, dimly lit chamber, the weight of the day pressing down on him. His body ached, but he couldn't rest—not yet. He couldn't stop thinking about Seraphina. The princess had been the first person he'd met here, and now she was the only thing that truly mattered. He had saved her, but for what?
His thoughts were interrupted by the soft creak of the door. A figure stood in the doorway—a tall woman, regal in her bearing, with long flowing hair and eyes that were cold, calculating. She was dressed in fine clothes, but there was no mistaking the steel in her gaze.
"You're the one who saved my sister," she said, her voice clipped and professional.
Kaito stood, not sure whether to bow or to defend himself. "I didn't mean to… get involved. I just did what I had to."
She stepped closer, her gaze never leaving his face. "You've made a dangerous choice."
"I didn't ask for any of this," Kaito repeated, his voice firm despite his exhaustion.
She nodded slowly, as if weighing his words. "Perhaps not. But you are here now. And the fact that you've saved Seraphina means you'll be tied to this kingdom whether you like it or not."
Kaito felt a chill run down his spine. "What do you mean?"
She tilted her head, a small, knowing smile curling on her lips. "Welcome to Caelum's Edge, Kaito. The game has already begun."