They emerged on the edge of a broken stone path, the trees behind them thinning into the ruins of an ancient city. Cracked towers loomed in the distance, cloaked in vines. The sky above was dark, tinged red like an eternal dusk.
"What is this place…?" Yumi whispered, eyes wide.
"We teleported," Ryker replied calmly, scanning the area.
They stepped quietly out of the forest, but just as Yumi was about to speak again—Ryker's hand shot out.
He grabbed her wrist, pulling her back behind a thick tree.
Then—he gently pressed a hand over her mouth.
Yumi's breath caught as Ryker leaned close, his voice barely a breath in her ear.
"Don't make a sound. We're being watched."
Suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the broken city paths—someone was running. A cloaked figure sprinted past, only to be struck in the back by an arrow. He stumbled and collapsed.
Behind him, a tall, regal man approached, holding a bow. He wore a silver crown with sharp edges—clearly a leader. "King Sena," Yumi whispered in awe, recognizing the name from old tales.
The thief was quickly taken by guards back toward the town.
As the tension settled, Ryker grabbed Yumi's hand.
"H-Hey! What are you doing?" she protested, surprised.
"We don't know who to trust here," Ryker said. "We need to move carefully."
"Yeah, but… the forest again?"
Ryker didn't answer, pulling her deeper into the trees. "We need to find someone who can explain this place."
Suddenly—thwip!
An arrow whizzed past, nearly striking Yumi.
She gasped, but Ryker yanked her down in time. The arrow thudded into a tree behind them.
A figure stepped out from the shadows—dressed entirely in black. A mask covered their face, only their sharp eyes visible beneath the hood. Silent. Deadly.
"Who are you?" Ryker demanded.
No reply.
The masked figure summoned a glowing sword, dashing forward without hesitation.
Ryker's eyes narrowed—then he moved.
Dodging every strike with fluid motion, Ryker kept retreating until his back hit a tree. Nowhere left to move.
The enemy lunged.
But Ryker flipped upward—graceful and fast. The attacker's sword struck the tree, lodged deep into the bark.
Ryker landed behind them and tore off the mask in one swift motion. "I win."
The mask cracked.
Long, flowing hair tumbled down—an ethereal blend of green and blue. Her eyes matched, glowing like twin oceans.
Her face… beautiful, delicate, and strong.
"No one's ever seen my face and lived," she said quietly.
"Who… who are you?" Yumi asked, stunned.
The girl hesitated, then gave a small smile. "I'm sorry about the attack. I am the princess of this kingdom."
"Tell me… what is this place?" Ryker asked, eyes locked on the masked girl.
She hesitated, then removed the rest of her cracked mask, revealing her full face—delicate, striking, with long hair that shimmered green and blue under the dim light.
"You don't know about the Kingdom?" she asked, puzzled.
"No," Yumi replied. "We… teleported here somehow."
The girl blinked, then softened. "I see. Then let me properly introduce myself." She stepped back and gave a graceful bow.
"I am Lunara Velis, princess of this land."
Yumi nodded politely. "I'm Yumi Ayanami. And this is…" she turned slightly,
"Ryker Tensai."
Ryker gave a small nod, still wary, his eyes scanning their surroundings.
Ryker's eyes narrowed. "Why should I believe you're a princess? And what are you doing alone in a forest, dressed like an assassin?"
Lunara didn't flinch. She met his gaze calmly. "Fair questions… but not ones I owe answers to just yet." Her tone was firm, regal.
Then she sighed. "I'm here for a reason—one I can't reveal easily. Even as a princess, I'm not safe within my own kingdom."
Ryker tilted his head slightly. "So you're hiding?"
"No," Lunara said, brushing strands of hair behind her ear. "I'm hunting something… or someone." Her eyes glinted with meaning.
Yumi stepped forward, hesitant. "Is your kingdom in danger?"
Lunara glanced at her, then at Ryker. "If you truly came here by accident… you may be part of something much bigger."
Lunara looked around, then leaned slightly closer, lowering her voice.
"I'm hunting a traitor… someone who once served the royal family. He stole something sacred—an artifact tied to this kingdom's lifeforce."
Ryker's eyes narrowed. "What kind of artifact?"
She hesitated, then answered, "A crystal. The Heart of Velis. Without it, the city will begin to die… slowly. Crops will rot. The barrier will weaken. Enemies will come."
Yumi's expression turned serious. "That sounds… serious."
"It is," Lunara replied. "And the traitor disappeared into the Whispering Forest—where you appeared."
She turned to Ryker. "So either your arrival is a coincidence…" she smiled faintly, "…or fate brought you here for a reason."
er turned away. "Let's go, Yumi."
Yumi blinked. "Go? Where?"
He glanced over his shoulder, eyes sharp. "Anywhere but here."
But before they could take a step, Lunara raised a hand.
"Wait," she said, her voice calm but firm. "Come with me. To my castle."
Yumi looked between them, confused. "Your castle…?"
Lunara nodded. "You want answers, right? About this world, about why you're here? You'll get them there. I promise."
Ryker paused, eyes narrowed.
"…Fine," he muttered. "But if this is a trap—"
"It's not," Lunara said, a small smile forming. "Besides, I owe you. You beat me… sort of."
Yumi laughed awkwardly. "That's one way to make friends."
The forest path twisted like a serpent, shrouded in twilight. Shafts of fading light pierced through the canopy as birds cried out one last time before nightfall.
Lunara led the way, her long, silver-lined cloak brushing against the mossy earth. Her mixed green and blue hair shimmered faintly with each step. Yumi followed close behind, wary but curious, glancing back at Ryker who walked silently—hands in his coat pockets, eyes scanning everything.
The forest slowly began to change. The trees grew older, thicker. Ancient runes were carved into trunks, and glowing plants lit their way with soft hues of violet and blue.
"Your world is... different," Yumi whispered, unable to hide her awe.
"This isn't my world," Lunara replied. "It's just part of the outer realm. The path to the castle lies beyond this forest."
Ryker suddenly spoke, voice low. "Are we being watched?"
Lunara didn't turn. "Always."
They crossed a narrow wooden bridge over a river glowing with faint, ethereal light. On the other side, the terrain opened into a hillside—and there it was.
A massive, ancient castle perched on a cliff, carved into dark stone, with towers that pierced the sky and glowing banners fluttering in the wind.
Yumi gasped. "It's… beautiful."
Lunara gave a faint smile. "Welcome to Velis Castle. My home."
But Ryker's eyes narrowed. His instincts whispered something wasn't right.
"This place," he muttered, "feels like it remembers blood."