The Enchanted Grove

002 vine

Above the thicket, a red-winged banshee emerged, her laughter sharp and cold as she licked her lips with a long, serpentine tongue. "Hmph, foolish wretch, you dared to fight me over prey?"

The banshee's voice was high-pitched and piercing. Moments earlier, she had used her haunting shriek to attack the wandering spirit. With her large, crimson wings flapping slowly, she circled above the unconscious Yu Coco before landing gracefully at her side. Extending a gnarled, branch-like hand, she gently caressed Yu Coco's pale face. "Tsk, tsk, how long has it been since a living soul wandered into the Bone Forest? Poor child, what a pity."

Before the banshee could finish her musings, her fingers twisted into sharp claws and lunged toward Yu Coco's heart. Her narrow eyes glimmered with delight—a still-beating heart was a rare delicacy.

But just as the sharp claws pierced Yu Coco's skin, a green vine suddenly shot out from behind, wrapping itself tightly around the banshee's arm, preventing her from moving any further.

"What trickery is this?" the banshee shrieked, startled. She reached out with her other claw to tear at the vine, but it merely coiled tighter around both her arms.

Frustration mounting, she knew she had to abandon her prize. Flapping her wings, she tried to ascend into the air. However, the vine seemed to grow with a will of its own, already wrapping around her feet and snaking up her ankles. Within moments, the vine had wound around her throat.

"Get off me, you vile thing!" she screamed, her wings flailing as she struggled, but the vine only grew thicker and stronger, binding her more and more tightly.

A thorned branch cautiously pierced into her frail body. Soon, all the branches followed, penetrating her from one side to the other until her form was riddled with holes.

The banshee's agonized screams echoed through the dark forest. When everything fell silent once more, her body had been shredded to pieces, leaving no trace behind. The Bone Forest returned to its usual, lifeless state.

The vine, which had managed to kill the banshee, now lay motionless on the ground. The once vibrant green tendrils had dulled to a sickly yellow, and the few remaining green leaves drooped lifelessly, exhausted. The struggle seemed to have drained it of all its energy.

After a long while, a small tendril twitched, rustling forward until it touched the hem of Yu Coco's dress. It climbed up slowly, finally resting beside the bleeding wound on her chest. The tip of the vine gently probed the injury, soaking up a few drops of her blood, which seeped into the plant. The vine quivered, almost as if in delight, and began to extend further into the wound until it vanished entirely inside. All that remained were a few brittle, broken branches scattered on the forest floor.

The green vine spread through Yu Coco's flesh, coursing along her limbs and bones. Slowly but visibly, the gaping wound on her chest began to close.

Not long after, a skeletal figure shuffled into view, noticing the unconscious girl on the ground. It bent down toward her, aiming its hollow sockets at her lips, preparing to devour her life force. Suddenly, a bright green light shot out of Yu Coco's body, sending the skeleton flying several meters away, shattering its bones across the ground. Frantically gathering its scattered parts, the skeleton fled in panic. Instinct told it that the girl was no longer a meal it could consume.

Yu Coco felt as if she was trapped in a long dream. In the dream, she was back in that cold, indifferent home. Her grandfather's disdainful gaze, her uncle's cruelty, her aunt's harsh words, and her spoiled, arrogant cousins—they all surrounded her, their scornful eyes glaring at her, their voices dripping with contempt.

"You're nothing but a worthless burden to the Yu family."

"How could someone as useless as you think you're worthy of the illustrious Third Young Master Rui?"

"Sangsang is the one truly fit to marry the Third Young Master."

The scene shifted. Now she stood at the entrance examination for Logia Academy, one of the three most prestigious magic schools on the Radiant Moon Continent. All the children of the Yu family of appropriate age were there to be tested.

Thirteen-year-old Yu Sangsang, the eldest daughter, was revealed to have an affinity for fire magic of the highest grade—she would undoubtedly become an exceptional fire mage.

Eleven-year-old Yu Qingqing, the third daughter, had a decent affinity for both lightning and water elements. She would likely pursue dual-element training to become an adept lightning-water mage.

Ten-year-old Yu Xipeng, the youngest son, demonstrated a moderate affinity for wind magic and showed potential as a warrior. He could choose to become a battlemage or focus on either magic or martial skills alone.

Then it was Yu Coco's turn. Twelve years old, second daughter of the Yu family. She placed her hands on the crystal orb, and a meager trace of earth element flickered faintly within. The test instructor announced without hesitation, "Earth element affinity, lowest grade."

No sooner had the words been spoken than derisive laughter broke out around her.

A Yu family member—a descendant of one of the Four Great Houses, one of the oldest magical lineages on the continent—was a failure. And not just any failure; this failure also had a betrothal to none other than the famed Third Young Master of the Rui family!

The instructor insisted that Yu Coco also test for combat energy, but once again the results were dismal—she could not form even the most basic of combat auras.

Yu Coco refused to look at the smug faces surrounding her, including those of her older and younger sisters. She also avoided glancing southwest, even though she knew there stood a young man in white robes, arms crossed, a sword at his side. She had caught a glimpse of his faintly upturned lips and the mocking smile that played there, and it made her want to look away forever.

That golden-haired youth was none other than Rui Fuming, Third Young Master of the Rui family, her supposed fiancé. He had entered Logia Academy two years earlier as a prodigy in both magic and martial arts. But what did it matter to Yu Coco if Rui Fuming was celebrated as the greatest talent of the continent? She didn't even know him and had never wanted to marry him. The engagement had been arranged by her late parents and the Rui family—a choice over which she had no say.

Having grown up without the love or protection of her parents, Yu Coco had learned to endure the cold indifference of her family. The ridicule and mockery didn't faze her—she held her head high. Was she supposed to feel ashamed of being a "magical failure"? She refused to accept that fate.