Prologue
999 Words
The morning sun barely touched the horizon, casting a soft golden hue over the farm. The air was crisp with the earthy scent of damp soil and the remnants of dew that clung to the grass. The land before Seraphina stretched out endlessly—an expanse of rolling fields, where crops awaited harvest, and animals roamed lazily, basking in the early light. It was the peaceful rhythm of life she knew so well. It was simple, grounded in nature, and somehow comforting.
“Morning, Papa,” Seraphina called out softly as she stood at the edge of the field, watching the sky brighten above the distant hills.
Her father, Tomas, appeared in the doorway of their small cottage, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. “You up early again?”
“Couldn’t sleep much,” Seraphina replied, her brown eyes focused on the horizon. “I just needed a bit of fresh air.”
Tomas chuckled and stepped out onto the porch, his worn boots making quiet thuds on the wooden planks. “It’s too early for that, Sera. You know you’ll wear yourself out if you keep staying up so late.”
“I’m fine, Papa.” Seraphina offered him a soft smile, brushing off the cool morning air. “I’ll rest later.”
Her father’s face, weathered with years of hard work, softened. He stepped closer, a frown tugging at his lips. “You’re getting older, Sera. You can’t keep working like you’re still a child. The land’s a heavy weight, even for someone as strong as you.”
“I know,” she said, glancing up at him. “But I can handle it. You’ve taught me well.”
Tomas sighed but didn’t argue further. He reached for the basket of tools by the door and began to gather them. “I’ll take care of the farthest fields today. You finish with the herb garden.”
Seraphina nodded, already turning her attention to the small plot near the cottage. She loved tending to the herbs—rosemary, thyme, oregano. It was the part of the day when her mind could wander, free from the duties of the farm, even if only for a few moments.
“Papa,” she said after a moment, her voice quieter now, “have you heard any more talk about the king?”
Tomas paused mid-step, and for a brief second, Seraphina thought he might ignore her question. But he didn’t. He turned back toward her, a wary look in his eyes. “What do you mean?”
“You know, the rumors. About him changing, about what happened to his brother…” Seraphina’s voice trailed off as she carefully plucked the last of the thyme from the earth.
Her father didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he set down the tools and moved toward the edge of the field, his gaze lost in the distance. “There’s always talk in the village,” he said after a while. “People love their gossip. But... I’ve heard whispers. Strange ones. Some say the king’s cursed. Others claim it was his own people who turned against him.”
Seraphina watched him closely. “But you think it’s all just rumors?”
Tomas looked at her, his gaze steady but tinged with concern. “I don’t know, Sera. There’s something about the way people talk about his brother... They say he’s cruel, that he’s not like the old king. And I don’t like what I hear.”
“People talk,” Seraphina said with a dismissive shrug. “It’s probably nothing.”
Her father raised an eyebrow, a silent challenge hanging in the air. “Maybe. But you need to be careful. Things are changing. I can feel it.”
Seraphina met his gaze and gave him a small smile, hoping to reassure him. “I’ll be fine, Papa. I always am.”
Tomas studied her for a moment, as if searching for something in her face. Finally, he nodded. “I know. Just promise me you’ll stay out of the woods. People have been disappearing. You’ve heard those stories too, right?”
“I know, Papa. I’ll stay away,” she said, though her voice faltered just slightly. She wasn’t lying; she had no intention of wandering into the dangerous forest—but the thought of it, of what lay beyond the trees, had always fascinated her.
Her father’s gaze softened, but his worry remained. “Good. You know what happened to those who went looking. No one’s come back.”
“I won’t go looking,” she promised again, this time with more certainty.
Tomas didn’t seem convinced, but he said no more. He gave her a quick nod and turned back toward the fields. “Alright then, I’ll see you at lunch.”
“Don’t work too hard,” she called after him with a teasing smile.
He waved without turning around. “No promises.”
Seraphina stood in the growing warmth of the sun, watching her father’s broad back disappear into the distance. She knew he worried about her, but there was nothing to worry about. The farm was where she belonged, where she was meant to be. She had no desire for the world beyond. Or did she?
As her hands worked methodically, gathering the herbs, her thoughts drifted once again to the forest. She couldn’t help it. The trees stood at the edge of her world, always there, waiting. She had never been allowed to cross that boundary, yet the stories of the creatures and the secrets the forest held had always intrigued her.
It wasn’t just curiosity—it was a longing. A call she couldn’t quite explain.
But for now, her father’s warning rang clear in her mind. Stay away from the forest. It wasn’t safe.
Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something—somewhere—was waiting for her. And sooner or later, she would have to find out what it was.
- Writer
