A CROWN OF SHADOWS: BOUND BY RUIN

JOURNEYING INTO THE UNKNOWN

Hot. Burning hot. The sensation trickled down my left ear. As my eyes slowly opened, I was confronted by massive flames engulfing the entire cottage. My throat felt constricted. Delphine shouted for me as I witnessed Zulkian warriors fighting for their lives—and mine. It was a horrible sight: outnumbered, my people were dying. Again.

Amid the chaos, my name echoed like a distant whisper.

"Lorie—Nalorie, wake up."

Was I in a dream? The scene melted away like a heated snowman. A cold hand rested on mine, jolting me back.

"Thank the sun. You were trapped in your own nightmare. You could have been lost. What troubles you?" Delphine's hand comforted me, but confusion lingered. Was it just a dream? It felt too real. In fact, it was real—everyone was gone.

"It's the emblem. It makes your emotions more intense and is pulling out your powers. The emblem will consume you if you don't control it—or if you don't want it removed." Delphine stared at my palm, and I felt more confused than ever. Whatever Orion did to me, he needed to fix it. I stood, removing my chemise, pulling my hair into a tight bun and securing it with a poisoned pin. Delphine's eyes followed me as I swiftly dressed and armed myself to the teeth.

"You're not thinking of—you're not going to him, are you?" she asked, concern etched on her face.

I ignored her and walked out of the cottage.

"NALORIE!" She yelled, raising a barrier to block my path.

"You're going to throw away everything I've taught you just to put your neck on the guillotine. Orion is a mad king; emblem or not, he'll have you killed before you can even blink."

"I don't care! I'm dead anyway. My people are suffering at Arthur's hands. Would you rather I cower from meeting Orion? He could help; he gave me this emblem for a reason. An enemy of my enemy is a friend." Delphine sighed, lowering the barrier. We stood in a heavy silence, both waiting for God knows what.

"I'm going, Delphine. I will come back. Alive. With the army of Orion."

"Nalorie..."

"I will survive. I will protect the Zulkans as you always have. I'll return before the leaves turn from green to orange."

"But your powers—" Delphine's eyes glazed over with unshed tears as she held them back, pursing her lips.

"The warriors—"

"I don't need them to know. I'm sure they would go to the pits of hell to make sure I don't leave these mountains." We both smiled, and she pulled me into a tight hug.

In the following days, Delphine and I secretly prepared for my journey. I wanted to travel light, but she insisted otherwise. I was sure the magic pouch was filled with countless potions, food, and water.

"Delphine, this pouch gets heavier when it's at its limit. I have to travel as light as possible. I can find my way around the woods and rivers."

She paused, tying my tunic, and looked at me like I was a silly child. "If only you knew what beasts roam those forests, you'd let me do what I know best. Now listen. There are two routes to the south kingdom. One is for villagers, commoners, and noblemen—legal citizens of the south. The second route is for strangers, intruders, and trespassers."

"Why is there a second route?" I asked.

"Because there's a charm around Orion's territories. Only those leaving the kingdom can use the first route, requiring the royal seal on their hand." I rubbed the emblem, which crackled like lightning, sending shivers through me—a feeling of power.

"LISTEN!" Delphine's yell snapped me from my daydream.

"As I was saying, the seal is similar to what you have but yours is special. The seal allows them to turn the statue of the great dragon, revealing a path through the forest for their journey. When returning, they follow the same procedure."

I frowned, realizing I couldn't take the first route. "So I have to take the second route, which is longer, dangerous, and strenuous?"

"Exactly. The south kingdom is hard to get into. Orion had the great sage create a mirage and matrix around his borders. Intruders like you could walk for weeks, even months, and still not reach the kingdom's edge. The worst part? Hallucinations that often kill trespassers—all for a kingdom just a few kilometers away."

"Not a few kilometers from here, silly," she chuckled. "A few kilometers from the kingdom itself. Most intruders perish while nearing the borders. It's how the mad king keeps his kingdom safe." Delphine looked worried, taking my hand. The emblem throbbed and glowed.

"He gave you this so you'll come to him. It will allow you to enter the kingdom more easily. The barriers only respond to Orion; this seal symbolizes him. However, the journey is still long and dangerous, but once you reach the matrix, you'll be close to the south. Your journey will become much easier from there."

The moment she finished, I hugged her tightly. "I'll miss you, Delphine. You're my home."

She laughed, hugging me back. "Which is why you should hurry back and not take long."

"I won't take long." I left with newfound determination.

The journey lasted nearly a moon. As winter's frost melted away, spring emerged, weaving warmth across the mountains. Trees awoke, adorned with blossoms painting the world in delicate hues.

For me, spring wasn't just a season of renewal; it heralded power and the beginning of my quest to reclaim my throne and carve a legacy as the supreme ruler of the twelve kingdoms.

Much had happened in the past season—my empire fell, my kin died, Delphine's training, the Zulkans' plight, and the power that now slithered through my veins. Despite this newfound strength, it paled compared to Arthur's amassed army. I recalled my people suffering in shackles and chains—whipped, forced, and hopeless.

A scorned princess with a lost legacy embarks on a journey that will seal her fate. Unbeknownst to her, frosty eyes watch from the shadows, a crow waits patiently, and a thief stealthily approaches.