Saoirse
After really long walks that made my legs feel like noodles—dead, lifeless noodles—I finally stumbled into what could only be described as a fever dream.
A castle.
I kid you not.
A goddamn. Castle.
I blinked, wiped the sweat off my forehead with the back of my shaky hand, and blinked again. This wasn’t a camp. No, not even close. This was a kingdom, tucked away on another island, shrouded by thick trees, heavy mist, and a kind of eerie quiet that felt… calming, actually.
It was massive. Ivory stone and black spires reached up like claws toward the sky, and strange violet banners hung from high towers, fluttering in the soft sea breeze. I could hear waves crashing somewhere far behind it—this place was truly surrounded by isolation. Peaceful, yes. But also haunting.
“This is
