The Shattered Realms

‎The Wen estate had always been quiet before sunrise. ‎Selerin liked it that way. ‎Before the servants filled the corridors, before the cooks began shouting orders in the kitchens, and before the noble guests arrived with their horses and polished carriages, there was a brief hour when the estate belonged to no one. ‎She stood alone in the courtyard, carrying a basket of freshly washed linens. ‎The morning air was cold against her face. ‎Beyond the stone walls, the forest stretched beneath a pale veil of mist. ‎Today was the Royal Hunt. ‎Everyone in the Wen household had been preparing for it for nearly a week. ‎The Royal Hunt was more than a gathering of nobles. It was a display of power. Princes, generals, officials, and noble families would ride into the eastern forest under the banners of the imperial court. ‎Selerin had never understood why people enjoyed hunting. ‎She preferred books. ‎Unfortunately, books belonged to people like Wen Zhihao. ‎Not servants. ‎She smiled faintly at the thought. ‎ ‎Zhihao would probably be awake already, buried beneath another mountain of scrolls. ‎"You're smiling again." ‎Selerin turned. ‎Wen Lianhua stood beneath the covered walkway, holding a folded blue robe against her chest. ‎"You're awake early," Selerin said. ‎"So are you." ‎"I have work." ‎"You always have work." ‎Lianhua walked toward her and glanced at the basket. ‎"Leave that." ‎Selerin raised an eyebrow. ‎"If Madam Qiao sees me standing here without finishing my duties, she'll have both of us cleaning the western courtyard." ‎Lianhua's smile disappeared. ‎"Madam Qiao isn't here yet." ‎"She will be." ‎As if summoned by the words themselves, footsteps echoed from the corridor. ‎Both girls looked toward the sound. ‎A woman in dark formal servant robes appeared at the far end of the courtyard. ‎Madam Qiao Meizhen. ‎The woman who supervised servants connected to the palace. ‎Her expression was as cold as the morning. ‎"Selerin." ‎Selerin immediately lowered her head. ‎"Yes, Madam." ‎"The royal party will arrive within the hour. The western supply wagons must be checked." ‎"Yes, Madam." ‎"And you will deliver the hunting supplies to the eastern grounds." ‎Selerin hesitated. ‎"The eastern grounds?" ‎Qiao's eyes narrowed. ‎"Did I stutter?" ‎"No, Madam." ‎"Then go." ‎Selerin bowed. ‎She picked up the basket and walked away. ‎Behind her, Lianhua watched silently. ‎There was something strange about Madam Qiao whenever she looked at Selerin. ‎Not anger. ‎Not hatred. ‎Something else. ‎Something Selerin had never been able to name. ‎By midmorning, the Wen estate had transformed. ‎Horses stamped against the earth. ‎Carriages arrived beneath fluttering banners. ‎Nobles laughed as servants hurried around them. ‎Selerin kept her head lowered while carrying supplies toward the eastern hunting grounds. ‎She had been told not to wander. ‎She had been told not to speak to the nobles. ‎And most importantly, she had been told not to enter the forest. ‎So naturally, when a frightened horse broke loose from its handler and crashed through the supply line, Selerin ran after it. ‎She didn't think. ‎She simply ran. ‎Branches struck her arms as she entered the forest. ‎The sound of the estate faded behind her. ‎"Silly horse," she whispered breathlessly. ‎The animal disappeared between the trees. ‎Selerin stopped. ‎Silence. ‎She looked around. ‎She was lost. ‎Then she heard something. ‎A low growl. ‎Selerin slowly turned. ‎Two golden eyes stared at her from the mist. ‎A white stag stepped between the trees. ‎It was enormous. ‎Its antlers curved like branches beneath the moon, even though it was still morning. ‎Selerin froze. ‎The stag approached. ‎One step. ‎Then another. ‎She should have run. ‎Instead, she stood completely still. ‎The creature lowered its head. ‎And knelt. ‎Selerin stared. ‎"What...?" ‎A sudden warmth spread across her chest. ‎She pressed a hand against it. ‎For one brief moment, something beneath her skin seemed to glow. ‎A strange sensation. ‎A memory that wasn't a memory. ‎A woman's voice. ‎Find her. ‎Then it disappeared. ‎The stag lifted its head. ‎A sharp sound came from somewhere behind Selerin. ‎The unmistakable sound of a drawn sword. ‎"Don't move." ‎Selerin turned. ‎A man stood between the trees. ‎He wore dark hunting armor beneath a long black cloak. ‎A sword rested in his hand. ‎His expression was calm, but his eyes were unmistakably dangerous. ‎Selerin had never seen him before. ‎Yet the moment their eyes met, something inside her chest tightened. ‎The man looked at the kneeling stag. ‎Then at Selerin. ‎Then at the faint mark disappearing beneath the collar of her dress. ‎His expression changed. ‎Only slightly. ‎But Selerin noticed. ‎"Who are you?" he asked. ‎She swallowed. ‎"Selerin." ‎"Your family name?" ‎She hesitated. ‎"I don't have one." ‎The man's eyes sharpened. ‎"No family?" ‎"I was raised in the Wen household." ‎"That wasn't what I asked." ‎Selerin frowned. ‎"And I don't know what else to tell you." ‎For several seconds, neither moved. ‎Then the man lowered his sword. ‎"My apologies." ‎His voice was unexpectedly gentle. ‎"I am Feli Ruiz." ‎Selerin's eyes widened. ‎General Feli Ruiz. ‎She had heard the name before. ‎Everyone had. ‎The youngest general to command the northern armies. ‎A man whose victories were spoken about in taverns and royal halls. ‎A man who, according to the servants, rarely smiled. ‎Feli looked at her again. ‎His gaze lingered on the mark beneath her collar. ‎"Where did you get that?" ‎Selerin instinctively covered it. ‎"This?" ‎"Yes." ‎"I've had it since I was little." ‎"Who gave it to you?" ‎"I don't know." ‎"Your parents?" ‎Selerin looked away. ‎"I don't remember them." ‎Something unreadable crossed Feli's face. ‎Before he could speak again, the white stag suddenly stood. ‎It looked directly at Selerin. ‎Then it disappeared into the mist. ‎Feli watched it go. ‎His hand tightened around his sword. ‎He had seen many strange things during his years in war. ‎But he had never seen a creature of the ancient forest kneel before an ordinary servant girl. ‎And he knew that symbol. ‎He had seen it once before. ‎Not in a book. ‎Not in a legend. ‎But on an ancient royal seal connected to a bloodline that was supposed to have vanished from the world. ‎The Royal Yin Family. ‎Feli looked at Selerin. ‎She was already walking away. ‎"Wait." ‎She stopped. ‎"What?" ‎He studied her for another moment. ‎Then, unexpectedly, he said: ‎"Nothing." ‎Selerin frowned. ‎"Then why did you call me?" ‎Feli almost smiled. ‎"Because I was curious." ‎She shook her head. ‎"You nobles are strange." ‎Then she walked into the mist. ‎Feli remained where he was. ‎His expression hardened. ‎The girl didn't know. ‎That was obvious. ‎She had no idea what she carried within her blood. ‎No idea why the ancient creature had bowed. ‎No idea why the symbol had appeared on her skin. ‎And Feli himself didn't know the answer. ‎But somewhere far beyond the forest, something ancient had begun to awaken. ‎The Hollowing had started again. ‎And if the old records were true... ‎The Yi bloodline was the only key. ‎Feli looked toward the direction Selerin had disappeared. ‎For the first time in years, he felt something he had learned to distrust. ‎Hope. ‎And fear. ‎Because if that girl truly carried the blood of the Royal Yin Family... ‎then someone had spent seventeen years making certain that no one would ever find her. ‎