Chapter 9: Bastian's Game

SIENNA

The day began earlier than expected. The sun hadn't risen yet when I opened my eyes, feeling the tension vibrate in my muscles. With mechanical precision, I checked the equipment they had left me. My bow rested on the table with the strings taut, while my sharp knives reflected the faint light from the candle. The clothes they provided fit my body precisely: leather pants, sturdy boots, and a light cloak that gave me the agility I needed. Beside me, Astrid was getting ready, skillfully braiding her hair, just like I was. We knew that loose hair was a hindrance in combat.

Without wasting any more time, we headed to the main dining hall. We were greeted with a hearty breakfast, though my mind was far from the food. It was still dark when Bastian made his entrance. He wore a warrior's outfit, and his presence was impossible to ignore. Astrid, enchanted, stared at him with wide eyes and a racing heart, so obvious that even he noticed. He smiled coquettishly, enjoying the effect he had on her. I, annoyed, rolled my eyes and muttered with irritation:

—Get out of the way, Astrid.

He let out a low laugh and raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. Astrid, regaining her composure, greeted him energetically.

—Good morning! Well, actually, it's not dawn yet, but... did you sleep well?

Bastian looked at her with an enigmatic smile.

—Very well, Celestial Light. And you?

Astrid, completely melted, nodded awkwardly.

—V-v-very well.

I, arms crossed and frowning, couldn't stand the scene any longer.

—Are we going or not? —I asked impatiently.

Without losing his arrogant smile, Bastian gestured towards the exit. Outside, the majestic animal that had greeted us the night before was waiting, alongside several horses. I was surprised to see Bastian head towards the creature instead of the horses, but I didn't question it.

—The horses are faster, but Pomodoro is more comfortable for long journeys —he explained naturally.

I nodded, wasting no time, and mounted my horse. Astrid followed, as did the other four warriors of the Earth Court. They all had the same imposing presence: brown skin, honey-colored eyes, and bodies marked by training. However, Bastian, on Pomodoro, was still the dominant figure.

The sun was beginning to peek over the horizon when Bastian raised a hand, signaling us to stop. Astrid and I immediately jumped off our horses, taking position with our bows, while the others unsheathed their swords. Then, the atmosphere changed.

A shiver ran down my skin. The temperature dropped suddenly, as if all the warmth of the Earth Court had vanished in a sigh. I felt a tightness in my chest, a dark omen that made my fingers tighten around the string of my bow.

I knew something was lurking.

The hunt had begun.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was neither human nor belonged to any Court. Its black, slimy body gleamed under the faint light, covered in a glowing slime. Dozens of sharp teeth sparkled in its mouth as it lunged at the four guardians who were with us.

Astrid and I reacted instantly. We shot arrows with precision, but the creature didn't flinch. Without hesitation, Astrid climbed a nearby tree with agility, and I did the same on the opposite side. From above, we continued firing, but nothing seemed to hurt it.

—Poison! —I shouted to Astrid.

She understood immediately, pulled a vial from her belt, and threw it to me. I caught it mid-air and, with quick hands, coated the tip of my arrow with the thick liquid.

Without thinking twice, I jumped from the tree and rolled when I landed. I ran straight toward the beast, feeling the adrenaline burn in my veins. The creature fixed its eyes on me and lunged with inhuman speed. I held the arrow firmly, aimed for its head, and released the string just as it was about to reach me.

The projectile embedded itself in its eye with a dry snap. The beast roared, its body convulsing as the Nimbaris fell lifeless at my feet. My chest heaved with deep, ragged breaths, my heart pounding against my ribs like a war drum. The adrenaline still burned in my veins, the echo of the battle vibrating in every muscle. I turned, searching for Bastian.

There he was, on Pomodoro, watching the scene with exasperating calm. Not a single muscle in his face had moved. I glared at him and raised a hand in a defiant gesture.

—What's wrong with you? Didn't you get down because you thought you'd let us die? —My voice still heavy with fury.

Bastian tilted his head slightly, his expression fluctuating between amusement and assessment. His amber eyes gleamed with something like satisfaction.

—I was measuring you —he said with a sly smile—. But the surprise is on me... Two little humans with pretty faces killed it, and turned out to be more lethal than a Nimbaris.

His words didn't flatter me. They enraged me. But I had no time to argue. He turned to Astrid and pointed to the poisoned arrow.

—That poison... you need to examine it. It was able to bring it down in seconds. It could be our best weapon. —He smiled, pleased with the scene, and then gestured to us—. Let's go. Astrid, I'll take you to the healer.

We nodded without protest. The battle was won, but something inside me still beat with violence.

When we reached the castle, the air changed. It was a heavy silence, like an invisible current that tangled in my skin. I dismounted with caution, but as soon as I saw the healer, my world swayed.

White robes. Leather mask.

The air caught in my throat.

Everything faded away. The room disappeared, the ground ceased to be solid. Instead, darkness gripped me with icy fingers. The past exploded in my head like a storm.

No. No. No.

My body trembled. I wanted to move, but I couldn't. I wanted to scream, but my voice was choked in my chest. The pain returned, brutal, merciless. The rough touch, the unbearable weight, the helplessness. Shit, shit, shit.