Fanaza sat by the waterfall, the rhythmic crashing of water doing little to still her racing thoughts. The mist kissed her skin, cold and sharp, reminding her that Prince Sage was still missing—alone, injured, and lost in the forest.
Her breaths were shallow. She closed her eyes, hoping the roar of the falls would drown the panic growing inside her. She flinched when she heard someone approach behind her. A shadow through the mist. Her heart was filled with hope when she realized it was Rwaine.
She turned quickly, her voice trembling. "Did you find him?"
The cloaked figure stepped forward, his boots crunching over the wet rocks. His face was hidden beneath the hood, as always, but the golden eyes shined bright.
Rwaine shook his head solemnly. "No sign of him."
Fanaza's face fell. "This is not helping," she snapped, pain covering her voice. "He was injured—he couldn't have gone far. How could you not find him?"
"I searched as far as I could. But the forest beyond is crawling with those creatures. Alone, I wouldn't make it out again." It's advisable we stop looking and let the royals handle this. You'll need a proper search party from the palace—they can cover more ground."
Fanaza stood abruptly with her fists clenched.
"He's out there—alone—and you're telling me we should just stop looking?" She was furious.
He stepped closer. "I'm telling you we need more people. We need help. If you truly care about him, you'll go back to the palace and ask for help. You can't just depend on me."
Tears finally welled in her eyes. She turned away from him, ashamed of the hot sting trailing down her cheeks.
Rwaine's golden eyes met hers, steady and unreadable. "Are you upset?"
"No, I'm not," she murmured, wiping her face roughly.
He tilted his head. "Shame. You look beautiful when you are."
Fanaza blinked. Her face turned red, but the moment was short —her thoughts still belonged to her brother-in-law.
"I have to find him."
She shook her head. "I can't leave without him… Please, Rwaine. Help me."
Tears stream down her cheeks, blurring the man in front of her. Cloaked in mystery, his identity was hidden beneath layers of cloth and silence. Rwaine stirred feelings in her she couldn't name. He moved closer to her, closing the space between them as if sensing her heart unraveling.
"How did you know my name?" he asked quietly.
"It's not important," she whispered. "Let's search again. Maybe we missed something." Her voice was breaking while she tried to hide her tears.
"You're crying."
"I'm not," she lied, wiping her cheek quickly. "Something just… got in my eyes."
He didn't press her further. Instead, he looked at her long and deeply, as though her pain resonated with something buried in him. She felt it too—an invisible thread connecting them, tugging tighter the more they spoke.
"You have beautiful eyes," she murmured.
"They're a curse," he replied so faintly she almost missed it.
"What?"
"Nothing." His voice was firm.
"You should go back to the palace. Get treatment," he said, pointing to her injured ankles. "I'll find Sage."
"Promise me," she added suddenly, her eyes locked on to his, filled with hope.
Rwaine hesitated, then nodded.
"I promise."
Back at the cave, the mood had shifted. Moaz bent down beside a fire, cooking something in a battered iron pot. When he saw them, his mouth twisted.
"Your Highness," he said with mock politeness. "Welcome back. I made something edible."
Fanaza didn't rise to his bait.
"Thank you," she said respectfully.
She sat down, trying to ignore the hunger that had almost twisted her intestines. The cave smelled of herbs and earth—wild and comforting.
"I feel a bit sticky. Is there a place I can have my bath?" she asked politely.
"We don't have your fancy noble bathtubs," Moaz snapped. "We bathe in the river."
"I'm fine with that," she said, offering a timid smile.
Moaz was definitely trying to push her away. He was annoying, and it was obvious he never liked or enjoyed her presence.
"I'll take you," Moaz said sharply. Fanaza looked to Rwaine; she saw him nod, and this calmed her heart. She followed Moaz quietly.
She trusted Rwaine and always felt this joy and peace whenever she was around him, something she had never felt before. Fanaza had no idea she could get this from a man; the only thing that ever brought her peace was her dressmaking skills, but now this cloaked, unknown man brought that peace she had always been looking for. She felt safe around him.
Any words he said, she believed him and never doubted. She had never trusted anyone ever since she was little, even her parents. She never believed any words they said, but it was different when it came to this man.
What was so special about him that made her feel this way, she thought?
Moaz led her to the river and left her alone.
She undressed quietly, slipping into the cold water. It welcomed her like a secret embrace. For once, there were no rose-scented oils or maids fussing around staring at her naked body all in the name of serving the Lady, she hissed. Just silence and wind brushing through trees.
She leaned back, floating with her eyes closed—until a twig snap echoed nearby.
Fanaza was shocked. Her heart raced.
"Hello?" she called, but no one answered. Only the whisper of leaves replied. She sighed, lowered herself again into the water, and let her guard fall.
Later, at the cave, they sat together over a humble meal. Fanaza picked at her food, removing the wildleaf garnish.
Rwaine noticed. Without a word, he slid his bowl toward her.
"You can have mine. No leaves."
"You don't like them either? she asked, raising her fork in the air.
"No," he said.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Moaz frowned at her. He just didn't like her.
Fanaza noticed even while they were eating, this man didn't take off his cloak. What's going on? Curiosity was killing her; she wanted to know. Why the cloak? Why hide his identity and live in a cave? She finally summoned up courage.
Fanaza hesitated.
"May I ask something?"
Moaz slammed down his fork. This girl was annoying him. What does she want? he thought.
"What now?" He blurted out.
"Why do you wear a cloak?" she asked Rwaine, gently.
The air shifted. The warmth in the cave froze. Even she felt the sudden shift and change in the atmosphere. Did she do something wrong? she thought, and she was worried.
Rwaine's expression darkened. He rose abruptly and walked away. He was pissed by her question; it triggered a lot of memories and things he wanted to hide forever. Things he wanted no one to find out: his insecurities and his deformities that made him become a man who dwells in the cave.
He couldn't live with people, and they couldn't see the true him for some reasons he had no idea of.
Moaz only told him not to reveal his true self, especially his skin, to others, but never once sat him down and explained why.
Why was he born deformed and with glowing eyes, different from every other person he had met?
Rwaine had no idea of his past; he was left in the dark. To Moaz, he felt it was the best thing he could do for him, knowing the truth about the prophecy and his family would destroy him.
Moaz even went as far as meeting with a sorceress who designed Rwaine's cloak; it was made in a way that no matter how close anyone is to me, they can never see his face.
They can only notice his eyes; the cloak masked his whole body, and anyone who sees him through the cloak could only see darkness unless he takes it off himself or the cloak tore.
No one can see his real body. But this didn't help much; as time went by, Rwaine's confidence was destroyed. He couldn't leave the cave without his cloak; it became a safe place to hide his imperfections. Now someone intruding into his personal space triggered something in him.
He had shown Fanaza a soft spot that he had never shown anyone, even Moaz, whom he called father. The only reason he agreed to help Fanaza was because of her father. Rwaine remembered the encounter he had with her father, who saved him years ago.
That was the only reason behind his kindness towards her. He was not kind.
"Just because we helped you," Moaz growled, "doesn't mean we like you. Don't cross lines, Lady." Moaz also walked away. She was all alone with the food .
Fanaza sat in stunned silence. Guilt knotted in her stomach. She'd offended the one person who had been kind to her. She felt horrible and thought of apologizing for being too forward, but Rwaine was nowhere to be found.
He had left just a few minutes ago, so where could he be? She looked around the cave but couldn't spot him. She almost gave up but found Moaz again.
"Where would Rwaine go?" She asked; at first she thought the man wouldn't give a response.
"He likes the woods. He stays there when he doesn't want to be found." Moaz replied and watched as Fanaza ran off.
Fanaza left the cave, her steps cautious and quick. Night had fallen. The shadows stretched longer, and every sound felt magnified. She was scared, but she had to find Rwaine to apologize; then she'll go back to the palace to ask for help and get a search party.
"Rwaine?" she called, her voice trembling. "Rwaine…" she called again, but no response.
Everywhere was quiet, just like a graveyard, and she could only hear her own footsteps. She walked further into the woods, and a twig snapped. Birds scattered from the trees; this made her heart race. The sound the birds made was eerie enough to make someone pee their pants in fear.
Determined to find him, she continued searching. Moaz assured her he would always be in the woods, so he couldn't have gone far; she won't give up.
Then, she saw something she had never seen before. Something hideous brought chills down her spine—a Wendigo stood over a lifeless body. Her breath paused for a second. Her ankle ached, but fear numbed the pain. It engulfed her like flames. She shivered and stepped back, but another twig betrayed her.
The creature turned to trace where the sound was, and it saw Fanaza; their eyes locked.
Fanaza wasted no time; she ran.
Her heartbeat thundered in her chest. The creature chased her. It was fast, and her injured ankle slowed her down. She would run a little and limp a little. She was losing her stamina and about to fall. The Wendigo was closing in on her. Suddenly— someone's arms pulled her into a safe spot.
"Shh," Rwaine whispered, pinning her behind a tree, his body shielding hers. She froze.
Their faces were inches apart. One sudden movement from any one of them, and their body and lips could connect. She couldn't see his face; all she saw was darkness around his cloak. Even though the distance between them was little , she hoped to see his face, but she couldn't; it was dark. This made her confused.
His breath touched her skin, and the hair on her body rose in response. Her heart pounded—not from fear now, but something else.
The Wendigo passed by, growling. It didn't see them.
Rwaine released her.
She gasped for air and held onto her chest. She looked into Rwaine's golden eyes.
"That was… the same thing that attacked us," she said out loud.
"I know. Keep your voice down." Rwaine advised.
"What about Sage?" Fanaza said, holding onto her chest.
"Fanaza, be quiet." Rwaine tried to shut her up.
A loud growl filled the air. The Wendigo returned, charging towards Rwaine with full speed and determination.
"Rwaine!" Fanaza screamed as the creature already slammed him on a nearby rock. She rushed forward but froze when the creature stood in front of her.
Its sharp teeth and bloody nails. Its horrific face was twisted and swollen at the same time. It was really ugly. The saliva is dropping down its mouth.
Yuck!!
"Hey!" Rwaine yelled, staggering up. He bashed a tree stump against the creature's head.
He grabbed Fanaza's hand immediately.
"Run!"
They both ran until Fanaza's ankle decided to fail her at this crucial moment. She fell.
"My ankle!" she screamed in pain.
Rwaine dropped to her side. Blood was soaking through the bandage.
"I can't—" she winced.
More wendigos appeared, drawn by the blood. They heard the growl go louder and spotted more of the creatures approaching.
"The blood is drawing them to us," Rwaine said.
Rwaine lifted her effortlessly and laid her against a tree. Then, with a roar of his own, he turned.
He moved like lightning. His blade danced through the air. One Wendigo tried to be the boss, but he put him in its place; he tore its mouth in two. Another ran towards him; he slashed it into two. Blood stained his cloak.
Fanaza watched in awe and horror.
When the last Wendigo fell, Rwaine staggered to Fanaza's side. He tore a piece from her expensive dress.
She gasped. That dress was a gift from her grandmother. She swallowed her breath and preferred not to say a word.
He tied it around her ankle.
"I can walk," she tried to protest.
Rwaine hissed, lifted her up a little, and placed her gently on his back.
"Hold on."
The forest was silent as they walked—only the sound of boots beneath them was heard.
"Rwaine?" she said softly.
"Hm?" he replied.
"Can I ask something?"
"If it's about my cloak again, I promise I'll feed you to the creatures myself."
Fanaza gulped. "You don't mean that…"
"Try me."
"I just… wanted to apologize. For earlier. I crossed a line."
He walked on in silence.
"I was just curious… You saved me from those beasts. Thank you." She whispered softly.
"I did it because I knew your father... He once saved me. That's all." Rwaine said, his voice firm.
She blinked. "How did you know him?"
"I don't talk about the past." He replied immediately.
"Any news on Sage?"
She never stopped talking, and Rwaine already had enough; he didn't respond.
Silence returned, but something caught her attention; she couldn't ignore it. Rwaine's cloak had torn. Fanaza's eyes widened with what she saw; she stared at his wounded neck .
Beneath the tear, blood oozed from the wound, not red but black.
She froze in shock. She had no idea of what she saw. She thought she was dreaming, but it was indeed reality.
The blood was black, and it was visible; she could see a few old markings beside the wound. She was stunned by it; she couldn't explain what exactly it was or say a thing. She was confused.
Black blood?