Lyria's POV
Raven was still inside the black gate.
That single thought had lodged itself in my chest and refused to move, tightening with every passing minute.
I stood beside Kara, a step behind Captain Sam, when the High Mage Seraphiel approached her. His presence alone felt… wrong. Heavy. Too heavy for a human mage. The air bent subtly around him, like it didn't quite want to touch him.
"Tell me everything," Seraphiel said eagerly, a sharp glint in his eye. "Everything about the hunter trapped inside."
Sam frowned. "Why this sudden interest in Raven?"
Seraphiel smiled—a thin, knowing smile.
"A girl trapped alone inside a black gate, still alive after several hours," he said calmly. "And that pressure…" His eyes flicked briefly toward the gate. "Of course that would interest me."
I leaned forward slightly without realizing it, my attention sharpening.
"Now," he continued, "tell me more about her."
Sam hesitated, then sighed.
"Raven joined the Guild at a very young age. She was raised in an orphanage. Always quiet, mature for her age… distant. Strong, far stronger than she should've been. She never liked attention, kept to herself."
"When she was fifteen," Sam went on, "she left the city for three years. She returned recently… changed. Everything about her changed. Her aura, her appearance, her strength. That's all we know. She never talks about herself."
Seraphiel hummed thoughtfully, falling silent for a moment.
"And her rank? Her ability?"
"When she was registered," Sam said, "she was D-rank. As for her ability… I don't know. She never told anyone. I've never seen her use one. She always fought with a sword."
Seraphiel's smile faded.
"That tells me nothing," he muttered. Then, more quietly, almost to himself, "It seems she's hiding something."
Before Sam could respond, a crushing pressure surged outward from the gate.
"Everyone, fall back!" Sam shouted.
Kara immediately grabbed my hand. "Lyria, we need to move. Now."
I nodded, letting her pull me away as the air thickened with every heartbeat. The pressure grew heavier—so heavy it pressed against my lungs, against my thoughts.
"This is bad," Kara muttered. "I need to get you back to the palace before anyone realizes you're gone. His Majesty will lose his mind if—"
"No," I said softly but firmly. "Not until Raven comes out. I need to see her. I need to know she's okay."
Kara groaned. "The king will kill me."
I squeezed her hand. "He won't know."
Around us, hunters and soldiers filled the clearing, weapons drawn, eyes fixed on the gate. No one spoke. No one breathed easily.
Time dragged on.
An hour passed.
Then another.
Raven still didn't emerge.
I pressed a hand to my chest, my heart pounding painfully.
"Raven… please," I whispered. "Be okay. Don't die. Please… come back to me."
Nearby, members of Raven's team spoke in hushed voices.
A large, muscular man gripping a massive hammer muttered, "Do you think Raven's still alive?"
"I don't know," another man replied grimly. "It's been too long."
A girl clutching a staff lowered her gaze. "I hope she's okay…"
"She's fine," Ayla snapped, anger sharp in her voice. "Raven's strong. She won't fall that easily."
Then—
The world exploded.
A massive surge of power erupted from the gate, followed by roaring black flames that poured outward like a living thing. Trees, rocks—everything in its path disintegrated, reduced to ash in seconds.
Shields snapped into existence.
The hunter raised a barrier around a group of soldiers. Seraphiel extended his staff, conjuring a vast shield to protect the remaining hunters. Kara dragged me behind shield her body instinctively positioning itself between me and the inferno.
The heat was unbearable.
The shields began to crack.
Just when it felt like everything would break—
The flames stopped.
They vanished as suddenly as they'd appeared, leaving behind scorched earth and silence.
"Is everyone okay?!" Captain Sam shouted.
Seraphiel stepped forward toward the gate, his expression grim, eyes sharp with calculation.
Sam hurried to his side. "What was that? I've never seen black fire like that."
Seraphiel didn't look at her.
"Black flame," he said slowly. "One of the rarest and most dangerous forms of fire magic. Legends say it burns hotter than hellfire itself."
My breath caught.
Kara turned to me, her voice low. "Do you think… that was Raven?"
I swallowed. "I don't know."
Ayla approached us. "Kara, you should take the Princess back. Things are getting dangerous."
Kara nodded. "I've been trying."
I lifted my chin. "Not until Raven comes out. I'm not leaving."
The gate stood before us, silent now.
And for the first time, fear whispered clearly in my heart—
What if Raven didn't come back the same?
Only a few minutes passed before something impossible happened.
The crushing pressure pouring from the gate began to weaken—slowly at first, then all at once it vanished, as if someone had cut a cord holding the world down. The black gate shimmered, its darkness folding inward, until its color shifted… from black to blue.
For a heartbeat, no one moved.
No one breathed.
Silence fell over the clearing so completely that I could hear my own pulse pounding in my ears.
Ayla was the first to break it.
"Is… is what I'm seeing real?" she whispered. "Was the black gate… purified? Did Raven really did it ?"
Kara exhaled sharply beside me. "I knew Raven was strong," she said slowly, "but not this strong."
My gaze snapped back to the gate.
"Then where is she?" I asked, dread creeping into my voice. "Why hasn't Raven come out yet?"
Seraphiel's lips curved faintly. "Remarkable," he murmured.
As if answering my question, movement stirred within the blue light.
Seconds later, Raven stepped out.
My heart stopped.
She was drenched in blood—I couldn't tell how much of it was hers and how much belonged to monsters. A deep wound gaped at her waist, blood flowing freely, dripping to the ground with every step she took, leaving a dark trail behind her. Another cut split the skin above her right eye, blood dropping slowly down her face to her chin , soaking into what had once been a white shirt, now stained red.
Her clothes were torn, burned, barely holding together.
But what terrified me most wasn't the blood.
It was her expression.
Raven's face was twisted with pure, seething rage, her eyes empty of warmth. A lethal, suffocating aura wrapped around her like a storm ready to devour everything nearby. No one dared approach. I saw soldiers instinctively grip the hilts of their swords, fear etched clearly across their faces.
Captain Sam called her name."Raven."
Once.
Twice.
Again.
Raven didn't respond. She just kept walking, as if nothing around her existed.
I took a step forward.
Kara immediately grabbed my arm. "Lyria, don't," she whispered urgently. "Something's wrong with her."
I gently pulled free. "I have to, I need to ."
Before anyone could stop me, I walked straight toward Raven and took her hand.
"Raven," I called softly.
She stopped.
For a single second, nothing changed.
Then her gaze dropped to where my hand held hers. Slowly—so slowly—it lifted. Her eyes met mine, unfocused at first… then clearing.
"Princess…?" she said quietly. "Why are you here?"
Just like that, the rage drained from her face. The crushing aura vanished, as if it had never existed.
Relief flooded through me so fast it almost made my knees buckle.
"Raven," I whispered, my voice shaking. " Are you okay." I was so happy she was alive.
She stared at me for a moment longer, then pulled her hand from mine without answering. Her expression hardened.
"What are you doing here?" she snapped. "This place is dangerous."
She turned sharply toward Kara, scolding her as well, but I barely heard the words. My eyes were fixed on the blood still running down Raven's face.
Fear crashed over me all at once.
I grabbed her face with both hands, forcing her to look at me.
"You're bleeding," I said, my voice trembling. "There's so much blood—please, let's go back to the city. reminded the doctor immediately."
She froze.
Then, gently but firmly, she removed my hands from her face.
"Don't touch me," she said calmly , you will get dirty.
Something stabbed deep into my chest at those words.
My eyes widened, pain blooming behind them. Before I could stop myself, anger spilled out.
"I don't care if I get dirty," I said, my voice rising. "I'm worried about you, and all you can say is that I'll get stained?"
Raven wiped the blood from her eye with the back of her hand.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "And thank you for worrying. But you need to go home. This place is dangerous."
She turned to Kara. "Take her back."
"No," I said immediately. "I'm not leaving without you."
She opened her mouth to respond—but at that moment, her team rushed toward her, wrapping her in tight embraces. She winced as they squeezed her injured side.
I stepped back, watching helplessly as Captain Sam joined them, her face full of concern.
"You're not fine," Sam said sharply. She turned to a girl holding a staff. "Alice, can you heal Raven?"
Alice nodded and hurried forward.
Raven took a step back. "I'm okay," she said with a small smile. "That's really not necessary."
Sam shot her a glare.
The smile vanished. "Alright. Fine."
Alice placed her hand over the wound on Raven's forehead. White light flared—but when she pulled her hand away, nothing had changed.
She tried again. Stronger this time.
Still nothing.
Sam frowned deeply. "What's wrong?"
Alice shook her head, confused. "I don't understand. I'm trying to heal her, but nothing is happening. It's not working."
Raven wiped the blood from her eye again and stepped back.
"She's probably exhausted," Raven said calmly. "That's all. Let's not push her."
Kara leaned toward me, whispering, "Why doesn't she tell them healing magic doesn't work on her?"
I shook my head slightly. "She must have a reason."
Before Kara could respond, the High Mage finally spoke.
"Then," Seraphiel said smoothly, stepping forward, "allow me to heal you."
Raven turned to him, silent, unreadable.
He inclined his head slightly. "Seraphiel Valenne. High Mage. I was summoned by the Guild Master to investigate this gate."
After a brief pause, Raven replied flatly,
"Raven Nightthron. Hunter."
Kara snorted quietly beside me. "Shortest introduction I've ever heard , that so Raven. "
Seraphiel didn't react. His eyes remained fixed on Raven, studying her—not like a patient…
…but like a mystery he was eager to unravel.
Kara and I stood close to Raven, as if our presence alone might keep her upright.
Seraphiel stepped forward, his staff tapping softly against the ground. A polite smile curved his lips.
"Allow me to heal you," he said calmly.
Raven immediately took a step back. "There's no need," she replied. "It's just a superficial wound."
Before she could retreat any further, Captain Sam moved behind her and placed a firm hand on Raven's shoulder.
"Raven," she said seriously, leaving no room for argument. "Let him heal you. It won't take more than a minute."
I saw Raven tense, her body instinctively trying to pull away. But Sam didn't budge.
"…Fine," Raven muttered at last.
Seraphiel raised his hand to the cut above Raven's eye. A brilliant white light flared—far stronger than Alice's healing magic. It illuminated the clearing, reflecting off armor and steel.
When the light faded, Seraphiel lowered his hand.
The wound was still there.
Blood continued to trickle down Raven's face.
For the first time since he arrived, Seraphiel's expression went completely blank.
Seraphiel straightened slowly. "I attempted to heal her," he said evenly. "But something is wrong. It is as if her body does not respond—almost as if it resists my magic."
Captain Sam turned sharply toward Raven. "Has this ever happened to you before?"
Raven shook her head. "I don't know. I've never been injured badly enough to need healing , This is the first time."
I didn't miss the way Seraphiel's eyes narrowed. He didn't believe her—not fully.
He began to circle Raven, slow and deliberate, studying her like a rare artifact.
"Amazing," he murmured, a smirk forming. "Truly amazing."
He stopped in front of her.
"Tell me," he said softly, "how did you close a black gate and defeat its boss—alone?"
The world seemed to freeze, Every conversation died. Every gaze locked onto Raven, Even Kara and I found ourselves holding our breath.
Raven answered without hesitation. "I wasn't the one who defeated the boss."
Silence fell again—thicker this time.
Then voices erupted all at once.
"What do you mean?"
"Then who did?"
"That makes no sense!"
Raven raised her voice just enough to be heard. Calm. Controlled.
"The dungeon was filled with monsters. No matter how many I killed, their numbers didn't decrease. I knew that if I kept fighting like that, I wouldn't survive."
Sam crossed her arms. "Then what happened?"
Raven continued, as if reciting something she had already decided to say.
"I was fighting when I suddenly felt a massive surge of energy coming from the boss chamber. All the monsters rushed toward it, ignoring me completely. I followed them out of curiosity."
"I saw something I'd never seen before," Raven said. "The monsters were attacking the boss—trying to kill it. I hid and watched. The boss killed them all… but it was badly wounded. It kept bleeding until it finally collapsed and died."
No one spoke.
They just stared at one another, trying to process her words.
Raven stood among them with an eerily calm expression, wiping the blood from her eye every few moments.
Ayla was the first to break the silence.
"Wait—what? You're telling us the boss was killed by its own monsters? That doesn't make any sense."
Raven shrugged lightly. "Strange and illogical things have been happening since we started closing gates."
Captain Sam stepped closer, her eyes sharp.
"Is that everything, Raven?" she asked. "There's nothing else you want to tell us?"
I could tell—she didn't believe her.
Raven met her gaze evenly. "That's all that happened. What matters is that the gate is closed. If those monsters had escaped into our world, it would have been a massacre."
I barely heard the rest.
My attention was fixed on the blood still seeping between Raven's fingers.
How could they interrogate her like this when she looked like she might collapse at any moment?
My chest tightened painfully.
I pulled a handkerchief from my pocket and stepped forward, gently pressing it against the wound above her eye.
"We should return to the city," I said firmly. "You need treatment."
Then I turned to Captain Sam.
"You can discuss this later," I added. "She's still bleeding."
Raven didn't stop me.
She didn't push my hand away.
Captain Sam hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. We'll continue this tomorrow."
"I'm really exhausted," Raven said quietly. "Can we delay it a few days?"
Sam studied her for a moment, then sighed. "Fine. Rest first. We'll talk after."
We turned to leave—
—but Seraphiel stepped closer.
He leaned down and whispered something into Raven's ear. I couldn't hear the words, but I saw the way Raven's fingers curled slightly at her side.
Seraphiel straightened and stepped back, smiling.
"We'll meet again," he said pleasantly. "Very soon, Raven Nightthron."
Raven didn't respond.
She simply turned away, her expression perfectly calm—too calm—and began to walk.
As she reached my side, she spoke quietly, as if nothing had happened.
"Come on. Let's go back. Your family must be worried about you."
I looked at her bloodstained face, her unsteady steps, and the weight she carried alone—
—and followed her without another word.
We took horses and began our ride back toward the city.
Raven was quiet for a long while, her gaze drifting over the soldiers and hunters stationed at the edge of the forest. She spoke calmly with Kara about the emergency order the King had declared, about patrol rotations and defenses—but I barely heard the words.
All I could see was the blood.
It stained her clothes, soaked through the fabric at her waist, dried dark along her sleeve, still fresh where it trailed from the cut above her eye. My chest ached just looking at her.
Raven glanced at me and said lightly, "You know the King won't be happy if he finds out you were here, Princess ."
I lifted the hood slightly, revealing only part of my face.
"I was disguised. and He won't know," I replied. "And that's not what matters right now."
My eyes returned to Raven's side—her shirt completely soaked through. How was she still sitting upright? How was she still breathing so evenly?
In a quiet voice, I said, "You need a doctor. As soon as possible."
Raven kept her eyes on the road ahead and smiled.
"It's just a small wound. I won't die from it. I'll be fine."
Something inside me snapped.
"Stop saying that!" I raised my voice before I could stop myself. "You're covered in blood from head to toe—how can you keep pretending you're fine?"
She finally looked at me, surprised by my tone, but I didn't care. The anger had already spilled out.
"If you're in pain, say you're in pain," I continued, my voice trembling despite my effort to control it.
"If you're hurting, say you're hurting. If you're not okay, then don't pretend you are. Aren't we your friends? You don't have to lie to us."
She stared at me in silence.
Then—she laughed.
Not that faint, polite smile she always wore like armor.
A real laugh.
For a second, my anger vanished completely. My heart skipped, then started racing painfully fast. Heat rushed to my face.
She looked… different. Lighter. Alive, beautiful.
"Thank you for worrying about me," Raven said, smiling genuinely. She placed a hand over her wound. "It does hurt a little. But other than that, I'll be fine."
I couldn't stop staring.
This was the first time I had ever heard her laugh like that. The sound echoed in my chest, warm and dangerous.
I realized I'd been staring too long and quickly turned my head away, embarrassed.
"Idiot," I muttered under my breath.
Kara laughed beside me.
"Are you two done fighting? We've reached the city."
The gates loomed ahead, mana-lights illuminating the quiet streets beyond.
As we rode in, Raven spoke again.
"Let me walk you home. It's late."
"Not before I make sure you're okay," I said firmly. "And I know you won't come with me to the palace for treatment , so I'll go with you to the orphanage. We'll call a doctor, and then I'll leave."
"I'm not going back to the orphanage," Raven replied calmly. "I'll stay somewhere else."
My brows knit together. Not the orphanage?
"Where, then?" I asked.
She looked ahead. "I can't return like this. I'll stay with my master for a few days."
I lowered my voice without meaning to.
"Then… I won't be able to see you for a few days."
She glanced at me. "What did you say?"
"N-nothing," I said quickly.
Kara jumped in smoothly.
"Can we visit you tomorrow? Just to make sure you're okay."
Raven nodded. "I don't mind, if you want to."
Kara looked at me and gave me a small, conspiratorial smile.
"We can return on our own," I said. "You go home, Raven. Rest. You're exhausted."
We parted ways soon after.
I stayed where I was, watching Raven walk away until her figure disappeared into the darkness of the city.
Kara and I continued toward the palace in silence.
After a while, she asked, "Do you think what Raven said was true?"
I looked at her. "About what?"
"About the dungeon. About not being the one who killed the boss."
I thought for a moment.
"I don't know. I've heard black-gate monsters are terrifying—that even the weakest of them rival red-gate bosses. I don't know if Raven could really defeat something like that alone."
Kara frowned.
"If she really did kill the boss and close the gate… that would make her far more dangerous than the King believes."
I shook my head immediately.
"No. No matter how strong Raven is, she isn't dangerous—not to us or to the city. I'm certain of that."
"I know," Kara said softly. "But I'm worried about her. If the Council or the noble families find out, they won't leave her alone."
"I know," I replied. "She knows it too. That's why she said she wasn't the one who closed the dungeon—to draw attention away from herself."
We reached the palace at last, slipping inside quietly so the King wouldn't see us.
Without another word, we went straight to my room.
As soon as Kara and I slipped into my chambers, my maid rushed in after me, her face pale with worry.
"Your Highness, why were you gone for so long?" she asked breathlessly. "I was terrified."
I turned to her at once. "Did Father ask for me? Did he realize I was gone?"
Batty shook her head quickly. "He did ask, but I told him you were resting after training with Lady Kara."
Relief washed over me. I stepped closer and gently patted her shoulder. "Thank you, Batty. Truly. For covering for me."
Batty was my personal maid—the daughter of the Queen's own attendant. She was two years older than me, though shorter, which made her look almost childlike. She was cheerful, stubborn in her own way, and one of the few people I trusted without hesitation.
She let out a long sigh. "Please, Princess, don't do this again. If His Majesty finds out, I'll be the one in trouble."
"Ooooh, poor Batty," Kara teased with a grin. "Our princess won't stop sneaking out, so you'll suffer forever."
I shot Kara a look and tossed a pillow at her. "Could you be quiet for just one moment?"
Then I turned back to Batty with a small smile. "I promise. I won't let you get in trouble because of me."
Batty crossed her arms, unconvinced. "I hope so. Now… where were you, Your Highness? It's very late."
Kara's smile turned wicked. "She went to meet her crush."
My face burned instantly. I grabbed another pillow and threw it straight at Kara. "I will absolutely kill you."
Kara laughed loudly. "Why are you angry? I'm only telling the truth."
Batty blinked in surprise. "Crush? You mean… Hunter Raven?"
I stared at her, stunned.
Kara laughed even harder. "See? Even Batty knows."
Batty smiled softly. "The way you act around her, the way you look at her—it's very obvious, Princess. You admire her."
I didn't know what to say. My heart was pounding far too fast, and the heat in my face refused to fade.
"Even Batty figured out your feelings," Kara said teasingly. "It seems everyone knows… except Raven."
Batty tilted her head, confused. "She doesn't know?"
Kara shook her head. "No. She doesn't."
Batty frowned thoughtfully. "How can she not notice something so obvious? Do you think she knows and is pretending not to?"
"That's what I thought at first," Kara admitted. "But after spending time with her… I'm certain she's not doing it on purpose. She's just innocent. And painfully slow when it comes to these things."
Batty looked at me with sympathy. "Poor Princess…"
They were talking about me as if I weren't even there.
Kara stretched and stood up. "I'm exhausted. I'm heading to my room."
Batty turned to me. "Shall I help you change?"
I smiled faintly. "Thank you, Batty, but you can go. I can manage on my own."
She bowed lightly. "Good night, Your Highness."
As she reached the door, she glanced back with a playful smile. "Good luck with your crush."
And then she was gone.
Alone in my room, I quickly changed into my Nightgown I was exhausted, but I still had documents to review and present to Father in the morning. I moved to the large desk near the window, moonlight spilling across the scattered papers, and forced myself to focus.
An hour passed before I finally set the last page aside.
I returned to my bed and lay down, staring at the ceiling. "I'm really exhausted," I murmured.
And then, without warning, Raven's laughter surfaced in my mind.
Even covered in blood, even wounded and barely standing… she had been beautiful. That laugh—real, unguarded—had stayed with me far more than it should have.
Thinking of her, my heart softened.
And like that, I drifted into sleep.
I woke early, my mind unusually clear and my body light, as if the tension of the past days had finally loosened its grip. After a quick breakfast, I attended a brief meeting with Father regarding aid for several villages near the city. By the time everything was settled, the clock read 9:30.
I slipped out to the garden, where Kara and Batty were already waiting.
When Kara saw me, she smirked. "So? Are you finally done with your royal duties? Can we go now?"
I nodded eagerly. "Yes. I'm free until three."
Batty frowned, concern written plainly on her face. "You're not sneaking out again, are you?"
Kara laughed behind her.
"No," I said quickly, smiling. "I told Father I was leaving, and he approved."
Batty's eyes drifted to my clothes—plain, muted, and carefully chosen. "Then why are you disguised?"
"There's no special reason," I replied lightly. "I just don't want attention."
Batty sighed and dipped her head. "Be careful, Your Highness."
"I will."
Kara and I left the palace and took a carriage toward Elyra Voss's home. The ride was quiet, my thoughts restless. In less than fifteen minutes, we stood before a modest house tucked away from the main streets.
Kara glanced at me. "Well? Aren't you going to knock?"
I was eager—far too eager—but my hand hesitated. I took a steadying breath and knocked twice.
After a brief pause, the door opened.
Elyra stood there, calm and composed, her sharp eyes taking us in at once. "Lady Kara. Princess Lyria." Her voice was steady, respectful. "It is an honor to welcome you to my humble home. How may I help you?"
I lifted my hood slightly and smiled. "Good morning. I'm sorry to disturb you so early, but we came to check on Raven."
A small smile touched Elyra's lips. "No disturbance at all. Please, come in."
The moment we stepped inside, my breath caught.
Raven sat on a chair , unaware of us. She wasn't wearing a shirt, her head bowed as she carefully wrapped fresh bandages around her side. Used, bloodstained wrappings lay discarded nearby, and a black shirt rested on the table.
Then she looked up.
For a heartbeat, time froze.
She rose instantly and pulled on the shirt, fastening it with quick, practiced movements. This was the second time I had seen her like that—and just like before, I forgot how to breathe.
Her arms were strong, muscle defined without excess. Her back bore the marks of battle, tense and controlled, and her posture spoke of endurance rather than vanity. I couldn't tear my eyes away—
Kara pinched my arm sharply.
I startled, heat rushing to my face, just as Elyra stepped in behind us.
"Raven," Elyra said calmly, "your friends have come to check on you."
Raven turned toward us, surprise flickering briefly across her features before settling into that familiar, guarded calm.
The room fell into a strange, fragile silence.
It was the kind of silence that settles after battle — not loud, not sharp, but heavy. Like something unseen lingered between us.
Kara, unable to tolerate quiet for long, leaned back casually and said with a crooked grin,
"Morning, Raven. You look terrible."
Raven gave a small smile. "Morning."
The sight of that smile made my chest tighten.
She did look terrible.
Dark circles shadowed her golden eyes, her skin was paler than usual, and even sitting still seemed to require effort. She held herself upright with stubborn pride, but I could see it — the faint tremor in her fingers, the stiffness in her shoulders.
I stepped closer before I could stop myself.
"You don't look well," I said softly.
She looked at me — directly at me — and that familiar, infuriating smile curved her lips.
"I'm fine. I told you I'd survive, didn't I?"
A lie.
A gentle one. A protective one. But a lie nonetheless.
I didn't answer.
Because if I opened my mouth, I might say something reckless. Something too honest.
Elyra, sensing the tension, clapped her hands lightly. "Please, have a seat."
Kara and I sat together on the sofa, while Raven took the chair opposite us. The distance between us felt deliberate Safe.
Elyra adjusted the sword at her waist. "I won't disturb you. I have soldiers waiting. You're welcome to stay for dinner. Raven will cook."
Raven blinked. "I will?"
Elyra struck her shoulder lightly. "Yes, you will. You cook better than I do."
Despite everything, I smiled. "I would love that… but I cannot stay that long. Still, thank you for the invitation."
Elyra bowed slightly and left, the door closing with a muted thud that echoed more than it should have.
Now it was just us.
Kara tilted her head. "So. You can cook?"
"Only a little," Raven replied.
"I would like to try your cooking one day," I said, unable to stop myself.
She looked at me then — not past me, not through me. At me.
"Anytime you wish," she said quietly. "I'll cook for you."
My heart betrayed me.
It began to race — wild and loud and shameless.
In that moment, watching the softness in her eyes, I realized something terrifying.
I had already fallen far too deep.
And worse —
I did not wish to climb out.
I would not leave her. No matter what she was. No matter what the world said.
I would claim my place beside her, even if the entire kingdom stood against it, I will make her mine.
Kara coughed loudly.
Twice.
I blinked, realizing I had been staring far too long.
"So," Kara said, leaning forward. "How do you really feel, Raven? No lies."
Raven exhaled slowly.
"I'm truly fine. By tomorrow I'll be fully healed. We can resume training in two days, if you wish."
"There is no need to rush," I said quickly. "Take time to recover."
"I don't like sitting idle," she replied. "Two days is enough."
Of course it is, I thought bitterly. You would crawl through fire before admitting weakness.
Kara's gaze sharpened. "Can I ask you something?"
Raven nodded.
"Yesterday… when they tried to heal you. Why didn't you tell them it wouldn't work? You hid it. You don't have to answer if you don't want to."
I leaned forward without realizing it. My hands tightened slightly in my lap.
I wanted to know.
Raven was quiet for several seconds. The air seemed to grow heavier.
"There are only two types of people healing magic does not work on," she began calmly. "The first are those with no magical ability at all — no mana to respond to the spell , The second is for those who absorb any type of magic that approaches. I'm the latter.
"My body interprets foreign magic as something to consume, not something to accept. So it devours the spell instead of letting it repair tissue
"It isn't only healing magic," she continued. "I absorb curses. Illnesses. Emotions. Mana itself. Even now… as I sit here… I am absorbing your mana."
Kara straightened.
I felt nothing physically — no pain, no weakness — yet the idea sent a strange chill through me.
Kara crossed her arms. "So you're telling us that right now you're… draining us?"
Raven tilted her head slightly. "A small amount. Barely noticeable. It's automatic."
"I cannot control it," Raven said quietly. "It is simply the nature of my power. Absorption."
She paused — then added, softer still:
"And I can transfer what I hold. Mana. Energy. Curses. Negative emotions. To anyone I choose. I don't even need direct contact."
Silence.
My mind raced.
A power like that…
Weaponized, she could cripple armies.
Feared, she could be hunted.
Misunderstood… she could be executed.
"If people knew," I said slowly, finishing her thought, "they would fear you. More than they already do."
Raven smiled faintly.
"That's why hiding it is easier."
Easier.
As though carrying such a burden was simple.
As though loneliness was light.
I felt something sharp twist in my chest.
She has carried this alone.
All this time.
I looked at her — truly looked at her.
At the exhaustion behind her calm.
At the quiet caution in her posture.
At the way she kept her hands loosely clasped, as if afraid to touch anything too long.
She must have noticed the sorrow on my face.
"Don't look at me like that, Princess," she said gently. "It doesn't bother me."
It does, I wanted to say. It must.
Then she added:
"Though… I believe the High Mage has already discovered it."
The air changed instantly.
Kara stiffened. "You mean seraphiel ?"
Raven's gaze drifted toward the window, where sunlight filtered through the curtains.
"Yeah, him"
A High Mage.
If the High Council knew—
No.
I forced myself to remain composed.
Inside, however, something cold began to form.
If they see her as a threat…
If they move against her…
They will have to go through me.
For the first time, I understood clearly:, Raven was not just dangerous, She was vulnerable.
And that frightened me more than any curse.
I rose slowly from my seat and walked toward her.
She tensed slightly — instinctively — as if prepared for rejection.
Instead, I stopped in front of her.
"Then," I said softly, meeting her golden eyes, "we will make sure no one uses that knowledge against you."
She blinked, surprised.
"We?" she asked.
"Yes," I replied.
"I mean it," I said, my voice steady despite the storm rising in my chest. "If they so much as think of targeting you, they will have to face me."
Raven and Kara laughed.
They laughed.
I frowned. "Why are you laughing? I am serious."
Kara leaned back lazily, crossing one leg over the other. "Your Highness," she said with a teasing grin, "you look adorable when you're threatening powerful archmages."
"I am not trying to look adorable," I snapped. "I am the future queen. They cannot simply ignore my command."
Kara's amusement softened into something more resolute.
"If anyone tries anything," she said more firmly, "they'll deal with the Crown. And with me."
Raven's golden gaze shifted between us — something unreadable flickering in her eyes.
"Thank you both of you for trusting in me ," she said quietly. "But I doubt a High Mage would act without speaking to me first."
She rose smoothly from her seat.
"I'm sorry. We've been talking and I forgot to offer you anything. May I prepare tea? Or perhaps some pastries?"
Kara nodded immediately.
But I stood.
"Let me help you."
Kara looked at me as if I had just declared war on the royal kitchens.
Before she could say something ridiculous, I subtly stepped on her foot.
She inhaled sharply — then let out a low chuckle.
Raven gave me a faint, amused look. "Princess, you're my guest. Please sit. I'll return shortly."
I stepped closer instead, smiling. "I insist."
For a moment, she studied me — searching perhaps for royal stubbornness.
She found it.
"…If that is what you wish. This way please ."
The kitchen was small.
Intimate.
Not built for nobility or servants, but for one person.
There was a wooden table in the center with two simple chairs. A door overlooked a small garden in the back, where faint sunlight brushed over green leaves. The air smelled faintly of herbs and something warm — something comforting.
"This suits you," I murmured before I could stop myself.
She paused, glancing at me. "Does it?"
"Yes. It feels… honest."
A corner of her mouth lifted.
"There's red tea. Rose tea. Or coffee. What would you prefer?"
"Coffee, please."
"Could you take three cups from that cabinet?"
I obeyed, retrieving the cups and placing them neatly onto a tray. She moved gracefully around the kitchen, filling a kettle, her movements efficient yet unhurried.
As she approached with the pot, she paused suddenly.
"Wait," she said softly. "Did you sneak out of the palace again?"
I laughed under my breath. "No. Not this time. The King knows I'm out."
She exhaled — visibly relieved.
"That's good."
I tilted my head. "Why? I would be the one scolded if I were caught."
She looked at me directly then, seriousness replacing humor.
"I'm not worried about you being scolded," she said quietly. "I'm worried about you being alone outside."
My heartbeat faltered.
"What if something happened?" she continued. "You disguise yourself, yes… but what if someone recognized you? What if someone tried to harm you?"
I could not speak.
Her voice softened further.
"If you wish to go somewhere, tell me. I will accompany you. I promised the King I would protect you." A brief pause. "Please don't go alone again."
She was worried.
For me.
Heat rose to my cheeks before I could control it.
I nodded slowly. "Very well… I won't sneak out again."
Her expression eased.
"Thank you."
She lifted the tray. "Let's go back before Kara assumes we've left her out ."
Despite myself, I laughed.
We returned to the sitting room.
Kara was leaning back with an insufferable smirk.
"You took long enough. What were you doing?"
I glared at her with enough intensity to set parchment on fire.
One day, I will have you executed for insolence, I thought.
Raven set the tray down calmly. "We were talking."
We sat. She handed Kara tea, gave me my coffee, and poured one for herself.
Kara lifted a brow. "Talking about what?"
"Nothing important," Raven replied evenly. "I was just making sure the Princess doesn't sneak out again. If she wishes to go somewhere, she should inform us."
Kara grinned wickedly. "Speaking of which — Lyria has always wanted to visit a tavern. But being a princess — and future queen — tends to complicate that."
Raven turned toward me.
"And what if you are a princess?" she said lightly. "Titles shouldn't stop you from living."
I hesitated.
"If I go as a princess, it becomes official. Stiff. Watched. If I go disguised, I must always fear discovery. So… I never went."
She studied me in silence.
Then:
"What if you came with me tomorrow?"
My breath caught. "Where?"
"I'm meeting Ayla and the others at a tavern tomorrow night. You and Kara could join us."
Kara shrugged. "I don't mind."
I tried — and failed — to appear composed.
"I don't want to inconvenience you."
"You never inconvenience me," Raven replied without hesitation. "Do you want to come?"
My excitement betrayed me completely. I nodded far too quickly.
"I would love to."
Her smile deepened.
"Then it's settled. Tomorrow. Eight-thirty. At the palace gates."
Eight-thirty.
I would count the minutes.
We continued speaking for some time — lighter topics, easier laughter — until Kara suddenly straightened.
"Lyria. You have a meeting at three."
Reality returned like cold water.
I stood reluctantly. "Yes… we should go."
I looked at Raven.
"Thank you for the coffee. And… rest properly. We'll see each other tomorrow."
She met my gaze — softer now.
"Tomorrow."
As Kara and I rode back toward the palace, my mind was not on my meeting.
Not on council matters.
Not on the High Mages.
Only on her.
I touched my chest lightly.
My heart had not calmed since I left her house.
Tomorrow, I thought.
Let tomorrow come quickly.