The trees here were twisted, blackened, and silent—though their leaves whispered as if alive. The air clung cold and thick around them.
Sara shivered, glancing around the shadowed forest. "Do you… remember what Father used to say about this place?"
Eris's grip on Liza's arm tightened. "That a monster is sealed here. One of the most powerful beings in the world. If anyone entered… it would wake and kill them without mercy."
"I never believed him," Sara admitted. "I thought he was hiding treasure… or some kind of lost knowledge."
"This isn't the time for old stories," Eris snapped.
Ahead, a jagged cave mouth yawned against a rocky hill. They hurried inside.
"It's too dark," Sara muttered, her hand glowing faintly with a light spell.
A scream tore through the trees outside—bloodcurdling and close.
"Oh no…" Eris whispered. "He's here."
A deep, calm voice rumbled from the cave's darkness.
"Who's there?"
Eris spun, hand on her sword. "Show yourself! Who are you?"
The voice was almost bored. "I'm not speaking to you weaklings. I'm addressing the one outside."
"Who are you calling weaklings?!" Sara snapped, stepping forward.
"Obviously you two," the voice said. "The one you carry is a little stronger, I'll grant."
They moved cautiously deeper. In the pale glow of Sara's spell, a man emerged.
He was massive, even seated, his body a roadmap of old scars. Heavy chains—thick as a man's arm—bound his wrists, ankles, and neck, bolted into living rock. The links glowed faintly with pale gold runes.
"Who are you?" Sara demanded. "And why are you chained like that?"
The man lifted his head. His eyes were storm-gray. Long black hair fell across his shoulders.
"Free me," he said simply.
"We don't even know what you did," Sara shot back. "You could be a murderer. A monster."
"So," he replied flatly, "you'd rather die fighting the demon now blocking the entrance?"
Eris pulled Sara aside. "We should do it."
Sara shook her head. "What if he's the monster Father warned us about?"
"You never believed those stories," Eris hissed. "Right now, he's our only chance. If he can save us, it's worth the risk."
Another earth-shaking roar shook the cave.
"We're going to die anyway," Eris begged. "Please."
Sara looked at her sisters—Liza's shallow breathing, Eris's desperate eyes—and nodded. "Fine."
Eris stepped forward, her hands hovering over the chains. She froze.
"These… these are heavenly restriction chains," she whispered. "Used only on the most dangerous beings…"
The man raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So you really are a Blessed Elf."
"What?" Sara demanded. "Who are you?"
"The demon is almost at the entrance," he said casually.
"Enough talking!" Sara shouted. "Eris—break them!"
Eris placed both hands on the central chain. White-gold light flared.
Outside, heavy footsteps rattled dust from the ceiling.
"Found you, little rats," Kamas growled. His massive silhouette filled the cave mouth. One eye was ruined, the other burned with fury.
Sara stepped forward, bow raised. "I'll hold him off. Eris—now!"
She loosed an arrow. It struck Kamas's shoulder; he barely flinched.
"You think you can defeat me with toys?" he laughed, swinging his axe in a deadly arc.
Sara twisted aside—but the flat of the blade slammed into her, hurling her into the cave wall. Pain blurred her vision.
"Sara!" Liza cried weakly.
Kamas strode forward, lifting Eris by the throat with one hand. "Now come quietly, Blessed One."
Crack.
Lightning—white, soundless—flashed.
The chains exploded. In a heartbeat, the scarred man stood free, his fist buried in Kamas's chest up to the elbow.
The demon flew backward, crashing through the cave entrance and tumbling into the forest beyond.
"What…?" Kamas staggered, black blood spilling from the wound. "Who are you?"
The man stepped into the moonlight, drawing twin daggers black as night.
"I asked for your name," he said quietly.
"I am Kamas," the demon snarled. "Sixth Sinner of the Demon King's Sinister Six!"
The man tilted his head. A faint, humorless smile touched his lips. "The Sinister Six… they've grown weak."
"What did you say?!"
In a blur, he moved. When he stopped, Kamas remained standing for a heartbeat… then fell into neatly sliced pieces.
Silence blanketed the forest.
"That," the man said, turning away, "is what I meant."
He walked deeper into the Forbidden Forest.
"Please wait!" Eris shouted, running to the entrance. "Help us!"
"I already did," he replied without turning.
"Our sisters are badly wounded!" Eris pleaded. "We've been running all day. Another demon could come at any moment."
He didn't stop.
"You said I'm a Blessed Elf!"
She shouted. "I can heal Sara… but Liza's wounds are cursed. She may not survive!"
He paused, back still to her.
"…No," Eris whispered, collapsing to her knees, tears falling. "Please. I beg you. They're all I have left."
The forest held its breath.
Memories—blood, snow, broken promises—flashed behind the man's storm-gray eyes.
"…Fine," he said quietly. "I will help you."
They are just like us.
Together, the scarred man and three broken princesses returned into the cave, the night closing behind them like a gate.