The young girl stepped into the forest, her small frame swallowed by the towering trees and whispering mist.
"Lily said I should be here," Claire murmured to herself. "People like me will find me."
Before she could take another step, a blade touched her throat — cold and swift as lightning.
"Who are you?" a young boy's voice demanded, rough and edged with suspicion.
Claire froze, eyes wide. The boy's dagger gleamed in the dim light. She stuttered, her voice trembling.
"I... I was sent here by Lily."
"A princess sent by Lily?" the boy sneered, a cruel smirk tugging his lips. "Are you lying? Sent to kill us, maybe? But then, you don't look too bright for that, do you?"
The wind stirred suddenly, howling through the trees. The forest itself seemed to shiver.
"Nick," came a calm but commanding voice from behind. "Don't be like that. Your mother is disappointed."
A woman emerged from the shadows, tall and graceful, her eyes glinting silver in the moonlight.
"If Lily sent her," she continued, "it means she's one of us. Come here, child. Let's talk."
"My name is Nicola," the woman said softly as Claire approached. "And that boy is my son, Nick. He's about your age. I hope the two of you can be friends."
As Claire stepped closer, something strange happened. Her blue eyes flickered — and turned into molten gold.
Nicola's smile faded. Her expression tightened, unreadable.
The golden eyes... she cursed inwardly. Why did Lily send her here? Is she trying to endanger us all?
"Damein!" Nicola called out sharply.
A man appeared from behind the trees, his presence heavy, his eyes lazy yet dangerous. Without a word, he flicked his wrist — a dagger sliced the air and grazed Claire's cheek.
"Don't hurt her!" Nicola shouted. "She's just a child!"
Damein's gaze hardened. "You saw her, didn't you? Those eyes. She's like that woman. If we're not careful, she'll kill us all."
Nicola's voice dropped to a whisper. "Go and speak with Lily. There must be a reason she sent the girl here."
Damein said nothing more and turned away, vanishing into the dark.
--
The moon was high when Damein entered the grand marble corridors of the Flores Palace. Torches flickered along the walls, throwing restless shadows that seemed to follow him.
In the throne room, Lily sat alone — the pale light from the stained glass falling across her like a crown of sorrow.
"You sent her," Damein said quietly. "The child with golden eyes."
Lily didn't look up. "I've seen her future," she said, voice low and distant. "People will try to use her powers... twist them for their own gain. She must learn white magic — and understand her element before it consumes her."
Damein frowned, tension stiffening his shoulders. "Her eyes... they resemble that woman's."
Lily's lips pressed together. "That's why she must be taught. If she learns to control it, she may save us all. If not…" Her gaze finally met his — calm but filled with buried fear. "She'll destroy everything."
Silence filled the throne room. The night wind slipped through the windows, carrying whispers of old magic and forgotten sins.
Damein nodded slowly. "Then she'll be trained. Alongside Nick and the others."
He turned and left, his cloak fading into the darkness.