After the Date with Daniel ... Aurelia's having the time of her life ..she doesn't wanted to go for her ride today alone ..she wanted to ask Daniel also for it ...when she was getting ready for her weekly ride into the town of Silver Lake as this town's princess to show the love and appreciation to the town's people..
Aurelia's father believe We should always stay connected to The people of the town .. So Aurelia every week go to town as a princess and connect with Town people and builds good relationship with them
Before setting out Aurelia went to Aunt Leslie house to ask about Daniel.. Leslie informed her she had sent him to Her friend Sasha's house she needed some help so i sent him to her
Aurelia's feeling disappointed left the mansion for a weekly Town visit
Morning sunlight filtered through the tall trees of the Sunwood Grove, painting the forest floor in shifting patterns of gold and green. Dew clung to leaves, and the narrow riding path lay quiet, deceptively peaceful.
Aurelia rode at the center of the formation, her white mare moving at an unhurried pace. The air smelled of moss and damp earth, familiar and comforting.
Knight Roland: "Lady Aurelia, the weather favors us today. Clear skies, calm mana flow."
Aurelia: "It always feels calmer here. As if the forest itself is breathing slowly."
Knight Elise: "Still, my lady, we must remain vigilant. This area lies between territories."
Fire Mage One: "Sunwood has never caused trouble. Too close to both domains for bandits to linger."
Fire Mage Two: "And any magical disturbance would be obvious. Fire mana reacts violently to anomalies."
Aurelia smiled faintly but said nothing, letting the rhythm of the ride soothe her thoughts. None of them noticed the subtle tremor beneath the soil ahead.
Far away, atop a rocky rise hidden by dense piles of leaves and greenery hides a group of men watching them silently
Vorik: "Positions confirmed. The girl is on schedule."
Grond: "Soil density is optimal. Moist, loose, cooperative."
Vorik: "Good. Remember, no unnecessary force. This must look like a freak magical anomaly." (Freak magical anomaly is something like a natural disaster.. valoria been elemental magic country have so much elemental mana in the air sometime these elements goes berserk)
Grond: "Earth does not scream when shaped properly."
Vorik: "On my mark. Wait for the bend in the path."
Back on the trail, the path curved gently, narrowing between two ancient oaks whose roots twisted like serpents beneath the surface.
Knight Roland: "This bend always makes me uneasy."
Knight Elise: "We'll pass it in moments."
The ground pulsed.
A deep, muffled rumble echoed beneath the horses' hooves.
Fire Mage Three: "What was that?"
Before anyone could react, the soil collapsed inward with a thunderous roar.
Knight Roland: "Sinkhole—brace!"
The earth split violently, swallowing half the path. Aurelia's mare screamed as the ground dropped away, the sudden chasm tearing between her and the rear guards.
Aurelia: "Roland!"
Knight Elise: "Lady Aurelia, pull back!"
But an earthen wall surged upward, raw stone and soil rising like a living barrier. It slammed into place between Aurelia and her protectors.
Fire Mage One: "Earth magic! Who dares—"
A dense white mist exploded across the grove.
Vorik: "Now."
Water mana condensed instantly, a cold fog rolling in thick waves. At the same time, sharp gusts of wind howled through the trees, carrying distorted echoes of footsteps, shouts, and clashing steel.
Fire Mage Two: "I can't see!"
Fire Mage Three: "The sounds—there are enemies everywhere!"
Knight Roland: "Hold formation! Protect the lady—"
Knight Elise: "The wall blocks us!"
Fire erupted as the mages cast instinctively, flames licking uselessly into the mist, illuminating nothing but swirling white.
Fire Mage Four: "The mana is unstable! This feels like a natural surge!"
Knight Roland: "A freak anomaly? Damn it—break through the wall!"
He slammed his sword against the earthen barrier, sparks flying, but the stone held firm, reinforced by Grond's steady mana.
On the other side, Aurelia found herself alone.
Aurelia was feeling scared and helpless
The mist swallowed her vision entirely. Her mare reared, panicked by the chaos.
Aurelia: "Easy… easy…"
A soft wind brushed past her ear, carrying a whisper that was not wind at all.
Vorik: "Sleep, young lady."
Aurelia turned sharply.
Aurelia: "Who's there?"
A shadow moved within the fog. A masked man stepped forward calmly, his presence oddly soothing, his mana controlled to perfection.
Vorik: "Do not struggle. This will not hurt."
Aurelia: "You… you're behind this?"
Vorik: "Circumstances required it."
She reached for the reins, attempting to turn her horse, but the mist thickened, muffling her movements. A sharp scent filled the air, faintly sweet.
Aurelia: "What… is that smell…?"
Vorik: "A sleeping potion. Odorless to most. You'll remember nothing."
Aurelia: "Daniel please Save ..."
Her words slurred. Strength drained from her limbs as if gravity itself had doubled. Vorik caught her gently as she slipped from the saddle.
Vorik: "No marks. No fear. Just rest."
He laid her carefully across his shoulder, signaling with a subtle gesture.
The mist began to recede.
Grond emerged from the earth itself, stone shifting aside as he stepped forward.
Grond: "The guards are fully occupied. They believe it's a mana storm."
Vorik: "Good. Prepare the escape."
Grond slammed his staff into the ground. The collapsed soil smoothed unnaturally, swallowing hoofprints, footprints, and broken branches alike. The sinkhole sealed itself, leaving behind only uneven earth that looked like a natural collapse.
Grond: "Tracks erased. Even a ranger would struggle."
Vorik: "Mounts?"
Grond: "Hidden path ready."
They moved swiftly, the forest parting as Grond manipulated the terrain, guiding them toward the Grey Hills.
Behind them, the guards finally broke through the earthen wall.
Knight Roland: "Aurelia! Aurelia!"
Knight Elise: "She's gone…!"
Fire Mage One: "The mist is fading. No hostile mana signatures detected."
Fire Mage Two: "This doesn't make sense. No residual attack pattern."
Knight Roland clenched his fists.
Knight Roland: "Search the area. She couldn't have gone far."
But there was nothing to find.
No footprints. No broken trail. No lingering spellwork—only disturbed earth and confused mana currents that screamed accident rather than intent.
Far from Sunwood, the Grey Hills loomed—jagged stone rising beneath an overcast sky. An ancient watchtower stood there, half-ruined, forgotten by maps and men alike.
Vorik: "We're here."
Grond: "Bedrock foundation. No tunnels, no vibrations. Perfect."
Inside the tower, Aurelia was laid gently upon an old stone bed lined with clean cloth.
Vorik: "Inform the Viscount. The piece is secured."
Grond: "And the aftermath?"
Vorik: "They will blame chance. Nature. Fate."
He looked down at Aurelia's sleeping face, peaceful and unaware.
Vorik: "That is the most convincing lie of all."
The wind howled through the broken tower windows, carrying the echoes of the forest far behind them, as Viscount Sebastian Arclay's plan reached its silent, flawless conclusion.