Chapter 25

The hours slipped by as I read late into the night, unable to tear myself away from the book. I learned how Kyrell and his men had caused the extinction of dragons centuries ago, slaughtering them to the brink of death. The witch’s curse was a punishment for his cruelty, dooming him to live for hundreds of years, forced to watch his people suffer as his kingdom crumbled into ruins. My eyes widened in shock. Kyrell must be nearly three hundred years old. That would explain his pale, grey skin and the emptiness in his eyes—a man cursed to an eternity of misery.

As I continued reading, I discovered that the book also mentioned something I hadn’t realized before—Kyrell and his people had magical powers too. But with the magical barrier over Dravonia, no one could use their powers within the barrier. That would explain why I wasn’t able to summon my powers the night they captured me. My heart sank as I thought about how helpless I had felt, unable to call on the magic that had been a part of me.


The book went on to describe Dravonia before the curse, and I felt a chill run down my spine. Even before the witch had placed her curse on the land, Dravonia was already a dark and evil place. They sold women like cattle and used them as slaves, their lives worth nothing more than the pleasure they could provide. The Dravonians had magical powers, but they weren’t like the Elementals of Valtor. Their magic was darker, more twisted, and I could remember the night they pierced through the magical forcefield at the Elemental Games with their explosive magic. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before, a power fueled by something far more sinister than the elemental forces I was used to.

My thoughts swirled with the horrifying truths I was uncovering. Dravonia wasn’t just cursed—it was evil to its core. The curse hadn’t changed the nature of the place; it had only amplified the darkness that was already there. And now, I was trapped in this forsaken land, surrounded by people who would see me as nothing more than another tool to be used and discarded.

But despite the fear eating at my insides, I felt a flicker of resolve. I couldn’t let this place break me. I had to find a way to survive, to outsmart Kyrell and his cursed followers, and to escape this dark kingdom before it consumed me like it had so many others.

As the first light of dawn began to break through the clouds, I closed the book and clutched it to my chest. I felt a strange mixture of fear and determination rising within me. This wasn’t just about survival anymore—it was about finding a way to fight back against the darkness that had taken so much from me.

One thing was clear: I couldn’t give up. Not now, not ever. The fate of more than just myself could depend on what I did next.

I was just about to drift off to sleep when I heard the sound of a key turning in the door. My heart skipped a beat, and I sat up, clutching the book against my chest, trying to keep my breathing steady. The door creaked open, and the girl from the other day—the one who had brought me food—entered the room. She carried another tray, and the scent of food wafted through the air, making my stomach growl involuntarily.

She placed the tray on a small table near the window, and I couldn't help but stare at it, my hunger clawing at me. The girl glanced at me and gave a small, almost sympathetic smile. " You must eat up and gather your strength for the day," she said softly.

I furrowed my brow, confused. " Why would I need my strength?" I asked, my voice laced with suspicion. After everything that had happened, I had learned not to take anything at face value in this cursed place.

The girl hesitated for a moment, her eyes flickering with something I couldn’t quite place—fear, maybe? She looked away as if avoiding my gaze. " The king has plans for you today. He’s taking you to the harvesting," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

I raised an eyebrow. " Harvesting?" I repeated, trying to keep my voice neutral, though my mind was already racing. What kind of harvesting would require me to gather my strength? I hadn’t seen any fields or crops since I’d been here, but then again, I hadn’t seen much of Dravonia outside the dark castle walls. Maybe there were fields somewhere out there, hidden behind the constant gloom.

The girl didn’t elaborate, and I decided not to press her. Whatever this harvesting was, it couldn’t be that bad—right? I had faced worse things already, and I was still standing. I nodded casually, pretending to accept it without concern. " Alright," I said, picking up the fork and starting to eat. I had to admit, the food was better than I expected, and the hunger gnawing at my insides made it taste even better.

As I ate, the girl busied herself around the room, straightening the sheets on the bed and tidying up. She moved with a certain nervous energy, her hands trembling slightly as she worked. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this " harvesting " than she was letting on, but I kept my thoughts to myself.

When I finished eating, she took the tray and headed for the door. Before she left, she paused and looked at me, her expression conflicted. " Please be careful today," she said, her voice barely audible. I also noticed that she did not carry the symbol on her forehead like the Morgan and my captors.

I frowned, opening my mouth to ask her what she meant, but she had already slipped out the door, locking it behind her. I sat there for a moment, her words echoing in my mind. Be careful. What was I supposed to be careful of? The uncertainty weighed at me, but I pushed it aside. I had to be ready for whatever was coming next.

With the food settling in my stomach and the book still clutched in my hands, I tried to steel myself for the day ahead. Whatever the king had planned for me, I would face it head-on. After all, there was no turning back now.

After I finished my meal, the young girl returned, this time carrying a bucket of steaming water. I watched as she poured it into the basin, the steam rising and filling the room with a warmth that felt foreign in this cold, dark place. I wasn't sure why she was preparing a bath for me—maybe it was to clean me up before this mysterious harvesting event she had mentioned.

She worked quickly, not saying a word, as she prepared the bath. When the basin was filled, she stepped back and handed me a clean dress. Not that it looked new—it was old and worn, but it was clean, and that was enough for me. After everything I’d been through, I was grateful for anything that didn’t smell like dampness and despair.

Once I had bathed and put on the dress, she moved behind me, her fingers gentle yet efficient as she began to untangle and prepare my hair. As she worked, I decided to break the silence. " I don't think we've been properly introduced," I said softly. " I'm Meara. What's your name?"

She hesitated, her fingers pausing in my hair for a moment before she resumed. " Claire," she finally whispered, almost as if she was afraid to tell me.

" Claire," I repeated, trying to offer her a reassuring smile. " Thank you for helping me, Claire. Can I ask you something?" She didn’t respond, but she didn’t stop me either, so I took that as a sign to continue. " Can you tell me more about the harvesting games? I’ve never been to one before."

Her hands stilled in my hair, and I could feel the tension in her body. " If I could choose," she said quietly, " I wouldn't go to the harvesting games at all. They're vicious and cruel."
I turned slightly to look at her, frowning. " What do you mean? What happens at these games?"

Claire’s eyes were filled with a mix of fear and sadness as she met my gaze. " It's where they take people—innocent people—and make them look like criminals. Even children," she whispered, her voice trembling. " They put them in a pit with a creature… a monster. And the crowds… they cheer as it kills them, one by one. Even the little ones."

My blood ran cold. I felt a wave of nausea rise within me as I tried to process what she had just said. The thought of innocent people, children, being slaughtered for the king’s entertainment made my stomach churn. I could hardly believe it, yet the fear in Claire’s eyes told me it was all too real.