A loud noise resonates in my head. I slowly open my eyes. The surrounding air is thick with billowing smoke. The nauseating stench of the decaying corpse fills the air. My eyes widen in horror as I come face to face with a severed head, its blond hair drenched in blood. Horror grips me, rendering me speechless, as I gaze into the corpse's vacant, ghostly eyes. The sharp, metallic clang echoes in my mind, drowning out the fear.

"No," I whisper. Not this. It's war. These are the sounds of battle. My vision was the same. The same thick smoke from burned bodies and the sound of swords striking.

"Arkan, look out!"

Ellior's voice rings out. I roll over onto my back and see a blood-covered warrior in armor. He's swinging his sword.

"Oh, Mother," I breathe out in fear.

In a panic, I can feel my pulse quicken, and my hands instinctively fly up to cover my face, preparing for the worst. But the sword clangs against something very close to me. As I open my eyes, I stare at the mesmerizing, shimmering wall right above me. The sword bounces off it with sparks, and the wall disappears. With no time to spare, I hastily crawl back and frantically search for an object to use as a weapon. I run into dead bodies, and I feel nauseous. And the demon, there's no doubt it's a demon, grabs his sword and comes at me with a growl.

Shit. I'm done. I'm just... I'm useless in battles. Really, I'm not kidding. I'm a useless piece of rot. I'll be killed.

Ellior jumps out in front of me, already covered in blood, and draws his sword, deflecting the blow. He throws back the dark one. I jump to my feet and see the spear lying there. Okay, let it be a spear. I can do it. I grab it and glare at Ellior's crisp, fierce blows. Just like in my vision. Except darker, not with red hair.

I have to find a place to hit. Just an unprotected piece of skin, but it looks like the warrior is fully clad in armor. Even his hands are protected. How do we help Ellior?

I realize that I have magic. I don't need a spear. I can just send out a vortex of fire, that's all.

"Ellior, move away! Get back!" I shout out, gathering fire in my hands. He turns at my shout and the dark one wounds him in the arm. His jacket immediately rips and the fabric is soaked with blood. Ellior falls sideways, and that's all I need. I throw up my arms and hit the dark one with firepower. I repeat it over and over until the metal armor warms up from my force. The dark one wriggles in pain, screaming as the metal burns his skin.

What am I doing? I'm killing... mother, I'm killing a living being. That realization makes my power to go out, failing to kill the dark one. I stagger back, looking at my hands in horror. Mor was right. What had I turned into? A murderer?

"Come on. Let's go, Arkan," Ellior grabs my hand and pulls me behind him.

We run through a field strewn with dead bodies. There are fires burning and flashes of fire everywhere. Ellior, with his sword in front of him, covers me, deflecting blows as we meet the dark ones. But seeing anything in such smoke is impossible. The stench of dead bodies and blood eats away at my throat. I look at the dead with pain and deep sadness.

"Let's go. We're currently on dark side territory. We need to get to neutral territory and get to our base camp from there," Ellior says, moving forward. I run after him.

We are being chased by demons; they are shooting arrows at us, and I create a shell around us, like I did then, to protect my friends. It's visible to me, as well as to others. The three attackers snarl ominously from the side, but I repel them with my protective wall. Ellior raises his sword, but I grab his arm and we continue running. My fingers slip uncomfortably over Ellior's hand like something wet, but I try not to think about why his hand is wet. I don't want to think about it. We dash into the ominous forest and keep running. By leaping over lifeless bodies, we distance ourselves more and more from the chase. Ellior abruptly tugs me to the side, using the tree trunk, and presses me against it.

"Take the dome off," he whispers. Breathing quickly, I nod, and the glow fades. We hear the screams of our pursuers. They've lost our trail. I cover my eyes, catching my breath.

"Are they gone?" I whisper.

Ellior peers cautiously out from behind a tree trunk and nods at me.

"Yes, but we need to keep running."

And we run. We run on the scorched and dead land that used to be a forest. With a heavy heart, I survey the mangled and dying trees, the desolate ground where not even a single blade of grass grows. As I raise my head to the sky, all I can see is a thick curtain of smoke, obscuring any view.

"Wait, I can't go on."

I lean against a bruised, shrunken tree, bending down and leaning on my knees. "What the hell is this? Why are we here? Is this an illusion?"

"No, it's not an illusion. It's a time trap," Ellior replies grimly.

"What the hell?" I hiss, straightening up. "How did we get here?"

"Doesn't the word 'trap' mean anything to you?" Ellior snickers wryly.

"Fuck you," I snort, glancing around the black tree crowns.

"You're talking to a prince, Arkan. Don't forget that," he barks at me.

I tsk, shrugging my shoulders indifferently.

"By my reckoning, we're in the middle of wartime. The Dark Ones no longer fight using force, only their skills. We're also in the Dead Forest. Everything here died out during this period. And it became the land of the dark ones. Our camp is in the east, about a day's walk from here. We failed. We were defeated today and had to retreat. We lost this land."

I gulp in fear, glancing around the forest again.

"Okay. How do we get out of here? Don't look at me like that," I tsk."We haven't studied that yet. I'm not good at history at all, and I have no idea about it, or politics. Nor about time traps. I'm just getting familiar with illusions. So tell me, how do we get out of here? There's a way out, isn't there?"

"There is. There's always a way out. Find something that shouldn't be here at this moment."

"Oh, well, yes, it's that easy. And what's that?"

"I don't know! Think!" Ellior flaps his arms angrily, and my gaze lingers on his wound.

"How's your wound?"

"It's fine. It's healed. So, have you thought of anything that might differ from this time?"

"Why should I think about it? You should think about it. You know more. And it was your trap, not mine. You dragged me into it. You dragged me into your room. So this is all for you," I point my hand at the dead nature.

"Actually, I tried to push you away, but you had a dead grip on me. You were the one who forced me to pull you to me, or you would have been torn apart by the force we were moving with. So it's your own fault. You could have let go of my hand."

"I didn't hold you. You were holding me. You..."

"Mother, does it really matter that much right now? We're going to get killed if we don't get to safety and find the artifact that will bring us back."

Okay, he's right. Now's not the time to talk about who's pointing fingers.

"Why do I always get in trouble because of you?" I whisper bitterly. "First Seraphus, now you. And I would have chosen Seraphus as my companion rather than you."

"I'm not even surprised at your choice. As if I would have chosen you. I would have chosen Seraphus too. At least he doesn't whine and thinks rationally and always knows what to do. Oh shit, I definitely want Seraphus here." Ellior lets out a groan and leans against a tree.

I give him a displeased look, drilling into him. He's working to get rid of the bloodstains on his hands, using his already grimy white breeches. Blood and mud cover his tall silver boots.

"Mother Almighty," I whisper in horror as it hits me.

"What?" Ellior throws his head up, squinting his eyes.

"You were dressed exactly like that when you were killed in my vision. Exactly like that. And all of it... everything I saw was there, too. The sounds of battle, the thick smoke, the stench, the fire coming here and there. I saw it, Ellior. There was a wound on your arm, too. It was already there when you fought the dark one. You were wounded identically in my vision as well."

Ellior turns pale and covers his eyes.

"Then it's true. You can see the future."

"Yes, but my visions are blurry and..."

"No, they're not blurry. They're combined and compressed so you can see more than the others." Ellior shakes his head. "That's amazing, Arkan. You have the most unique gift of anyone I have ever known. Even the Oracles don't have it. They see a single event. Their visions can also be jagged, like yours, but they aren't moved in their visions. They can't affect what is happening, they can't be harmed there. They are just observing what is happening. You're part of it. That's what's unique. You can participate in them in the future. Remember, you saw the dead attack, and you had a choice to participate or not. You participated. And it's the same here. You're in a place where I'll be killed. And my life probably depends on you now. What else do you remember about me?"

"You fought. Good, by the way. Very good, but you were exhausted already. Yeah, exhausted because you didn't use your power. You have it now, don't you?"

"I do."

"Good, but in my vision, neither of you used your power. You were sword fighting. Both of you were covered in blood. Your clothes were dirty, but dirtier than you are now. There was also a different hairstyle, just hair gathered in a braid. And you were on the verge of exhaustion. I guess... yeah, exhaustion. That's all I saw. Then the vision changed, and I saw Seraphus."

"So I won't be killed now. To be as exhausted as you described, I'd have to not eat, drink, sleep, and lose all my powers. And that takes time. About seven or eight days for me. But the power...the power was always with me, even when I was kept in the pit. But because I was physically exhausted, I couldn't use it. So it must be the food and water. If I can find that, I might survive."

"Wait, you said we'd be here for seven or eight days?"

"That's just a guess. I don't think you were with me in your vision. It's not like you were fighting alongside me."

"I was behind an invisible wall. I couldn't help. I wanted to, but I couldn't. I was hitting it," I confess.

"There are two explanations here. One, you just weren't here. Two, you were being held by force, prevented from helping me."

"We'll be attacked and then you'll be killed."

"Yeah, probably. And you could help me like you helped Seraphus."

"I didn't do anything at all. Really. All I did was pierce my chest with an arrow meant for him," I snort.

"Or you could just watch, as in a vision, and do nothing. After all, it's to your advantage for me to die."

"What?" My eyes widen with shock.

"Am I not right? I'm the only one standing between you and Seraphus. If I bite the dust, you're free to be with him."

"What the hell are you talking about?" I'm indignant.

"It's just a fact. You're in love with Seraphus," Ellior squints, accusing me of having feelings for his man.

"So what? It's not a crime. And I know you and him are true ones and will be together forever."

"But if I die..."

"Stop this nonsense, Ellior! Stop it! I would never do such a thing, even if I don't like you, and I don't think you deserve Seraphus. But I would never condemn you to death because of my feelings. They're mine, okay? They don't belong to you or Seraphus. They are mine, and I'll deal with them on my own. And as for your death. You think I can stand by and let you die? Are you out of your mind?! I couldn't even take out the one who almost got us! I couldn't, and I certainly couldn't let you die because Seraphus still loves you. You..."

"Wait," Ellior throws his hand up, scowling. "What did you say? You didn't kill the dark one?"

"No, I couldn't." I bite my lip and shake my head.

"Are you a fucking idiot, Arkan? Do you realize what you've done? You left a witness alive. A witness from the dark ones. They're our enemies now. And that bastard will tell his squad and his commander that there's an elf prince and a deserter here. And the deserter is you. You used dark power, so they'll conclude you're one of them. What the fuck did you do? Why didn't you kill him?!"

"Because he's a living being!" I shout out. "He's a living being! I can't kill a living being!"

"He wanted to kill you without remorse!"

"But that's his choice, not mine. I can't kill. I can't, okay? I'm not a killer."

"Oh, Mother, what the hell?" Ellior rubs the bridge of his nose angrily. "We're finished. We're just dead. Now the dark ones know I'm here. I'm a source of power to them, just like you. They will hunt us. We're on their land. They'll send mercenaries after us, and we'll never get out of here. You know, sometimes you have to be tough, Arkan. These are the enemy."

"Your enemies, not mine. I have no enemies. And I'm not the dark one to be a deserter. I have light power in me."

"But they don't know that! They'd better not, or they'll torture you for a long, long time. You should have killed him. You must. You have to kill, Arkan, especially here. Either you or them. What will you choose?"

"Solve the problem peacefully?" I ask him hopefully.

"Look around us!" Ellior growls angrily. "Look around, this is war. It'll be a long time before we sign a peace treaty! And... oh, we can't go to our camp."

"Why? They're the light ones. They should help you."

"That's exactly the point. Right now, I'm at the castle with my father and my brothers. I can't be in two places at once. If they see me, there will be a time storytelling jam and the future will change. We can't change the future. We can't interfere with the course of events. Things have to stay the way they are now, or we'll probably have nowhere to go back to."

"Then why the hell are you blaming me for not being able to kill the dark one?! If we can't change anything, we can't kill."

"He'll be dead, anyway. There are soldiers here, and a lot of them didn't come home. Most didn't come home. One more, one less. It doesn't matter. What I mean is, we can't interfere with major events. Like me showing up at a military base when I'm actually home right now. If they see me, I'll have to lead the army. I know I can lead them. I've done it before. And I know the future, but if I get involved, it'll ruin everything. I can't watch them die and I'll give them something that will decide the outcome of the war in our favor and there will be no peace treaty. And if there is no peace treaty, there will be persecution of the dark ones. Seraphus will be killed."

A sigh of despair escapes my lips.

"So we can't get to the base camp."

"No, we can't go there. We need to find a safe place, food and water, and then we'll figure out how to find the artifact. It's always close. We have to be very careful. It could be anything. Literally anything, even pantaloons, could be from our time period. Fashions have changed a bit among the world's citizens, so keep your eyes peeled. One more thing, we're not allowed to use magic power."

"What? But why?"

"This is a Dead Forest. There's nothing alive here, Arkan. Absolutely nothing alive. And we can be found quickly by a magical trail. The dark will smell it and come after us. So no magic here until we're out of the woods. Understood?"

"But how do I defend myself if we are attacked again?"

"There are a lot of swords lying around. Find one you like better."

"Are you serious? I'm useless in battle. Ask my teacher. I can't handle any of the weapons."

"What, but how?" Ellior frowns in bewilderment.

"I'm a servant," I remind him grimly. "I was born and lived in a time of peace. I was never trained in sword fighting. I grabbed a sword the first time we were in the illusion with Seraphus. And I didn't fight, I just waved my sword like a flag. I've only ever held a potato peeler before. My powers are all I have. I can make a dome, but not for long. I can control all the elements. I can also take on the appearance of others, but not for long, a few hours at most."

I'm ashamed now that I didn't even try to learn close combat in the past. Looking at Ellior and his emotions running across his face, I feel so useless. I'm more of a burden than a helper.

"Okay," he suddenly smiles at me and pushes himself away from the tree. "It's okay. We'll be fine. We'll take it as it comes. Deal?"

"Deal."

"Then let's go towards our camp. There should be villages there that have already been looted and some houses are empty. We can stop there and think about what to do next. Keep your eyes wide open, Arkan. Even a button lying on the ground could be the key to salvation."

"I got it."

I have to follow Ellior because I didn't know there was a Dead Forest in our world at all. Or maybe I never paid attention to this land when searching for Lua.

"Our missing will be noticed," Ellior utters, trying to reassure me, apparently.

I glance at him and shake my head negatively.

"I don't think so," I hum.

"Trust me, your absence is sure to be noticed by both Seraphus and your adorers," Ellior snorts.

"Hardly likely," I say again.

"Arkan, come on, don't sell yourself short. You're popular, and that's a fact. My brother drools over you, and so does that damn dragon, and so does the demon, and so does the fairy, and so does... Seraphus. So cut the crap, it annoys me," Ellior hisses angrily, even jealously.

"That's not why I'm so sure my absence will be unnoticed. I planned to leave this night," I admit with a sigh. Ellior stops, forcing me to stop as well.

"What?"

"Yeah, I was getting ready to run away tonight, and I did everything I could to buy time tomorrow. I asked the headmaster for a day off tomorrow. Lying to him, I wasn't feeling well and would just like to rest for a day. He'll probably report it to Seraphus and everyone will think, as will the headmaster, that I've gotten sick and I'm just in my room. No one will enter my room since I put a protection on it yesterday. I closed the curtains tightly so that the gargoyles can't look inside the room and see that I'm not there. So I don't think they'll notice I'm missing," I whisper, kicking the dry ground beneath my feet.

"But why did you decide to do it? Why?"

"Because of you." I look angrily into his eyes. "You ratted me out to Seraphus. I confessed to him I'm not Lua, and it's only a matter of time before the information reaches the headmaster and from him to Isengard. I should have found Lua before you screwed things up. Besides, you threatened me with it, didn't you? All because of you. You showed up and ruined everything. You don't care what your blackmail brings, and I know you'd turn me in for revenge on me. You hate me and it's obvious. That's why I'll protect the ones I care about. And Lua is the closest to me. I won't let him get hurt, not even by a prince."

Stepping around Ellior, I purposely shove him with my shoulder and walk forward. Asshole. As if he didn't understand the reasons I had to run away from the House.

"Arkan," the elf grabs my arm and turns me around roughly, "you had to realize I was bluffing, right? I wouldn't have told Nock. And not just because I'd be strangled by Seraphus for it, but because I realize you had your reasons for doing so. I know Isengard. I know what he's capable of. And I'm not surprised that Luappo agreed to your plan."

"It wasn't my plan. It was Lua's. I wanted to run away with him, but then he wouldn't have time for what he was planning. I was just buying time for us. And I would have left, anyway. Not today, maybe in a week. As soon as Lua sent me that everything is okay, then I would have left the Land of Knowledge and gotten lost." I pull my hand out of his.

"But it's unwise. It is utterly unwise, because if you disappear, Isengard will know that his son has escaped and will call him back, just as he will call you back. You are his slave, you are his servant, and you belong to him, just as his son does."

"I belong to no one!" I shout out. "I'm not a slave. I'm not branded. He failed to brand me when I was a child."

Ellior grabs me by the shoulders and turns me around. He lifts my hair where the branding should be and sighs.

"But how? It's a magical branding. It can't be erased or destroyed."

"I don't know why it didn't stay on me. I was creating the illusion on my skin that it was there. It was Lua who noticed I didn't have the branding," I explain when Ellior lets me go. "First, he drew it himself, and then I learned how to create it on my skin when I showed up at the castle. That's why Isengard can't summon me. I don't belong to him and I never will. Come on, we can't waste any time."

I head forward, hating myself for having to show Ellior. This was my secret. Our secret with Lua, and now the elf prince knows and it could end badly. Why did I say that? Couldn't I think of another excuse? I'm an idiot.

"No one will help us. They won't be looking for us," Ellior says, catching up with me.

"They will be looking for you. Seraphus will notice your absence and panic. So help will come."

"That's not true." Ellior shakes his head. "You can't walk into a trap twice. So even if Seraphus checks my room, he won't be able to enter here. The trap only works for one way in and one way out. And that's not all the reasons why they won't be looking for me. We lied to Nock."

"Lied? Lied about what?"

"I could have easily gone home," Ellior hums. "I just didn't want to."

"What?" I look at Ellior, shocked, and he nods, confirming my words.

"Yes, Seraphus and I decided it was the right thing to do. Seraphus didn't fully understand your vision, and I was curious, so I stayed. But when he finds out I'm gone, he won't look for me. I've done that a lot in the past. I've run away from the House for days at a time. I've left him and... well, he'll just move on. Maybe even be glad I left on my own. He hates me. He wished I'd leave him alone and free him up to be with you."

"What the bullshit?" I tsk, rolling my eyes. "Seraphus only felt lust for me, that's all. He was also attracted to my powers. I mean, I've been inside his mind. I know what he's really thinking and feeling."

"You've been inside his mind?"

"Yeah," I cringe. "I don't know why or how it happened, but I was there. It was like I was a bystander in his mind. And I was there when you talked to him. When you threatened him with using me. So I know for a fact that Seraphus still has feelings for you. You're both damn fools to think some artifact can free you from the Mother's gift. No. You repressed those feelings in yourselves and couldn't even live well, which proves you're still the true you and that's not going to change. Seraphus didn't feel his emotions for you before, but now he does, and so do you. You're just better at hiding it than he is. Don't deny it. I know. I just know and I can't explain it. You're more cowardly than he is. That's the reason. You're more afraid than he is. But you still love each other. That's why Seraphus won't just accept that you're missing. He'll ask the headmaster to check on you. And when he finds out you haven't come home, he'll definitely look for you. He may not be able to help you, but he'll know something's happened to you. And also, feelings. It's a strong bond, Ellior. Seraphus will sense that you're in danger, and he'll look for ways to help you. So you certainly don't have to worry about Seraphus' indifference or desire for me. You have no barriers to be with him."

"What makes you think I want to be with Seraphus at all?" Ellior smirks.

"Then you're just an idiot," I snort.

"Maybe. Did you ever think that one Seraphus wasn't enough for me?"

I arch a questioning eyebrow.

"You're impotent. You can't sleep with anyone," I smile. "So it's unlikely that anyone would be interested in you. Although someone might want your power only and you as a puppet. And if that's what's closest to you, then you're a complete idiot."

"No, that's not what I'm talking about, Arkan. Maybe I'm not enough for Seraphus. And he's not enough for me."

"I don't know what you're talking about at all. And it's none of my business. It's none of my business what you and Seraphus have to do with each other. Let's drop the subject. Now let's go."

"I have a lot of interesting things to say."

"I'm not interested. Shut the damn thing down, Ellior. Nothing about you or him concerns me. End of the chat."

Turning abruptly, I walk forward, hearing Ellior move behind me. Asshole. Why did he bring up the subject? And what did he mean by that? Yeah, I'm interested, but was it possible that even though they were the true ones, they were cheating on each other? Is that possible? But how? It's... betrayal, a cruel and vile betrayal. Why did Mother choose them for each other? It's not fair. It's...

Ellior suddenly grabs my hand and clamps his palm over my mouth. I twitch in his arms.

"Quiet. We're not alone here," he barely audibly whispers in my ear. "Listen to yourself. Feel the life around you."

Nodding that I understand, I listen. Ellior removes his hand from my lips, which now reeks of blood. Gross. But he doesn't let go of my waist, pulling me against him, which distracts me quite a bit. Has he always smelled like that? I didn't notice before that Ellior's scent was so floral and cool. Light and very pleasant.

"Did you feel it?" He asks. Not really, but I nod. I'm distracted by his scent, which even overpowers the stench of dead blood now on my face. I quickly rub my mouth and move away from him.

"Let's go. Be quiet," Ellior, holding my hand, moves forward completely silently and carefully. I have to follow him, but I think it's idiotic. Going to the dark? What for?

Up ahead, I can see the campfire and now I can feel the energy and power. It's like there's nothing around us. That's what the Dead Forest feels like. Usually, you can pick up energy from the trees, grass, and even the air, and the fairies drink this energy, which gives them powers. It's empty here, but I can feel the living energy, and it's full of rage, hatred, and a sticky venom that gives my skin goosebumps of disgust.

We get close enough to see a group of dark ones standing around a fire. They throw the elf's dead body into it, and the fire bursts into flames, spreading the stench of burnt skin. Oh, mother, so cruel. Why?

"Great. Another dagger filled," comes the gruff voice of a warrior standing with his back to us. He twirls the dagger in his hands and tucks it behind his belt. "But we need more. I'll head to the camp. You look for survivors and gather more of their powers, then mutilate the bodies and give them to those bastards. Create a show for them, let them suffer and see what we'll do to them."

I shudder at the hatred in the warrior's hiss. Abusing the bodies of the dead is unacceptable. It's a betrayal of Mother. A betrayal of all living creatures. Why hasn't Mother stopped this until now? Why has she allowed this to happen?

"Yes, Dark Master. All will be done."

"Split into two groups so it'll be faster. I can feel the energy, and it's close. I think it won't be long before we defeat them and win. We must. Also, my brother and father will be here soon. Father promised us that my brother would share his power. He's a hundred years old, he's reached his first adulthood, and we need him. You remember the plan, right?"

"Distract the king and pull all the power out of Seraphus, then accuse him of treason."

"You have prepared everything to distract my father?"

"Yes, our warriors will retreat specifically in the north and allow the light to pass on. The king will rush there and we'll ostensibly guard Seraphus. We have everything ready, Dark Master. Don't worry. All will be fulfilled."

"Excellent. That's perfect. I'll meet you back at base camp."

The dark one nods to the others and heads in the opposite direction from us. In the firelight, I catch the reddish color of his hair in a tight braid. The warriors begin to disperse when we hear stomping behind us. Ellior turns sharply and pulls me to his right. We won't escape. We're surrounded by dark ones.

"Get in. Come on," Ellior pushes me toward an empty oak tree. I quickly climb inside, but there isn't enough space for him.

"Ellior." I grab him by his uniform, trying to pull him over to me, but he shakes his head. His eyes flash with a bright silver light and a deep shadow falls over me from him. His body, from his back, turns to bark, covering the hole of the tree.

"Dark Master!" A shout goes up.

"He's gone to the camp. What happened?"

"We received word from the castle. Everything is ready. The traitor has been found, and he has agreed to partner with us."

"That's awesome. I'll tell the Dark Master, we'll have a lot of power. A really lot of power and we'll destroy all the light ones."

"Go to the Dark Master. Go on. Give him the good news. And you be ready. You will go through the portal. I'll send a message to the traitor myself. We'll win. There's not much left. Let's get to work, and then we'll celebrate."

With a cheer, the dark ones leave, and I realize only now that I haven't even been breathing. I glance at Ellior, and a tear runs down his cheek. His body transforms back, and he sighs, clutching the bark of the oak tree with strength.

"Ellior," I whisper, touching the path from his tear.

"They're coming for me. And from this day on, everyone will hate me because my daddy will sacrifice himself for me. They'll take him instead of me." he exhales painfully.

Oh, mother.