Fang slowly opened her eyes and wiped away the tears clinging to her lashes.
A breeze rustled through the trees. She sat up, dazed, surrounded by mountains and silence.
Her legs wobbled slightly as she stood, but she steadied herself and walked toward the edge of the slope. In the distance, she heard faint murmurs—footsteps echoing like whispers. She followed the sound, parting a thick patch of grass to reveal a narrow path carved into the mountainside like an ancient road.
Her eyes lit up in relief.
"Finally!" she whispered, stepping onto the path.
But the moment she did, the travelers along the road turned—and froze.
Their eyes widened in alarm. Their features weren't fully human—elongated ears, glowing yellow eyes, and a quiet, unmistakable aura of wolves.
Fang hesitated, lifting a hand in a small wave. "Hi…"
Panic rippled through the crowd.
"Enemy clan!" someone shouted. "Call the guards!"
Fang blinked. "W-What? Wait! I'm not an enemy!"
She tried to chase after them, her voice cracking. "Please wait! I'm not here to hurt anyone!"
But before she could catch up, a rush of soldiers came barreling down the road. In a swift, rehearsed motion, they surrounded her. Ropes lashed around her wrists before she could even breathe.
"Let me go! At least ask me who I am!" she cried out as they dragged her away, dirt scraping her knees.
The bindings bit into her skin.
She turned her head and screamed into the wind,
"Syaoran! Where did you disappear to?!"
---
Meanwhile, in the Lycan Realm…
Syaoran sat at breakfast with the Queen, chewing absentmindedly on a slice of roasted meat.
Suddenly, he choked.
The Queen quickly patted his back. "Eat slowly, my son!"
He cleared his throat and muttered, "That was strange…"
Then narrowed his eyes slightly.
Why did it feel like someone… just screamed my name?
---
Back in the mountain stronghold…
Fang was thrown into a dark cell. The metal gate slammed behind her with a final, echoing thud.
Dust filled the air. A thin beam of sunlight pierced the stone wall through a high slit, but offered no warmth. The cells weren't separated—just barren spaces in a shared hall. The stone was freezing.
She clutched the rusty bars and shouted, "Let me out! I didn't do anything!"
No answer.
She slumped onto a dried patch of straw and pressed her fingers to her temples, muttering in disbelief.
Around her, shadowy faces peered from other cells—watching her, whispering. Gawking.
Her jaw clenched.
"What are you all looking at? Shut your mouths!"
The whispers stopped instantly. The watchers retreated like frightened children.
---
In the palace…
Syaoran lay on his bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling.
Taio entered quietly. "Your Majesty… is something wrong with your heart?"
Syaoran sat up. "What now?"
Taio hesitated. "The soul-connected room… it's blinking again."
Syaoran's eyes sharpened. He shot out of bed and raced toward it.
Inside, the chamber was glowing.
Energy rippled along the walls, brighter than before. He placed a hand over his chest—his own magic was stable—but the room buzzed with tension.
"Something's changed…" he whispered.
Turning to Taio, his tone turned ice-cold.
"From now on, no one enters this room. Not even Grandfather. No exceptions unless I say so."
Taio bowed low. "Yes, Your Majesty."
---
Back in the cold prison…
Fang's stomach let out a loud growl.
Two days. She hadn't eaten in two days.
A soldier passed her cell. She stood quickly, grasping the bars.
"Excuse me… can I please have some food?"
He didn't even glance at her.
Her arms fell to her sides.
She sat down slowly, her back against the wall, eyes burning with unshed tears.
"Even my parents… even when they yelled or beat me… they still gave me food," she whispered.
Her voice cracked.
"But here… they don't even look at me."