Survive

The Kingdom of Jade, located in the Eastern region of the continent, was renowned for its quality jade and culture. As a matter of fact, every and any type of jade belonged to their vast lands.

These jadestones were shipped and traded to other kingdoms and regions of the continent with high prices. Due to its high demand and beautiful appearance, it became the number one product in the market that has stolen everybody's heart.

True to their jade's presence, the kingdom was aesthetically cut and sculpted from all kinds of precious jade. According to the tourists that passed through the borders and stayed in the kingdom, the entire Kingdom of Jade glistened and sparkled like jade. It was a mystifying sight to behold.

However, due to the rise and fall of smaller and bigger kingdoms, the jade produced from their land slowly became too common and overspread that it could even be found on the streets like rocks. Slowly, the production and market for jade slowed down and the funds of the Royal Family took the brunt of the slump.

King Guillo lived most of his life under the care of his father, who first introduced the production of jade and never learned how to properly rule a kingdom. Greedy to achieve the greatest wealth in the world, he excavated every land that could produce high quality jade, overturning the villages and leaving most of its occupants, begging and homeless on the streets.

But it was still not enough.

The King could sense the impending ruination of the Royal Family of the Kingdom of Jade. He could see that the nobles and royal family relatives were starting to eye the throne. They wanted to usurp the throne and take it from his hands. And he will never allow them to succeed in doing so.

Thus, when he learned of the mark that appeared on one of his many daughters, King Guillo's mind quickly worked. He instantly thought of a solution to all his problems. A mark from a Tarvan was akin to having the world wrapped in his palms. With a daughter mated and married to a Tarvan, he could do anything and still be forgiven. The power of a Tarvan was far more destructive and powerful than a fire eating away a forest or a storm rampaging a city.

That was the plan. King Guillo was just a hair's breadth away from achieving his dreams of ruling the world.

Until last night, where his daughter went missing from the Temple.

Did the Tarvan take his daughter with him? Then, why did he not receive a report from Talia of how everything was going on with her? Why didn't the Tarvan appear before him before taking his daughter. What kind of disrespect was this?

King Guillo grew even more irritable when he thought of Talia not meeting the standards of a Tarvan, turning this union into jeopardy.

Could it really be like this? King Guillo thought that he should have pushed through the idea of further disciplining and educating Talia so that she could become a perfect bride for the Tarvan.

But it was already too late. He had escorted Talia to the Tarvan. King Guillo could only place all his bets on Talia and hope that she may be able to entertain the Lord of Beasts, enough for him to allow the Kingdom of Jade a moment of prosperity and fortune.

However, what King Guillo didn't know was that the daughter he was pinning all his burdens and hopes for the revival and wealth of the Kingdom of jade, was not taken nor was she accepted by the Tarvan. She was rejected. Ruthlessly so and even twice at that.

And most importantly, Talia has left his web and ran away.

…

Those who had undergone a near-death experience might have been rejoicing in being brought back to life. On the other hand, Talia wished she could have just stayed dead in that forest and never to worry about where she will go now that she had escaped from the castle and what she'll do from now on.

Being kept inside the castle for so long, Talia was embarrassed to say that she had little knowledge of the world. What she knew was only limited to what her father handed to her in the form of books, and what she learned from the guards training on the training grounds.

All in all, Talia doubted she could survive anywhere with little help.

However, since she had already escaped from her father's clutches and promised to never be in the presence of the man who rejected her to be his mate, Talia didn't want to be a coward after taking a step outside her comfort and go back to her father, who will forever rob her freedom from her.

Despite gathering a bit of her consciousness, her body was aching all over from her previous deadly fight with a Feeral, which was still lying beside her, lifeless and cold. The sky was overcast with thick clouds and the sun was already setting. Talia was surprised to find out that she had been knocked unconscious on the ground for several hours.

And yet, nobody had found her. Could it be that her father had given up after learning the fact that she was once again rejected by the Lord of Beasts? Could her father be so kind and considerate as to release her from his guard?

Talia didn't think so. From the moment she learned how to be subservient to her father, she could tell how little his affection towards her from the intensity of the whip that slashed through her skin.

Then, it could only mean that he was still clueless about her running away.

It was too bad that she was not allowed the satisfaction of knowing how she angered and disappointed her father. However, Talia thought that this was for the best. Without him pursuing her to the ends of the world to take back to the castle and control, she could get a sense of security over her freedom.