First Task

"Your first task is to go to the kingdom of Arathorn," the mysterious man in a black cloak told me.

I couldn't believe what was happening. This mysterious man, dressed in a black cloak, stood before me, giving me a task that seemed impossible. I was a mere servant; how could I go to the kingdom of Arathorn? 

What on earth did I have to do there? I didn't even know where it was.

And who was this man? Why did he kill Lord Damien and save me? What does he want from me?

I tried to look at his face to figure out who he was; however, I couldn't make out his face as it was hidden behind the shadows of his cloak. All I could see were his piercing eyes, staring at me with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine, and I heard his menacing, evil voice. 

"W-who are you?" I repeated my question. 

He smirked. "You don't need to know that." 

"Why are you doing this?" I asked, my voice trembling with confusion and fear.

The man chuckled darkly, his voice sending shivers down my spine. "Do not waste my time, girl," he replied in a deep, menacing tone.

I was about to refuse when suddenly, the man moved his fingers in a swift motion and muttered some words under his breath. I watched in horror as my younger brother appeared in the room, unconscious, with ropes tightly wrapped around his body. I called out his name, but he didn't respond. I rushed towards him, wanting to untie him and ensure he was okay.

But just as I was about to touch him, he disappeared right before my eyes. I was in shock and disbelief. I looked back at the man, panic rising within me.

What kind of power did this man possess?

What had he done to my brother? Was he even alive?

Thinking about my younger brother, who vanished into the air, my fear turned into anger. How dare he use my brother as a pawn in whatever twisted game he was playing.

"What do you want from me?" I demanded, trying to keep my fear at bay. "Who are you? And why are you doing this?"

The man's expression changed, and I could see the malice in his eyes. "I want you to do as I say. There is a task that needs to be completed, and you are the only one who can do it."

But his response was just a simple sentence. "Go to the kingdom of Arathorn." 

"Why me?" I questioned with anger, fear, and helplessness mixed in my voice. 

But then he uttered the words that sent a chill down my spine.

"Don't waste your and my time on these meaningless questions. Just do as I say, or else lose your precious brother's life." 

Tears welled up in my eyes as I realized the gravity of the situation. I couldn't let anything happen to my brother. I couldn't risk his life. He was all I had left in this world. I had no choice but to comply with his demands.

"Okay, I will do as you say," I muttered weakly. 

But deep down, I couldn't shake off the feeling that this man was up to no good. There was something sinister about him, something that sent shivers down my spine.

The man smirked, satisfied with his control over me. "Good, I like obedient people." 

I clenched my hands into a fist and glared at the man hatefully. He was forcing me to do things I didn't want to do, and I had no other option but to comply to save my younger brother's life. The man simply chuckled, not bothered by my hateful glares. Just then, the door flew open, and guards entered the room.

Panic set in as I realized they had seen me in this state, with blood all over me and a dead body at my feet. The guards were shocked and started to approach me, their hands reaching for their weapons.

I tried to explain that I didn't kill Lord Damien, that it was the man in the black cloak who had ordered me to do it. But then I noticed that the man had disappeared from the room. It was as if that man was never here, and all of it was my figment of imagination.

But I knew it wasn't.

It was all real, and Lord Damien's body was the biggest proof of it. My heart dropped as I realized I was on my own. I knew I couldn't let these guards catch me. Otherwise, they would throw me in the dungeon, and I would never be able to complete the task given by that evil man and save my brother's life. 

I had no other option but to run. 

However, the problem was how.

Just then, I heard a voice in my ear. "Jump down the window," it said. I was stunned and realized that it was that evil man's voice. 

Without a second thought, I ran towards the window. 

"Catch her! Don't let her run away!" the head guard screamed after me.

I took a deep breath and jumped out the window. For a brief moment, I felt like I was flying. The cool night air brushed against my face, and I closed my eyes, bracing for the impact of the hard ground. But to my surprise, I landed safely on the ground as if I had been caught by a mysterious force.

I couldn't believe it. I had just jumped from a window, and yet here I was, alive and unharmed. I quickly got up, not wanting to waste any more time. I looked around and quickly escaped the mansion and ran towards the dark forest, hoping that I could escape the guards and do the task that the evil man gave me. 

Coming back to the present, I shook my head to recollect my thoughts. First, it was that mysterious man in a black clock, then that devil. I wondered what else I was going to find in my journey towards the Kingdom of Arathorn.