Chapter 11

### **Chapter 11: Into the Enchanted Forest**

The morning sun cast a pale light over Ravenscroft Castle, but the warmth that usually accompanied it was absent. Lena awoke with a sense of urgency, her mind already fixated on the task ahead. The encounter with Harrison the previous night had shaken her deeply. The man she had come to know, who had begun to show signs of trust and even warmth toward her, seemed to have been replaced by a cold, hollow version of himself. Whatever was happening to him—and to the castle—was beyond anything she had anticipated.

After a quick breakfast, Lena made her way to the stables. She was determined to reach the Enchanted Forest as soon as possible. The castle's usual bustle seemed subdued, as if everyone sensed the growing unease that hung in the air. The servants avoided her gaze, and even the horses seemed restless, their hooves pawing the ground anxiously.

As she prepared to mount her horse, Vivienne appeared, her face pale with worry. "Sister, where are you going?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Lena hesitated. She hadn't planned on telling Vivienne about her intentions, but the girl's concern was genuine, and Lena realized that leaving without a word might only cause more harm. "I have to investigate something important, Vivienne. Something that could help us all."

Vivienne's eyes widened with fear. "But the forest—it's dangerous. You've heard the stories. No one who goes there returns the same."

Lena stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on Vivienne's shoulder. "I know the risks, but I also know that if I don't do this, the danger here at Ravenscroft could grow even worse. I need you to trust me."

Vivienne swallowed, her hands clasping tightly in front of her. "Then let me come with you. I can help."

Lena smiled softly but shook her head. "No, Vivienne. I need you to stay here and keep an eye on things. If anything happens—if you notice anything unusual—you must tell me the moment I return."

Vivienne's expression was conflicted, but she eventually nodded. "Please be careful, Sister."

With a final, reassuring nod, Lena mounted her horse and rode off. As she left the castle grounds behind, the weight of her mission settled on her shoulders. The Enchanted Forest was known in Valoria as a place of ancient magic, where the boundaries between reality and the supernatural were blurred. Lena had read about it in "Eclipsed Love," but the book had only hinted at its mysteries. Now, she was about to experience them firsthand.

The journey to the forest was uneventful but tense. The landscape around her changed gradually from the rolling hills and cultivated fields to untamed wilderness. The path narrowed, the trees growing denser and taller as she approached the edge of the forest. By the time she reached its entrance, the sun was high in the sky, though its light seemed muted, as if the forest itself absorbed it.

Lena dismounted, her heart pounding as she stared into the dark expanse before her. The trees were ancient, their twisted trunks and gnarled roots hinting at the age-old secrets they guarded. A thick mist clung to the ground, swirling around her ankles as she took her first steps into the forest.

The air was thick with the scent of earth and moss, and an eerie silence enveloped her. No birds sang, no animals stirred. The only sound was the faint rustling of leaves, as if the forest itself was whispering to her.

Lena forced herself to focus. She needed to find a source of magic, something or someone that could help her understand what was happening at Ravenscroft Castle. She walked deeper into the forest, the path beneath her feet barely visible through the mist. Every now and then, she caught glimpses of movement in the corners of her vision—shadows that disappeared when she turned to look.

As she ventured further, the sense of being watched grew stronger. Lena's breath quickened, her instincts screaming that she was not alone. But she couldn't turn back now. She needed answers.

After what felt like hours of walking, Lena came to a clearing. In the center stood a massive oak tree, its branches reaching high into the sky, its roots sprawling out like the veins of the earth. The tree was unlike any Lena had ever seen—its bark was silver, and its leaves shimmered with an ethereal light.

As she approached the tree, Lena felt a pulse of energy emanating from it, a deep, ancient power that thrummed in the air. This was it. This was the heart of the forest's magic.

Lena reached out, her hand hovering just above the bark of the tree. As her fingers brushed against it, she felt a surge of power, a connection forming between her and the tree. Images flashed before her eyes—memories, visions of the past, of people who had stood in this very spot, seeking the forest's wisdom.

Then, a voice echoed in her mind, soft and distant, like the rustling of leaves in the wind. *"Why have you come, child of another world?"*

Lena froze, her heart skipping a beat. The voice was neither male nor female, but something beyond human, ancient and wise. "I've come seeking answers," she replied, her voice trembling. "The castle—Ravenscroft—there's something wrong. Shadows are growing, and the people I care about are in danger."

The voice was silent for a moment, as if considering her words. *"The shadows you speak of are not of this world. They are remnants of a curse, born from the darkest magic. It is a curse that has been lying dormant, but now, it stirs once more."*

Lena's mind raced. A curse? That wasn't part of the story she knew. "What kind of curse?" she asked, desperate for more information.

*"Long ago, a powerful sorcerer, driven by vengeance and hatred, cursed the land of Valoria and its people. The curse was sealed by the first Ravenscroft, a knight of great honor, but it was never truly destroyed. The darkness you see now is the curse beginning to break free. And if it is not stopped, it will consume everything."*

Lena's blood ran cold. This was far worse than she had imagined. "How can I stop it?" she asked, her voice filled with urgency.

The voice sighed, a sound like the wind through the trees. *"The curse is tied to the bloodline of the Ravenscrofts, and to the very land itself. To stop it, you must find the source of the curse and destroy it. But be warned, the curse is cunning. It will use the ones you love against you. Trust no one completely, for the shadows can twist even the purest of hearts."*

Lena's thoughts turned to Harrison. Was he already being controlled by the curse? The thought filled her with dread. She had to act quickly, but she needed more information. "Where is the source of the curse? How do I find it?"

The voice grew softer, as if fading away. *"Seek the one who first cast the curse. His legacy is hidden in the ruins of the old kingdom, deep within the forest. There, you will find what you seek. But remember, child, the path you walk is fraught with danger. Be strong, for the fate of Valoria rests on your shoulders."*

Before Lena could ask any more questions, the connection broke, and the forest around her returned to its usual stillness. She staggered back, her head spinning from the revelation. A curse tied to the Ravenscroft bloodline, hidden ruins, and the fate of Valoria—this was so much more than she had ever anticipated.

Lena took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She knew what she had to do, but the task ahead was daunting. The ruins of the old kingdom were a place of legend, said to be cursed and forgotten by time. Few had ever ventured there, and even fewer had returned.

But she had no choice. If she was going to save Harrison, Vivienne, and everyone else at Ravenscroft, she had to find the source of the curse and destroy it.

As she turned to leave the clearing, Lena felt a presence behind her. She spun around, her heart leaping into her throat, only to find herself face to face with Prince Adrien Valoria.

The prince was dressed in his usual fine attire, but there was something different about him. His eyes, usually so full of charm and warmth, were dark and intense, as if he too had been touched by the forest's magic.

"Prince Adrien?" Lena gasped, her mind racing. How had he found her here?

"Lady Seraphina," Adrien replied, his voice calm but laced with a tension she hadn't heard before. "I could ask you the same question. What brings you to this dangerous place?"

Lena's instincts screamed at her to be cautious. She couldn't reveal too much, not until she understood Adrien's intentions. "I was… seeking answers," she said carefully. "There are things happening at Ravenscroft that I can't explain."

Adrien studied her for a moment, his gaze piercing. "And did you find the answers you were looking for?"

Lena hesitated. She wasn't sure how much she could trust him, but she needed allies if she was going to face what lay ahead. "I found something," she admitted, "but it only raised more questions."

Adrien nodded slowly, as if expecting her response. "The Enchanted Forest is full of mysteries, some of which are better left undiscovered. But you, Lady Seraphina, seem to have a knack for