A story about a place that neither exists in maps or history books, this place was called Athame.

•••

"The root of every fear is the unknown, yet how can one fear what they cannot grasp? Tch... how misleading." His voice, deep and rough, sent an involuntary shiver through her as he closed the distance between them with deliberate steps, his presence suffocating in its intensity.

With a slow, predatory grace, his fingers brushed along her jaw, settling on a strand of her scarlet hair, his touch deceptively tender. "Knowing me will matter little," he whispered darkly, his breath warm against her skin. "For even in the shadows of uncertainty, you will come to fear... and desire me all the same."

•••

Aricia, born with extraordinary abilities in a world that fears anything out of the ordinary, was destined for a marriage alliance to secure peace between kingdoms. 

But on the day of her engagement, her entire family is slaughtered—by the very family she was meant to marry into. 

Grief-stricken and consumed by vengeance, Aricia swore to destroy those who betrayed her. She would wield the very power they had feared against them, seeking justice with no mercy. After years on the run, she found shelter within an elemental clan, hiding her abilities and keeping to the shadows.

But her carefully constructed peace shattered in a single moment. A burning touch, a chance encounter with his haunting gray eyes—an unknown force within her stirred, threatening to unravel her carefully guarded secrets and the fragile balance of magic, madness, and vengeance she had built....

Vengeance Through Passion

Vincent smirked, clearly pleased with himself. "Did I stutter?" 


"No," Aricia replied, her tone deceptively calm. She stepped forward, her movements quick and precise, and swung the bamboo stick in a sharp arc toward Vincent. 


To her surprise—and mild annoyance—he dodged, albeit clumsily, his feet stumbling as he barely avoided the strike. 


"Good reflexes," she admitted begrudgingly, circling him. "But reflexes alone won’t save you." 


Vincent gripped his stick tighter, his smirk fading slightly. "And what will, oh great master of combat?" 


"Discipline," Aricia said simply. "And focus." 


With that, she launched another attack, this time aiming for his legs. Vincent managed to block her strike, but his counter was slow and uncoordinated. Aricia seized the opportunity to disarm him, her stick sweeping upward to knock his weapon from his hands. 


The bamboo stick clattered to the ground, and Vincent stared at it for a moment before turning his gaze back to Aricia. 


Chapter 43| Rage