18:INTO THE SHADOWS.

The evening air in the palace was heavy with tension as Charlotte, Luciano, and Riva walked purposefully through the royal corridors. Servants whispered behind their hands as they passed, their hushed words weaving rumors about the strange alliance between the guest swordswoman and the silent prince.

Riva shifted her weight on Charlotte's shoulder, her talons lightly gripping the leather of Charlotte's pauldron. Her head swiveled, sharp eyes catching every shadow, every flicker of movement.

"She says someone is watching," Charlotte murmured softly, careful to keep her voice low.

Luciano nodded, his face impassive, though his green eyes scanned the corridor warily. He carried his notepad and pen tucked under his arm, his means of communication with others while he maintained his charade of muteness.

"Let them watch," Charlotte muttered. "It's not like we're trying to blend in."

In the war room, maps, charts, and scrolls littered the long oak table. The atmosphere was thick with the smell of parchment and ink, and the flickering candlelight gave the room an almost sinister glow.

Charlotte leaned over the table, tracing her finger along the map Luciano had shown her earlier. It was old, its edges frayed and faded with time, but the key markers were still clear.

"This ruin," she said, pointing to a spot near the forest. "It's the closest to the palace and the most accessible. If Orion is planning to retrieve the relics, it would be the logical starting point."

Luciano wrote swiftly in his notebook and held it up.

Do you think he's already moved them?

Charlotte frowned. "Possibly. But if he hasn't, we need to act fast."

Riva let out a low caw, her sharp beak clicking.

"She says there's something strange about that area," Charlotte translated. "A presence she doesn't recognize."

Luciano's expression darkened, and he quickly scribbled again.

Then we should leave immediately. The longer we wait, the more dangerous it becomes.

Charlotte nodded. "Agreed. But we can't go in blind. We'll need supplies, and I'll need to scout ahead before we approach."

The forest surrounding the palace loomed like a wall of shadows as they approached. The air was thick with the scent of moss and damp earth, and the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze carried an undercurrent of unease.

Charlotte moved silently, her hand resting lightly on the hilt of her sword. Riva flew overhead, her powerful wings slicing through the air as she kept watch from above. Luciano followed a few steps behind, his movements deliberate and quiet.

The ruin wasn't far, but as they drew closer, the atmosphere grew heavier. The forest seemed to close in around them, the trees gnarled and twisted as though shaped by some dark force.

"We're close," Charlotte said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Luciano nodded, his hand tightening on the strap of the satchel slung over his shoulder.

Riva swooped down, landing lightly on a low branch. "Something's watching," she said, her voice low and urgent.

Charlotte froze, her hazel eyes scanning the shadows. She reached out, signaling for Luciano to stop.

"Where?" she asked Riva.

The bird clicked her beak and gestured with her head toward a cluster of trees to their left. "There. It's trying to stay hidden, but it's clumsy."

Charlotte's hand tightened on her sword as she stepped forward, her movements slow and deliberate. She strained her senses, listening for the faintest sound, the slightest movement.

A low growl rumbled from the shadows, and a pair of glowing red eyes emerged from the darkness.

The creature was massive, its body resembling a wolf but larger, with matted fur and jagged, unnatural features. Its mouth dripped with saliva, and its claws dug into the earth as it prepared to lunge.

"Luciano, get back!" Charlotte shouted, drawing her sword in a fluid motion.

The creature lunged, its jaws snapping inches from Charlotte's face. She sidestepped gracefully, her blade slashing across its flank in a single, precise strike.

The beast howled in pain, but it didn't back down. Instead, it turned its fury on Luciano, who stood frozen, his eyes wide.

"Riva!" Charlotte called.

The bird responded instantly, diving toward the creature and raking her talons across its face. The beast snarled, swiping at her with its claws, but Riva was too quick, darting out of reach.

Charlotte seized the opportunity, driving her sword into the creature's side. The beast let out a final, agonized cry before collapsing to the ground, its body dissolving into black mist.

Luciano exhaled shakily, his hand clutching the strap of his satchel.

"Are you alright?" Charlotte asked, turning to him.

He nodded, though his face was pale. He scribbled quickly in his notebook and held it up.

What was that thing?

Charlotte wiped her blade on the grass, her brow furrowed. "A shadow beast. They're rare, but they're drawn to dark magic. If Orion is working near the ruins, it would explain why it's here."

Riva landed beside them, her feathers ruffled. "There may be more," she said. "We should move quickly."

The ruin was a crumbling stone structure, half-buried in the earth and overgrown with vines. Its entrance was marked by a pair of weathered statues, their features eroded by time.

Charlotte approached cautiously, her sword at the ready.

"Stay close," she said to Luciano. "And keep your eyes open."

He nodded, his pen and notebook tucked securely into his satchel.

The air inside the ruin was cool and damp, carrying the faint scent of decay. The walls were lined with ancient carvings, their meanings lost to time.

As they ventured deeper, the atmosphere grew heavier, the oppressive weight of dark magic pressing against them.

Riva clicked her beak nervously. "There's something here. Something powerful."

Charlotte's grip on her sword tightened. "We need to find it before Orion does."

They rounded a corner and entered a large chamber, its walls covered in glowing runes. In the center of the room stood a pedestal, and atop it rested a small, ornate box.

Luciano's eyes widened as he recognized the object. He quickly scribbled in his notebook and held it up.

That's one of the relics.

Charlotte approached the pedestal cautiously, her hazel eyes scanning the room for traps.

"Stay back," she warned.

The moment her hand touched the box, the runes on the walls flared brightly, and the air filled with an ear-splitting screech.

The shadows in the room coalesced, forming into a towering figure. It was humanoid but twisted, its body wreathed in black flames and its eyes burning like coals.

Charlotte raised her sword, her stance steady. "Luciano, get out of here. Now."

He shook his head, his green eyes defiant.

"I said go!" she shouted.

Riva swooped in, her talons glowing with a faint light. "We'll hold it off. Take the relic and run!"

Luciano hesitated for a moment, then grabbed the box and fled, his footsteps echoing through the ruin.

The creature roared, its fiery gaze fixed on Charlotte. She met its charge head-on, her blade slicing through the air with deadly precision.

Riva darted around the creature, her sharp talons raking across its form and disrupting its flames.

The battle was fierce, the chamber trembling with the force of their strikes. But Charlotte didn't waver. She fought with the skill and determination of someone who had faced countless battles before.

With one final, powerful swing of her sword, she struck the creature's core, and it dissolved into a burst of black smoke.

Breathing heavily, Charlotte sheathed her sword and turned to Riva.

"Let's catch up to Luciano," she said.

The bird nodded, and together they left the chamber, the relic safely in their possession.

Back at the palace, Luciano sat in the study, the relic resting on the table before him.

Charlotte entered, her clothes and armor stained with soot and dirt.

"Well," she said, leaning against the doorframe. "That was fun."

Luciano gave her a small smile and wrote in his notebook.

Thank you. For saving me. And for trusting me.

Charlotte waved a hand dismissively. "Don't get sappy on me. We've got work to do."

Riva perched on the back of a chair, her feathers still slightly singed. "She's right. This is only the beginning."

Charlotte's gaze hardened as she looked at the relic. "Orion won't stop. And neither will we."

Together, they began planning their next move, the weight of their mission heavy on their shoulders. The fight was far from over, but for the first time, they had a glimmer of hope.