Damesa is the name of the vast jungle region stretching across the center of the Arkha continent. Each of its sides borders one of six territories: Cranoa, Karsh, Carrion, Outlander, Argoust, and Weldein. The entire Damesa region consists solely of untamed wilderness, claimed by no one.
Historians record that it was in Damesa where the battle between Y’tzyar and Demanthes once took place. After his defeat and escape, the remnants of Demanthes’s power—fragments Y’tzyar had not yet purified—manifested as monsters that spread throughout Damesa.
For that reason, Damesa is also known as a nest of monsters.
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As they begin their journey through the Damesa forest together, Cedric throws out his first question,
“Who’s Chryssa?”
Liam doesn’t answer right away, studying Cedric for a moment. After a brief consideration, he decides to share the story with his traveling companion.
“Chryssa—my friend back at Verlyn Academy. She…” Liam’s eyes dim. “She became an amorta and now in Cranoa.”
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Seven years earlier.
A somber atmosphere hangs over the funeral of a renowned teacher in the Kingdom of Argoust, Master Gilden Sernille, who passes away at the age of fifty-three. Rumors circulating say the master dies by suicide, shooting himself in the head.
Seventeen-year-old Liam stands expressionless as he follows the funeral procession, dressed in all black. From the outside, there is no sign of sorrow or even a single tear. Yet inside him, a powerful shock churns beneath the surface.
Master Gilden is the teacher who has raised him since he was seven, the second closest person in his life after his mother. Liam knows his teacher well—he is not someone who would willingly take his own life.
The death comes just three days after Liam humiliates Theofan during a Royal Council meeting.
As the coffin is lowered into the grave, Liam’s gaze briefly shifts across the way—to a young man about his age, a dark-haired youth who stares at the coffin without blinking.
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In a secluded garden after the funeral, Liam meets the dark-haired youth.
Davino Sernille—none other than Master Gilden’s eldest son. Another young man with reddish hair is also there. Arlon Ramles sits on one of the garden benches, his head lowered as he stares at the ground. The three of them are still dressed in black, wrapped in a heavy, somber mood.
“I’m going to Verlyn Academy.” Liam speaks first, breaking the silence. “Mother forbade me from seeking revenge… for now.” His eyes turn cold at the end of the sentence.
Davino and Arlon both look at him when they hear those last words.
“When will you do it?” Davino asks at once. His voice is flat, but the aura he gives off is heavy with a fierce desire to avenge his father’s killer.
They seem to share the same suspicion toward the only person in the Argoust palace cruel enough to commit such an atrocity—Theofan Greig Vissarion, the crown prince. Meanwhile, Liam, Davino, and Arlon are three youths who grow up under Gilden’s guidance.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“Five or six years,” Liam answers Davino’s question. “After I graduate, I won’t return to Argoust right away. I’ll plan everything at Verlyn Academy.”
“Count me in!” Arlon’s deep voice breaks out, the veins on his neck bulging as he holds back a surge of rage. His eyes are still red and wet. “I won’t let that bastard take the throne—if I have to, I’ll cut off his head the day before the coronation.”
“And after that, your head will be cut off as well,” Liam adds. “I’m sure Master Gilden wouldn’t want that.”
Arlon lowers his head, trying to calm his chaotic thoughts. His mind is badly shaken by the death of a teacher who was so close to him.
Davino, on the other hand, appears more in control of his emotions. “It’s better if we don’t meet until that day comes.”
“I’ll contact you through a raven,” Liam says.
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Night falls over the magnificent Argoust palace grounds. Moonlight and the cool night breeze slip in through an open window. Theofan, the crown prince of Argoust, sleeps soundly on his comfortable bed, wrapped in every luxury imaginable.
A flash of light streaks violently through the open window. Theofan’s face tightens as a movement on the bed disrupts his deep sleep. A shadow draws closer, looming over him and blocking the light from the window.
As Theofan opens his eyes to see more clearly, he finds Liam’s cold face above him, a knife thrusting straight at him. Theofan freezes in sheer terror—his mouth falls open, stiff and soundless, his breath choking in his chest. The knife slams into the pillow, right beside his neck, leaving a thin cut across the crown prince’s skin.
Liam delivers the dangerous threat in a cold voice.
“I won’t kill you tonight. I’ll leave you alive for quite some time. But…” Liam’s gaze sharpens, turning terrifying, “…if I ever hear that you’ve messed with people I know…” His eyes narrow further.
“I’ll come back while you’re asleep and slowly drive this knife into your neck. You’ll feel every inch of the pain—without being able to make a sound.”
The threat nearly stops Theofan’s heart. His body trembles, stiff with fear, cold sweat pouring down, until he wets himself, urine soaking his clothes.
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The next morning, a royal carriage departs the palace courtyard, sent off by Queen Argoust’s waving hand. Liam begins his journey toward Verlyn Academy.
Meanwhile, Theofan can no longer sleep after Liam’s knife visits him that night. His body keeps trembling with fear, and he orders all the guards to stay close at all times. The maids and guards are utterly confused by the crown prince’s condition.
“He’s going to kill me. He could come at any time to kill me!” The words spill from Theofan’s mouth over and over again.
“Your Highness, please calm yourself. Prince William has already departed for Carrion.”
“H-He’s gone?”
“Yes, Your Highness. His carriage has already left the palace.”
Theofan tries to think despite his blind panic. He grabs one of the guards by the collar and pulls him closer so his hushed voice goes straight into the man’s ear.
“Find assassins. No matter how many it takes, no matter the price—kill William. Don’t let him ever return to Argoust.”
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As the carriage nearly reaches the border leading into Carrion territory, Liam’s journey is forced to halt due to a mechanical failure. The driver works to fix a wheel that suddenly breaks in the middle of the road. The group has no choice but to stop. The two assigned guards dismount and stand watch around the deserted area, a place surrounded by nothing but wilderness.
While waiting outside the carriage, Liam’s face is no longer as calm as usual.
“Will the repairs take much longer?” He sounds eager to continue the journey. “I don’t want to spend the night in the carriage.”
“We’re doing our best to finish it as quickly as possible, Your Highness,” the driver replies respectfully, then turns back to his work.
Unbeknownst to Liam, the man wears a dangerous smile as he turns his face away from him.
In the end, it is only near dusk that the carriage can be used again to continue the journey. However, there is still a long stretch of wilderness forest ahead. Inside the carriage, Liam can only let out a heavy sigh, gazing at the sky as it begins to darken.
“Hah, looks like I’ll have to spend the night in the carriage.”
It isn’t the thought of sleeping without a comfortable bed that bothers Liam—there’s another reason he doesn’t want to be in the carriage tonight.
“It’s a full moon…”
As the full moon reveals itself completely, the night sky turns bright—a sight the mounted guards can enjoy in peace.
But inside the carriage, Liam’s body trembles, cold sweat pouring down. He lets out a strained groan, enduring pain that spreads through his entire body, pain that feels as if it is tearing him apart from the inside.
Veins stand out along Liam’s neck as he forces himself to stay silent, doing everything he can to keep the driver and guards outside from hearing him.
It isn’t just the pain—dark, tempting voices begin to echo inside his head.
“Doesn’t it hurt?”
“If you want the pain to ease… kill someone.”
