Ifan didn’t know how many days had passed since he had been put in that narrow and dark cell. There weren’t any windows for him to tell the time. To him, it seemed like weeks, but he would sleep most of the time when Orian wasn’t here to play with him.

However, servants had come four times to bring him food and water. He guessed it had been at least four days if it was a meal per day, enough to keep him alive. But Ifan didn’t even touch the molded bread and rotten vegetables on the plates. He only drank some water the first day. He wasn’t feeling anything. He wasn’t even feeling the pain from his wounds, he wasn’t hungry, he wasn’t thirsty. He was simply waiting.

Every time the servant would come back to take the plate away, it remained untouched. However, on the third day, the servant had probably told Eloden that he wasn’t eating anymore, so his uncle came to his cell this time to force-feed him and make him drink. For the fourth day, Orian was the one making sure he would eat. He would make him eat and he would torture him afterward, making sure the Elf Prince would not throw up what he just hate.

Even though he ate, Ifan was feeling number and number. His whole body felt weak, he would shiver, not because it was cold in the dungeon, but because of sickness. His poorly treated wound on his left flank was still throbbing. But he would hide all of this whenever Orian came to visit him.

Time had passed and the sixth day arrived, and as usual, the servant came to bring his meal of the day. Ifan was still laying on the ground, his back facing the cell door. He heard a door opening in the hallway, the guards didn’t bark instructions this time. It was probably a servant that had already brought him food before. Then he heard light footsteps approaching his cell and he waited for the servant to put the plate down and leave.

However, it didn’t happen. Perhaps it was not a servant that came to his cell this time. Honestly, Ifan didn’t care. He just wanted that person to go away.

“Prince Ifanthien?” a soft female voice suddenly whispered. “Your highness, are you awake?” she spoke again louder, but still in a low voice. “Please, you need to answer me now, we don’t have much time.” She quickly added.

Ifan hesitated a moment. This woman just called him by his title… She wasn’t a normal servant. He had so little strength left in him, but he managed to slowly turn his weak body towards the cell’s door. He saw a young Soveryn woman dressed in the castle’s maid outfits. Her light gold eyes were staring at him with worry.

“Thank the Gods you are awake!” She seemed relieved for a moment, but her expression turned serious. “We need to be quick, your highness. I was sent by your aunt, Lady Marinuien, to rescue you.” She explained quickly.

Ifan stared at her, unsure and suspicious. His aunt… wanted to help him? Why? He was never really close to her, and he honestly thought she didn’t like him. Was this Orian’s new game to torture him? Making him believe he could be free? That he could escape this horrible place?

The maid noticed his hesitation “We really don’t have much time, the guards will get back soon.” She urged. “I am terribly sorry, we cannot waste any more time. Please stand back, I will open the door.” She instructed.

She lifted both her hands towards the cell’s handle as a small silver light with runes appeared on her palms. Then, the lock fizzled for a moment and made a faint puffed sound. She opened the door and came directly to Ifan’s side as he simply stared at her.

Was this… real? Will he really be able to leave that dreadful place? Could he really trust that woman that claimed to be his aunt’s servant?

He couldn’t hesitate more if this was real. If this was his only chance to get away from Orian and his uncle, he will take it. Even if he could die. He didn’t care anymore, all he wanted was to go as far as possible from this place.

“Can you walk, my Lord?” she asked as she noticed how ailing he looked.

He wasn’t sure he could even stand up. But he had to. “I… I can.” He managed to say as his throat was completely dry and every inch of his body hurt at every one of his movements. He grunted in pain when the servant helped him to get on his feet.

“I will help you.” She gently said as she put her arm around his waist, and he wrapped his arm around her neck. “Now, quickly, my Lord. This way.” She said as she started heading outside of the cell room.

Ifan felt dizzy as sweat ran down his face. If it wasn’t for the young woman, he would have collapsed on the ground. But he had to stay awake and he used all the strength he could to keep her pace.

Instead of going right to exit the dungeon as Ifan thought they would go, she led them to the left, deeper into that dreadful place.  He started to feel slightly anxious. He started thinking that this was really just the new way Orian found to torture him. A wicked kind of ruse to make the Elf Prince believe he could be free. He wanted to let go of the woman, not wanting to go any further without knowing who exactly she was and where she was bringing him, but he felt so weak…

“W-Where are we going?” He dared to ask as they went down the stairs of the dungeons instead of going up.

“We cannot use the main entrance, there are too many guards.” She replied. She took a quick glance at him and noticed he was frightened. “I will not hurt you, your highness. I am here to help you. Lady Marinuien told me about a secret way to get outside. I understand it must be difficult for you, but you need to trust me.” She said in a soft reassuring voice despite the situation.

His aunt… really sent someone to rescue him. She did not take part in the coup… She was on his side. It relieved the Elf Prince to know that. And to get help from his aunt that he thought was simply tolerating him, was as surprising to Ifan.

“We must hurry, Prince Ifanthien. It won’t be long before they notice the body of the guards that were supposed to watch you.” She said as her pace went faster, making Ifan grunt in pain and struggle to follow her.

But as she said that, they heard the echo of the guards’ voice shouting behind them in the many hallways of the dungeon. Ifan immediately recognized Orian’s voice amongst all the yelling. Ifan stiffened, but the woman then started to walk even faster, making sure Ifan could keep up with her.

“We need to hurry. The secret path is right here.” She promptly said.

They arrived in front of a dead-end. A stone wall was in front of them and Ifan saw no secret passageway. But the young woman seemed to be searching for something on the wall as her eyes darted from right to left. She then used her free hand and cast a spell. She drew magic runes in front of her as she whispered lowly.

The wall started to tremble as a door-sized piece of it went down in the ground. She didn’t wait for it to completely go down and pressed Ifan to move. The Elf Prince’s whole body ached, and his vision started to get blurry. His breathing was sharp and sweat beaded on his forehead. He felt hot, he felt dizzy, and he was shivering. But he kept going. He had to get away from this place.

The young woman kept glancing at him, making sure he was alright. The voices behind them were getting louder.

“They know we went down.” She clenched her jaw. Visibly, she didn’t expect the guards to find them that fast. “I am terribly sorry, your highness, but we need to run.” she urged.

By saying this, Ifan understood that she was hesitating to do so because of him and how on the verge of fainting he looked like to her. He pressed his lips together. He would rather die from exhaustion than getting caught by Orian.

“I will... keep your pace.” He told her.

She didn’t wait for him to say it twice and she immediately started to run. Ifan did the same, his body screaming in pain. If this wasn’t for her helping him, he would have yet again fell hard on the ground.  

The shouts were getting close. Ifan could see the worry in the young woman’s face. But she kept running and making sure the Elf Prince would not trip on the debris in the tunnel.

Ifan started to see light in front of them and heard the loud sound of waves crashing on the rocks of the shore. They were near the exit. They finally reached the end of the tunnel. 

They were outside, they were at the shores of the Elebore sea. The bright light of the sun blinded Ifan for a moment. He had to let his vision adjust to such brightness after all that time he had spent in darkness. He blinked rapidly, shielding his eyes with his free hand. After a moment, he could discern the shape of the castle in the distance.

The woman then put Ifan on a large rock nearby, allowing him to lean on it. What was she doing? There was no one waiting for them here. Ifan glanced at the tunnel, he could hear Orian’s voice echoing indistinctively. Fear struck him. He didn’t want to get back in there! He glanced back at the woman in search of any explanation of what was the next part of her plan.

She snatched a flask that contained a golden liquid out of her maid’s dress and drank it all. This was a magic energy potion. The only reason she would do that would be because she was about to cast a spell that required an immense quantity of magic energy. She then quickly started to draw large runes in front of her with her fingers in an oval shape. Ifan recognized the runes; she was casting a portal! Only Masters were able to do that.

“Your highness, this portal will lead us directly to Lady Marinuien.” She explained as he kept on drawing the runes.

Her voice was calm, but he could feel that she was starting to get anxious. The voices were close. Too close. And casting a portal this quick was risky. If she didn’t finish the runes or draw a single rune not as it should be, they could end up Gods know where.

But she kept on drawing. Sweat trickled down her face, she was going fast but she kept her hand steady. A white mirror-like circle started to appear. The portal was almost done.

Ifan heard the voices get louder and louder, but before he could turn to look at the tunnel entrance, a whistling sound passed near his ear. A bolt lodged itself into the young woman’s leg, making her fall on the pebbles of the shore.

She hissed in pain as she glanced at him with a panicked face. She didn’t finish the runes! She then looked at the tunnel where the arrow came out of. Ifan could see that she knew they wouldn’t make it. It was too late. Orian will capture him back and that woman will probably die because she tried to help him. He didn’t want to go back. He didn’t want her to die because of him. He didn’t know what to do…

The young woman suddenly glanced back at him with a determined look. “Prince Ifanthien, go inside the portal! I will hold them so you can escape!” she said as she got up on her feet despite the bolt piercing her leg.

Ifan’s eyes widened. “What?! No, I won’t leave you here! You’ll die!” he uttered.

She had come to him, limping, and held herself on the rock he was leaning on. “Please, go.” She gave him a soft smile. “I made a promise to Lady Marinuien that I would protect you and bring you to her. You have to go. I don’t know where you will end up, I didn’t have time to finish the runes, but no matter where you will be, go to your aunt. She will help you.” She quickly explained as she urged him to go through the unfinished portal.

“But-“ Ifan tried to insist.

“Go! Now!” she ordered as another bolt flew past them, missing them from an inch this time.

Ifan bit his lower lip as he then pushed himself towards the portal, trembling. As he was about to enter it, he stopped and turned himself towards the young woman.

“What is your name?” he asked. He needed to know. She was about to sacrifice herself so he could escape.

For a moment, she was surprised by his sudden question. “My name is Kirilia.” She answered, giving him a soft smile as she then pushed him inside the portal.

The last thing Ifan saw was Orian getting out of the tunnel with guards behind him. Kirilia cast a blast of magic energy, stopping them from going after him inside the portal. He saw Orian's irritated expression as he plunged his rapier into Kirilia’s chest.

Then everything around him changed into a totally different environment. The vast sea and high towers of Ornamen turned into large verdant pine and oak trees. Ifan realized he was a few feet in the air as he looked down and saw he was going to land in a river.

He fell fast in the freezing cold water of the stream. He managed to pull his head above the water and fought the strong current despite the terrible pain and tiredness he was feeling. He finally reached the riverbank as he coughed and crawled away from it on the pebbles on the riverbank.

Ifan was completely exhausted. He was panting heavily. Everything was hazy. He tried to stand, but his arms simply didn’t have the strength for that anymore. He felt like he was about to faint. He didn’t know where he was! He had to stay conscious. But fighting against it was in vain as his body felt heavy and his eyelids closed on their own.

The last thing he heard was a man’s voice calling out as his footsteps got closer to him. And then, everything went completely dark.