Chapter 2 : Ziros Kingdom

I stared at the blank space as we ate miles towards the south, I was bleeding but I felt no physical pain, I felt no emotion. I wanted to die, I don't care about the freaking role I had, I was alone, I have no one now.

The south comprised of six powerful kingdoms in which one of them was known to be the most powerful which strived for blood mostly which is the Ziros Kingdom with a prince who was able to control thousands of monsters with only one word. Well, I haven't seen a monster all my life as my mother had kept me hidden as a way to protect me from the outside world. I never really interacted with people from outside because I wasn't supposed to reveal my identity to people incase there are spies. None of these I understood because my mother never told me anything at all besides hiding my identity and staying home. That was one of the reasons I was still not married when most of the girls my age were. All these thought evaporated when Mark stopped the carried and came to open the window " I gather you have no amulate to cross the boundary and stay safe from the monsters", he said handling one to me " wear it if u don't want to die but return it as soon as we cross" he winked at me and closed the window. Seconds after, the carriage began to move.

Amulates made us invisible so that monsters don't see us when crossing the forest and boundaries, they were very rare to find and expensive when found. This man should be a human trafficker because getting hands on an amulate was rare. Our legend says that only those with powers are able to find Amulates. My hand caressed the shining blue gem and wore it around my neck.

I've heard rumors saying there were three different types of Amulates, the first one which had blue gems and the first rank of power could access them, the second had green gems and the second rank of power could access them then the last one red gem, only highest ranks for example the king of Ziros, how fortunate of him to access a lot of power at the age of thirty. Only rulers or powerful witches and kings could access this type. One in a million would be able to lay eyes on this red amulate in a thousand years.

Amulates were created by wizards as we were taught in school. Wizards were known as fortune tellers and were very famous for their wise wisdom. They were considered as the textbook of the states and kingdoms, in short they were advisers.

Distracted by the darkness, I quickly looked and realized that we were at the boundary that led to the dark forest with monsters. I've never been here and I felt the power coming from the boundary. The whole carriage was covered in blue so that monsters won't see, sense or smell us. We could relax and even shout but nothing would happen, school helped with knowledge of these things

I looked out and saw the carriage getting swallowed by the dark forest and I immediately looked away as I was not ready to see whatever it is which was out there. I could here sounds of birds and wolves but nothing from monsters. It was then I heard a scream " Mark what's that" I quickly asked.

" probably someone who got in trouble here", he shouted back.

"let's help", I heard him laugh at my reply " you can't even help yourself yet you want to be a helper. One advice don't interfere with anything in the dark forest, mind your business and get out as soon as possible. Helping would mean removing Amulates so whoever is screaming can hear us and see us, that would be bad for us, plus he or she is probably dead, we cannot do anything. It might be a trap on the other hand ".

He was right. In school we were also taught about not meddling with things in the dark forest as nobody knew the mystery there except the king himself. Even so rumor has it said there are also things he doesn't know. The only safe thing was to cross and get out of the forest.

" how close are we to getting out", Mark was my aunt's worker but he seemed a bit nice.

" the forest is huge, it will take the whole afternoon so you better sleep",

For the first time the man he was with talked to me " can't wait to see your buyer huh?", they laughed.

Reality came hitting me hard, had forgotten about my situation, silly me. Due to the exhaustion and headaches I quickly drifted off to sleep.