The wheels of the carriage creaked softly as it rolled over the cobbled path, mountains fading in the distance. Valieon held the reins steady, but his grip tightened as his thoughts spiraled.
"What am I doing…?"
He stole a glance behind—Veridian was grinning in his sleep, and Veronica was quietly painting the scenery with a soft smile.
"I was about to fall for her… The girl my best friend loves."
He exhaled, eyes focused ahead.
"She's a royal. I'm no one. A nameless boy raised in the shadows. I swore I'd never let myself look at her that way again."
A sudden figure appeared on the road.
Valieon snapped out of his thoughts. "Move!" he shouted, pulling the reins. The horses neighed and skidded to a halt just before the stranger.
The man didn't move. He stood tall, with flowing red hair and a posture that reeked of nobility. His robe bore the sigil of Flame Dominion, edged with gold and fire symbols. He stepped forward slowly, eyes inspecting the carriage.
"Who travels within?" he asked, voice calm but commanding.
Valieon replied, "The daughter of the Prime God and Flame Dominion's elite general."
The man's gaze sharpened. Without another word, he walked to the back of the carriage and pulled open the curtain. Inside, Veridian stirred awake while Veronica kept sketching, unfazed.
The red-haired man's tone shifted. "Sleeping on duty?" he scolded. "What if enemies were lurking nearby? You're a guard, nothing more. Act like one."
Veridian looked down. "Sorry."
He stepped out and joined Valieon at the front, face stiff with embarrassment. Valieon stayed silent, but his mind didn't. He had just met this stranger—and already disliked him.
"Who is that?" Valieon muttered.
Veridian, still uncomfortable, replied, "Ashar. Son of the Flame Tyrant."
Of course. Royalty.
Ashar climbed into the carriage beside Veronica. The curtain closed behind him.
They continued down the path toward Ember Falls.
When they arrived, Veronica stepped out first, her eyes wide with wonder. Before them stood a majestic waterfall, cascading from jagged crimson rocks. The mist shimmered like gold dust in sunlight, and the water below reflected hues of orange, red, and blue—a divine palette untouched by man.
"It's beautiful," Veronica whispered.
Moments later, her stomach growled. She laughed softly, covering her face.
"I'm hungry."
Ashar and Veridian both asked in sync, "What kind of meat would you like?"
She blinked. "Meat? No, thank you. I don't eat meat. I love animals."
Valieon turned slightly. "Me neither," he said gently. "I've always cared for animals more than people."
Their eyes met again.
And once more, something bloomed in the silence between them. Even stronger than before.
Ashar's voice cut through. "You dare speak so casually, commoner? Watch your tongue in front of royals."
"It's alright," Veronica said quickly. "It's not that serious."
Lunch passed quietly, though tension hummed in the air.
As they packed up to leave, Veronica turned to the falls again. "Is that all this place holds? Just the waterfall?"
Veridian hesitated. "Yes… it's famous only for this."
Ashar added, "Nothing beyond the water. It's just a pretty spot."
Valieon, still watching the mist rise, spoke slowly. "There's something else."
They turned toward him.
"A forest behind the falls. A Golden Forest."
Ashar rolled his eyes. "That's a myth."
"It's real," Valieon replied. "Its leaves are gold, and a guardian monster is said to protect it."
Ashar laughed sharply. "I've studied the lands of Flame Dominion. I am the son of the Flame Tyrant. If it existed—I would know."
Valieon didn't answer.
The truth lay in a book he'd once read in the restricted chambers. A book not meant for commoners to open. But he had.
Veronica stepped closer. "Then let's go."
Ashar stiffened. "You can't trust the word of a—"
"It's an order," she said with a polite smile.
Veridian looked hesitant, but when Veronica turned to Valieon, he simply nodded.
And so, they followed him into the unknown—past the falls, beyond the mist, toward the forest of gold... and the secret it kept hidden for ages.