Episode 3

(The glade is silent, but Y/n struggles to sleep. The faint glow of the flowers casts eerie shadows on the trees. Mikey sits nearby, leaning casually against a tree, watching the darkness with a sharp gaze.)
Princess Y/n
Princess Y/n
(sitting up) "Do you ever sleep, or do spirits not need rest?"
Mikey
Mikey
(smirking) "Rest is for the weak. Besides, someone has to keep an eye on you, princess. You’ve got a knack for attracting trouble."
Princess Y/n
Princess Y/n
(sighing) "Why do I feel like you’re not telling me something? You’ve been on edge since Shiori appeared."
Mikey
Mikey
(looking away) "The forest isn’t safe tonight. The Shade stirs when new blood enters its domain."
(Y/n shivers at his words, but her curiosity outweighs her fear.)
Princess Y/n
Princess Y/n
"What is the Shade, really? You’ve mentioned it, but I need to know what I’m up against."
Mikey
Mikey
(his tone darkens) "The Shade is a remnant of the forest’s curse. A creature of pure hatred and hunger. It’s not just a spirit—it’s the forest’s wrath. And now, it knows you’re here."
(A sudden, distant growl echoes through the woods. Mikey springs to his feet, his glowing eyes scanning the shadows.)
Mikey
Mikey
"Stay close. It’s coming."
(The forest darkens unnaturally, the glade’s light dimming as a cold wind blows. Y/n clutches her cloak, heart pounding as a figure emerges from the shadows—a tall, amorphous entity with red, glowing eyes and claws dripping with shadowy mist.)
The shade
The shade
(a guttural voice) "The girl… does not belong. Leave her to me, spirit."
Mikey
Mikey
(stepping in front of Y/n) "She’s under my protection. If you want her, you’ll have to go through me."
(The Shade lunges, its claws slicing through the air. Mikey dodges effortlessly, summoning a glowing blade from thin air. The two clash, sparks flying.)
Princess Y/n
Princess Y/n
(stunned) "What… what can I do?!"
Mikey
Mikey
(gritting his teeth) "Stay back! This isn’t your fight!"
(Despite his warning, the Shade turns its attention to Y/n, sensing her fear. Shadows rise from the ground, snaking toward her. Y/n scrambles backward, but she’s quickly surrounded.)
Princess Y/n
Princess Y/n
(panicked) "Mikey!"
(Mikey glances back, his expression conflicted. He throws his blade, piercing the Shade’s form, but the creature doesn’t falter.)
Mikey
Mikey
"Use the flowers! Their light repels it!"
(Y/n grabs a glowing flower and thrusts it toward the shadowy tendrils. They hiss and recoil, giving her a chance to escape the circle.)
(Mikey lunges at the Shade, forcing it back with a burst of energy. The creature snarls but retreats into the darkness, its red eyes lingering on Y/n before disappearing.)
Mikey
Mikey
(breathing heavily) "That was too close."
Princess Y/n
Princess Y/n
(shaken) "Why did it go after me? I didn’t do anything to it."
Mikey
Mikey
(grimly) "You’re human. That’s enough for it to hate you. But there’s more to this—why would it attack so soon?"
(He looks at her, suspicion flickering in his eyes, but he doesn’t voice his thoughts.)
(The next morning, Shiori appears at the edge of the glade, her expression serious. She approaches Y/n as Mikey watches from a distance.)
Shiori
Shiori
"The Shade won’t stop, Y/n. You’ve stepped into a world you don’t understand, and it won’t let you leave so easily."
Princess Y/n
Princess Y/n
"Then tell me how to fight it. I can’t just run forever."
Shiori
Shiori
(hesitates, glancing at Mikey) "Fighting it is nearly impossible. The only way to survive is to uncover the truth about why it’s after you."
Mikey
Mikey
(interrupting) "That’s enough, Shiori. You’ve done your part—leave the rest to me."
Shiori
Shiori
(narrowing her eyes) "Protect her all you want, Mikey. But you know the forest doesn’t choose lightly. She’ll have to face the truth sooner or later."
(Shiori vanishes into the woods, leaving Y/n with more questions than answers.)
(As the sun sets, Y/n sits by the glade’s edge, lost in thought. Mikey approaches, sitting beside her.)
Princess Y/n
Princess Y/n
"You knew, didn’t you? That the forest would target me. Why didn’t you tell me?"
Mikey
Mikey
(after a pause) "Because I thought I could protect you. But the forest… it’s more dangerous than I expected. You’re braver than I gave you credit for, princess."
(He glances at her, a rare flicker of softness in his expression.)
Princess Y/n
Princess Y/n
"Don’t call me princess. I’m not some helpless damsel waiting to be saved."
Mikey
Mikey
(grinning) "Fair enough… Y/n."
TO BE CONTINUED
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