Without a word, the nymphryn leapt after Kael, who darted through the trees with a speed and grace that betrayed his fae nature. The forest became a blur of gold and crimson as they ran, the light dimming further with each step. Behind them, the growls continued, punctuated by the crash of splintering wood. Whatever was following them was enormous, its footfalls shaking the ground with every step.


    Kael glanced over his shoulder, his expression grim. “If you’ve got any tricks up your sleeve, now would be a great time to use them.”


    The nymphryn didn’t need to be told twice. Activating its Environmental Synchronization skill, it attuned itself to the forest, sensing the shifts in the terrain and finding the quickest, most stable path forward. The skill gave it an edge, allowing it to dart through the underbrush with uncanny precision.


    Kael followed him swiftly, leaping over trees and under branches without slowing down or making a sound. The heavy footfalls gradually faded behind them as whatever was behind them decided they weren’t worth chasing. The growls ceased, leaving the air still and heavy with the scent of crushed leaves.


    They burst into a clearing, the forest falling abruptly silent. “Well,” he said, brushing a leaf from his shoulder. “That was exciting. Welcome to the Fae lands.”


    The nymphryn looked at him, its luminous eyes narrowing.


    Kael grinned. “Don’t worry. I’m not about to let you face the Court alone. If we’re lucky, they’ll be too busy arguing over which wine pairs best with roast pheasant to notice you dropped out of the sky. If we’re unlucky…” He trailed off, his grin widening. “Well, let’s hope we’re lucky.”


    As they traveled on, golds and ambers cascaded from the towering trees, their leaves glowing faintly in the twilight. The air smelled of spice and smoke, layered with something earthy, like fallen leaves after a rain. The nymphryn moved cautiously, its luminous eyes darting across the forest, taking in every detail.


    Kael, walking ahead, appeared more at ease, though the nymphryn noted the subtle tension in his stride. His black hair gleamed under the soft light, and his sharp eyes scanned the path as though he expected trouble.


    He glanced down at the winged nymphryn that padded alongside him. Its silver fur gleamed faintly, as though it had been dusted with starlight, and its violet eyes darted around, taking in their surroundings with an air of cautious curiosity. The creature had fallen into his life—quite literally—only a few hours ago, crashing through the forest canopy and landing in an undignified heap right at Kaelen’s feet.


    “Welcome to the heart of perpetual scheming,” Kael said, his voice laced with dry humor. “The Autumn Court rarely does peace. It does tension, bargains, and the occasional betrayal. You’ll love it.”


    The nymphryn flicked its tail but said nothing. It didn’t need words to convey skepticism, and Kael seemed to appreciate that.


    They pushed deeper into the forest, the trees growing taller, their bark etched with glowing runes. Vines coiled down from the branches, dripping with berries that sparkled like gems. The ground beneath their feet was soft, a thick carpet of leaves muffling their steps. The air, already heavy with magic, grew thicker, pressing against their fur and skin.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    The sun dipped low over the amber-tinted trees of the Autumn Court, casting its golden glow over Kaelen as he moved through the forest. The air smelled of earth and fading leaves, their scent carried by the crisp breeze, but Kaelen’s thoughts were far from serene. He tugged the collar of his cloak tighter, the silver embroidery on its edges catching the fading light like scattered starlight. At his side, the winged nymphryn padded lightly, its steps silent on the moss-carpeted ground. The creature had appeared only hours earlier, falling from the heavens as though cast from them, its tiny, delicate wings quivering with exhaustion.


    Kaelen spared a glance at the creature, who had yet to offer its name or any hint of its origins. He didn’t press it, respecting the silence that hung between them. It was, after all, a silence he knew well. For much of his life, Kaelen had walked alone, his path dictated by forces beyond his control. And he also was no stranger to concealing his identity.


    Kaelen was born in the Court of Stars, a realm of endless night skies pierced by constellations that whispered secrets to those who could hear them. His father, King Altharion, the Lord of Night was a ruler steeped in cruelty and ambition, his court a place where power was currency and mercy a weakness. Altharion’s presence was a shadow that blotted out the light of the stars themselves, and Kaelen had spent his childhood learning to navigate his father’s tempestuous moods and the treacherous politics of their court.


    As the crown prince, Kaelen was groomed to one day take the throne, but his heart was not forged in the same mold as his father’s. Where Altharion thrived on domination and fear, Kaelen yearned for freedom and connection. The stars above their court, so often revered as symbols of destiny, felt to Kaelen like an unattainable dream. They were beautiful and distant, and he often wondered if their light might guide him away from the darkness of his heritage.


    It was his mother, Queen Serethia, who had kindled what warmth existed in Kaelen’s heart. She was a queen in name only, her influence diminished by Altharion’s overwhelming force. Still, she had managed to teach her son the value of compassion and hope. But when Kaelen was barely sixteen, Serethia vanished under mysterious circumstances. Some whispered that she had fled the court; others murmured of Altharion’s wrath. Kaelen never learned the truth, but her absence left a void that no amount of starlight could fill.


    The Court of Stars was a place of perpetual night, its skies filled with constellations that glittered brighter than any jewel. It was a realm of breathtaking beauty and even greater cruelty, ruled by King Altharion—a man who had turned ambition into an art form. Altharion’s rule was as unyielding as the iron crown he wore, and he expected nothing less than absolute loyalty and strength from his court—and his son.


    Kaelen had been a disappointment from the moment he first showed kindness. His mother, Queen Serethia, had tried to shield him, whispering stories of forgotten gods and lost realms as they strolled beneath the stars. She was the one who had taught him that power could be a force for creation as well as destruction, that compassion was not a weakness. But Serethia’s influence had always been tenuous, her light eclipsed by Altharion’s shadow.


    When Kaelen was sixteen, Serethia disappeared. Officially, she was said to have left the court on a diplomatic mission, but even then, Kaelen hadn’t been naive enough to believe it. Altharion had been furious in the days that followed her disappearance, his wrath consuming all who dared cross him. Kaelen had searched for answers, for even a whisper of what had become of her, but the Court of Stars held its secrets tightly. Whatever had happened, it had taught him a cruel lesson: love, in his father’s court, was a liability.