Lana
I still couldn't believe what had just happened.
I had just married two evil elves in a ceremony that felt more like a mass slaughter. And now, I was being dragged somewhere by my two new husbands—who hadn't even bothered to give me a decent explanation.
The air was thick with mist as we walked through the dense forest, the ground damp beneath my feet. The towering trees loomed above, their twisted branches stretching toward the sky like skeletal fingers. Shadows danced under the pale moonlight, shifting with every step we took.
I clutched the fabric of my clothes tightly, trying to steady my breath.
Kaelith and Sylas walked ahead of me, moving effortlessly through the terrain, as if the uneven ground and thick fog were nothing to them. Meanwhile, I struggled to keep up, my legs aching, my body exhausted.
But I refused to fall.
Even with the numbness creeping into my limbs.
Even with the phantom scent of blood still clinging to the air.
Even with his gaze still on me.
Sylas wasn't even trying to hide it anymore.
I could feel him watching. Not constantly, not obviously, but every now and then, his brown eyes would flicker toward me, studying me like I was an unfinished puzzle he was determined to solve.
It was suffocating.
After what felt like an eternity of walking, we finally arrived at what looked like a massive structure hidden beneath the roots of an ancient tree.
I exhaled sharply, my lungs burning.
The building resembled an underground fortress more than a home. Its walls were carved from dark stone, blending into the earth as if it had existed for centuries. A massive wooden door stood at the entrance, its surface rough and weathered, flanked by two iron torches that flickered weakly in the cold night air.
I swallowed hard. "This is your house?"
Sylas chuckled, his voice carrying that same teasing edge. "House? More like a hideout. We're not exactly welcome in the outside world."
Well, obviously. You just slaughtered dozens of people at a wedding!
Before I could say anything, the heavy door creaked open, revealing the dimly lit interior.
I almost stepped back.
The room beyond was massive but dark. A large wooden table sat in the center, surrounded by mismatched chairs—some broken, others barely standing. Shelves lined the walls, filled with books, weapons, and strange artifacts I didn't recognize. The faint scent of metal, smoke, and something almost… rotten lingered in the air.
Kaelith entered first, moving with the same calculated grace as before, placing his bloodstained sword onto the table without a second thought. Sylas followed, shrugging off his soaked cloak and tossing it into the corner like it was nothing more than an old rag.
I remained standing at the doorway. Unwilling to take another step.
Finally, I gathered the courage to ask and set aside my fear.
After all, I have the right to know what happened to me.
I can't keep being afraid forever.
"Okay," I said, my voice sharp despite my exhaustion. "Now you have to explain everything. I need answers."
Kaelith barely spared me a glance. Then he let out a long, tired sigh, as if I was the one being unreasonable. "Ask."
I crossed my arms. "Is it normal in this world to marry one woman to multiple men?"
"Yes."
I blinked. "That fast?!"
Sylas let out a low chuckle. "Well, well. Look who finally found her voice."
I frowned. "What?"
He tilted his head, his smirk widening. "You've been so quiet all this time, barely saying a word. But now that we're talking about marriage, suddenly, you're full of questions. How cute."
Heat crept up my neck. "That's not—!"
"Relax, human," he teased, his tone dripping with amusement. "I was starting to think you'd stay silent forever."
I clenched my jaw, refusing to take the bait. "Just answer the question."
Sylas hummed in mock thought before finally shrugging. "It's common. In some regions, a woman can even marry more than two men."
My brain short-circuited. "More than two?!"
"Why so surprised?" Sylas grinned. "Were you hoping for more husbands?"
I choked. "What?! NO!"
His laughter echoed through the dimly lit hall, rich and unbothered. "Shame. That would've been interesting."
Damn, Sylas!
I glared at Sylas, ignoring the way my face burned. Why did he enjoy tormenting me so much?!
I need more answers.
"Alright... then why did you marry me?"
Kaelith grabbed a cloth and started wiping the blood off his sword. "Because there was no one else left alive. You were the only one there."
I felt my stomach drop.
That was it?
That was their reason?
"You couldn't wait for another day?" I asked, exasperated. "Find another bride? Did it really have to be today?"
Sylas leaned casually against the table, his lips twitching into a lazy grin. "We have a reputation to uphold. The news about the wedding had already spread. Canceling it would've hurt our pride."
"Pride?!" My voice almost cracked. "You—"
But then I stopped.
Because suddenly, something else clicked in my mind.
They weren't surprised to see me.
They weren't shocked that I, a human, had just appeared out of nowhere.
I swallowed. "You're not even questioning why I'm here. Why I exist. Why I—" I hesitated. "Don't you find that strange?"
Kaelith didn't even look up from his sword. "No."
A heavy silence settled between us.
Sylas was the one to break it. "In this world, humans appear randomly from time to time. Usually once every two years."
My stomach twisted. "So… this is normal?"
"More or less." Sylas shrugged. "But not many survive for long."
A chill ran down my spine.
I forced myself to take a deep breath. "Alright," I muttered. "At least give me a room. I can't just stand here watching you two wash blood off your bodies."
Sylas smirked. "Oh? You don't like the sight of blood?"
I glared at him. "Who in their right mind enjoys watching blood pour out of people who just died?!"
He chuckled softly before motioning for me to follow him.
I hesitated.
But eventually, I walked behind him, leaving Kaelith in the main hall.
Sylas led me through a dimly lit corridor. The torches on the walls flickered weakly, barely providing enough light to guide our way. The stone beneath my feet was uneven, rough against my already aching legs.
After a few steps, we stopped in front of an old wooden door. Sylas pushed it open, revealing a simple room—barely furnished, with a wooden bed, a small table, and a single window covered by thin curtains.
"This is your room now," he said, leaning against the doorway. "Not luxurious, but comfortable enough."
I stepped inside, scanning the room. It wasn't much… but it was better than nothing.
But before I could say anything, I felt it again.
That sharp, unsettling sensation of being watched.
I turned back—only to find Sylas staring at me, his playful smirk gone.
His gaze was unreadable.
"You're free to leave if you want," he said.
I blinked.
"But only if you want to die," he added, his tone flat, emotionless. His brown eyes gleamed under the flickering torchlight.
My breath caught.
"This world isn't kind to humans," Sylas continued. "You don't belong here, and plenty of creatures will hunt you down if you wander alone. So, the choice is yours."
I swallowed hard. "You're exaggerating, right?"
Sylas smiled.
But it wasn't warm.
"Am I?"
Kaelith's voice suddenly cut through the air, sharp and unforgiving. "You won't survive a day."
I turned.
He was standing near the entrance, arms crossed, watching me like I was nothing more than a temporary inconvenience.
"The second you step out of this place," Kaelith said, his tone final, "you'll be hunted. Torn apart. Consumed."
Sylas leaned against the doorframe, his smirk returning. "So, tell me, human. Do you still think you have a choice?"
I opened my mouth to argue, to insist that I had a choice, but the words never came. Because deep down, I knew Sylas were right.
And for the first time since arriving in this world…
I felt trapped.
To be continued….