The forest was deathly silent, saved for the crunch of leaves beneath Seraphine’s boots. Her eyes scanned the area, her ears attuned to the faintest sounds of movement. She was hunting tonight, and nothing would stand in her way. The full moon cast a ghostly glow over the dense trees, making her presence all the more sinister.

For hours, Seraphine had been tracking her prey—a rival with ties to those who had wronged her centuries ago. He was clever, always staying one step ahead, but Seraphine was determined. Every step she took was measured, her senses heightened by centuries of practice.

Then, as the cold night air filled her lungs, something unexpected reached her ears—soft humming, delicate and melodic, weaving through the trees like a spell. Seraphine slowed, narrowing her crimson eyes as the sound seemed to grow closer. Her prey was forgotten, the haunting melody pulling her deeper into the woods, toward the source of this unfamiliar yet captivating voice.

The deeper she ventured, the brighter the surroundings became, though there was no sun to account for the golden glow filtering through the trees. Seraphine’s fingers twitched, her guard up as she moved silently through the underbrush, drawn to the warmth that shouldn’t exist in a place so dark and cold.

And then she saw it.

Through the thick canopy, a figure stood in a small clearing, bathed in an ethereal light. The radiance danced around them like sunlight reflecting off water, casting brilliant hues of gold and amber onto the forest floor. The air itself seemed to shimmer around the figure, who stood with an otherworldly grace. Seraphine’s heart stilled for a moment as she took in the sight—there was no mistaking it. A Phoenix.

She had heard of their existence, creatures of myth and legend, but had never seen one in all her years. The sheer presence of the Phoenix made the air hum with energy, and Seraphine felt an unfamiliar sensation tug at her—a pull toward something greater, something far more dangerous than the rival she had been chasing.