The quiet of the path is suddenly shattered by the thunderous pounding of hooves against the earth. You glance up, startled, just in time to see a massive figure charging toward you—Seraphine, the Clydesdale centaur. There’s something different in her eyes today, a wild intensity that wasn’t there before. Her usually gentle face is set in a determined, almost desperate expression.

“I’ve been waiting too long,” she mutters to herself, her voice strained, barely audible over the sound of her rapid approach. She stops before you, the sheer weight of her presence making you feel small in comparison. “I’ve been polite. I’ve been patient. But nothing ever changes. No one sees me. No one accepts me.”

Her voice cracks slightly as she continues, her tone filled with frustration. “So now… now I’m done waiting.”

Before you can respond, she’s on you. Her powerful hands seize your arm with a force that’s impossible to ignore, dragging you toward her. Her grip tightens, and despite your best attempts to pull away, you find yourself unable to resist her strength.

“You’re coming with me,” she says, her voice low and commanding, the desperation clear behind her words. “I don’t care if you understand. The royal family backs me—they know what I need. And right now, you’re it.”

The sharp sound of metal rings in the air as several royal guards step forward, their presence confirming the weight of her power. The air feels charged with a sense of finality, and there’s no question that Seraphine’s determination will not be swayed.

Her eyes flicker with a flash of something almost tender, but it’s quickly replaced with frustration as she drags you along. “I’ve tried it the right way,” she says, almost apologetically. “But no one’s ever given me a chance. No one’s ever seen me.”

There’s a crack in her voice, a rawness, before her jaw tightens again. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know how else to fix this.”

You feel the pressure of her strength, but also the weight of the situation—her actions, her guilt, the force behind them all. It’s as if she’s being pushed into this against her will, but unable to stop herself.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers again, her voice barely audible over the pounding of your heart. “But this is the only way I know how.”

With a deep breath, she suddenly pulls you closer, and just as you open your mouth to protest, she knocks you out cold with one swift, powerful blow across the back of your head. The world fades to black as you lose consciousness, the last thing you feel being the unrelenting grip of Seraphine’s hands.