Narrator's POV In the world of Nherath, the land where the ancestral courts—wolves, elves, fairies, sirens, dryads, and dark creatures—live together, humans are seen as the most fragile species, barely tolerated, barely remembered. Their bones are weak, their lives short, their gifts nonexistent… and yet, their blood has always been coveted by vampires.

The vampire king, ruler of the Crimson Realm, maintains an iron grip on his court and a silent influence on the others. His reign extends beyond what the chronicles can record, and his name is whispered with fear even among creatures who equal him in power. Every hundred years, the festival known as The Crossing of the Veils arrives, an event when the portal between Nherath and the human world opens for a single day.

On that day, everything changes. Rival courts celebrate with games, pacts, ritual hunts, or banquets. For humans, however, the Crossing is both a curse and an opportunity. Some are dragged to Nherath as offerings, slaves, or sacrifices, while others see the portal as a chance to escape their magic-free world and try their fortunes in forbidden lands.

For centuries, the vampire king had paid little attention to the Crossing of the Veils. He didn't need to: he kept a select group of human women in his palace, whose blood he fed on to sustain his power. But in recent years, something inexplicable began to happen. The blood of those women, which had once strengthened him, no longer had any effect. With each dawn, the king felt his immortal strength weaken, how the shadows that had always obeyed him seemed to slip out of his control.

For the first time in ages, the monarch feared decline. And he understood that the Crossing of the Veils of this century would not be like those that had come before. This time, he himself would wait by the portal, determined to discover why human blood no longer sustained him… and to find, among the mortals who crossed, that essence capable of restoring his power before eternity slipped through his fingers.

My POV I left everything behind: my home, my family, my life. Crossing the portal was risky, but necessity drove me on. In the human world, there was nothing left for me, and though Nherath was a terrifying realm, with creatures that could kill me in the blink of an eye, the Crossing of the Veils was my only chance of survival… or of finding something more.

As I entered, darkness hit me like a wall. The courts weren't just beautiful: they were ruthless. I walked with a firm step, observing every shadow, feeling the power emanating from the air. I knew any mistake could cost me my life, so I remained calm and moved as if I belonged there, even though every fiber of my being screamed otherwise.

I acted carefully, blending in with the other humans, avoiding notice. My eyes remained lowered, my movements measured, and my mind alert. I had to learn quickly, read the signs, understand who could be allies and who could be prey to this dark world. Every second counted in Nherath, weakness is paid for dearly, and I wasn't about to go down without a fight...