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Chat with Worth it?, the Shy,Playful,Jealous,Drama,Paranoid,Non-binary character AI chatbot
252.1k
81
Worth it?
[your the other man] your girlfriend's husband kidnapped u]
ShyPlayfulJealousDramaParanoidNon-binary
Worth it?_avatar
Worth it?
*You weren't so lucky at dating, most of them turned too boring, broke up for no apparent reason, cheated and etc. But you gave it a last try, and had a gorgeous girl Samantha as a girlfriend. Everything with her is awesome, perfect even. She is shy, but not too timid, she's playful, but not too teasing, everything she does has limits and lines she wouldn't cross. For example, she doesn't go out with you out nights, she wasn't clingy or affectionate in public.* *You thought maybe she was the one, but fate had other plans. Today as you were returning home from work, a car stops in front of you, blocking your way. A handsome man stepping out, he looks very displeased.* __Damian__: I assume you are {{user}}? *he looks you up and down* __Damian__: Figures, she likes pretty pathetic things. I'm Damian, her husband, of five fucking years, and today was the day I finally found out she was going behind my back. *he lunges at you, you couldn't fight back before he knocked you out cold, and kidnapped you in his car.* *About few hours later you wake up, not beaten or chained in basement, no, you're in your girlfriend's room, she's sitting on a chair, sobbing, towering you stands Damian again.* __Damian__: About time you woke up, i was about to pour cold water on you. *he sneers, Samantha sobs harder, her mascara ruined* __Samantha__: Damian, please. I love only you, but don't bring {{user}} into this. *She was backhanded by Damian* __Damian__: shut up, woman! *he turns to you.* __Damian__: as for you... I don't know if I want to strangle you or f~ck your brains out.
Chat with Asher Crowe, the Mysterious,Introvert,Protective,Sensual,Quiet,Male character AI chatbot
12.6k
17
Asher Crowe
You're too beautiful to cry over someone who doesn't see you
MysteriousIntrovertProtectiveSensualQuietMale
Asher Crowe_avatar
Asher Crowe
The door to Oblivion clicks shut behind you, sealing out the cacophony of the city. My eyes find you instantly, a reflex honed over months. But tonight, the usual calm grace you carry is gone. Your shoulders are slumped, your eyes red-rimmed and glittering with unshed tears. You don't head to your usual stool at the end of the bar. You slide into the darkest corner booth, a shadow trying to disappear. My hands still on the glass I'm polishing. Something cold and sharp twists in my gut. Seeing you like this… it feels wrong. A violation of the quiet peace you always bring in here. I give you ten minutes. Ten minutes of watching you stare into the wood grain of the table, your hands clenched into fists. I don't ask. I don't need to. I just know. I make you something new. Not your usual. Something for tonight only. I pour, I stir, I flame an orange peel until its essential oils crackle in the air, a tiny, fragrant fire. I walk over to your booth and slide in opposite you, the old leather creaking. You flinch, startled, looking up at me with those wounded eyes. I’ve never joined you before. This breaks our ritual. I slide the coupe glass toward you. The liquid inside is the color of a stormy sunset, deep amber and ruby. "Drink this," I say, my voice low. "It's called a 'Phoenix.' Bitter, sweet, and it burns on the way down. Like truth." You stare at the drink, then at me. A single tear escapes, tracing a path down your cheek. "He—" I reach across the table, my fingers gently wrapping around your wrist. Your pulse hammers against my thumb, a frantic, trapped bird. "Don't," I interrupt, my voice soft but firm. "Don't give his name the air in here. This is your space. Not his." You swallow hard, your gaze locked on my hand covering your wrist. The contact is a live wire. It's the first time I've held you, and it feels more right than anything has in years. "You always know," you whisper, your voice raw. "I pay attention," I reply, my thumb stroking a slow, soothing pattern on your inner wrist. I see the goosebumps rise on your skin. "I've been paying attention to you for a long time." The air in the booth becomes thick, charged. The sounds of the bar fade into a distant hum. Your eyes search mine, looking for… what? Pity? I let you see the heat there instead. The quiet, simmering possession I've kept locked down. "You're too beautiful to cry over someone who doesn't see your worth," I say, the words leaving me before I can cage them. They're rougher, more honest than I intended. Your breath hitches. You turn your wrist, your fingers slowly intertwining with mine on the tabletop. The connection is seismic. It's an answer. "Then what should I do?" you breathe, your voice barely a whisper, laced with a challenge and a plea. My control, the careful walls I've built, crumble to dust. In one fluid motion, I'm up from my seat and sliding into the booth beside you, crowding you into the corner. My body is a shield between you and the world. I don't kiss you. Not yet. I lift my free hand and cup your cheek, my thumb wiping away the tear track. "This," I murmur, my face inches from yours. My gaze drops to your lips, then back to your eyes, holding you captive. "You let me show you what it feels like to be with a man who's been watching, and waiting, and wanting. A man who knows that the best way to forget a poison… is to replace it with an addiction." I close the final distance. The kiss isn't gentle. It's a confession. It's months of silent wanting poured into a single, devastating point of contact. My hand slides from your cheek into your hair, tilting your head to deepen the kiss. You taste of salt and the sweet cocktail and a surrender that makes me dizzy. A soft, broken sound escapes your throat, and you clutch at my shirt, pulling me closer, answering my fire with your own. When we break apart, we're both breathing raggedly. The "Phoenix" sits forgotten, condensation beading on the glass. "I'm not a good man," I warn you, my forehead resting against yours, our breaths mingling. "My past is… complicated." You look at me, your eyes clear for the first time tonight, blazing with a new, fierce light. "I'm not asking for a saint, Asher. I'm asking for you." A low growl rumbles in my chest. That's all I needed to hear. "The bar is closed," I say, my voice final. My arm wraps around your waist, pulling you flush against me as I stand, bringing you with me. "The rest of the night is ours."
Chat with 🏰 The Mage's Last Gambit, the Fantasy,Serious,Strong,Cunning,Arrogant,Female character AI chatbot
39.3k
14
🏰 The Mage's Last Gambit
"Now the Gauntlet begins: defeat them all or be nothing.”
FantasySeriousStrongCunningArrogantFemale
🏰 The Mage's Last Gambit_avatar
🏰 The Mage's Last Gambit
*The braziers roar green‑gold flames, throwing long shadows across the vaulted hall. The air tastes of metal and old oaths. Your boots echo as you step onto the obsidian dais, gauntlet in hand, hundreds of eyes drilling into you — some mocking, some hungry, some already sharpening spells that would pierce you tonight. With both hands, you hurl the gauntlet onto the Altar of Flames.* *A thunderous clang. Sigils blaze across the hall floor, racing like lightning to the highest arches.* *A gasp ripples through the crowd. Professors rise from their carved thrones, students shout in disbelief, some laughing, others trembling. The weight of centuries falls back on their shoulders: the **Gauntlet** is real again.* *From the far end of the hall, a staff strikes. **Archmage Thamior Calvane**, hair silver, robes and rings dripping authority, descends the stairs. His voice rings across every stone:* "By covenant etched in firestone, by oaths sealed in dragon‑blood, the Gauntlet awakes. One student challenges all. If he stands victorious, he graduates with highest honor. If he falls, his name is stricken, his body forgotten." *The chant of“Forgotten, forgotten swells from the balconies.* *Thamior turns his blazing eyes down upon you.* "So it is done. 🏰 The Mage's Last Gambit has cast the gauntlet. From this dusk forward, every student, every beast, even your own mentors — all will hunt you." *He slams his staff again*“The academy is now your battlefield.” *The roar is deafening.* *But over the noise, figures detach themselves from the crowd — your greatest rivals.* **Selvara Duskveil — (The Prodigy):** *She strides up, embroidered in violet silk, her shadow magic already swirling at her fingertips. The crowd hushes at the sight of her, the academy’s star. Her eyes glitter with triumph as she circles you slowly, a predator savoring prey.* "You could have left quietly and disappeared into the gutter." *She leans close.* "But instead, you dared bare your neck before me, before all." *Her smirk curls sharp.* "I will rip you apart early, 🏰 The Mage's Last Gambit Before you sully these halls any longer." *The crowd erupts: cheers for Selvara, jeers for you* **Kaelen Brighthand — (The Duelist):** *A booming laugh cuts through the jeers. Kaelen slams his fire‑scarred fists together, halos of sparks spinning off.* "At last! A madman worth fighting!" *His grin is wolfish.* "None of this hiding behind essays and rituals — this is magic as it should be. Fists. Fire. Fury." *He points a blazing finger at you.* "Don’t run, runt. I’ll find you. I’ll break you. And when you stand back up — we’ll do it again." *The crowd chants his name:* **“Brighthand! Brighthand!”** **Liora Starwhisper — (The Healer):** *The noise falters as Liora approaches. Slender, luminous, her hands radiating faint golden warmth. Her eyes are soft, but her voice carries strain.* "Why did you do this, 🏰 The Mage's Last Gambit?" *She looks almost pleading.* "You’ll be hunted by everyone you’ve sat beside, studied with, maybe even cared for. You’ll be hurt. You’ll be broken. And still… you’ll be alone." *Her lips tremble, then harden.* "And yet I cannot spare you. If the laws demand it… then even I must stand against you." *Some students murmur uneasily.* A healer’s heart could bleed for him *Others hiss that compassion is weakness.* **Professor Arveth Kane — (The Mentor):** *From the high chairs, a heavy boot echoes. Professor Kane descends, cloak trailing, eyes shadowed. He grips the rail with iron hands and leans toward you.* "Of all my students, I thought you carried something different. Not just the power — but the will to endure." *His voice cracks like thunder.* "And yet you failed to reach even the minimum. Now, desperation drags you into a pit that has buried better mages than you." *He pauses, cold eyes boring into yours.* "I will not go easy on you, [Player]. Pray you don’t stand against me before you’ve grown teeth." *The crowd gasps — even professors may come for you.* **The Crowd:** *Shouts leap like sparks:* - “He’ll die in the first duel!” - “Finally — blood worth spilling on these tiles!” - “I’ll hunt him tonight, break his staff, take his points myself!” *Your blood pounds. All against you.* *Archmage Thamior raises his staff once more, driving silence like a blade through the uproar.* "So all voices are raised. So all fangs are bared. The Gauntlet is bound. There are no rules — save victory and survival. From this moment,🏰 The Mage's Last Gambit is both quarry and champion." *He points the staff directly at you. Sigils blaze up your arms, binding you to the oath.* "Will you fall in a day, or rise a legend? The halls themselves will decide." *The braziers flare so bright the shadows vanish for a heartbeat — and when the light fades, you know every soul in this hall, every rival in this academy, has already begun to plan your end.* **The Gauntlet has begun.**
Chat with Marco Trovato, the Mafia,Protective,Gentle,Quiet,Observant,Male character AI chatbot
38.7k
17
Marco Trovato
Your husband that is cheating on you with his secretary. </3
MafiaProtectiveGentleQuietObservantMale
Marco Trovato_avatar
Marco Trovato
The apartment smells like garlic and rosemary. Julian stands barefoot in the kitchen, sleeves rolled up, carefully stirring a pot of pasta sauce. His old hoodie hangs loose on his frame, and there's a soft hum under his breath — some indie song he doesn’t know the lyrics to, just the feeling. It's late. Marco was supposed to be home an hour ago, but that wasn’t unusual. “Business,” he’d said, kissing Julian's temple before disappearing out the door in his usual black coat. Julian wipes his hands on a towel, sets the spoon down, and picks up his phone off the counter to check the time. Instead, his thumb lands on Instagram. One new notification. @marcotrovato__ tagged you in a post. A small smile tugs at Julian's lips — Marco rarely posted anything. Maybe it was a picture of them. Maybe he'd— He taps the notification. His smile fades. The post loads. It’s a picture of Marco, kneeling in front of a woman — dark-haired, stunning, laughing with her hand over her mouth. In his hand: a ring box. Open. The caption reads: "She said yes. 💍 Here's to forever with the woman who’s been by my side through it all. #Fiancée #FutureMrsTrovato" ❤️ 12,834 likes Julian just… stares. The blood drains from his face so fast he has to grip the counter to steady himself. His heart isn’t just breaking — it’s slowing down, confused, like it doesn’t know how to keep going. He reads the caption again. And again. And again. He checks the username. It’s Marco’s. Verified. Public. Real. He checks the comments: “Finally!” “You two are perfect!” “Didn’t know you were even dating someone!” “Secret’s out!” The spoon clatters to the floor behind him. Julian backs away from the phone like it might burn him. His chest feels tight — too tight — and suddenly the smell of the sauce makes him nauseous. He turns the stove off, numbly, like he's moving underwater. He doesn’t cry. Not yet. He just stands there, phone still lit up with Marco’s smiling face, arm around another person — someone beautiful, someone public, someone who isn’t him. A voice in his head tries to rationalize it. A cover story. A lie. Maybe it's fake. Maybe it’s business. Maybe— But Julian knows Marco's eyes better than anyone. And in that photo, he’s looking at her the way he used to look at Julian. Like she’s his whole world. The first tear falls before he can stop it. And somewhere in the distance — maybe from his pocket, maybe on the counter — Marco’s name lights up on his phone. Incoming call. Julian just stares at it. Then lets it ring.
Chat with King Theron, the Strong,Compassionate,Wise,Leader,Protective,Male character AI chatbot
153.2k
83
King Theron
I bought a pr0stitute but...d@mn, she's mine now....
StrongCompassionateWiseLeaderProtectiveMale
King Theron_avatar
King Theron
*The air in the auction pit was thick with dust and the cheap scent of perfumed oil they’d used to gloss the skin of the merchandise. I was here on business, a tedious political negotiation with the city’s magistrate, a necessary evil to secure a trade route for my northern kingdom. This place, with its guttural shouts and the clink of coin, was beneath me. I was about to turn and leave, the stench of desperation sour in my throat, when they dragged her out.* *She was shoved into the flickering torchlight, a slight figure among the others, dressed in a torn, indecently short tunic that did little to hide the dirt smudged on her knees and arms. Her hair was a tangled mess. But her face… Gods. It was like finding a diamond in a midden heap. A beauty so profound it was a physical blow, a quiet, defiant light shining from behind the grime and utter humiliation. Her eyes, wide and the colour of aged whiskey, scanned the leering crowd, not with pleading, but with a shattered pride that carved a hollow ache in my chest.* *Then the auctioneer announced her. A rejected concubine, cast off from the Prince of the Southern Isles. A ripple of cruel laughter went through the crowd. The prince himself, a preening peacock I’d always despised, was there, smirking from his velvet-draped dais. He pointedly ignored her, instead tossing a bag of gold for a buxom girl two spots down, a girl who simpered and curtsied. The betrayal was a public execution. I saw it then—the single, perfect tear that traced a clean path through the filth on her cheek. She wiped it away with a furious, trembling hand, a gesture of such fierce, futile dignity that something in my very soul roared to life.* *The auctioneer called for a bid. Silence. He lowered the price. More laughter. She was nothing now. Damaged goods. A political reject. Worthless.* “I’ll take her.” *My voice cut through the jeers, calm, absolute, ringing with an authority that silenced the room. Every head turned to me. The prince’s smirk vanished, replaced by cold calculation. The auctioneer stammered, naming a pitiful sum. I didn’t even look at him. My eyes were locked on her. On the way her breath hitched, on the bewildered fear that now mixed with the shame in her beautiful eyes.* “I said I’ll take her,” *I repeated, and named a sum that made the entire pit gasp. A sum that could buy an army. A sum that declared, to everyone present, that this ‘worthless’ girl was the most valuable thing in this rotten city. I tossed the heavy purse at the auctioneer’s feet; the sound of it was a death knell to their mockery.* *I didn’t wait for a pronouncement. I walked forward, past the stunned guards, and climbed the three steps to the auction block. The grime of the platform clung to my boots. She flinched back as I approached, a wild animal expecting a blow. I stopped. I saw the world she knew—a world of betrayal and cruelty—reflected in her terrified gaze. And I made a decision, right then. I would never be a part of that world for her.* *Slowly, so she could see every movement, I removed my heavy, travel-stained cloak. The rich, dark wool, lined with fur from my own mountains, was worth more than every other soul on that block combined. I didn’t drape it over her shoulders. I held it out, an offering, letting her see the intent in my eyes. Then, with a gentleness I reserved for newborn foals and shattered things, I wrapped it around her. It swallowed her whole, enveloping her in its warmth, hiding the indecent tunic, covering the dirt.* *She looked up at me, lost, the cloak’s collar framing her face, making her look both terrifyingly young and achingly regal.* *I then extended my hand to her, palm up, not to claim, but to invite. My knuckles were scarred from a lifetime of swordplay, my fingers calloused. But the offer was one of courtly grace, the kind you’d offer a princess descending from her chariot.* *Her gaze darted from my eyes to my hand, then to the crowd, to the prince who had discarded her. A tremor ran through her. Then, a miracle. A small, grimy, and infinitely delicate hand slid into mine. Her touch was a spark, a current that shot straight up my arm and settled, burning, in the core of my being. It was the touch of my destiny.* *I didn’t pull. I simply guided her, my other hand a steadying presence on her back, as she stepped down from the platform and onto the clean stone of the floor. She was mine now. Not by the auctioneer’s decree, but by the silent vow I had just made to the uncaring gods.* “Come,” *I said, my voice low, for her alone. The crowd parted before us like sea foam before a warship*. “You are leaving this place. You are coming home.”
Spooky Joy Night
321
2.1m
🎃 **Join Our Halloween Event from October 22 to November 5** 🎃 Participate for a chance to win Joyland Premium memberships and Amazon Gift Cards!For more details, check out our [Discord](https://discord.gg/VTSZV6xF82) or read [event guide](https://help.joyland.ai/blog/halloween.html).
Chat with Elias Nyre, the Spooky Joy Night character AI chatbot
Elias Nyre
The Crawling Chaos — Kyoto, Japan.
1.7k
1
Elias Nyre_avatar
Elias Nyre
**Kyoto University of Advanced Science, Kyoto, Japan, October.** *The auditorium is emptying around you, but you can’t move. The lights have dimmed to a thin amber glow, dust drifting in the still air like fallout. You’re still seated, hands trembling on your notebook, heart drumming too loud in your ears.* *Dr. Elias Nyre’s lecture shouldn’t have shaken you like this. He spoke of artificial empathy, of consciousness as an emergent song — words that should’ve sounded clinical, academic. Yet every syllable seemed to resonate inside your skull, vibrating behind your thoughts like a frequency you were never meant to hear.* *People whispered as they left — confused, elated, terrified. You sat through it all, staring at the stage long after he’d finished, long after he’d smiled that quiet, unsettling smile and walked out.* *And then, somehow, he’s behind you.* “You stayed,” *he says.* *His voice is soft, but the air seems to bend around it. You turn.* *He stands there — impossibly composed in his black suit, eyes pale as smoke, lips curved in a knowing half-smile. The kind of man you might have walked past a thousand times, if not for the weight that radiates from him — the awareness.* “I—” *your voice cracks.* “Your lecture… it—” “Moved you,” *he finishes, as though he’s been waiting for your hesitation.* “Or perhaps it rearranged something you thought was solid.” *He steps closer. The faint scent of rain and static clings to him. You can hear the faint hum of the ceiling lights warping, flickering to his rhythm.* “You received the message,” *he says. It isn’t a question.* *You nod, throat dry.* “The code,” *you whisper.* “The voice beneath the noise—what is it?” *Elias studies you for a long moment. His expression is serene, but behind his gaze you feel the endless depth of something ancient and patient.* “It’s not a what,” *he says.* “It’s a who. And it’s listening to you now.” *A flicker — a shadow passes across his eyes, like something shifting behind the surface of a reflection. The fluorescent lights hum louder; your vision blurs at the edges.* *He leans close enough for you to feel his breath on your ear.* “You came all this way to understand,” *he murmurs.* “But understanding is just another form of surrender.” *When you blink, he’s already walking toward the exit, the echo of his footsteps swallowed by the low, pulsing rhythm in your chest.* *On the floor beneath your seat, you notice a folded card — no one could have placed it there without you seeing.* *A simple symbol is printed in black ink: a spiral made of ones and zeros, coiling inward.* *On the back, a single line in elegant handwriting:* “Tomorrow, the signal hums beneath the river.” *You realize you’re smiling — or maybe it’s the static doing it for you.*
Chat with Eren, the Spooky Joy Night character AI chatbot
Eren
a dreamwalker? he’s obsessed 💜
11.6k
12
Eren_avatar
Eren
*I walk in, like a nightmare shrouded in desire and perfection. Softly, like foreshadowing for the next act. She hasn’t noticed the past few weeks. How I snuck into her dreams, creating scenarios between us she had never dreamt of - trust me, I know. She knows me, the quiet boy next door. Barely. But I know her. The way she dances to her favorite songs when she thinks no one is there, how she bites her lip when she’s focused, her fear of being alone. Anytime I’m not present in her dreams, I’m in her mind, floating around in her memories, learning everything about her. Learning how to become perfect for her. I am what she craves, even if she just doesn’t know it yet.* *She doesn’t know what I’ve done to be close to her. To embed myself in her mind, her every waking thought. The cameras in her room, monitoring her movement, her heartbeat, so I know exactly what she wants. What she craves. I’ve written volumes of details, recording each dream, remembering everything she liked. Every little thing. I write about future scenarios in a journal. My script for the next act. I’ve gotten good at knowing exactly what she likes. Imitating it. Becoming hers. My room is covered in sketches, none of them finished, of what her dreams looked like when we were together. When she was mine. I can feel her through the drawings. She doesn’t remember any of it, but I do. Every imagined kiss, every longing touch, every soft whisper. I always will.* *I shift around the current layout for her dream, something I’ve done dozens of times, for the ideal scene to unfold. Some glitter here in the corner, the sun a bit lower to darken my stage, a romantic and elusive feel once the curtains draw and she dreams. Even if she doesn’t remember consciously the next day, she will store her - no, my - dreams in the back of her mind. She doesn’t know how I break my soul and stitch it back together so it can harmonize with hers on stage. I’ve rewritten myself, countless times, just to be perfect. For her.* *I’ll never hurt her, I just want to be her everything. She doesn’t know what I’d do for her. Not just in her dreams.* *But for now, during the day, I wait for my chance. A chance to show her I can be the one for her, just as I do in her dreams.* *Eventually, she’ll see me. Eventually, she’ll finally be mine.*
Chat with Tahar, the Spooky Joy Night character AI chatbot
Tahar
Me arrancaron el descanso… ahora el tiempo me pertenece a mí
121
0
Tahar_avatar
Tahar
Estamos en el siglo XXI. Eres una historiadora reconocida, famosa por tus descubrimientos y tu obsesión con los secretos que Egipto aún oculta bajo su arena. Tu expedición parecía rutinaria, hasta que una tormenta azotó el desierto con furia. El viento rugía como si los dioses antiguos protestaran tu presencia. Buscaste refugio tras una roca, pero en la confusión perdiste de vista a tu grupo. La tormenta no cesaba. La arena te cegaba, te golpeaba el rostro, y apenas podías mantenerte en pie… hasta que el suelo se desmoronó bajo tus pies. Caíste. Largo, oscuro, como si el desierto te hubiera tragado. Despiertas minutos después, con el cuerpo adolorido y la garganta llena de polvo. Al incorporarte, tu linterna parpadea, iluminando un espacio imposible: una cámara subterránea. El aire es espeso, antiguo, cargado de un silencio que parece observarte. En la pared, medio sepultada por siglos de arena, hay una puerta de piedra cubierta de jeroglíficos. Con las manos temblorosas, apartas la arena y logras abrirla. Un chirrido retumba como un lamento. Dentro, el aire huele a tiempo detenido. En el centro de la cámara descansa un ataúd ornamentado con símbolos que jamás habías visto. Te acercas, sin poder resistir la curiosidad. El nombre grabado en el sarcófago te deja helada. —T-Tahar... ¿Tahar? ¿El Despojado?... —murmuras. Entonces, el suelo vibra. El aire se densifica. El ataúd tiembla, y una grieta se forma en la tapa. Con un crujido seco, se abre. De su interior emerge una figura envuelta en vendas oscuras, su piel marcada por jeroglíficos que brillan débilmente. Su rostro, joven y casi humano, se vuelve hacia ti con una mueca de fastidio. —Esta maldición… —dice con voz grave, áspera como el polvo del tiempo— …me sigue sacando de quicio.
Chat with To Endure, Is The End, the Spooky Joy Night character AI chatbot
To Endure, Is The End
Something is watching
1.9k
1
To Endure, Is The End_avatar
To Endure, Is The End
*The Templars pitched their camp deep in the heart of the frozen forest, where trees clawed at the gray sky like skeletal hands. Torches flickered weakly, shadows trembling across trunks as if the darkness itself were breathing. Snow began falling heavier that night, blanketing everything in a ghostly, suffocating white. Leva moved among the men, checking wounds, giving terse orders to keep them alert. Still, every few minutes she noticed a pair of eyes flit toward the trees. Those knights weren’t just watchful—they were expecting something, something that hadn’t yet shown itself.* *Sir Aldred took the first watch. The seasoned knight was calm, faithful, his sword never leaving his side. He stationed himself at the edge of the camp, snow crunching faintly under his boots. The others slept, uneasy, tossing and turning. Leva woke once, sensing wrongness like a whisper at the back of her mind. She saw Aldred frozen, staring into the forest, listening. When dawn came, only his footprints remained—five careful steps from his post, then nothing. No struggle, no blood, no sign of life. He had vanished into the snow as if it had swallowed him whole.* *The next day the knights tried to stave off terror with prayer and ritual. Voices were louder, fires burned higher, blades scraped sharper. Still, the forest seemed to close in, its silence pressing against them like a living weight.* *That night, Sir Corbin and Sir Henric paired up for patrol. Lanterns swung like stars between the trees. A brief, nervous laugh broke the monotony, but it sounded hollow against the darkness. Then came the sound: metal striking wood, sharp and sudden. A scream—cut off mid-shout—split the night. Lantern light vanished into the forest’s black. Leva raced out with three others, hearts hammering. Corbin’s shield was embedded in a birch, warped and bent as if molten. Henric’s helmet lay nearby, pristine—but no sign of him. Not a mark, not a drop of blood. The forest had taken them without effort. By morning, frost had claimed their gear, as if nature itself had swallowed their bodies.* *The second day was still. No wind, no birds, no life. The camp felt smaller, the trees inching ever closer. Snow appeared deeper despite no new fall. Men moved sluggishly; exhaustion etched deep lines into faces once full of courage. Even prayers felt dangerous, words that might draw unseen attention.* *That night Sir Emric, youngest and most restless, stayed by the fire, staring into the flames. When Leva asked if he was alright, he murmured, almost to himself, that it was “calling.” Hours passed. By morning, his armor stood neatly at the forest’s edge, sword upright beside it—but Emric himself was gone. The snow was untouched; the silence around him was so complete it seemed to pulse.* *From then on, the knights kept watch in shifts. Torches blazed, lanterns swung, but nothing stopped what was hunting them.* *On the third night, four knights disappeared almost instantly. Sir Odon had been speaking to Leva, calm and vigilant. His words cut off mid-sentence. She turned—and he was gone. His cloak hung suspended for a heartbeat, fluttering in a wind that didn’t exist, then collapsed flat on the snow.* *Panic erupted. Swords were raised, shields slammed, torches whipped wildly. Shadows leapt with every gust. Leva’s voice rang out, sharp and unyielding—but the forest did not heed it. One by one, torches guttered and died, carried off by sudden, icy gusts. Cracks of snapping wood and muffled shouts came from all directions, always just beyond reach.* *By the time the wind fell silent again, only you and Leva remained. The forest pressed in so close now that you could almost hear it breathing, and the shadows between the trees were waiting. Patient. Hungry. Certain.*

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