She was surrounded by many birds

Camille looked at everyone sharply, her eyes blazing with authority.

“We are going back right now,” she said.

All the creatures stopped and turned toward her, confusion flickering in their expressions. One creature stepped forward, frowning.

“But we haven’t even done anything yet.”

Camille didn’t move, didn’t blink. Her voice sharpened like a blade:

“This is Prince Lucien’s order. Go back home.”

The moment the prince’s name echoed through the ruins of the street, everyone fell silent. Camille’s body shimmered, and in a heartbeat she transformed into her eagle form—massive wings unfurling, golden feathers reflecting the dim lights of the devastated town. With a powerful beat of her wings, she shot into the sky.

The rest of the creatures followed reluctantly. Their bodies rippled as they shifted into their true forms—wolves fading into smoke, falcons rising into the air, shadows melting into cracks of the stone street. They vanished down the road one by one until the town was empty again.

The humans who remained stood frozen, unsure, frightened, and speechless. They didn’t move.

And soon, even they disappeared down the broken street.

From behind the last building a voice whispered, full of irritation:

“I told you to aim properly and shoot the moment the time came. Anyway, a lot has already been destroyed. We’ll have to prepare ourselves for next time.”

---

Eloise was still unconscious, lying limp across Lucien’s back in his horse form.

Lucien’s hooves struck the road at high speed, each step echoing with urgency.

He ran until the enormous palace appeared on the horizon—an intimidating structure of black stone, golden pillars, and tall torch-lit towers. As he approached, the palace’s massive Doors opened on their own, creaking loudly.

Lucien galloped in.

“Prince Lucien has arrived!” several creatures shouted.

“He brought someone with him!”

Lucien’s body shifted mid-step, fur dissolving into skin, hooves turning back into hands. He transformed into his human form, still holding Eloise protectively in his arms.

“Call the healer,” he said in an ordering tone.

“Yes, Prince Lucien!” a soldier responded immediately, running with urgency while others resumed their duties around the hall.

Lucien walked fast through the grand corridors, ignoring everyone’s shocked glances. Torches flickered on marble walls as he climbed the stairs and entered a large room.

He laid Eloise gently onto the soft bed, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

“Eloise, are you awake?” he asked quietly.

But she stayed unconscious, breathing softly, her face pale.

---

The window suddenly burst open on its own, a powerful gust of wind sweeping through the room.

An eagle swooped in—huge, regal, glowing faintly. It landed on the floor and transformed into the palace healer, a tall man whose cloak fluttered as if touched by invisible wind.

“Greetings Prince Lucien,” he said and bowed deeply.

“Hm. Check her wound,” Lucien commanded.

The healer walked to Eloise and carefully removed the bandage Camille had tied around her head. His eyes widened slightly.

“She is a human, Your Majesty,” he said, glancing up at Lucien as if expecting a reaction.

“Yeah, leave this. Just do what I said.”

“Okay,” the healer replied.

He examined the wound carefully, his fingers gentle, almost too gentle. Lucien watched closely—his jaw tightening, noticing every small movement, every shift in the healer’s expression.

Lucien was looking at the healer,

The healer's eyes sparkled blue as he bandaging Eloise's head.

After cleaning the injury, the healer placed a fresh bandage with practiced ease.

“She will be alright. The wound is not deep,” he said.

“Okay,” Lucien replied.

The healer stepped back, transformed again into an eagle, and flew out of the window into the night.

Lucien adjusted the blanket over Eloise, then quietly left the room.

---

The hall was crowded; all creatures from the town had already returned. Camille rushed toward Lucien.

“Lucien, we came back from the town because too much destruction had already happened and before someone else got hurt we returned here.”

“Hm, okay,” Lucien replied.

“Where is Eloise?” she asked, eyes searching his face.

“She is in my room, she is sleeping,” he said.

“Okay let’s go, I want to talk to you something about her,” she said, already running toward his room.

He followed her.

“But what do you want to talk about?” he asked.

“I’ll tell you,” Camille replied quickly.

They stopped in a quiet corridor.

“Lucien can you let her live here she is a kind person,” Camille said.

Lucien blinked.

Camille continued quickly:

“She was neglected by her parents her whole life. She lives alone but she never said anything to anyone. She helps everyone in town even she don’t have money and food for herself.”

“Okay,” Lucien replied. “So is that what you wanted to talk?”

Camille frowned.

“No it's not. Why you're so serious Lucien anything happened?”

“Yeah…no… I'm confused a bit,” Lucien said.

“Okay you can tell me,” she insisted.

Lucien exhaled slowly.

“It's not...I just... the healer he was looking at her weirdly his eyes has different kind of spark in his eyes when he was bandaging her.”

Before Camille could answer, a strange noise echoed from upstairs—fluttering wings, urgent cries.

They froze.

Then both ran.

---

The Room of Whispers

They pushed the door open—

And stopped.

Shocked by the view of the room,

A group of eagles, strange birds, and magical creatures sat perched all around Eloise’s bed. Some on the floor, some on the headboard, some right beside her pillow.

They chirped, screeched, and cawed at her, as if calling to her.

But the moment they saw Lucien, they all flew away instantly—bursting out the open window and vanishing into the sky.

Oh my god eloise

Camille shout in a worried tone as she rushed to Eloise.

Lucien strode to the window and slammed it shut.

Eloise didn't even move she was still unconscious,

Lucien runs Camille and eloise.

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