Reincarnated as the Betrothed: Bride of the Shadow Queen

Anezka's Pov

I made my way to the tranquil lake, the sun glinting off the water's surface, and crouched down to drink from its cool depths with my cupped hands. After quenching my thirst, I settled on the soft grass by the water's edge, taking a moment to truly absorb my surroundings.

The air was lively with the sounds of nature, and I quickly became aware of the loud flapping of wings nearby. It felt as though a hummingbird was flitting about in the vibrant landscape. Curiosity piqued, I followed the sound, pushing through the tangled underbrush that resisted my passage.

As I emerged into a sunlit clearing, I was greeted by a breathtaking sight: a vast expanse covered in a riot of red flowers, swaying gently in the breeze. The brilliance of their color was stunning against the backdrop of rich green leaves, and I noticed that many hummingbirds darted among them, their iridescent feathers glinting as they fed on the nectar.

What caught my attention was the peculiar fact that, despite the variety of flower species surrounding me, they all shared the same vivid red hue. Standing amidst this floral spectacle, I inhaled deeply, and the air was rich with a delightful medley of scents—sweet, floral, and intoxicating—all mingling together to create an enchanting atmosphere.

Even though I longed to immerse myself in the beauty of nature around me, a deep, nagging unease regarding Mentor Selmor consumed my thoughts. He had intentionally given me a striking red flower that lacked any scent, fully aware of the vast array of red flowers flourishing in this area.

Now, the real challenge lay ahead: how was I supposed to locate that elusive scentless red flower? The garden was a vibrant tapestry of colors and fragrances, but with the flowers intermingled, I could hardly distinguish one from another.

Time was not on my side; this expansive area felt like an endless maze, and even if I dedicated myself to the search, it could easily take me two long days to find such a specific flower. "Ugh, what am I going to do now?" I lamented, my voice echoing into the tranquility of the surroundings. Frustration bubbled within me as I realized I was talking to myself, spiraling closer to madness in my desperate attempt to solve this puzzle.

Before I could process the situation, a low, menacing growl rumbled from just behind me. "Oh God, no. Please, I can't be that unlucky," I whispered, panic rising in my chest as I turned around slowly to discover the source of the sound.

Standing there was a massive white wolf, its thick fur glistening in the dim light, and its striking blue eyes locked onto mine. Despite its stunning beauty, a wave of fear washed over me as it drew closer.

I realized I knew little about wolves—were they really just wild versions of dogs? They shared some similarities in appearance, but this creature felt far removed from any pet I had ever encountered. My heart raced as I weighed my options.

I knew instinctively that running might prompt an instinctual chase, perhaps even putting me in greater danger. Instead, I stood frozen, hoping that remaining still would show I meant no threat.

I stood frozen in place as I watched the wolf approach me slowly, its powerful yet graceful form gliding silently through the grass. My heart raced as I instinctively began to breathe quietly, terrified of making any noise that might provoke it.

The wolf stopped directly in front of me, staring deep into my eyes, its gaze intense and penetrating, as if it were trying to decipher my very thoughts. It leaned closer, sniffing my clothes with a curious air.

To my surprise, the wolf remained eerily calm. I felt an urge to reach out and touch its thick, soft fur, but before I could make a move, it seized a piece of my dress in its mouth, tugging gently yet insistently.

It seemed to beckon me to follow, and in that moment, I knew I couldn't risk my life over this stupid test. Taking a breath, I chose to go along with the flow, trusting this wild creature. The wolf led me into the heart of a breathtaking expanse, where vibrant red flowers swayed gently in the breeze, painting the landscape in a sea of scarlet. It was a mesmerizing sight, and I felt a strange mix of fear and wonder as we moved deeper into this floral wonderland.

It stopped suddenly, its nose twitching as it inhaled the sweet scents of the vibrant flowers before it. I stood still, quietly observing its every movement, captivated by its grace. The wolf approached me, gently nudging my legs with its snout, as if urging me to follow.

Intrigued, I complied, trailing behind as it led me to a flower that remarkably resembled the one Mentor Selmor had shown me during our lessons. Could this creature truly have helped me find this flower? How did it even know about it? Feeling a surge of urgency, I glanced at the watch dangling around my neck like a heavy necklace, the ticking sound seemed to echo in my ears.

With only ten minutes left to complete this test, I hurried to the flower the wolf had indicated. My fingers moved swiftly, plucking three or four blossoms in quick succession. But in my haste, I accidentally crushed one in my grip.

A foul, skunk-like odor escaped, invading my senses. Suddenly, I remembered that this was scarlet gilia. Aunt Alora used to brew tea from it, and she once told me that the flower remains scentless until crushed.

A light bulb went off in my mind—this must be why Mentor Selmor had warned me against crushing the flowers while inspecting them. He was annoyingly clever, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of irritation at his wisdom.

Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I decided to focus on plucking the vibrant flowers that surrounded me. The colors danced in the sunlight, each petal a burst of beauty waiting to be gathered.

As I carefully selected a few blooms, I turned to my right and was taken aback by the sight of a wolf sitting peacefully nearby. To my surprise, this magnificent creature was playing gently with a delicate hummingbird.

Despite its imposing size, the wolf exuded a friendly and docile demeanor, its deep eyes sparkling with curiosity. A smile crept across my face as I returned my attention to the flowers, but then I noticed some peculiar noises in the background. They were faint and distant, almost like whispers carried by the breeze. I decided to ignore them, remembering that I still had a few precious minutes to complete my task.

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"The relief of giving in to destruction."

- By Franz Kafka