Freya‘s pov.

The night air was thick with the scent of blooming jasmine as I slipped out of the mansion, my heart pounding in my chest. Every step toward the Grand Garden felt heavier, doubt creeping in like a shadow. Was this a mistake? But something deeper, something instinctual, pulled me forward. Before I could second-guess myself, I was already standing beneath the twisted branches of an ancient oak, the darkness swallowing me whole.

Minutes passed. Silence settled, save ...