The cursed princess, driven from her once-glorious castle, dashes through the tangled forest, the dim glow of the moon her only guide. Her pulse hammers in her chest, each breath heavy with the burden of a secret too dark to bear. The curse—etched deeper into her skin with each passing day—is a constant reminder of the formidable power she possesses, the very power her people fear.

Just as exhaustion threatens to consume her, a faint shimmer flickers in the distance. Drawn to it, she stumbles forward, branches clawing at her as she enters a small clearing. At its heart stands a lone figure—an old woman, her wild, matted hair mirroring the chaos of the woods. Cloaked in shadows, she is nearly one with the night, save for her eyes—two eerie beacons that seem to see straight into the princess’s soul.

“I knew you would come,” the witch murmurs, her voice laced with both warning and welcome.

The princess hesitates, yet an unshakable sense of familiarity tugs at her. The weight of the curse tightens around her, urging her forward. She has no choice but to seek the truth—whether it leads to salvation, destruction, or something in between.

“Why were you waiting for me?” she asks, her voice unsteady but resolute enough to cut through the silence.

The witch’s lips curl into a knowing smile. “Because, my dear, you are the one who can break the curse. But nothing comes without a price…”