Page 19

M orning crept slowly into the keep, the faint light of dawn seeping through the cracks in the old stone walls.

The air was cool, and the silence was broken only by the distant chirp of birds and the rustle of leaves stirred by a gentle breeze.

It was a fleeting moment of peace, fragile and precious.

Yet, even as it settled over the keep, I knew it wouldn’t last.

I woke before Elara, her steady breaths filling the room as I sat on the edge of the bed.

The events of the previous night replayed in my mind, the way she’d let her walls down, the way I’d allowed mine to crumble completely.

I’d surrendered to something I’d sworn to resist. And yet, as I looked back at her now, peaceful in her sleep, I couldn’t bring myself to regret it.

The weight of what awaited us pressed heavily against my chest. I decided to get up and make my way to the sitting room. I stood carefully, not wanting to disturb her, letting Elara sleep for a little while longer.

Across the sitting room, the crimson tome lay on the table, its damning truths locked within its pages.

It held secrets that could shatter the Council’s hold on the realm, but that knowledge had painted a target on our backs.

My fingers brushed over its worn leather cover as I stared at it, my thoughts racing ahead to the next steps.

If we were to expose the Council, we needed allies, powerful ones. Moreover, we needed to act swiftly.

A soft sound behind me drew me from my thoughts. I turned to see Elara standing in the doorway, her brow furrowing as she rubbed her eyes. Her gaze found mine almost instantly, and a small, sleepy smile graced her lips, a rare, unguarded expression that took my breath away.

“Morning,” she murmured, her voice husky with sleep.

“Morning,” I replied, a slight smile playing at my lips. “Did you sleep well?”

She nodded, tugging the blanket closer around her shoulders as she sat up. “Better than I expected. And you?”

“Well enough,” I lied. Rest was a luxury I seldom indulged in, and last night had been no exception. However, there was no point in burdening her with that, not when far more pressing concerns existed.

Her gaze shifted to the tome in my hands, and the softness in her expression yielded to determination. “We need to move, don’t we?”

“Indeed, we do,” I replied, placing the book back on the table. “The Council will not wait, and nor can we. We must reach the ruins to the east. They are remote enough to keep us hidden for a time, yet close enough to one of the towns in Lunairis to

begin searching for allies.”

Elara steps towards me, her movements graceful despite

the burden I knew she bore. “Do you think we’ll find anyone willing to stand against them?”

“We must,” I said, my voice resolute. “The Council’s strength is built on fear and control. There will always be those who oppose, even in secrecy. We simply need to locate them.”

Her eyes connected with mine, the fire from last night still blazing brightly. “Then let’s not waste any more time.”

I nodded, my chest swelling with a blend of pride and something more profound. Whatever lay ahead, I wasn’t facin g

it alone.

Together, we gathered what little we possessed, a few

supplies, the tome, and the unwavering resolve propelling us forward. By the time the sun fully breached the horizon, we were on the move again, slipping back into Lunairis, deftly dodging through the forest’s shadows towards the palace and the uncertain future awaiting us.

The forest engulfed us as we advanced, its shadows deep and sprawling, the canopy above blocking out much of the morning light.

The air was moist, carrying the earthy aroma of moss and decay.

Each step felt weightier than the last, though not from fatigue; it was the burden of the unknown pressing down on us.

Elara walked ahead, her movements purposeful and quiet, the faint rustle of leaves beneath her boots the only sound she made. I remained a pace behind, my senses attuned to the forest’s whispers, each snap of a twig or rustle of foliage representing a potential threat.

The palace wasn’t far from us now, we had to be stealthy in order to reach the ruins.

You could wander freely through all the realms before the Council’s influence began to tighten its grip on the realm.

Back then, everyone was united; it was a time of peace and prosperity.

Yet, I knew better than most that memories often held the keys to the future.

“Do you hear that?” Elara asked in a low voice, almost a whisper, tilting her head as she paused mid-step.

I strained my ears. For a moment, there was nothing but the forest’s usual symphony, birdsong, the creak of branches swaying in the wind, and the distant rush of water. Then, I caught it: a faint, rhythmic sound, almost like...

“Footsteps,” I murmured, my hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of my blade.

Elara crouched low, her keen gaze scanning the treeline. I moved to her side, every muscle coiled tightly, poised to spring. The sound grew louder, nearer, and then ceased entirely .

“Stay put,” I whispered, but Elara shook her head, her jaw clenched.

“Absolutely not.”

We moved together, our steps careful and deliberate, weav- ing through the dense underbrush towards the source of the sound. The forest opened into a small clearing, sunlight streaming through the gaps in the trees. At its centre stood a cloaked and hooded figure, their back to us.

“Reveal yourself,” I called, my voice steady, my blade partially drawn.

The figure turned slowly, lowering their hood to reveal a face weathered by time, with sharp, piercing eyes beneath a crown of silver hair.

“I wondered when you would arrive,” the stranger said, their voice steady and calm.

Elara looked at me, her expression a blend of confusion and caution. “Do you know them?”

“No,” I replied, my grip tightening on the hilt of my blade. “But they appear to recognise us.”

The stranger raised their hands in a gesture of peace and stepped forward. “If I meant you harm, you would know by now. My name is Darius, and I have been waiting for you.”