The soft chirping of birds and the gentle rustling of leaves outside her window greeted Aurelith as she awoke.

  The room was bathed in the warm, golden light of dawn, its walls adorned with tapestries depig the lush forests of Everspring. For a moment, she y still, her mind lingering on the fragments of a strange dream. A man with eyes dark as night staring into her eyes, saying, “Let’s meet again soon. And this time, I will…” The words trailed off, leaving her with an uling sense of foreboding.

  “What a strange dream,” she murmured, sitting up and running a hand through her auburn hair.

  “When was the st time I dreamt of something so vivid?” She shook her head, brushing it aside.

  “Dreams are just dreams. Today is too important to dwell on them.”

  As she rose from her bed, her bare feet touched the cool wooden floor. The air smelled of pine and blooming flowers, a stant reminder of the eternal spring that surrounded Everspring. She moved to the window, gazing out at the vilge below.

  The wood elf settlement was alive with activity. Elves tending to their gardens, children pyihe bubbling streams, and artisans crafting their wares, a peaceful sight that always filled her with a sense of belonging. Yet, deep down, the memory of Emberveil and its fall lingered like a shadow.

  Aurelith turned away from the window and began preparing for the day. She dressed in a simple yet elegant tunic of forest green, embroidered with silver leaves, a symbol of her status as an advisor to Chief Aelindor.

  As she fastehe belt around her waist, her gaze fell on the oing against the wall: her bow, a quiver of arrows, and a pair of daggers. They were more than tools; they were extensions of herself, reminders of the battles she had fought and the losses she had endured.

  She hesitated, her hand h over the bow. Should I bring them? she wohe meeting with the humans was supposed to be diplomatic, a ce te an allianbsp;

  But the dream had left her uled, and the memory of Emberveil’s fall was a stark reminder of what could happerust was mispced. Her fiightened around the bow’s smooth wood, the familiar weight f in her hands.

  “Better to have them and not hem,” she muttered under her breath, slinging the quiver over her shoulder and seg the daggers at her hips.

  The ons were a part of her, a symbol of her readio protect Everspring at all costs. Still, as she adjusted the straps, she couldn’t shake the feeling that today would test her in ways she couldn’t yet anticipate.

  A soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. “Aurelith?” came the voice of Lira, her closest friend and fellow archer. “The humans have arrived. Chief Aelindor is waiting for you in the vilge hall.”

  “I’ll be there shortly,” Aurelith answered, her tone posed yet resolute. She inhaled deeply, tering herself. The meeting ahead was vital. The humans had e in search of an alliance, and the fate of Everspring might hinge on what transpired.

  Before departing, she li the small mirror affixed to the wall. Her image reflected back a woman with golden-browhat sparkled with hints of amber, auburn hair pulled ba a loose braid, and a face that carried the burden of years marked by loss and resilienbsp;

  She readjusted the silver circlet resting on her forehead, a gift from Chief Aelindor upon her assion as his advisor. It represented her role in Everspring, a reminder of the faith the unity had in her.

  As she exited her room, the crisp m air enveloped her, infused with the subtle aroma of pine ah. The vilge buzzed with energy, yet Aurelith’s thoughts wandered elsewhere.

  She mentally rehearsed the key points she inteo present during the meeting, her mind a flurry of strategies and precautions. The humans’ arrival had been unforeseen, and while a partnership could bolster Everspring’s defenses against the demon lord, it also posed dangers. She couldn’t afford to lower her vigince.

  As she made her way to the vilge hall, her hand naturally brushed against the hilt of one of her daggers. The lingering dream echoed ihoughts, the man’s dark eyes and enigmatic words resonating faintly.

  “Let’s meet again soon. And this time, I will...” She shook her head, pushing the notion away. Today was dedicated to diplomaot dreams.

  Yet, as she he hall, she couldn’t rid herself of the sehat the meeting would be anything but typical.

  * * *

  The grand hall of Everspring was bathed in the soft, golden light of the afternoon sun, its rays filtering through the stained-gss windows and casting intricate patterns on the polished wooden floor.

  In front of the room stood Chief Aelindor, tall and dignified, his silver hair catg the light like strands of moonlight. His presenanded respect, and the room fell silent as he raised a hand iing.

  “Wele to Everspring,” he began, his voice deep and resonant, carrying the weight of turies of leadership.

  “We are honored by your presend eager to discuss the matters at hand.” His words were warm, but his pierg green eyes held a cautious edge, a remihat trust was not given lightly in these nds.

  Aurelith ehe hall, her presenanding immediate attention. She bowed slightly to Chief Aelindor. “I greet the Chief,” she said formally, her voice steady.

  “Aurelith,” Aelindor said warmly, “thank you for joining us. You are just in time.”

  She took her pce at his right side, sweeping over the human delegation. They were a mix of knights, schors, and diplomats; their faces a blend of curiosity and wariness.

  Among them was a young human woman with fiery red hair and a determined expression, Lady Seraphihe leader of the delegation.

  Lady Seraphiepped forward, her crimson cloak sweeping gracefully behind her as she moved. The fabric shimmered like liquid fire, a stark trast to the earthy tones of the elves’ attire.

  Her presence was anding, yet there was a subtle weariness in her posture, as though the journey had taken its toll. She ined her head in a gesture of respect, her dark eyes meeting Aelindor’s with a mixture of determination and humility.

  “Thank you, Chief Aelindor,” she replied, her voice clear and steady. “We e seeking an alliance, ohat we hope will be both our peoples iroubled times.”

  Her words were carefully chosen, each sylble carrying the weight of her mission. She paused, her gaze sweeping over the assembled elves, lingering briefly on Aurelith. There was a flicker nition in her eyes, as though she sensed Aurelith’s importance, but she said nothing.

  Aurelith, for her part, remained silent, her eyes studying the human delegation with a mix of curiosity and suspi. She he armed knights fnking Seraphiheir polished armleaming in the sunlight, and the tension in the room seemed to thi. The elves, too, were armed, their bows and daggers a silent remihat they were not to be uimated. The air was charged with unspokeions, the weight of past grievances and future possibilities hanging heavy in the space between them.

  * * *

  The room was filled with the low murmur of voices as Chief Aelindor, the vilge advisors, and the human delegates took their seats around the long oak table.

  Chief Aelindaze softened slightly as he gestured to the long oak table at the ter of the hall. “Please, join us. We have much to discuss, and the day grows short.”

  Lady Seraphine nodded, her expression one of gratitude, though her eyes remained sharp and alert.

  “reciate your hospitality, Chief Aelindor. These are uain times, and we are grateful for the opportunity to speak openly.”

  As the delegates took their seats, the room seemed to hold its breath, the tension palpable. The meeting had begun, but the true test of diplomad trust was yet to e.

  The room was tehe air thick with unspoken tension. The forest elves of Everspring stood along the edges of the hall, their bows slung across their backs and daggers gleaming at their hips.

  Their presence was a silent remihat while they weled diplomacy, they were not defenseless. Aurelith, seated beside Chief Aelindor, leaned forward, her golden-brown eyes narrowing as they fell on the armed human knights fnking Lady Seraphine.

  “You came to us, saying that you seek an alliance,” Aurelith began, her voice calm but sharp, “yet y armed knights into our vilge hall. What is the meaning of this?”

  Her words cut through the room like a bde, and all eyes turo her. Even Chief Aelindor remained silent, allowio take the lead.

  Lady Seraphine’s expression remained posed, though a flicker of something, perhaps respect, crossed her features. She gestured to the knights behiheir armor polished to a mirror shine.

  “Advisor Aurelith,” she replied smoothly, “these are uain times. We travel through nds pgued by bandits and dark creatures. Our ons are for prote, not provocation.”

  Aurelith’s gaze didn’t waver. She rose from her seat, her movements deliberate, aured to the armed elves standing along the walls.

  “A, y them into our hall, a pce of pead diplomacy. If you truly seek an alliance, you would show trust, not suspi. Or do you think we are fools, blind to the imbance here?”

  One of the human knights shifted unfortably, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of his sword. The elves, in resporaighteheir hands drifting toward their ons.

  The tension in the room spiked, and for a moment, it seemed as though the fragile thread of diplomacy might snap.

  Lady Seraphine raised a hand, sileng her knight with a subtle gesture. Her gaze swept over the armed elves, theuro Aurelith.

  “You misuand,” she said, her tone firm but measured.

  “We do not e to intimidate or deceive. But we will not stand unarmed in a room where others are armed. That is not iation, it is submission. If we are to speak as equals, we must stand on equal ground.”

  Aurelith’s lips curved into a faint, humorless smile. “Equal ground?” she echoed, her voice cool.

  “You enter our home, our sanctuary, and demand to be treated as equals while funting your steel.

  Tell me, Lady Seraphine, would you allow armed strangers into your halls and call it diplomacy?”

  The human noblewoma her gaze unflingly. “If the situation were reversed, and I stood in your pce, I would expeothing less. Trust is earned, Advisor, not given freely. We are here to build an alliance, but we will not do so from a position of weakness.”

  The room fell silent, the weight of her words hanging in the air. Aurelith studied her for a long moment, her sharp eyes searg for any hint of deception.

  She had learned long ago that words could be as dangerous as bdes, and she wasn’t about to let her guard down. Finally, she ined her head, a gesture of relut aowledgment.

  “Very well,” she said, her tone measured. “But know this: Everspring is our home, and I will not tolerate any threat to its safety. If your iions are true, you will have our support. If not, you will regret it.”

  Lady Seraphine nodded, her expression ear. "We uand your caution, Advisor Aurelith. And we share your desire for peabsp;

  The demon lord's influence spreads across the nd like a pgue, corrupting everything it touches, and we believe that only by uniting our forces we hope to stand against him."

  Aurelith's jaw tighte the mention of the demon lord, the muscles in her face w beh her skin. Memories of Emberveil's fall fshed in her mind, the screams of her people, the hungry fmes dev aapestries, the overwhelming darkhat had snuffed out turies of light and life.

  She pushed them aside with practiced determination, fog on the present. The humans' words were persuasive, but they stirred a deep, simmering anger within her, an ember that had ruly died. She leaned forward, her voice low and sharp as a bde.

  "You speak of unity and trust, yet where were your people when Emberveil burned? Where were your knights, your armies, your so-called allies, when Emberveil was torn apart by the demon lord's forces? You did nothing but watch from your safe distances. And now you e here, asking for an alliahis is bullshit."

  The room grew tehe air thick with the weight of her words. The elves shifted unfortably, their hands drifting toward their ons, a instincts taking hold.

  Even Chief Aelindor's expression darkened, his weathered features cast in shadow as his gaze fixed on Lady Seraphine.

  The human knights behiiffeheir hands tightening on their sword hilts until their knuckles whitened, but Seraphine raised a hand, sileng them with the quiet authority of a born leader.

  "You are right," she said, her voice steady but filled with regret that seemed to age her beyond her years.

  "The old king of the humans failed you. He turned a blio Emberveil's suffering, hiding behind politid excuses, and for that, there be niveness. But he is no longer ohrohe people rose against him, tired of his cowardice, and a new king now leads us, a man who has always kept his word, even before he wore the . He sent me here to make amends, te an alliahat should have existed long ago."

  Aurelith's eyes narrowed, her aill burning like autumn fire in her golden-brown gaze.

  "And why should I believe you? Words are easy, Lady Seraphine. As are what matter."

  Seraphiepped forward, her armor catg the light as she moved, her gaze unwavering.

  "I swear to you, on my honor as a knight and as a leader of my people, that this alliance will be upheld. If the new king breaks his word, I will stand with you, no matter the cost. I will not let history repeat itself."

  The room fell silent again, the weight of her oath settling over them like m frost. Aurelith studied her, her golden-brown eyes searg for any hint of deceit. Slowly, the tension in her shoulders eased, though her expression remained guarded.

  "Your words are bold," she said at st, each word carefully measured. "But I will hold you to them. If you betray us, you will find no mercy."

  Lady Seraphine ined her head, the gesture both respectful and resolute. "I would expeothing less."

  The tension in the room crackled like lightning before a storm as Aurelith and Lady Seraphine tiheir verbal sparring, each word a calcuted thrust and parry.

  "Your words ring hollow, Lady Seraphine. You speak of honor, yet your people have a history of abandoning their allies when ve." Aurelith's firaced the edge of the oak table, her touch light but deliberate, like a predator testing its cws.

  "And you speak of betrayal with such vi, Advisor. One might think you witnessed Emberveil's fall firsthand." Seraphine's steel-gray eyes narrowed, searg. "Strange, for someone so young."

  "I have seen enough of human promises turn to ash." Aurelith's voice carried turies of paih its measured tone, each word weighted with memories of loss. "Your kind are quick to pledge allegiance, quicker still to break it."

  "Yet here you are, eaining our proposal. Could it be that Everspring his alliance as much as we do?" Seraphine's words probed like a sword testing for ots in armor.

  "Or perhaps we simply wish to know our enemies better." Aurelith's response was swift and sharp as an arrow.

  The two women circled each other with words, each probing for weakness, searg for hidden truths in every carefully chosen phrase. her willing to yield ground, her able to gain the upper hand in this delicate dance of diplomad distrust.

  Chief Aelindor's fist struck the table with the force of a thundercp, sileng them both. The sound echoed through the chamber like a judgment. "Enough. Lady Seraphine, you haven't answered the most pressing question. Why now? Why seek this allia this particur moment?"

  Seraphine's shoulders rexed slightly, though her guard remained up. "The capital was in chaos after the old king's fall.

  Demon activity increased tenfold. We've spent months seg our borders, rooting out corruption that ran deeper than we imagined. Only now have we mao establish enough stability to reach out to potential allies."

  "And these demons?" Aelindor pressed. "They've been particurly active?"

  "They've grown bolder, more ahe previous king's negligence left us vulnerable, and ing up his mess has taken siderable time and resources. We couldn't risk reag out until we were certain our own house was in order."

  Lady Seraphine leaned forward, her expression serious.

  “I will be frank. The situation has grown dire i weeks. Reports of demon activity have surged around Everspring. Ambushes are being more frequent where traders and travelers find themselves attacked before they reach the vilge.”

  Aurelith felt a knot tighten iomach. The thought of demons creeping closer to their sanctuary sent a shiver down her spine. She exged gnces with Aelindor, whose brow furrowed in .

  “Tell us more,” Aelinded, his voice steady but ced with urgency. “What do you know of these attacks?”

  Seraphine g the armed knights behihen focused on the elves gathered around the table.

  “There have been sightings. Small groups of demons, scouting and raiding. We believe they’re testing defenses, looking for weaknesses. If we do not act soon, I fear an invasion is immi.”

  Aurelith’s hands ched into fists beh the table. She could already envision Emberveil’s fate mirrored in this hreat, her parents’ screams echoed in her mind as she fought to suppress them.

  “We must bolster our defenses,” Aurelith said sharply, determination threading through her voice.

  “I will seo help,” Seraphine replied, nodding resolutely. “We ot allow this vilge to fall like Emberveil did.”

  Aelindor raised a hand to halt the discussion for a moment, his gaze serious yet ptive.

  “Your offer is generous, Lady Seraphine, but we ot expect you to sacrifice your forces for our defense alone. Our own warriors are capable; it is knowledge and strategy we need.”

  Seraphiraightened slightly. “I offer assistan defending your borders and training your warriors to face these threats. However...” She hesitated briefly before tinuing,

  “I ot spare any hands for iigation into the ambushes themselves; my men are already stretched thin across several fronts battling the encroag demon activity.”

  Aelindor leaned forward, his weathered hands pressed ft against the oak table. "These demon activities you speak of - atterns have you noticed?"

  "They strike at dawn or dusk," Seraphine replied, her firag invisible patterns oable's surface. "Small groups, no more than five or six. They target travelers first, then scout the outskirts of settlements."

  Thalorin, one of the elven advisors, stepped forward from his positiohe wall. "We've noticed simir patterns along our eastern border. Three attacks in the past month alone."

  "And they're getting closer," Nimroth added, his usual stoic demeanor crag slightly. "The st raid was barely two miles from our outer patrol routes."

  Seraphine's eyes narrowed. "That matches our intelligehey're testing defenses, looking for oints. But there's something else - they're not just killing. They're gathering information."

  "What kind of information?" Aurelith's voice cut through the tension like a bde.

  "Supply routes. Patrol schedules. Vilge youts." Seraphine's jaw tightened. "They're pnning something bigger."

  Cadwen, his silver hair catg the light, spoke up from his positiohe window. "We found strange markings after the st attack. Symbols carved into trees - nothing like we've seen before."

  "Show me," Seraphine demanded, his posure slipping for just a moment. When Cadwen produced a piece of part with the symbols sketched on it, the knight's face paled slightly. "These are demon script. They're markiory - g it for their masters."

  The room fell silent as the implications sank in. Aelorin, one of the advisors, broke the silence. "How long do we have?"

  "Based on simir patterns we've observed elsewhere?" Seraphine's voice was grim. "Weeks at most. They're moving faster than before, more anized. Something's driving them forward with purpose."

  "Both our peoples stand to gain from this alliance," Seraphine pressed, her voice carrying the weight of vi. "Every day we dey gives our enemies more opportuo strike. I urge you to sider this pact with utmost urgency."

  Aelindor stroked his thoughtfully. "Perhaps you and your knights would care to stay the night? We could reach a decision by tomorrow after careful deliberation with my advisors."

  "I appreciate the offer, Chief Aelindor, but I must dee." Seraphine's expression tightened.

  "Demon activity near Stonehold requires my immediate attention. I'll o depart oneeting cludes."

  "We uand," Aelindor nodded. "Rest assured, we will inform you of our decision, whatever it may be."

  "I could leave a whisperstone," Seraphine offered, reag for her belt pouch.

  "Oh? Carrying spare whisperstones now? Must be nice being human nobility," Aurelith's lips curved into a smirk.

  Seraphine's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Better than carrying that chip on your shoulder, Advisor. It looks rather heavy."

  "The whisperstone would serve better purposes elsewhere," Aurelith tered, her eyes narrowing.

  "I question the wisdom of wasting such a valuable resource merely to unicate a simple yes or no. Are all human leaders so careless with their resources?"

  "Careless?" Seraphi out a sharp ugh that echoed off the chamber walls, her golden hair catg the afternoon light filtering through the high windows.

  "An alliah Everspring is worth far more than a dozen whisperstones. But perhaps elves t their s while demons t their victories? No wohey're winning."

  Aurelith's eyes ignited with autumnal fire, her meticulously maintained posure fracturing like thawing ice, the scarlet flecks in her golden-brown irises abze with her fury.

  The circlet ad her brotured the afternoon light, casting flickering shadows across her visage as she leaned in.

  "Unlike humans, we elves do not forsake their allies to perish while c behind stone walls, tallying victories in treacheries rather than battles. Who's to say your followers won't mimic this behavior?"

  Her words sliced through the air like venomous bdes, each sound dripping with eons of accumuted anguish and wrath. The vestiges of a wounds, never fully mended, resonated in her voice, bearing echoes of a lost realm and a shattered youth.

  Seraphine's plexion paled, her usually rosy cheeks turning ashen. Her knights stirred uneasily behind her, grips tightening on their ons, the soft k of metal against metal disrupting the esg tension.

  One younger knight evereated half a step, his armor scraping against the stone wall. The chamber fell so silent that the rustling of leaves outside seemed deafening, autumn's murmurs a stark trast to the silehin.

  For several heartbeats, the human knight remained frozen, struck mute by the raw truth in Aurelith's words, her golden hair no longer capturing the light but hanging like a lifeless veil around her face.

  Then Seraphine's steel-gray eyes turned flinty, and her lips curved into a biting smile devoid of warmth. Her fiapped against the pommel of her sword, a steady beat that betrayed her barely restrained rage.

  "What right do you have to question my knights' honor? You speak of betrayal with such fervor, sutimate uanding. Pray tell, where were you when Emberveil fell? Did you watch from the sanctuary of these woods as your kingdom burned? Or did you merely arrive too te to do anything but t the ders?"

  The words lingered in the air like toxins, eae desigo find the deepest wounds and reopen them.

  The words hit Aurelith like a physical blow, each accusation striking deeper than any bde. Her fingers dug into the wooden table, knuckles white with tension, leaving slight iions in the a oak.

  The truth of her identity - of her failure to protect her kingdom - y too close to the surface of Seraphine's barb, threatening to crack the careful facade she'd maintained for over a tury and a half.

  Both women stared at each other across the table, the air crag with unspoken challenges and bitter histories. Then, almost simultaneously, they exhaled, the fight draining from them like water from a broken vessel. Aurelith's shoulders dropped slightly, while Seraphine's stance softehe rigid line of her spine rexing ially.

  Without exging another word, they aowledged the stalemate in their verbal duel, her willing to escate further, bnizing the hollow victory such words would bring. The weight of their respective responsibilities pressed down on them, reminding them of bigger battles yet to e.

  * * *

  As the meeting tinued, Aurelith’s gaze drifted to the boy sitting quietly in the er. His clothes were tattered and worn, patched together with scraps of fabric that barely g to his small frame.

  His dark curls were a wild mess, and his face was smudged with dirt, but his eyes, those pierg green eyes held a quiet iy that made her pause. He was staring at her, not with fear or curiosity, but with a strange, almost knowing warmth.

  I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off about the boy. He sat there, his small hands csped tightly in his p, as if brag himself against an invisible force. I’d seen enough horror the signs, twitches, distant gazes, and that unnatural stillhat seemed to g to him like a shadow.

  Seraphine tinued her discussion about the alliance, her voice flowing like water over stones, but my focus remained on the child. The way he stared at me felt heavy, den with secrets he might not even uand himself.

  I shifted in my seat, trying to redirect my thoughts back to our pns for dealing with the increased demon activity, yet I found myself drawn deeper into those uling eyes.

  “Before we tihe meeting,” Aurelith interrupted, her voice cutting through the discussion, “I have a question. Who is that child, and why is he here?” Her gaze remained fixed on the boy, her curiosity piqued. There was something about him, something that stirred a faint, inexplicable ache in her chest.

  Lady Seraphine followed her gaze, her expression softening. “Ah, him,” she said, her voice tinged with a mix of anger and sorrow.

  “We found him on our way here. He was the sole survivor of a vilge ravaged by demon spawn. We arrived too te to save anyone else.” She ched her fists, her regret palpable.

  “He’s been through horrors no child should ever endure.”

  Aurelith’s eyes narrowed. “And you decided t him into the hall instead of letting him wait outside?”

  Her tone was sharp, her suspi evident. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the boy’s presence here was no act.

  Seraphine raised her hands in a pg gesture. “Please, do not misuand. I inteo leave him outside, but he was… distraught.

  We couldn’t risk him causing a se or drawing unwatention. Bringing him here seemed the safer option.”

  Aurelith studied the boy again. He was sitting perfectly still, his small hands resting on his knees, his gaze never leaving hers. Despite his ragged appearahere was a quiet dignity about him, a resiliehat belied his age.

  His pierg green eyes held a depth that seemed far beyond his years, as though they had withings no child should ever see. When her cold, assessing gaze met him, he returned a warm, genuine smile that seemed to cut through the tension in the room. It was disarming, and for a moment, Aurelith felt her guard waver.

  There was something about him, something familiar, though she couldn’t pce it. It was as if his preseirred a faint memory, a whisper of something long fotten. She frowned, her curiosity piqued.

  Who was this boy, and why did he seem so out of pce yet sely ected to her?

  “Fine,” she said, her voice softer thaended. “He’s just a child.” But even as she said it, she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to him thahe eye. His smile lingered in her mind, a flicker of warmth amid her growing unease.

  As the meeting drew to a close, Chief Aelindor turo Aurelith, his voice low so only she could hear. “What are your thoughts?”

  She hesitated, her mind rag. The boy’s presehe humans’ story, the dream, it all felt ected, though she couldn’t yet see how. The dream had been vivid, almost prophetic: the shadowy forest, the voice calling her he silver moon that bled into darkness.

  And now, this boy, with his knowing smile and haunting eyes, seemed to fit into the puzzle in a way she couldn’t yet uand.

  “We should proceed with caution,” she said quietly, her gaze flickering back to the boy. He was still watg her, his expression calm but i, as though he could hear every word she spoke.

  “The humans may be sincere, but we ot afford to let uard down. Not with the demon lord still out there.”

  Aelindor nodded, his expression thoughtful. “Agreed. We will take things oep at a time.” He followed her gaze to the boy, his brow furrowing slightly. “What of the child? He seems… unusual.”

  Aurelith’s lips pressed into a thin lihere’s something about him,” she admitted. “I don’t know what it is, but I io find out.”

  As the delegates began to disperse, Aurelith found herself drawn to the boy. She approached him slowly, her movements deliberate, studying him with a mix of curiosity and caution.

  He didn’t flinch or look away; instead, he tilted his head slightly, as though he had been waiting for her.

  I k before the boy, bringing myself to his eye level. His gaze met mihout hesitation, those green eyes holding a depth that sent a chill down my spine.

  "What's your name?" I kept my voice gentle, pushing back memories of my own childhood trauma.

  "Kael," he replied, his voice clear and steady. Not what I'd expect from a child who'd witnessed such horrors.

  As we spoke, I wove a subtle dete spell, letting my magic flow like autumn leaves on the wind. The ethereal strands reached out, probing for any trace of demoniergy or possession marks.

  "That's a brave name. Are you hungry, Kael? I have some sweet bread in my bag." I reached into my satchel, using the movement to mask the slight glow of my magic.

  He shook his head. "No thank you, Princess Aurelith."

  My hand froze. I hadn't introduced myself, and Seraphine hadn't used my title during our meeting. To begin with, only a handful of people know my title. The magic around him shifted, revealing... nothing.

  No demon marks, no possession seals, not even a trace of dark energy. Just emptiness, like staring into a void where magic should be.

  I forced a ugh, keeping my voice light despite the tension coiling in my chest. "Princess? I think you're mistaken. I'm just an advisor here in Everspring."

  Kael's green eyes sparkled with an uling knowledge. "You're Princess Aurelith Emberveil, born uhe Great Harvest Moon. Your kingdom fell to the Demon Lord when you were ten."

  He spoke in perfect Emberveilian, the a nguage of my homend. Each word carried the precise at of the royal court.

  My blood ran cold. The sweet bread slipped from my fingers, fotten. "How do you…"

  "The sunflower fields were your favorite pce to hide wheors came looking for you." His voice dropped to a whisper.

  "Your mother used to sing to you there, beh the goldeals."

  I grabbed his shoulders, perhaps thly. My heart hammered against my ribs. No one knew about those moments with my mother. Those memories were mine alone, precious fragments I'd guarded for over a tury and a half.

  "Who are you?" I hissed in Emberveilian. "How do you possess this knowledge?"

  "I possess it because I witnessed everything," he replied in my mother tongue. "I observed as your realm crumbled. I witnessed Chief Aelindor spirit you away that evening, bundled in your mother's shawl, the one embroidered with fall leaves in golden thread."

  My hands rexed their grip on his shoulders. The shawl. I'd kept that secret from everyone, even Aelindor. It had perished with Emberveil, alongside everything else I'd cherished.

  "That 't be true," I breathed. "You're merely a youth. Emberveil vanished more than a hundred years past."

  Kael's lips curved, not a childish grin, but one den with a knowledge. "Did it truly?"

  The dete entment persisted, probing for cealed markings ils, yet entered only that same uling void of magical energy. It was as though he inhabited a space where magic simply... vanished.

  'Even now, your spell tests me for demonifluence. Fear not. I'm untainted. Your arm is unwarranted.'

  Kael's gaze locked with mine, and momentarily, I felt exposed to my core. "You will discover them," he stated abruptly, his toaie its gentleness. "The revetions you seek. But you must be prepared."

  I started, caught off guard. "What are you saying?"

  "We shall revene in two years' time. We'll speak more thehis between us. Besides, more pressing matters demand your attention, correct?"

  "What do you... How could you..." before I could plete my thought, Lady Seraphine drew near, wearing an apologetic look.

  "Five me, Advisor Aurelith," she interjected. "We must depart. Kael, let's go."

  The youth rose, moving with ued poise despite his worn attire. He cast me a final gnce, his emerald eyes brimming with quiet significe, before trailing Seraphine from the chamber.

  I observed his departure, struggling to process the enter, my thoughts ing with uainties. Who was this child, and how did he possess sutimate knowledge of my past? What did his words about disc answers mean? How could he speak my dead homend's tohough answers eluded me, one fact remained clear: Kael was extraordinary, and his arrival held purpose. As the chamber cleared, I faced Chief Aelindor, my expressioermined.

  "We must monitor him," I murmured. "This situation harbors deeper implications."

  Aelindor dipped his head, his features solemn. "Indeed. However, our priority remains the alliahe boy may ect to our puzzle, but a greater flict awaits. Join me in my chambers tonight. We have siderable matters to address."

  * * *

  I stepped out of the vilge hall, the crisp air filled with the st of leaves and woodsmoke. My stomach growled, reminding me I had skipped breakfast in my rush. I wove through the market stalls, vibrant with traders shouting their wares and children ughing as they darted between tables.

  “Fresh bread! Sweet rolls!” A vendor waved a golden loaf at me.

  I smiled and nodded, grabbing a roll still warm from the oven. I tore into it as I walked, crumbs dotting my tunic. The bread was de fluffy, a fainst the backdrop of uainty surrounding the alliah the humans.

  I leaned against a wooden post, sav each bite of the sweet roll. The marketpce had transformed since my early days in Everspring. Where oood a handful of forest elf vendors selling mushrooms and herbs, now stretched rows of colorful stalls as far as the eye could see.

  A dwarf mert haggled with a human trader leamial tools. Their animated gestures and bright ughter carried across the square. hem, a group of halflings dispyed intricate pottery painted with woodnd ses.

  "Five silver for the lot," a deep voied. I turo see a burly orc examining a basket of dried herbs from one of our vilge healers.

  My gaze drifted to the far er where some of our younger elves practiced archery with visiting humans. The twang of bs mixed with the market's bustle.

  This wasn't the isoted refuge I'd known for decades. Trade routes had expanded, bringing new faces and opportunities. Even the architecture reflected the ge - traditional elvish designs now incorporated stonework clearly influenced by dwarven craftsmanship.

  I brushed crumbs from my hands, watg a group of children - human, elf, and halfling - chase each other through the crowd. Their parents chatted nearby, sharing news and gossip without for racial differences.

  Everspring had transformed into something greater than a sanctuary for my woodnd kin - it now served as a bustlier where diverse peoples mingled and flourished side by side. The settlement had expanded past its former limits, with dwellings and markets materializing as swiftly as autumn toadstools.

  Memories of more peaceful times tugged at my heart, though I reized the value this expansion delivered. Our unity had developed greater fortitude and adaptability. The seclusion that once sheltered us would have ultimately led to our downfall.

  Once doh my surveying, I made my way to where Thalindor kept his fe - the singur metalw shop our settlement possessed. The sta of metal against metal drew me closer, its ce resonating throughout Everspring like a heartbeat.

  I found Thalindor at his bench, beads of sweat glistening on his brow. He gnced up and greeted me with a friendly grin.

  "Aurelith! Perfect timing." He ed his palms on his craftsman's garment and poio a colle of arrows stacked by the er. "I've pleted your order."

  I stepped forward to examihem with care. The shafts were perfectly banced, adorned with plumage tinted in rich autumnal colors.

  “They’ll serve you well against those demons,” he said, pride swelling in his voice.

  “I’ll put them to good use,” I replied, trag my fingers along the fletg.

  , my gaze shifted to a dispy of daggers glimmering uhe fe’s warm light. Each bde had its own story etched into its steel.

  “Careful now,” Thalindor chuckled. “Those aren’t for show.”

  I picked up one dagger that felt perfectly banced in my hand, a sleek on that hummed with potential.

  “Beautiful craftsmanship,” I admired.

  “Just like you,” he quipped, a teasing glint in his eyes.

  After admiring the daggers, I turo Thalindor, a thought nagging at me. “Have you readjusted my armor as I asked?”

  “Of course,” he replied, his voice full of fidence. He stepped over to a er where my armor rested on a stand, its polished surface gleaming in the fe's light. He lifted it carefully, revealing intricate desigched into the metal, swirling leaves and vihat spoke of Everspring’s beauty.

  I stepped closer, my heart rag with anticipation. The moment I id eyes on it, I k was the work of a true artisan. The adjustments hugged my form perfectly, allowing fility without sacrifig prote.

  “It’s incredible,” I said, running my fingers along the engravings. “You’ve outdone yourself this time.”

  Thalindor chuckled softly, his pride evident. “Just doing what I to keep our warrior safe.”

  I paused for a moment, remembering the weight of our uping alliah the humans and their increasing presen our lives. “You’re worried about me meeting them, aren’t you?”

  “ you bme me?” he said, crossing his arms. “Humans be... uable.”

  I grinned, leaning against the fe wall. “They might not even notice I’m there with all this autumn charm.”

  Thalindhed heartily. “Just make sure they don’t mistake you for one of their scarecrows!”

  We both chuckled at the image, me standing among humans in my armor like an oversized straw figure meant to ward off birds.

  “Seriously though,” he tinued, his expression turning serious again. “Promise me you’ll be careful out there.”

  “I promise,” I replied, appreciating his more than I could express. “I’ll py it safe.”

  He nodded slowly but still seemed uneasy.

  “Hey,” I added lightly, “if they give me any trouble, I'll just cut their trousers with these new arrows you made for me.”

  Thalindor’s ughter rang out again as he spped his knee. “Now that’s a pn! Just make sure to aim for their boots instead; we don’t want them chasing after you too quickly!”

  We shared anh before settling into a fortable silence filled with unspoken uanding, the kind that only es from years of friendship and loyalty fed in fire and strife.

  Dressed and ready for what y ahead, I felt grounded once more as I made my way to Aelindor's room for our discussion oher to accept this alliance or not.

  Each step echoed in my mind like a drumbeat. This decision could ge everything for Everspring and beyond.

  * * *

  Aurelith pushed open the heavy door to Aelindor’s chamber, the st of polished wood and a scrolls ing around her like a f cloak. Sunlight streamed through the narrow window, casting golden patterns on the floor.

  Ihalorin leaned against the stone wall, flipping through a stack of part with an iy that made his brow furrow. Nimroth sat at a rge table strewn with maps and inkpots, his fingers stained from hours of scribbling notes. Aelorin stood near Aelindor, arms crossed, her expression unreadable as she regarded Aurelith.

  “Princess,” Aelindreeted, his voice steady and warm. He rose from his chair aured for her to join them.

  Aurelith bowed her head slightly, aowledging her mentors.

  “Good to see you again,” she said to each of them in turn.

  Nimroth offered a nod while Thalorin straightened up, eager to share whatever thoughts had brewed in his mind siheir st meeting.

  “What do you make of our new allies?” Thalorin asked, his voice low but edged with curiosity.

  “Too soon to tell,” Aurelith replied, her fingers brushing against the smooth surface of the table. “Seraphine's iions remain clouded.”

  The door creaked open again, and Cadweered with a flourish, papers clutched tightly in his hands. His eyes glinted with ambition as he sed the room before nding on Aurelith.

  “Apologies for my tardiness,” he said, slipping into a chair with practiced grace. “I was reviewing the terms of our potential alliance.”

  Aurelith met Cadwen's gaze head-on, aware of the undercurrents that raween them, jealousy mingled with rivalry lingered in the air like an unsung melody.

  Cadwen spread out the dots across the table, his fingers dang over the words as if summoning their importance. “I believe we leverage our strengths for mutual gain.” He g Aelindor for approval before tinuing.

  Nimroth shifted closer to ihe dots, furrowing his brow in tration while Thalorin’s eyes sparkled with i at Cadwehusiasm.

  Aelindor nodded slowly. “Let’s hear your thoughts.”

  Cadwen leaned forward, his firag the edges of the part with a deliberate slowness. “I’ve been gathering information about the new king long before Seraphine arrived. He’s not just a ruler; he’s a strategist.”

  Aurelith exged gnces with Thalorin, intrigued.

  Cadwen tinued, “This dot outlines his rise to power and the manner in which he uhe fractured fas of the Empire of Men. The internal struggles that pgued them for decades and he resolved them ihan two years.”

  Nimroth adjusted his spectacles, sing the papers Cadwen had id out. “What kind of methods did he employ?”

  Cadwen smirked, his pride evident. “He’s clever, using both diplomad intimidation. The former allies turned rivals fell in lier witnessing his ruthlessness against dissenters.”

  Aurelith’s brow furrowed as she sidered Cadwen's words. She picked up a piece of part and read aloud, “The new king has implemerict ws to ensure loyalty among nobles.” Her voice softened slightly as she pohe implications.

  “Seraphiioned his personality,” Aelorin added, her tone skeptical yet curious. “She described him as charismatic yet fearsome. If this is true, we o tread carefully.”

  Thalorin houghtfully. “It could work in our favor if we align with someone who possesses sufluence. But what if it turns sour? We risk being caught between his ambitions and our own.”

  Aurelith pced her hands oable, feeling the weight of their discussions pressing down on her shoulders like an iron mahe Kingdom of Men has been unified under one banner again,” she said, gng around at each advisor's face for their reas. “This could ge everything for us.”

  Cadwen leaned ba his chair, a satisfied grin creeping across his lips. “Exactly! The new king is a force to be reed with; we would do well to secure our pce at his side before anyone else does.”

  Cadwen’s expression shifted, the light in his eyes flickering with intrigue. “The new king has retly fed an alliah the dwarves. Their settlements are stabilizing, and they’ve begun to recover from the chaos that pgued them for so long.”

  Aelindor leaned closer, i piqued. “Dwarvelements? How far are they from Everspring?”

  “Not far at all,” Cadwen replied, straightening his posture. “There’s a settlement onehold led in the hills just beyond our borders. With Seraphine’s departure today, it’s likely she aims to gather support from them for our cause.”

  Nimroth furrowed his brow. “Isn’t that a risk? What if her iions don’t align with ours?”

  Aelorin interjected, her voice sharp as a bde. “Or what if we bee colteral damage in whatever games they’re pying? Alliances shift like autumn leaves in the wind.”

  Aurelith nodded, her eyes narrowing in ption. The specter of betrayal loomed rge over their discussions.

  Cadwen pressed on, urgency g his words. “We ’t ighe potential here. If Seraphine secures aid from Stonehold, we could gain access to their resources and strength in numbers. But we must tread carefully.”

  Thalorin folded his arms, weighing the options presented before him. “And what about the dangers of trusting a human ruler? We risk being outmaneuvered by those who py a different game altogether.”

  Silenveloped the room as each advisor pted the weight of Thalorin’s words.

  “Yet,” Aelindor finally spoke, breaking the tension, “we also have to sider what it means to stand alone against an increasing threat.” His gaze swept over them, steady and reassuring. “If we reject this alliahout reason, we might find ourselves isoted when the demourn.”

  “Seraphine swore an oath to knighthood and carries the pride of House Lio,” Aurelith remihem, her voice firm despite her internal flict. “Her itment to honor may hold weight beyond mere words.”

  Cadwen leaned faihusiasm rekindled. “Exactly! She could be our bridge t stroies with not only the dwarves but other fas as well.”

  The group exged gnces filled with uainty yet glimmers of hope emerged amidst their s.

  “I propose t this alliance,” Aurelith decred, resolve filling her heart like autumn sunlight breaking through clouds.

  Cadwen's jaw tighte Aurelith's decration. His fingers drummed against the wooden table, a subtle tell of his irritation at her taking charge.

  "How presumptuous of you to speak first," Cadwen's words dripped with disdain. "Though I suppose someone who gets distracted by random children during diplomatic meetings would rush to clusions."

  Aurelith's golden-brown eyes flickered with dangerous light. "At least I notice details beyond what's written is. That child bore markings simir to those in the aexts about demon possession. I even tried to validate them and found out it was just a false arm. I wonder what you were doing at that time."

  "So, it was just a false arm. As expected of my student, you take amediately to firm it. I expected no less." Nimroth face was shinning the m sun with a big grin across the face.

  The color drained from Cadwen's face. His pride stung at missing such a crucial detail.

  "And what would you know of aexts?" he spat. "You're just a forest-born advisor who…"

  "Enough." Aelindor's voice cut through the tension like steel through silk. His stern gaze swept between them both. "We have more pressing matters to discuss. The demon activity near our borders has increased tenfold in the past month."

  Cadwen straightened his robes, posing himself. Though his pride smarted from the exge, he nodded in agreement with the others about accepting the alliance.

  Thalorin spread a detailed map across the table, pointing to marked locations where demon sightings had occurred. Red ink dotted the part like drops of blood, f an ominous pattern around Everspring's borders.

  "These attacks follow no normal pattern," Nimroth observed, leaning over the map. "It's as if they're testing our defenses."

  Aelorin traced the markings with her finger. "Three patrols ambushed in the past week alone. We o address this before lives are lost. We are lucky we got away with only injuries so far."

  The tensioween Aurelith and Cadwen simmered beh the surface as they turheir attention to this hreat, their personal rivalry momentarily overshadowed by the looming dao their people.

  "I'll iigate the demon activity," Aurelith announced, her voice steady and clear. "My wind magic will allow me to move swiftly and ued through the forest."

  Cadwen's face twisted with disapproval. "You're an advisor, not a foot soldier. Your pce is here, strategizing with the cil, not gallivanting into unknowory."

  "And who would you suggest?" Aurelith's golden-brown eyes met his challenge. "Name one warrior more qualified."

  Cadwen opened his mouth, then closed it. His silence spoke volumes. Everyone in the chamber khe truth - from archery to swordpy, from magic ty, Aurelith had proven herself unmatched.

  Nimroth adjusted his spectacles, etched on his weathered face. "Your skills are undeniable, but the risk…"

  "Is necessary," Aelorin cut in, her haing on the hilt of her sword. As Aurelith's bat instructor, she knew better than ahe extent of her former student's capabilities. "I've watched her outmatch our best warriors in training. She's more than ready."

  Thalorin nodded in agreement. "Her knowledge of demon lore exceeds our schors. If anyone uhe pattern behind these attacks, it's Aurelith."

  "Still," Aelindor's voice carried the weight of a father's worry. "Going aloo demon-ied territory..."

  "You trained me well," Aurelith assured him. "All of you did." Her gaze swept across her mentors - Aelorin who taught her bat, Nimroth who guided her magic, Thalorin who shared his wisdom.

  Cadwen crossed his arms, frustration evident in every line of his body. He couldn't argue against the truth - Aurelith's reputation wasn't built oy praise. Every achievement, every skill she'd mastered, she'd earhrough decades of relentless dedication.

  Cadwen's jaw ched as he stepped forward, his voice tight with barely tained frustration. "You may have skills, but you know nothing of how demons truly operate. Books and scrolls 't prepare you for their ing tactics. Have you ever witnessed a demohrough battlefield formations? Have you seen how they manipute minds and corrupt souls?"

  "No," Aurelith admitted. "But I've studied every at of their strategies, analyzed their patterns across turies of records. More importantly, I lived through their destru of Ember…" She caught herself, smoothly shifting course. "I uand their nature better than most."

  "Theory isn't practice," Cadwen sneered. "One mistake and …"

  "Like the mistake you made when you overlooked the markings of the child?" Aurelith's words struck true. "While you buried yourself is, I spotted a potential threat walking among us and even firmed whether it's real or not."

  Nimroth coughed to hide a smile. "She has a point, Cadwen."

  "This isn't about …" Cadwen's face flushed crimson. "The cil ot risk …"

  "Oh, e now," Thalorin interrupted, amusement dang in his eyes. "Are you worried she'll outshine you in demon-hunting too?"

  Aelorin joined in. "Perhaps you'd prefer to go instead? Show us how it's done?"

  Cadwen's face turned an even deeper shade of red. He opened his mouth several times, but no words emerged. Finally, he threw up his hands i.

  "Fine! Go ahead, get yourself killed. But don't expect me to …"

  "To what?" Aelindor asked mildly. "Write a strongly worded report about it?"

  Laughter rippled through the chamber. Even Nimroth chuckled behind his hand.

  Cadwen slumped ba his chair, thhly defeated. "Do what you want," he muttered, refusing to meet anyone's eyes. "Just... don't do anything foolish."

  Aurelith rolled out a fresh map across the table, her firag the patrol routes marked in bk. "I'll start by interviewing the patrol parties that entered demons. Their firsthand ats will give us crucial details about demon behavior and patterns."

  "The northern patrol suffered the heaviest injuries," Aelorin pointed out, tapping a spot on the map. "Start there."

  "After gathering intelligence, I'll iigate each location personally." Aurelith pulled out a small crystal from her pocket. "I've enhahis whisperstoo send weekly reports. It'll maintain tact even if I'm deep in demoory."

  Nimroth leaned forward, examining the crystal. "Your wind magic has grown impressive. But what if you enter more than you handle?"

  "I've prepared emergency teleportation scrolls," Aurelith replied, patting the pouch at her hip. "And I won't engage unless absolutely necessary. This is reaissanot bat."

  Thalorin stroked his thoughtfully. "A month is a long time. The humans will expe answer about the alliance before then."

  "We send a messeo Seraphine," Aelindgested. "Simple, direct."

  Cadwen scoffed. "A messehis requires more... finesse."

  "Actually," Aurelith interjected, "a messenger is perfect. It shows trust while maintaining appropriate diplomatic distance. t their offer but aren't desperate for it."

  "And what of the vilge's defense while yone?" Aelorin asked.

  "I've already arranged for additional training sessions with our archers," Aurelith answered. "The guard rotations are set for the wo months, and I've prepared detailed tingens for various sarios."

  Aelindor nodded, pride evident in his eyes. "You've thought of everything."

  "Almost everything," Cadwen muttered, but even he couldn't find a legitimate fw in her pnning.

  "Then it's settled," Thalorin decred. "I'll draft the acceptater to Seraphioday. Aurelith, when do you leave?"

  "At first light tomorrow," she replied. "The sooner we uand these demon movements, the better prepared we'll be."

  As the meeting cluded, Aurelith bowed to each of her mentors in turn.

  Nimroth pced a wrinkled hand on her shoulder. "Watch for ges in the wind. Demons corrupt the very air around them. Your attuo wind magic will serve as an early warning."

  "Thank you for teag me to listen to the elements," Aurelith said, toug her heart in respect.

  Aelorin stepped forward, adjusting the strap of Aurelith's quiver. "Remember your training. Strike from the shadows, and never let them surround you."

  "Your lesso me alive more times than I t," Aurelith replied with a slight bow.

  Thalorin pressed a small leather-bound book into her hands. "My notes on demon behavioral patterns. Some light reading for your journey."

  "Your wisdom guides my path," Aurelith said, tug the book away carefully.

  Even Cadwen managed a curt nod. "Don't fet the basivestigation protocols. Evidence first, clusions sed."

  "You taught me well, even if relutly," Aurelith aowledged with a hint of a smile.

  One by ohey filed out until only Aelindor remained. He stood by the window, light catg in his silver hair.

  "You've grown so much," he said softly. "From that small child who arrived at ates to the warrior you are today."

  Aurelith's throat tightened. "Because you gave me a home when I had none."

  Aelindor turned, his eyes glistening. "Blood or not, you are my daughter. This will always be your home, and I will always be here waiting for your return."

  He pulled her into an embrace, and for a moment, Aurelith allowed herself to be just a daughter saying goodbye to her father, not an advisor or a warrior or a lost princess.

  "e back to us in one piece," Aelindor whispered. "Know that we will always be waiting for your return."

  Aurelith stepped back from the embrace, a smile tugging at her lips. The warmth of Aelindor’s words enveloped her like the gentle caress of sunlight filtering through the trees.

  "I promise, I’ll ru’s dangerous," she assured him, her golden-brown eyes sparkling with determination. "You taught me well, Father."

  Aelindor studied her face, searg fns of doubt or fear. Instead, he found fidence woven into every fiber of her being. Her spirit shone brightly, a bea in the shadows of uainty that threateo close in around them.

  "You know what’s at stake," he replied, his voice steady yet tinged with . "But never uimate the demons' ing. They are not merely brute force; they have strategies of their own."

  Aurelith nodded, uanding the weight behind his words. She had witheir deceptions firsthand. The way they lurked in shadows and twisted truths into lies, but she also khat fear could not guide her as; ce had to lead the way.

  "I’ve prepared for this journey," she insisted, determination hardening her resolve. "I’ve trained relentlessly with Aelorin and studied everything Nimroth taught me about demon behavior." She paused, drawing strength from the memories of te-night training sessions under moonlit skies and intense discussions around flickering firelight.

  "And I will return shortly," she added firmly, a promise eg in her heart.

  Aelindor's expression softened as he pced a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Your strength has always been yreatest on. Trust in it."

  With a deep breath, Aurelith allowed herself to bask in the warmth of his belief. It filled her with assurance, a f remihat even amidst uainty, she was ruly alone.

  "I will," she said softly but firmly. "I will protect Everspring and acy."

  As they exged o meaningful gnce, Aelindor's eyes sparkled with pride. Aurelith felt a surge of happiness wash over her; it was more than just fide was an affirmation of purpose.

  "Now go prepare for your journey," Aelinded gently. "Rest well tonight; you’ll need your strength."

  With renewed vigor c through her veins, Aurelith turoward the door and walked away with determination lighting each step. She would face whatever y ahead with unwavering ce, an ember glowing brightly against the encroag darkness.

  * * *

  I dragged my feet along the familiar path to my quarters and a fsh of movement caught my eye.

  "There you are!" Lira's silver hair glinted iwilight as she bounded over. "e on, I saved us seats at the tavern. You look like you need a drink."

  My stomach growled in response. "Lead the way."

  The tavern's warmth enveloped us as we settled into our usual er. Steam rose from bowls of herb-spiced stew, and the sweet aroma of honey mead filled the air.

  "So, spill it. How'd the meeting go?" Lira leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

  I took a long sip of mead. "We're accepting the alliance. I'm heading out tomorrow to iigate the demon activity. It should st for about a month."

  "Alone?"

  "With Cadwen." I rolled my eyes.

  Lira burst out ughing. "Oh, remember wheried to show off his archery skills to the new recruits? And hit the tree behind him instead? His face turned redder than autumn berries!"

  "Or that time he spent three days in the library trying to prove me wrong about a runic transtions?" The memory brought a smile to my face. "His face when I brought the inal text... I thought steam would e out of his ears. He didn't speak to me for a week after that."

  "Cssic Cadwen." Lira topped off our cups, honey mead sloshing slightly over the rim. "Remember our first training session? When Master Eldrin made us climb trees blindfolded? Said it would 'heighten our other senses' or something equally ridiculous."

  "And you fell right on top of me! Nearly broke my bow."

  "Hey, I cushioned your fall perfectly. Besides, you're the one who suggested we race to the top."

  Lira's expression shifted, her usual pyful demeanor repced by a serious look. "Jokes aside, is the iigation dangerous? I could e with you."

  I waved off her . "It's just a survey mission. Like taking a stroll through the gdes, cheg for demon tracks, mapping their movements. Nothing I haven't done before."

  Her eyes narrowed. "Are you sure? Because st time you said that, you came back with three broken ribs and singed hair."

  "Yes, I'm sure." I met her gaze. "Besides, that was oime. And my hair grew back."

  The tension broke as her familiar griurned. "Fine, but if Cadwen starts lecturing you about proper scroll anization mid-mission, don't e g to me."

  "Oh please." I took another sip of mead. "He'll be too busy ting his reference books to notiy demons."

  "Ten silver pieces says he brings his entire library with him."

  "Twenty says he tries to catalogue demon footprints by size ah."

  Lira snorted into her drink. "Thirty says he'll write a thesis on demon migration patterns before you even reach the border."

  "That's not a bet, that's a certainty." I raised my cup. "He's probably drafting the introdu right now."

  The mead flowed freely as we traded stories and ughter, the dlelight casting dang shadows across the wooden tables. The sweet aroma of honey and spices mingled with the earthy st of the tavern's aged oak beams.

  For a moment, I could fet about demons and alliances, lost kingdoms, and heavy responsibilities. The weight that stantly pressed on my shoulders seemed to lift, if only briefly.

  These moments with Lira were precious - they reminded me that even advisors o breathe sometimes. Her easy smile and carefree spirit had a way of cutting through my carefully structed walls, letting me remember what it felt like to simply exist without the burden of destiny hanging over my head.

  "To showing up Cadwen," Lira raised her cup, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

  "To good friends," I tered, king my cup against hers. The golden liquid caught the light, reminding me briefly of home - but Lira's presence chased the mencholy away.

  The world spun pleasantly as we stumbled back through the vilge, singing old elven drinking songs badly enough to wake the birds.

  Several windows lit up as we passed, and I'm pretty sure I heard Chief Aelindor's exasperated sigh from his quarters. Lira's silver hair caught the moonlight as she belted out another verse, pletely off-key but with enough enthusiasm to make up for it. I couldn't help but join in, feeling lighter than I had in weeks.

  The pleasant buzz from the mead faded as I y in bed, my thoughts drifting back to that boy - Kael. Those pierg green eyes held knowledge far beyond his years. The way he spoke of Emberveil... not the corrupted husk it became, but the kingdom of eternal autumn I remembered from my childhood.

  His words had painted pictures of golden harvests and crimson-leafed trees, stirring memories I usually kept locked away. How could a human know sutimate details of my homend? The question me, keeping sleep at bay despite the lingering warmth of the mead in my veins.

  I rolled onto my side, pulling the bighter. How could he know about the betrayal? About that night when the demons breached our walls? The memories surfaced unbidden - Aelindor rushing through the castle's hidden passages, my small hand clutched in his as guards' shouts echoed behind us. The weight of my mother's crimson gold circlet pressed against my chest where she'd tucked it beh my clothes moments before pushio Aelindor's arms.

  If Kael was truly a demi-god, it would expin his knowledge. The gods witnessed everything, after all. But something didn't add up. A demi-god would have had the power to protect their vilge. Unless...

  I pressed my palms against my eyes, trying to force the pieces to fit together. The boy's vilge burned, just like Emberveil. Was he powerless to stop it? Or was there something else at py?

  My head throbbed, the remnants of mead mixing with too many questions. The more I tried to uand, the more the mystery deepened. Every possible expnatioo more tradis.

  Sleep tugged at the edges of my sciousness. I gave up trying to solve the puzzle of Kael's identity, letting exhaustion pull me under. My st thought before drifting off was of those knowing green eyes, holdis I couldn't begin to unravel.