They all exchanged looks and nodded in agreement. "Alright then," Mr. Arnold said gruffly. "Let's go talk to Ronan."
They left the building and made their way toward the camp. The quiet wind, but the air was heavy with unspoken thoughts.
When they arrived, they saw Elenor, Orin, and Tavin gathered near the firepit, deep in conversation. The flames crackled softly.
Mr. Valmire's eyes immediately drifted to the sword strapped across Elenor's back. His brows furrowed.
"That sword…" he muttered. "That's the one. That's where the spirit now resides. Why is it with Elenor?"
A few hours earlier...
The forest was quiet, a soft hush falling over the glade as birds settled in for the evening. Elenor stood beside Ronan under a canopy of twilight.
"Hey," she said gently. "Let's talk." He nodded. The two walked away from the camp and found a small clearing, just far enough that the sounds of the others faded away.
"So," Elenor said, turning to him. "Those memories... what were they?"
Ronan let out a deep breath. "I was going to tell you after the Rift training, but... I didn't get the time." He stared ahead, his expression hardening. "Orin, Sir Alden, and I went to Willowshade Village."
Elenor's eyes widened. "The village near the Eldergrove? What happened there?" "There was a cult," Ronan said darkly. "They were... harvesting essence from living beings. Using it to increase their power."
Elenor gasped, stepping back slightly. "That's... horrifying." "I tried to save the ones I could," Ronan continued. "But some were too far gone. I failed them."
He sat down on a fallen log, his shoulders heavy with invisible weight. "I still hear their screams sometimes... when I close my eyes."
Elenor sat beside him, her heart tightening. She had never seen him like this—so vulnerable, so raw. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
Ronan shook his head. "There's no need. It's in the past. I can't change what happened... but I swore to myself—if I ever face something like that again, I won't fail. I'll protect everyone I care about."
He stood again and took a deep breath. "Which brings me to this." He pulled out a beautiful sword. Its guard shimmered a calm, sky-blue. The sheath glowed like pure marble. And when he unsheathed it, the blade radiated a deep crimson glow.
"Wow…" Elenor whispered. Her eyes sparkled with wonder. "Is that—Amber Stone?" Ronan nodded. "Yeah."
She traced her fingers across the smooth blade, and just above the guard, she noticed a name engraved into the Sword: Elenor.
Her voice caught. "You… made this for me?" "I wanted to give it to you after your training."
Elenor was speechless. "I haven't given it a name yet," Ronan said softly. "Do you want to name it?" Elenor said, Nah, you name it.
Ronan smiled faintly. "Aurorath." She repeated the name under her breath. "Aurorath… It's beautiful."
"There's someone else who needs to like it too," Ronan said, his tone suddenly mysterious. "Huh?" Elenor tilted her head. "Mei, come out."
A swirl of red and white light emerged from the blade, forming a young woman with glowing eyes and a slight smirk.
Elenor's jaw dropped. "Wait, you're the sword spirit? What are you doing with my sword?" Mei turned to Ronan with a pout. "Ask your brother."
Elenor looked back at him, thoroughly confused. Ronan chuckled. "Mei, do you like the name?" Mei crossed her arms, but her voice softened. "I do. 'Aurorath'... 'Aurora' for dawn, and 'rath' for grace. A blade that brings light to the lost."
"I want you to guard Elenor," Ronan said, his tone turning serious. "Protect her. Teach her. Comfort her when she needs it."
Mei huffed. "So I'm a babysitter now?" Ronan gave her a cold, warning stare. "Yes. You are." Mei turned her head away, pouting. "Tch."
"And when Elenor reaches Master Tier Six, you can choose to be with her or leave." For a moment, Mei brightened, but then... her expression dimmed. Humans never keep their promises, she thought.
Still, she said nothing. Ronan turned back to Elenor. "Do you like it?" Elenor hugged the sword to her chest, tears quietly forming in the corners of her eyes. "I love it."
"Then it's yours," Ronan said with a smile. As they walked back toward the camp, Ronan added one last thing. "Don't call Mei out unless it's absolutely necessary."
"Got it," Elenor replied, her grip tightening around the hilt of Aurorath. As the sun began to dip behind the towering trees of the secret realm, casting long shadows across the campgrounds, the air stirred with a subtle tension. Mr. Valmire, Ms. Rose, Mr. Alaric, Mr. Arnold, and Mr. Blusa approached the group where Orin, Tavin, and Elenor were standing, their expressions stern but not unkind.
Ms. Rose's voice cut through the quiet air, calm but laced with a hint of concern. "Ele, come here for a moment."
Elenor stepped forward without hesitation, the faint rustle of her cloak trailing behind her. She stood respectfully in front of her aunt, her voice polite and composed. "Good evening, sir and ma'am."
The group responded with a collective nod, acknowledging her presence. Mr. Valmire, his sharp eyes narrowing, gestured toward the sword strapped across Elenor's back. "Isn't that Ronan's sword?"
Without speaking, Elenor made a swift hand sign. The sword unsheathed itself, floating gently into the air before her, its crimson blade gleaming under the fading light. As the blade turned slightly, the name etched on the blade became visible: Elenor.
Elenor's voice was soft but firm. "This is a gift from Ronan." Mr. Valmire's brows furrowed. "Did he really just give this sword away like that?" he thought, baffled.
Ms. Rose stepped forward, her voice suddenly more urgent. "Do you have any idea what he gave you? You cannot keep this sword, Elenor. You must return it."
Elenor's expression darkened slightly. "Ronan told me about Mei, but why can't I have this sword?"
Before Ms. Rose could answer, she reached toward the floating weapon, but the sword flew away from her grasp and sheathed itself on Elenor's back once more.
"Mei is the reason you cannot have this sword," Ms. Rose snapped, her voice rising slightly. Mr. Valmire intervened with a raised hand. "Wait, Rose." He turned to Elenor. "Elenor, sword spirits are dangerous beings. If misused, they can turn on their wielder. This isn't a simple blade."
Elenor nodded solemnly. "I know. I'm not using her power. Ronan told me not to use Mei's abilities unless my life was in danger. He asked Mei to teach me and only act if necessary."
Ms. Rose looked like she wanted to argue, but Mr. Arnold stepped forward, his tone more tempered.
"Then, Elenor," he said, "you must take care of yourself. And the sword spirit, Mei." Elenor gave a respectful nod. "Thank you, sir." Ms. Rose let out a weary sigh and said no more.
Mr. Arnold wasn't done. He crossed his arms. "Elenor, can you call Mei? I wish to ask her something." There was a brief pause. Then, a soft voice echoed from the sword. "What do you want to know?"
Mr. Arnold spoke evenly. "Why did you accept Ronan's conditions so easily?" There was a pause before Mei responded. "Because I do not wish to perish from this world. That is all. And do not ask about his memories."
Mr. Arnold's eyes widened slightly. "Perish from this world?" He repeated in his thoughts. "There's only one thing that could make a spirit say that... Ghost Flame."
His gaze instinctively shifted to Mr. Valmire, who gave him a subtle, confirming nod. "Then," Mr. Arnold said with quiet seriousness, "Elenor is in your care, Mei."
No response came from the sword. Mr. Alaric, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. "Where is Ronan?" Elenor replied simply, "He said he was tired and wanted to rest."
Mr. Arnold turned toward Orin. "Orin, tomorrow, you will all be leaving this secret realm. Don't forget to return the catalogue before you go."
With a grin, Orin gave a casual salute. "One minute, sir!" Then, without waiting for a reply, he dashed toward the room where Ronan was resting.
Moments later, Orin returned with two thick tomes in his arms. He handed them to Mr. Arnold with a respectful smile. "We've finished everything. Thank you, sir, for the opportunity to learn." Mr. Arnold took the books with a nod. "You've done well."