When Elara entered the Vale in the early hours of the morning, the people outside their homes were stunned to see someone emerge from the midst of the Twin River. At first, they thought it was an intruder. No one had been informed that a visitor was coming, and the sight of a lone woman appearing from the river was enough to put everyone on alert.
But the moment they realized it was Elara, their confusion only deepened.
She had been here before with Adrian, so her face was not unfamiliar to them. What they didn't understand was why she had returned alone, and why she had crossed into the Vale at such an hour.
Elara looked around at the familiar surroundings, taking in the worn houses, the quiet streets, and the people slowly gathering outside their homes.
Depleted. That was the first word that came to her mind.
The Vale looked nothing like the place she remembered from years ago.
Elara smiled faintly. "Not happy to see your mother's daughter?"
