They left Loralind at dawn.
The streets were empty. The guards at the docks watched them pass without a word. No farewell. No wishes for a safe journey. Just silent stares.
Elias held the wagon reins. Varkas rode beside him, eyes fixed on the road ahead. Kára settled herself among the barrels. Darian walked next to the cart with Vael hidden beneath his cloak.
—You could stay still for once —Darian muttered.
Vael poked his head out. His golden eyes widened as he stared at him. He tilted his head left. Then right. Slowly blinked.
—Don't look at me like that. You know what I mean.
Vael narrowed his eyes. He snorted softly, and a thin stream of smoke escaped his nostrils. Then he slipped back beneath the cloak, though he left his tail hanging out, swaying back and forth like a pendulum.
—He's offended —Kára said from the wagon.
—I know.
—And he's manipulating you.
—I know that too.
—Good. Just making sure.
That dragon has more personality than you, Nox said inside Darian's mind.
Thanks for the support.
That wasn't a compliment.
I know.
Are you always this dense?
With you? Yes.
Nox let out a deep laugh. Lumine remained silent, but Darian felt her calm presence balancing Nox's impatience.
---
The road led into the forest.
The air was warm and damp. Low mist drifted between the trees, barely reaching their knees. The trees themselves were enormous, their silver leaves shining beneath the sunlight like coins hanging from the branches.
Kára pointed at them.
—Elfleaf. In Khazad-Val, people would pay fortunes for a single leaf. Here there are thousands.
—What are they used for? —Darian asked.
—Potions. Tea. Decorating noble halls for people pretending to be important. The usual.
Beside the road grew small blue flowers that closed whenever the wagon passed. Kára reached toward one, and the flower curled shut completely.
—Shyblossoms —Elias said without turning around—. They dislike contact.
—Like elves —Darian muttered.
Varkas let out a low grunt. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
A real smile.
High in the branches, long-tailed birds watched the group pass. The male was a burst of color—emerald green, bright blue, golden feathers trailing from its tail. The female was smaller, dull brown and gray.
The male spread its tail like a fan and made a clicking sound identical to Vael's.
Vael's head snapped upward. His golden eyes locked onto the bird.
The bird repeated the sound.
Vael tilted his head left.
The bird tilted its head right.
Vael let out a tiny growl.
The bird copied it perfectly.
—Echo birds —Elias explained—. They imitate any sound they hear. Sometimes it's amusing. Sometimes dangerous. If they mimic a cry for help, you can wander into the forest and never come back out.
—And nobody hunts them? —Darian asked.
—Elves don't hunt for sport. Only necessity.
Vael snorted softly, as though the idea of not hunting sounded wasteful.
Farther ahead, a small deer crossed the path. Its fur was white as snow. It paused for a moment and stared at them with black eyes before vanishing into the mist.
—A Brightcoat —Kára said—. Its fur is worth more than gold on the black market.
—And nobody hunts those either?
—Not here. In Eldoria, killing a Brightcoat costs you your hand. Literally.
—This place is too peaceful —Darian said.
—Too peaceful —Varkas agreed.
Peace is a thread, Lumine whispered. Fragile. Tightly stretched.
And when it snaps, Nox said in a low voice devoid of mockery, there's blood.
Darian said nothing.
Sometimes Lumine and Nox spoke without needing him at all. Two sides of the same blade.
---
The first village appeared around noon.
Mol.
In ancient elvish, it meant river clearing.
It was small—wood-and-stone houses, green roofs, a watermill slowly turning beside the river.
The villagers watched them from a distance. None approached. A woman pulled her child away after he pointed at the group. An old man stopped carving wood just to stare at them through tired eyes.
—They won't welcome us with flowers —Kára muttered.
—I expected nothing less —Elias replied.
They stopped beside the mill. Elias climbed down and approached an elderly woman selling bread and dried fruit from a tiny stand.
She stared at him without speaking.
Elias showed her the coins.
The woman wrapped the bread in cloth and placed it on the counter.
No words exchanged.
—Friendly people —Kára said dryly.
—Polite —Elias corrected. —Not the same thing.
Darian watched the villagers. They weren't hostile. Just closed off. Foreigners were something they preferred not to deal with.
Vael peeked out again. A child pointed at him. His mother immediately pulled him away.
Vael stretched his neck, watching until the child disappeared behind a house.
Small creature, Lumine murmured. Innocent.
Everything is innocent, Nox replied, until it stops being.
---
Their second stop was shorter.
A roadside inn. Three houses and a stable.
The innkeeper was a bald elf who asked no questions. Elias paid for water and bread. Varkas stretched his legs while Kára inspected the runes on her hammer.
—Everything alright? —Darian asked.
—Yeah. I just like checking them. Kazak'Thur gets restless otherwise.
—Does he talk to you?
—Not like yours do. But I feel things. Emotions. Sometimes impatience. Sometimes calm. Right now he's calm.
—Mine is never calm.
Because I'm better, Nox declared.
Because you're loud, Lumine whispered.
Loud and better.
Just loud.
---
They reached Tyrindel by nightfall.
The City of Bridges.
Moonlight shimmered over the river, and the massive elven stone bridge rose above the water like an impossible arch. It looked unsupported—held together by nothing but stone and magic.
—We cross tomorrow —Elias said—. Rest for now.
The inn was modest. Elias and Varkas shared a room. Kára would sleep with Vael. Darian had his own.
—You sure you don't want him with you? —Kára asked while scratching Vael beneath the chin.
Vael closed his eyes happily.
—I'm sure. He behaves.
Vael opened one eye, stared at Darian, then closed it again as if pretending he heard nothing.
—That doesn't reassure me —Kára muttered.
—Me neither. But I need one night without waking up to a tail smacking my face.
Kára laughed softly and picked Vael up.
The dragon curled against her shoulder, letting out a deep purr.
—Come on, little one.
---
Darian sat on his bed for a while.
He couldn't sleep.
Before leaving the room, he strapped Lumine and Nox to his waist. It was always better to be prepared. Things could turn wrong at any moment.
He walked downstairs. The inn was silent.
Then he stepped into the back courtyard.
And the world changed.
He was no longer at the inn.
He stood in a forest.
Night.
Mist reached his knees. The trees had no silver leaves. They were black and twisted, like skeletal hands clawing at the sky.
No sound.
No wind.
Nothing.
Darian grabbed for his swords.
Still there.
Lumine and Nox remained at his side.
Where are we? he asked.
I don't know, Lumine answered. Her voice carried tension—something rare for her.
I smell power, Nox said. A lot of it. Ancient. Like us.
Is it the figure from the ship?
Yes. And it's close.
A branch cracked.
Darian spun around.
The figure stood there.
The same hood.
The same sharp ears.
Slowly, the figure lowered the hood.
Dark gray skin.
Eyes of deep violet.
Hair white as ash.
A dark elf.
He smiled.
—Now we're finally alone.