The Eye that Watches

Liora moved forward silently, her steps as discreet as the breeze that caressed the hills.
Behind her, Caerion, unwavering, kept watch over their rear. Together, they were a perfect duo. He, a master of infiltration and ancient magics. She, a quiet observer, endowed with a perception that defied reason.

Liora was no ordinary hunter. She was not here simply out of obedience. She had another purpose.
A deeper purpose. The return of the Aether. The balance of powers. An idea that had burned within her for far too long.

She suddenly turned toward Caerion.

— Do you think this boy is just a witness? she asked.

Caerion raised an eyebrow, his cold gaze always focused on the distant horizon.

— He is a witness, yes. But he knows more than you think. You feel it, don't you?

She nodded, her eyes growing hard, almost apprehensive.

— Yes. But he's not just a rat in this trap. He's the key. If Alrian fell because of what he saw, then the Aether itself is in danger. And everything behind this… it's a threat that surpasses anything we've ever known.

Caerion stared at her for a long moment before answering.

— Then why not stop him now? Why not just capture him and end it all?

Liora paused for a moment, her eyes lost in the vast landscapes of the hills. Then, she answered in a low voice filled with bitterness.

— Because he holds a hidden power, Caerion. A power he doesn't even know yet. And before he realizes what he carries within him, I want to know which side he stands on. He's much more than just a fugitive. And maybe… he's the one who will tip the scales.

She turned and continued on her way, a new resolve shining in her eyes.