Shadows of Fear

The dawn light filtered through the shutters of their cottage, casting long shadows across the wooden floor where Akira sat, his dark hair tousled from a restless night. The air was cool, scented with the faint lavender from the herb garden outside, but Akira’s mind was far from the peace of Greenwood. The previous day’s revelations from Thalion—the dark history of Arathia’s war, Caesar Louis’s tyranny, the suffering of elves, gnomes, and dwarves—clung to him like a heavy cloak. No matter how he tried to shake it off, he couldn't get it out of his mind, focusing on the starbloom grove’s glow or Elara’s steady breathing beside him, the stories replayed: kidnapped elven children, gnomes drained of magic, dwarves lured into servitude. How could humans do that? He thought, his stomach twisting. And in this beautiful world?

He rose quietly, careful not to wake Elara, who slept peacefully, her silver hair spilling across the pillow, her moonbloom braid glinting faintly in the morning light. Hana was already up, her gray-streaked hair tied back as she prepared a simple breakfast of moonwheat porridge and froststrawberries. She glanced at him, her brown eyes softening with concern. “You didn’t sleep well, Aki,” she said, her voice gentle as she stirred the pot over the hearth, the aroma of sweet berries filling the room.

Akira rubbed his eyes, sitting at the table. “I can’t stop thinking about what Thalion said. The war, the slavery—it’s horrible. I never imagined Arathia had such a dark side.”

Hana set a bowl before him, her hand lingering on his shoulder. “It’s a lot to take in,” she said, her tone steady. “But that’s the past, Aki. You’re helping build a better future here.”

He nodded, but the weight lingered as he ate, the porridge’s warmth doing little to ease the chill in his heart. Elara stirred, joining them with a sleepy smile, her gray dress rumpled from the night. “Herb field today?” she asked Hana, her voice bright despite the early hour.

Hana smiled, passing her a bowl. “Yes, dear. Those Earth herbs are sprouting nicely. We’ll tend them together.”

Akira watched them, his heart lightening slightly at their bond, but the shadows remained. “I’m heading to Thalion’s,” he said, standing. “Need to talk about the trade.”

Elara kissed his cheek, her touch warm. “Don’t forget to eat something more. You look tired.”

He smiled, hugging her. “I’ll be fine. Love you.”

The village was stirring as Akira walked to Thalion’s cottage, the air alive with the scent of blooming starblooms and the distant hum of elves preparing for the day. Children chased glowing fireflies, their laughter a balm to his troubled mind, and villagers waved, their trust in him a quiet reminder of his place here. Thalion’s tree-house loomed, its vines glowing faintly, and as Akira climbed the ladder, he heard laughter—a rare, hearty sound from the elder.

Inside, the cottage was warm with the scent of starflower tea and old parchment. Thalion sat at the table, his silver hair gleaming, his robes dusted with soil from the fields, while Fenwick, the gnome trader, leaned back in a chair, his green cap tilted, his sharp eyes crinkled with amusement. They were sharing a story, their voices light, a stark contrast to yesterday’s heavy revelations.

Akira knocked on the doorframe, and Thalion turned, his smile widening. “Akira! Come in, sit, sit!” he called, gesturing to a chair. “We’ve just finished discussing the trade with Glimmerfen.”

Fenwick nodded, his lantern resting on the table, its faint glow pulsing. “Aye, Thalion’s filled me in. You’re helping us plant crops—smart ways to ensure a good harvest, like here in Greenwood. And we’ll receive food to sustain us until our fields recover. And,” he added, his voice brightening, “we’ll craft the glass for your greenhouse, exactly as you need it. I’ll oversee it myself.”

Akira’s eyes lit up, a spark of hope cutting through his gloom. “That’s wonderful, Fenwick! No more starvation in Glimmerfen. The greenhouse will thrive with your glass.”

Fenwick’s smile was cautious but genuine. “It’s a fair deal. Your knowledge—it’s more than we hoped for.”

Akira leaned forward, his voice earnest. “There’s just one thing, Fenwick. We’ll need to wait a bit before I can come to Glimmerfen. This summer, I want to plant new crops here—ones I saw on the way to Crystal Vale with Elara, Liora, and Kael. They’re from my worl....village, hardy and fast-growing. They could help both our villages.”

Fenwick’s brow arched, his fingers tapping his lantern. “New crops? From your village? We’ll try them. Our soil’s hungry for something new after the pests.”

Thalion chuckled, sipping his tea. “You’ve a knack for this, Akira. Bridging worlds with seeds and trust. As Durin is to deliver the forged metal frames soon, and with Fenwick’s glass, the greenhouse will be ready by autumn.”

Akira nodded, his heart lifting. “Thank you, both. I’ll head to the fields now—Liora’s there, and I need her help with something.”

Fenwick tilted his cap. “Don’t work too hard, Akira. We’re counting on you.”

Akira grinned, stepping out into the sunlight, the weight of yesterday’s history easing slightly. He crossed the village, passing children weaving starbloom crowns and villagers tending rows of moonwheat. The fields were alive with activity, the soil rich and dark, ready for planting. Liora stood near the greenhouse site, her auburn hair tied back, her moonstone bracelet glinting as she hoed a row, her face flushed with effort.

“Liora!” Akira called, waving. “Got a minute?”

She paused, leaning on her hoe, her green eyes narrowing playfully. “What’s up, Akira? Did you and Elara fight, and you need me to play peacemaker?”

Akira burst out laughing, his gloom lifting further. “No, no, nothing like that! I need your help with a trip to Crystal Vale.”

Liora’s face paled, her hoe dropping slightly. “Crystal Vale? No way, Akira. I’m not fighting that thing again. You remember what happened last time—I still have nightmares!”

Akira laughed harder, clutching his sides. “No fighting, I promise! I don’t want to tangle with that either. It’s not about going to Crystal Vale—just partway. On our last trip, I saw crops from my world in a meadow nearby. Tomatoes, Eggplants, Pumpkins, and watermelon are perfect for the summer and our field. Maybe this can also be planted, Glimmerfen. I offered to help our soil, which is hungry for something new after the pests.”

Liora exhaled, her shoulders relaxing. “Oh, that’s your plan. You had me worried for a second. Seeds, not monsters. I’m in.” She paused, her brow furrowing. “But why not ask Elara? She’d love this.”

Akira’s voice softened, his eyes warm. “Elara’s been traveling nonstop—Darkwood, Havenbrook, all with me. She deserves a break. She’s with Hana in the herb field today, resting, doing what she loves.”

Liora’s expression shifted, a flicker of guilt crossing her face. “You’re right. She’s been working so hard, and I didn’t even notice. I should’ve checked on her.” She shook her head, forcing a smile. “Anyway, when do we leave?”

Akira glanced at the sun, high in the sky. “If you’re free, how about now? I need to get to Glimmerfen soon to help Fenwick, so the sooner we grab those seeds, the better.”

Liora nodded, brushing dirt from her hands. “No problem. Let’s pack and go.”

They returned to the cottage, gathering packs with water, moonwheat bread, and a small knife for harvesting seeds. The village buzzed around them, but Akira’s mind lingered on Elara, hoping the herb field was bringing her peace. He and Liora set off, the path winding through meadows of wildflowers, the distant peaks of Crystal Vale shimmering on the horizon.

Meanwhile, in the herb field, Elara knelt beside Hana, their hands deep in the rich soil, planting Earth herbs Hana had long dreamed of growing—rosemary, thyme, and lavender, their sharp scents mingling with the sweetness of starblooms nearby. The sun warmed their backs, and the field hummed with the quiet rhythm of work, bees buzzing among the flowers. Elara’s silver hair glinted, her moonbloom ponytail swaying as she pressed a thyme seedling into the earth, her green eyes focused.

Hana wiped her brow, her apron stained with soil, her smile warm. “These herbs are thriving already, Elara. You’ve got a gift for this.”

Elara laughed, her green eyes sparkling. “It’s the soil—and your teaching. I’m just following your lead, Mom. Oh, I forgot to tell you, Mom, you should’ve seen Akira’s face when he first saw the River of Light on our trip.”

Hana’s eyes lit up, her hands pausing in the dirt. “Tell me about it. What happened?”

Elara’s smile widened, her voice animated. “He was like a child, Mom. His eyes went wide, sparkling like the water itself. He kept pointing at the water spirits, asking if they were real, like he’d never seen magic before. I had to drag him away before he dove in to join them!”

Hana chuckled, her laughter rich and warm. “That sounds like my Aki. Always curious, always awestruck. He’s still that boy at heart.”

Elara nodded, her hands planting another seedling. “He is. I love that about him. The way he sees wonder in everything—it makes me see it too.”

Hana’s expression softened, her voice wistful. “I want to see that river myself one day. It sounds magical.”

Elara’s face brightened, her green eyes shining. “Then let’s go! When we’re free, just the three of us—you, me, and Akira. We’ll camp by the river, watch the spirits dance. It’s magical.”

Hana’s smile grew, her hands pausing as she imagined it. “A family trip. That sounds wonderful, dear. I’d love to see the River of Light.”

Elara grinned, her voice excited. “I’ll ask the mountain sprites to help us see the water spirits again. They’re connected to the elements—they might make it happen.”

Hana nodded, her eyes twinkling. “I look forward to it. Let’s finish here and check the apple trees. Late summer’s when they’re ready for harvest.”

Elara agreed, standing and brushing soil from her dress. “Yes, let’s go. This year, we need apples more than ever. Your preserves are famous now—in Darkwood, with the mountain sprites. They could show up at any time for more. We’ll need every tree full to keep up.”

They walked toward the orchard, the apple trees standing tall, their branches heavy with ripening fruit, the air sweet with their scent. Hana’s steps were steady, her apron pockets stuffed with seeds, while Elara chattered about Havenbrook’s market, the glowing orb she’d traded for, and the strange foods they’d tried. “The Frooto was like noodles from your world,” she said, her voice animated. “He said we should make spaghetti here.”

Hana laughed, her eyes crinkling. “Spaghetti? We’ll try it. Anything to see Aki’s face light up.”

As they reached the first tree, Elara grabbed Hana’s hand, her voice excited. “Look at these apples—plump and red already.”

But suddenly, Elara’s grip tightened, her face paling. “Hana, I feel… the earth spinning,” she said, her voice weak. “And feels like I could vomit any moment.”

Hana’s eyes widened, her hand steadying Elara. “Elara? What’s wrong?”

Elara’s knees buckled, and she collapsed to the ground, her silver hair spilling across the grass, her body limp. Hana dropped to her knees, her voice sharp with panic. “Elara! Wake up!” She touched Elara’s forehead, finding it clammy, her heart racing. I have a guess, Hana thought, a hint of what might be happening flashing in her mind, but she needed to be sure.

Hana’s worried voice echoed through the orchard, her voice breaking with fear. Nearby, Miren, weaving a basket in the shade, heard the distress and dropped her work, running over. “Hana, what happened?” she gasped, seeing Elara motionless on the ground, her face pale.

Hana’s voice broke, her hands clutching Elara’s. “I have a guess what happened. Miren, find someone who can examine her—call Taryn, he’s the healer! And find Akira—I need him to tell me why he did this to my daughter. I’m taking her to the cottage. Tell him to hurry!”

Miren’s eyes widened, fear flashing across her delicate features. Miren runs off to the Taryn cottage and tells him about Elara. Taryn gets very worried, "I am going to their cottage immediately, and I will bring Thalion with me. You call Akira fast". She turned and sprinted toward the village, her footsteps pounding, her voice calling for Akira as the orchard’s peace shattered into worry.