Chapter 47 : threats and thorns

The first light of dawn crept over the hills, painting the mist in hues of pale gold. The Ember Couriers were already mounted, the horses’ breaths steaming in the cold. The hidden road wound tighter now, hugging the cliffs above a river that shimmered with strange, iridescent hues. This path had been carved long before men had names for kingdoms—an ancient courier trail that avoided the gaze of war patrols from rival territories.

Ryo rode at the front, his beast pacing silently at his side. Every snap of twig or rustle of leaves drew his attention. Behind him, Lara rode with her staff ready, eyes scanning every shadow. Arachne, quiet and composed as ever, walked beside Kael, her storm-glass gaze following Ryo intermittently. Aldah and Vix followed near the supplies, keeping the mood light where possible, though even Aldah’s jokes sounded thin against the tension.

Vix cleared his throat. “You all should know, this isn’t just a scenic route. East Geneva doesn’t like visitors who aren’t invited. Elandor… the capital, it’s not only magical—it’s alive. Forests that shift paths, rivers that whisper, stones that remember those who walk over them. You walk it wrong, and you may never walk again.”

Aldah groaned. “Great. So we’re hiking through enchanted death traps. Nothing could go wrong.”

The hidden road twisted sharply, bringing them to a narrow bridge suspended over a deep ravine. Ropes stretched across, fraying slightly with age. Vix muttered, “Ancient, but sturdy… just barely.”

Aldah peeked over the edge. “Looks like a great place to fall and ruin your day. Thanks for the pep talk.”

Lara’s eyes remained on the path ahead. “Careful, everyone”

She was still shocked by her father's apparition, she knows it might be an allusion created by East Geneva mushroom that are almost everywhere in the path.

A sudden rustle from the trees made everyone tense. Shadows moved unnaturally, elongating, twisting. Ryo’s beast growled low, muscles tensing as a pair of shimmering creatures emerged—a pair of forest guardians, fox-like, with antlers that seemed to hold fragments of moonlight. They observed the group silently, heads tilting in uncanny intelligence.

Thalen inhaled sharply. “They’re from Moonvale… my village.” His voice was filled with reverence, tinged with fear. “They guard the boundaries for us. If they are here… we are still being watched.”

Eryndor’s hand moved subtly to the hilt of his concealed blade, his posture taut, but respectful toward the creatures. “We pass quietly. No sudden moves.”

The fox-guardians studied them a moment longer, then vanished back into the forest, leaving only whispers in the wind.

The group exhaled collectively. Aldah muttered, “Yeah, totally a normal day”

---

Hours later, they arrived at a small plateau overlooking the sprawling city of Elandor. Spires of living crystal stretched toward the sky, each reflecting light like a prism. Rivers cut through the city in elegant curves, glowing faintly with magical currents. The streets shimmered with an otherworldly energy; creatures of every kind—fae, spirits, and animals of extraordinary intelligence—walked freely alongside humans, merchants, and scholars.

Vix exhaled. “Welcome to Elandor. Watch your step. This city is even more beautiful in reality than in books”

Thalen’s eyes filled with awe.

Eryndor remained vigilant, scanning rooftops and streets as if the city itself could conceal threats. Ryo could not help but notice the parallel: the city’s alive, but it also watches—just like the forest did—and just like the people they would meet here.

Archnee came closer to Ryo her lips curved faintly. “The beast inside you… it’s not just strength. It is fear, restraint, and the memory of what you were. Do not deny it, Ryo. Accept it. Only then can you survive what comes next.”

Her words lingered in the air as she stepped back, the ghost of a smile still on her lips. Ryo’s chest tightened, heart hammering. Even in this city of magic and living stone, even with a prince to protect and a war looming, her words felt like a threat—and a challenge.

Thalen finally spoke, breaking the tension. “We cannot linger here. Moonvale, the forests, my people… they wait on us. East Geneva depends on my safe arrival to the council.”

Eryndor nodded silently. “Then we move,” he said, voice firm. His loyalty radiated like a shield around Thalen, unyielding and resolute.

Aldah exhaled, muttering something about “drama, politics, and a family reunion all in one day” as she adjusted her pack. Vix only grunted, gesturing toward the city’s winding streets. “Keep your eyes open. Elandor doesn’t forgive mistakes.”

The sun dipped lower, golden light reflecting off the crystal spires. Shadows lengthened across streets that seemed to shift subtly, as if the city itself breathed beneath their feet.