Harbinger?

A heavy silence settled over the group as they stared at Rot's lifeless body. Concern flickered across Oreon's face, while Celestia's expression remained unreadable. Sylvanie, meanwhile, dragged her foot through the grass, trying to scrape whatever remained from her sole.

Celestia finally released a slow breath, her shoulders sinking as the last of the tension left her. "Unbelievable," she said, disappointment weighing down her voice. "One of our own… corrupted by the Order, and willingly at that." She sighed, closing her eyes once more. "First Vel'Andria, and now betrayal from within our own walls—even if he came from the Outer Regions."

"Don't waste your pity on trash like him, Sister," Sylvanie said, balancing on one leg as she lifted the other for one final look before setting it down. "He chose this path long before the Order ever found him." She tilted her head toward Rot's corpse without looking at it directly. "You heard him—he enjoyed it. He made sure we understood that."

Celestia didn't answer right away. Her gaze stayed on Rot's broken body a moment longer, her expression softening. "I know," she said quietly. "But knowing that doesn't make it any easier to accept. If an elf could willingly embrace the Order's vile ideals of purification, then how many others might have done the same?" Her eyes lowered; the question meant more to her than to anyone else. "Was our fall truly caused by the Order alone?"

"Does it matter?" Sylvanie's expression hardened. "Whether it was the Order alone or a few traitors among us, the result is the same. Our kingdom fell. Our people are scattered, enslaved, or worse." She turned from the corpse and started forward. "And if there are others out there who share his ideals, then they're nothing but cowards—and they'll end up exactly like him." She gritted her teeth.

Celestia lowered her gaze and drew a deep breath, the thought still burdening her—but exhaustion demanded her attention first.

"I suppose you're right…" She returned.

Oreon, still kneeling beside Rot's corpse, finally spoke. "…What he said earlier." He glanced back at the sisters. "I'm guessing neither of you knows what he meant?"

Celestia shook her head slowly before answering. "No… I've never heard of anything called the 'Divine Season,'" she admitted, uncertainty threading through her voice. "The Order has always kept its true goals hidden, even after our capture. But this…" She trailed off, then brought a hand to her chin. "Those ramblings are troubling enough. 'Down fall the elves, corruption hunts the dwarves.'" She repeated the words quietly, turning them over in her mind repeatedly.

"Judge the beasts for their sins?" Oreon said out loud as he slowly stood up, his legs wobbly underneath him, but he quickly composed himself.

"For their cause is no more," Sylvanie finished, her eyes narrowing as she turned back to them. "It sounds like some crazed prophecy… but it's obviously a plan, or part of something bigger. That traitor said they needed the dragon shard you stole, human." She planted both hands on her hips and fixed Oreon with a sharp look. "Luck or not, stealing it may have delayed whatever they're trying to do—but it still sounds like the world is in hot water."

"Yeah, but a prophecy to what, though?" Oreon thought to himself as well.

"To eradicate anything that isn't human or loyal to their cause," Celestia answered grimly. "The Order has always preached about 'purification '—cleansing the world of what they deem impure. But if what he said is true…" She paused, her voice dropping lower. "Then their conquest has just changed to extermination."

"So, a mass purge—basically mass genocide." Oreon stretched, trying to bring feeling back into his body. "Well, one thing's clear: standing around here won't get us any—" He turned to follow Sylvanie's path, only to slam straight into the dark elf. The impact sent him dropping onto his backside. He looked up to find Sylvanie standing over him, arms crossed. "Ow… what the hell, you crazy elf?"

"Don't think I've forgotten, human." She glared at him. "You still owe us some answers, Order spawn."

Oreon winced and rubbed his lower back beneath Sylvanie's glare. "Seriously? We're still doing this?" he muttered, pushing himself to his feet with a grunt. "I already told you—I'm not with the Order, okay? I'm not out here carrying out my father's dirty work."

"Oh?" Sylvanie raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "The son of the Purifier refuses to do the Order's work? And why exactly should we believe a word you say?"

Oreon shot her a glare and tried to move past. "Could you drop it already?" Before he could get by, Sylvanie caught his wrist in a tight grip, her stare drilling into his.

"No," she said flatly. "Not until you explain why we should trust the Purifier's son—and what you plan to do with the dragon shard you stole from them." Sylvanie's grip tightened.

Oreon tried to wrench his arm free, but even exhausted, Sylvanie's grip didn't loosen.

"Let go—" He gritted his teeth.

"Make me." Sylvanie challenged him.

The two locked eyes in a fierce standoff, neither willing to back down. Before it could erupt further, Celestia stepped between them and pressed a gentle but firm hand to Sylvanie's shoulder.

"Sister," She said softly, though there was a note of authority in her voice. "That's enough; release him."

Sylvanie's eyes flicked towards her sister, irritation evident in them. "He owes us—"

"And he will," Celestia interrupted, her voice calm but firm. "But not like this. Look at us, Sylvanie—we're exhausted, wounded, and standing over a traitor's corpse after hearing of something far worse than we expected." She paused, her gaze shifting to Oreon. "Hostility won't draw out the truth. Cooperation will."

Sylvanie held Oreon's gaze a moment longer before finally releasing his wrist with a sharp, reluctant exhale. "Fine," she said, loosening her grip without taking her eyes off him.

"I'm not letting this go, human, and if you try anything—"

"I know, I know; you'll kill me in my sleep or something stupid like that." Oreon cut her off, rubbing his wrist where her fingers had dug in. "Geez, you think you'd get the picture by now." He turned away from the Elven sisters, walking away from them.

"I can see the picture clearly, human." Sylvanie crossed her arms, her voice no less accusing. "You're the son of the purifier, that's all I need to see."

"Sylvanie," Celestia called out, glancing over at her sister. "Enough is enough."

Sylvanie clicked her tongue in annoyance but let the matter drop. Arms still crossed tightly, she turned her gaze away. "Whatever," she muttered, prompting Celestia to draw a deep breath before suggesting their next move.

She glanced back at Rot's corpse one last time before turning her attention fully to the two. "We need to move." She spoke calmly. "We're wasting time standing here; we need to continue downstream to find a different place to rest, preferably one that isn't—" she gestured towards Rot's fallen form. "–slowly decaying in the open fields."

Oreon glanced back at the fallen elf before facing forward again. "Yeah," he replied, his voice subdued. "I'm pretty sure the Order sent more than just him—and if they didn't, they will once they learn what happened." With that, he started down the path they had been following.

Celestia nodded. "Exactly. We need to put as much distance between ourselves and this place as we can." She followed behind Oreon, fatigue weighing down each step. "The longer we stay, the greater the chance we'll be found."

"Just make sure you keep your hands to yourself, human. Wouldn't want any accidents happening." Sylvanie growled lightly as Oreon continued to walk in front of them, ignoring the comment, leaving Celestia with her sister.

Celestia watched Oreon trudge ahead with a soft sigh, then turned to her sister, her tired expression still gentle.

"Sister…" She began quietly. "I understand your distrust—truly, I do. But constantly antagonizing him won't help us. If I must say, you're being unnecessarily harsh towards him."

"Harsh? Are you serious?" Sylvanie's eyes narrowed slightly at her older sister. "He's the son of the man who orchestrated Vel'Andria's destruction—the Purifier himself." She gestured sharply toward Oreon's retreating figure. "How am I supposed to just ignore that? And besides…" Her gaze flicked back to him. "You're being too soft. You think there's good in him because he fought beside us, but that doesn't change his bloodline, what his father represents, or the atrocities he committed."

"I know," Celestia replied steadily as the two began to walk behind Oreon, keeping him in their sights as they talked. "But people are not defined solely by their bloodlines. You and I should know that better than anyone." She paused, letting her words settle. "If we judge him purely by his lineage, then we're no better than the Order itself."

"That's different—" Sylvanie replied, clearly frustrated.

"Is it?" Celestia interrupted gently. "We are daughters of a dark elf queen and a high elf king. Our very existence defies the rigid purity the Order preaches. If they had their way, we wouldn't exist at all." She kept walking at a steady pace. "Give him a chance to prove himself. That's all I'm asking."

They both looked at Oreon, observing his tired body while he struggled to walk straight. For a moment, Sylvanie said nothing, just walked in silence beside her sister, arms still crossed defensively over her chest. "

"…You always do this," Sylvanie muttered quietly. "You always see the good in people, even when they don't deserve it." She exhaled sharply through her nose. "One of these days, that kindness of yours is going to get you killed, sister."

A faint smile appeared on Celestia's features, though sadness lingered in her eyes at Sylvanie's words. "Perhaps," she admitted softly. "But I'd rather risk being deceived than become someone who judges without trying to understand." She turned her head toward her sister as they walked. "After all, Mother taught us that judgment belongs to those who lack understanding." Her smile softened.

"Tch… You're impossible, you know that?" Sylvanie turned her head away from Celestia. "Mother also taught us not to be fools," She returned. "But that's just like you, throwing Mother's words at me like some secret weapon, but you failed to mention that she also said understanding is one thing. Blind trust is another."

Celestia's smile softened, but she didn't look away. "I haven't forgotten that lesson either, Sylvanie. I'm not asking you to trust him blindly—give him the chance to earn it." She paused, glancing back at Oreon before returning her eyes to her sister. "Besides, if he truly meant us harm, don't you think he could have acted by now? He had plenty of opportunities."

Scoffing quietly, Sylvanie spoke. "Maybe he's just waiting for the right moment. Or maybe he's stupid enough to think we'd actually accept him or something." She kicked a loose stone on the path. "Either way, I'm keeping my eyes on him."

"I wouldn't expect anything less from you," Celestia replied warmly, though exhaustion weighed heavily in her voice. "Your caution has saved us more times than I can count."

For a moment, Sylvanie's own expression softened, but just barely before her usual defiant glare returned. "Save the praise, sister; someone has to keep you from getting yourself killed with all that 'compassion' of yours."

"And I'm grateful for it," Celestia's voice sincere. "Even when we disagree." She said, gently placing her hand on her sister's shoulder.

Sylvanie didn't respond immediately, but she didn't pull away either. After a beat of silence, she muttered under her breath. "… You're still too soft."

Celestia chuckled lightly despite herself. "And you're still too stubborn."

Sucking her teeth. "Takes one to know one," Sylvanie replied.

Time passed as the three continued onward, danger now some ways behind them. Oreon led the way, with the sisters following close behind, until they finally reached another clearing. Unlike the last, this one felt almost serene. No Order soldiers appeared, and no beasts stirred beneath the moonlight. Silver light spilled through the oak branches, revealing clean water, trimmed grass, and trees that flourished in quiet abundance.

Oreon stopped at the edge of the clearing, his shoulders sagging with relief. "Finally…" He breathed out, turning to face the sisters. "This looks safe enough. Think this will do for now?"

Celestia stepped forward, her eyes scanning the area carefully. The moonlight reflected off her pale blonde hair, making her appear almost ethereal despite her exhaustion. "It's…beautiful. A major change since our last stop." She murmured before adding more. "The trees provide better cover, and it seems that there is only one entrance at first glance." She said, spotting another way out of the clearing, but it was easy to miss if someone wasn't paying attention.

"Two, actually," Sylvanie corrected, her sharp eyes already mapping the area. She pointed toward a narrow gap between two massive oak trees on the far side of the clearing. "There's an exit over there, so if anything happens…" She glanced over at Oreon. "Well, let's just hope for the human's sake it won't come to that."

Oreon rolled his eyes at the remark and moved alongside the stream, studying it warily. His gaze dropped to the water, narrowing at his reflection as if something about it felt off.

"Is something wrong?" Celestia asked, noticing Oreon's cautious demeanor immediately as she stepped closer to the stream herself, her blue eyes searching the water's surface.

Oreon crouched down, his fingers hovering just above the water without touching it. "I don't know…Something feels…off." He admitted quietly. "The water's too still. Too…Clean." His brow furrowed. "Maybe it's because of everything we've been through tonight, but finding a place this perfect just seems…"

"Suspicious?" Sylvanie finished, her eyes narrowing as she approached the stream from the opposite side. "For once, we agree on something, human." She knelt and studied the water. "No ripples, no insects skimming the surface, no fish…" Her hand hovered above the water, just as Oreon's had. "It's as if nothing lives here."

Celestia moved closer, concern deepening across her face. "That is… unusual." Her gaze swept over the clearing. "Even the clearest streams should carry some sign of life." She looked around again, this time more carefully. "The grass and trees look healthy, but now that you mention it…" She went still, listening. "I don't hear any animals either. No birds… nothing."

Oreon rose slowly, his hand drifting instinctively toward his daggers as he scanned the tree line in a careful circle. "It's too quiet," he said. "Far too quiet for a forest at night. We should be hearing something."

Sylvanie rose to her feet. "Could be a ward," She suggested, placing one hand on her hip. "Some kind of magical barrier that keeps creatures away. The Order uses them sometimes to secure their camps."

"Possibly, but I don't think that's the case here," Celestia responded, slowly looking around the area as well. "This part of the forest doesn't look like the rest of the forest we walked through."

"What do you mean?" Oreon asked, turning his attention fully to Celestia.

The blonde-haired elf gestured toward the surrounding trees, her voice turning analytical. "Look at the bark—it's darker, almost black in places. And the leaves…" She pointed upward. "They're too bright, too green to be natural." Her gaze shifted to the stream. "The water looks clean, but nothing moves beneath the surface. No ripples, no current… It's too still, as if it exists only for show."

Oreon followed her gaze. "So, what you're saying is…this whole place is fake? Like some illusion?"

"Not fake, exactly," Celestia clarified, kneeling to inspect the grass. She brushed her fingers through the blades, feeling their texture. "It's real—I can touch it, feel it—but something about it is wrong. Unnatural." She looked up at them both. "As if someone… or something, shaped this place on purpose."

"Magic then?" Oreon crossed his arms casually.

"Dark magic," Sylvanie corrected, though uncertainty edged her voice. "But it feels altered… like dark magic with nothing behind it."

"What exactly are you saying?" Oreon asked, turning his gaze toward Sylvanie. "Dark magic with nothing behind it—what does that even mean?"

"Put simply, human, it's dark magic without intent." Sylvanie stepped up to a nearby tree and studied it for a moment. "It feels like dark magic, but not quite. Hollow—like this tree." She pressed her palm flat against the bark, her crimson eyes narrowing in concentration. "It looks and feels like a tree, but there's no life force inside it. No energy, no essence." She drew her hand back and stared at her palm, as if expecting some trace to remain. "It's like touching a corpse that's still standing."

Oreon blinked at Sylvanie's comment. "Okay, creepy." He finally said. "And your analogies could use some work."

Rolling her eyes, Sylvanie responded. "I'm saying this place is like a shell. Something mimicking reality but lacking substance." She turned to face them both. "This whole clearing—it's a construct. Someone made this place, but they didn't quite get it right. They—" Sylvanie's eyes quickly narrowed, followed by both Celestia's and Oreon's as the sound of faint whispering could be heard.

At first, it sounded like it was coming from the stream, but then it started to echo, and the sound seemed to bounce off the trees and the grass, coming from all directions.

Oreon's hands immediately went to his daggers, his body tensing as he turned in a circle, trying to pinpoint the source as the whisper grew louder, overlapping each other in an incomprehensible chorus.

"What the hell? What the hell is happening?" Oreon's eyes glanced around, unsheathing his weapons and getting into the best fighting stance his body could muster.

"Don't move," Celestia commanded sharply, her voice cutting through the cacophony. "Everyone, stay close. We don't know what we're dealing with."

Sylvanie, quickly following instructions, huddled by her sister and Oreon, her eyes scanning the area as the whispers seemed to surround them.

Incoherent whispers continued to close in around the three as the clearing slowly changed.

The vibrant grass beneath their feet withered, fading into a sickly gray as though its life were being drained away. The stream, once unnaturally still, began to bubble and churn, releasing a putrid stench that made Oreon gag.

The leafy trees died within seconds, their branches exposed as the sky darkened, the moon seeming to flip and become invisible.

Suddenly, the churning water's blue faded into a murky black liquid. The once-lively clearing where the three now stood was a desolate wasteland, devoid of life.

"By the ancient…" Celestia gritted her teeth, looking around, her eyes trying to comprehend what was happening around them.

"Sisssttteerrr!" Sylvanie cried, panic twisting her face to match Celestia's. "What the hell is this? What are we supposed to do?!" Her eyes darted from side to side, searching for the source of the power that had warped the clearing, but found nothing.

"Isn't this kind of thing normal for elves?!" Oreon screamed as he backed up a bit, his back pressing against Celestia's and Sylvanie's.

"What about this is normal to you?!" Sylvanie snapped back, trying to contain her panic. "This isn't even elven magic, human—this is something else entirely!"

"Well, can't you figure out what it is?!" Oreon shot back. "Since your knowledge is, you know, extensive!"

"If I knew what it was, don't you think I would've said something by now, you insufferable human?!" Sylvanie's voice rose as her eyes continued to dart in different directions.

"Silence! Both of you!" Celestia's shout cut through their bickering, causing them both to cease their pointless argument as their surroundings continued to change. "We have bigger problems to contend with right now!" She added.

Sylvanie quickly followed orders and covered her sister's rear. "Can you tell what it is?" Sylvanie asked urgently.

"No, I'm trying, but I'm completely out of magic!" Celestia yelled back, her blue eyes flaring for an instant before dimming again. "This is bad. I can't even sense what it—GET BACK!" The three leaped away at once, hitting the ground in rough rolls just as a crater tore open where they had stood. Then the whispers stopped. Silence crashed over the clearing as a chilling presence slid down both elves' spines, and a small figure appeared at one of the entrances.

Small footsteps echoed through the clearing, accompanied by a soft, childlike hum from the figure hidden beneath the trees' shadows. A gray foot stepped forward, calm and almost playful, as the figure skipped into view—a small girl who looked no older than twelve. White hair spilled down her back, and purple irises fixed on the group as she tilted her head, as if puzzled by what she saw. A white nightgown covered most of her arms and legs, but what stood out most were the small horns protruding from her head.

"Harbinger?" she asked, confusion rippling through her echoing voice. "You shouldn't be here yet. It's too soon."