The Forest

Grayhaven looked close from the ridge.

It was not.

By noon the following day, Kael had decided distant lights were liars.

He pushed another branch away from his face.

“How much farther?”

Darian continued walking.

“Several hours.”

Kael stopped.

“You said that several hours ago.”

“I said several.”

“That word has lost all meaning.”

Lyra walked past him.

“You’ve been complaining for half the morning.”

“My boots are wet.”

“So are mine.”

“My shoulder hurts.”

“Mine doesn’t.”

Kael stared at her.

“That was cruel.”

Lyra smiled.

“Your miraculous healing should have chosen sore feet instead.”

“I don’t have miraculous healing.”

“You heal faster too.”

“Not as fast as you.”

“Still counts.”

Darian glanced back.

“If you have enough energy to argue, you have enough energy to walk.”

Kael sighed.

“That sounded exactly like my mother.”

Darian’s expression changed slightly.

Kael immediately regretted saying it.

The silence that followed lasted longer than usual.

Lyra slowed until she was beside him.

Kael kept looking ahead.

“I shouldn’t have—”

“You miss her.”

“Yeah.”

Lyra gently bumped her shoulder against his.

“I know.”

Kael gave her a small smile.

Then they continued.

The forest had changed again.

Near Larkspur, the woods had been familiar.

Oak.

Pine.

Deer trails.

Streams Kael had crossed dozens of times.

Here, the trees were enormous.

Their trunks were so wide that three people could not have wrapped their arms around them.

Thick moss covered the roots.

Long vines hung between the branches.

Occasionally, tiny points of blue light drifted beneath the leaves.

Kael had initially assumed they were insects.

Then one landed on Lyra’s finger.

It had wings.

But no body.

Just a small floating flame.

Lyra stared at it.

Kael stared too.

Darian continued walking.

“Forest wisp.”

Kael looked at him.

“You could at least pretend that’s unusual.”

“They’re common this far north.”

The tiny light lifted from Lyra’s finger.

She watched it float into the trees.

“I like them.”

Darian stopped.

“You shouldn’t.”

Lyra frowned.

“Why?”

“They sometimes lead travelers away from the road.”

Kael looked toward where the wisp disappeared.

“And then?”

Darian started walking again.

“They get lost.”

“That doesn’t sound terrible.”

“In this forest?”

Kael reconsidered.

“Fair.”

Lyra moved closer to the center of the trail.

An hour later, Darian raised his fist.

They stopped immediately.

Kael had finally learned that particular signal.

Darian crouched near a patch of mud.

Lyra joined him.

Kael stood behind them.

“What?”

Darian pointed.

Tracks.

Large footprints.

Humanoid.

Bare feet.

Each nearly twice the size of Kael’s.

Lyra frowned.

“Orc?”

Darian nodded.

Kael’s hand moved toward his sword.

“Are they dangerous?”

Darian looked at him.

“Humans are dangerous.”

“That wasn’t my question.”

“It should be.”

Kael sighed.

Lyra examined the tracks.

“How many?”

“Four.”

“Fresh?”

“Less than an hour.”

Kael scanned the trees.

He had heard stories about orcs since childhood.

Most were not flattering.

Raiders.

Warriors.

Village burners.

Monsters that ate anything they killed.

But Darian had mentioned Grayhaven traded with orc clans.

Kael looked toward him.

“So we avoid them?”

“Yes.”

“Because they’ll attack?”

“Because we don’t know who they are.”

That answer was more reasonable.

Darian pointed east.

“We leave the trail here.”

Lyra looked unhappy.

“The trail was difficult enough.”

“The trail is easier to follow.”

“Exactly.”

“For us and for hunters.”

Lyra sighed.

“Right.”

They disappeared into the trees.

They stopped near midday.

Darian chose a small clearing beside a stream.

Kael immediately dropped his pack.

“I may never move again.”

Lyra sat on a fallen log.

“You say that every time we stop.”

“And yet I continue moving. It’s inspirational.”

Darian handed him a waterskin.

“Drink.”

Kael did.

Lyra began checking her bowstring.

Her fingers moved carefully along the cord.

Kael watched.

“You’ve checked that three times today.”

“Because rain damages strings.”

“I know.”

“Then why ask?”

“I was making conversation.”

“You’re terrible at it.”

Kael took another drink.

Then he drew his father’s short sword.

The dark blade remained strange.

No rust.

No chips.

The thin red line running through its center had not glowed again.

Kael turned it slightly.

Darian noticed.

“Stop staring at it.”

Kael looked up.

“Why?”

“Because swords rarely answer questions.”

“This one glowed yesterday.”

“Still unlikely to answer.”

Kael lowered it.

“Do you know what it is?”

“No.”

“That sounded like a lie.”

“It wasn’t.”

“You know something.”

Darian exhaled.

“I recognize the craftsmanship.”

Kael sat forward.

“From where?”

“Older weapons.”

“How old?”

“Very.”

Kael waited.

Darian did not continue.

Lyra looked between them.

“You two could turn avoiding answers into an art.”

Darian began unpacking food.

Kael stared at him.

“Was it my father’s?”

“Yes.”

“What was his name?”

Darian stopped.

Kael’s heart tightened.

He had never expected that question to be difficult.

His mother had told him his father died when Kael was very young.

She had spoken of him rarely.

“He was called Ronan Arden,” Darian said.

Kael repeated it quietly.

“Ronan.”

Darian nodded.

“Was Arden his real family name?”

Silence.

Kael understood immediately.

“No.”

“What was it?”

“I don’t know.”

Kael’s frustration returned.

“How can you know him but not know his name?”

“Because people hiding from the Ashen Order do not casually share their real identities.”

That silenced him.

Lyra looked at her father.

“And my mother?”

Darian’s face became guarded.

Lyra noticed.

“You never talk about her.”

“I told you she died.”

“You told me almost nothing else.”

Darian looked toward the stream.

Kael wanted to intervene.

He didn’t.

Lyra continued.

“What was her name?”

Darian’s voice came quietly.

“Seren.”

Lyra went still.

“Seren Fen?”

“No.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“What was her real name?”

“I promised her I would not say.”

Lyra stood.

“She’s dead.”

Darian flinched.

The smallest movement.

But Lyra saw it.

“So the promise matters more than telling me who my own mother was?”

“That is not fair.”

“Neither is any of this!”

Birds scattered from the trees.

Darian’s expression hardened.

“Keep your voice down.”

Lyra laughed bitterly.

“Of course. Hunters.”

“Lyra.”

“No.”

She grabbed her bow.

“I need a minute.”

She walked away.

Darian started to follow.

Kael stood.

“I’ll go.”

Darian looked at him.

Kael nodded once.

Then followed her.

He found Lyra beside the stream.

She stood with her back to him.

Kael stopped several paces away.

“I’m not good at this part.”

Lyra didn’t turn.

“What part?”

“The emotional conversation.”

“That has never stopped you before.”

“Usually you’re insulting me.”

She almost laughed.

Almost.

Kael moved beside her.

The stream flowed quietly over dark stones.

Lyra stared down.

“I don’t even know my mother’s real name.”

“You know Seren.”

“One name.”

“That’s more than you had this morning.”

Lyra looked at him.

“That was terrible.”

“I warned you.”

She exhaled.

Kael leaned against a tree.

“My father’s name might not even be real either.”

“That doesn’t make me feel better.”

“It wasn’t supposed to.”

Lyra picked up a small stone and threw it into the stream.

“I feel like our entire lives were built on secrets.”

Kael nodded.

“Probably.”

She glared.

“You could pretend to disagree.”

“I don’t think you want me lying.”

Lyra looked away.

“No.”

Kael watched the water.

“We still know some things.”

“Like what?”

“You hate beetles.”

Lyra stared.

He continued.

“You like apple pastries more than honey cakes even though you pretend otherwise.”

“That is private.”

“You cheat during training.”

“I do not.”

“You absolutely do.”

A tiny smile appeared.

Kael looked at her.

“You’re Lyra.”

The smile faded into something softer.

“That part didn’t change.”

Lyra looked down.

“And you’re still an idiot.”

“Exactly.”

She leaned lightly against him.

“Thanks.”

Kael smiled.

“I think.”

A branch snapped behind them.

Both froze.

Kael reached for his sword.

Lyra’s bow was already in her hand.

Another sound.

Closer.

Kael whispered—

“Darian?”

No answer.

Lyra nocked an arrow.

A shape emerged through the brush.

Huge.

Green-gray skin.

Broad shoulders.

Two tusks rising from the lower jaw.

An axe rested across one shoulder.

Kael’s stomach dropped.

Orc.

The orc stopped.

They stared at each other.

The orc looked at Kael’s sword.

Then Lyra’s bow.

Then at their faces.

Kael slowly raised one hand.

“We don’t want trouble.”

The orc’s eyes narrowed.

“That usually means humans brought trouble.”

Kael blinked.

The orc spoke perfectly clearly.

Lyra lowered her bow slightly.

“We’re just passing through.”

“Armed.”

“So are you.”

The orc looked at Lyra.

For a second—

he smiled.

“Good answer.”

Three more orcs emerged behind him.

Exactly four.

The tracks.

Kael’s hand remained near his sword.

The lead orc sniffed the air.

His expression suddenly changed.

He looked directly at Kael.

Then at Lyra.

Something uneasy entered his eyes.

“What?”

Lyra asked.

The orc stepped closer.

Kael drew his blade halfway.

The orc stopped.

His nostrils flared again.

“You smell strange.”

Kael stared.

“That is surprisingly insulting.”

Lyra elbowed him.

The orc ignored the joke.

“Both of you.”

A female orc behind him spoke in their own language.

Kael couldn’t understand.

The leader answered sharply.

Then turned toward them again.

“Where did you come from?”

Lyra hesitated.

“South.”

“Village?”

Neither answered.

The orc studied them.

Then looked toward the woods behind Kael.

“You’re being followed.”

Kael’s expression changed.

“How do you know?”

“Humans move badly through forests.”

Lyra looked offended.

“I don’t.”

The orc looked at her boots.

“You do.”

Kael nearly smiled.

Lyra glared at him before he could.

The orc pointed northwest.

“There is a ravine two miles ahead. Cross it and follow the river.”

“Grayhaven?” Kael asked.

The orc nodded.

“Maybe.”

“Maybe?”

“If the forest lets you.”

Kael was beginning to dislike answers like that.

Lyra lowered her bow.

“Why help us?”

The orc’s eyes returned to them.

Again—

unease.

“My grandmother told stories.”

Darian’s voice came from behind.

“Stories about what?”

Everyone turned.

Darian stood among the trees with both daggers drawn.

The orcs immediately raised weapons.

Lyra stepped between them.

“Dad!”

Kael moved too.

“Wait.”

Darian’s eyes remained on the lead orc.

The orc slowly lowered his axe.

“Your young ones have more sense than you.”

Darian looked unimpressed.

“They’re not my—”

Lyra raised an eyebrow.

Darian stopped.

“My daughter and her friend.”

“Better.”

The orc looked at Kael and Lyra again.

“My grandmother said some things in this world feel old even when they are young.”

Kael’s chest tightened.

“What does that mean?”

The orc shrugged.

“It means I’m leaving before your hunters arrive.”

He turned.

Kael called—

“Wait.”

The orc looked back.

“What’s your name?”

He seemed surprised.

“Gorak.”

Kael nodded.

“Kael.”

Lyra gave her name too.

Gorak studied them one final time.

Then smiled faintly.

“I know.”

Kael froze.

Before he could ask—

the orcs disappeared into the trees.

Lyra stared after them.

“He knew our names?”

Darian’s expression hardened.

“Move.”

Kael sighed.

“Of course.”

They found the ravine exactly where Gorak said it would be.

Unfortunately—

the bridge was gone.

Kael stared across the gap.

“Maybe he hated us.”

Lyra looked down.

The ravine was deep.

Very deep.

A narrow river rushed between jagged rocks below.

Darian examined the broken supports.

“This bridge collapsed recently.”

Lyra touched one rope.

“Cut.”

Darian nodded.

Kael looked behind them.

“Hunters?”

“Possibly.”

Lyra stared across the ravine.

The opposite side was at least twenty feet away.

“No one is jumping that.”

Kael remembered the orchard.

His impossible burst of speed.

He looked at the gap.

Lyra immediately noticed.

“No.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You were thinking about jumping.”

“I might be able to.”

“No.”

Kael frowned.

“You don’t know.”

“Neither do you.”

Darian stepped between them.

“She’s right.”

Kael stared.

“We need to cross.”

“We need to survive.”

Kael looked toward the trees.

“If hunters are behind us—”

“We find another way.”

Lyra pointed downriver.

“There.”

A fallen tree stretched across a narrower section.

Kael looked.

“That is barely a bridge.”

“It’s more bridge than we currently have.”

Darian nodded.

“We use it.”

Kael reluctantly followed.

The fallen trunk was slick from rain.

Lyra crossed first.

She moved carefully but confidently.

Darian followed.

Kael went last.

Halfway across—

he looked down.

That was a mistake.

The river seemed very far away.

Kael swallowed.

“Don’t look down.”

Lyra called from the other side.

“I already did.”

“Why?”

“I wanted to confirm it was a bad idea.”

“And?”

“Confirmed.”

Lyra smiled.

Then her expression changed.

“Kael.”

Something moved in the trees behind him.

Kael turned slightly.

A gray-cloaked hunter stepped into view.

Then another.

Then six more.

“Oh.”

Darian drew his daggers.

“Move!”

Kael hurried.

A bolt struck the tree beside his boot.

He nearly slipped.

“Kael!”

He regained his balance.

Another bolt flew.

This one struck the trunk.

Blue light spread across the bark.

The wood cracked.

Kael’s eyes widened.

“You have got to be kidding.”

The tree split.

Kael jumped.

His hand caught the far edge.

His body slammed against the cliff.

Lyra dropped instantly.

She grabbed his wrist.

“I have you!”

Kael looked down.

The broken tree disappeared into the ravine.

Darian grabbed Lyra around the waist.

“Pull!”

Together they dragged Kael onto solid ground.

A hunter shouted from across the gap.

“Stop running!”

Kael rolled onto his back.

“Very convincing!”

Lyra grabbed him.

“Move!”

The hunters could not cross quickly.

That bought them time.

Not much.

But enough.

They followed the river.

Darian pushed them hard.

No breaks.

No conversation.

No stopping even when Kael’s lungs burned.

Eventually, the sounds of pursuit faded.

Then Darian stopped so suddenly Lyra nearly ran into him.

Kael bent over.

“Please tell me we’re resting.”

Darian pointed ahead.

Kael looked.

The river had turned black.

Not dark.

Black.

Like ink.

Dead fish floated along the surface.

Lyra covered her nose.

“What happened?”

Darian crouched.

He touched the water.

Immediately pulled his fingers away.

“Corruption.”

Kael frowned.

“Magic?”

“Yes.”

“Dangerous?”

“Very.”

Kael looked around.

The forest was silent.

No birds.

No insects.

The memory of Eldoria’s prologue stories suddenly came to him.

Silence before disaster.

Lyra whispered—

“I don’t like this.”

Darian stood.

“We go around.”

A low moan echoed through the trees.

Kael drew his sword.

“I think around is occupied.”

Something stumbled from behind a tree.

Human.

Or had once been.

Its skin was gray.

Dark veins covered its neck.

Half its face appeared burned away by black magic.

Lyra raised her bow.

“What is that?”

Darian’s expression became grim.

“Blighted.”

The creature lifted its head.

Its eyes were completely black.

Then another appeared.

Then another.

Kael counted.

Six.

Ten.

Fifteen.

Darian stepped backward.

“Do not let them touch you.”

Kael looked at the creatures.

“Useful advice.”

“Kael.”

“I’m nervous.”

The first Blighted screamed.

All of them charged.

Lyra fired first.

THUNK!

An arrow struck one creature through the eye.

It fell.

She immediately fired again.

Kael rushed forward.

His father’s sword met the first Blighted.

The blade cut through its shoulder.

Black blood splashed across the ground.

Kael recoiled.

The smell was terrible.

Another creature attacked.

He blocked.

Its fingers scraped against the blade.

Kael kicked it backward.

Darian moved beside him.

One dagger.

Two.

Fast.

Precise.

A Blighted collapsed.

“Stay together!” Darian shouted.

Lyra fired over Kael’s shoulder.

An arrow passed close to his ear.

He turned.

“Warn me!”

“I knew where I was shooting!”

“That is not reassuring!”

Another creature lunged.

Kael cut it down.

More came.

Too many.

Darian’s dagger struck one throat.

A second creature grabbed his arm.

“Dad!”

Lyra fired.

The arrow struck its neck.

Darian pulled free.

“Fine!”

Kael backed toward them.

His breathing became heavy.

The strange heat inside him began rising.

He felt it.

The power.

Maybe he could use it.

He remembered the monsters fleeing.

The boar.

The wolves.

Kael focused.

Come on.

Nothing.

He clenched his jaw.

The Blighted charged.

He tried again.

Heat.

Eyes.

Whatever it was.

Nothing happened.

A creature struck him across the face.

Kael fell.

“Kael!”

Lyra’s arrow killed it.

Kael pushed himself up.

Blood ran from his lip.

“What happened?” she shouted.

“I tried to do the thing!”

“What thing?”

“The eyes!”

“This is not the time to experiment!”

“I noticed!”

Lyra fired again.

Three arrows remained.

Then two.

Then one.

She looked at the empty quiver.

“Oh.”

Kael glanced over.

“That sounds bad.”

“I’m out.”

She drew her short sword.

The Blighted surrounded them.

Darian’s breathing had become heavy.

Blood ran from a cut along his shoulder.

Kael’s chest tightened.

They couldn’t keep this up.

Lyra fought beside him.

Sword against claws.

Human weapons.

Human strength.

Training.

Nothing more.

For several minutes—

that had to be enough.

Kael blocked a strike meant for Lyra.

She ducked beneath his arm and slashed another creature’s leg.

Kael finished it.

They moved naturally together.

Years of practice.

Years of arguing through training.

For the first time, Kael understood why it mattered.

His strange strength was useful.

His speed was useful.

But neither came when he wanted them.

His sword did.

Lyra’s blade did.

Her training did.

Their trust did.

A Blighted attacked from behind.

Lyra shouted—

“Left!”

Kael moved left without questioning.

Her sword passed through the space where his head had been and struck the creature behind him.

Kael stared.

“That was close!”

“You’re alive!”

“Barely!”

“Stop complaining!”

Another creature charged her.

Kael intercepted.

He drove his shoulder into it.

The Blighted fell.

Darian finished it.

Five remained.

Then—

a roar echoed from somewhere deep in the forest.

Not human.

Not Blighted.

Every creature froze.

Kael’s blood became hot.

Lyra gasped.

She felt it too.

A second roar.

Farther away.

But enormous.

The Blighted turned toward the sound.

For a second, Kael thought they might flee.

Instead—

their black eyes fixed on him.

All five.

At once.

Darian noticed.

“Kael…”

The creatures screamed.

And attacked only him.

Kael blocked the first.

The second struck his side.

The third grabbed his cloak.

Lyra cut its arm.

“Why are they all after you?!”

“I don’t know!”

Kael’s sword became hot.

The red line glowed faintly.

Not enough.

He felt something inside him responding to the distant roar.

A pressure behind his ribs.

A need to answer.

His throat burned.

Kael stumbled.

Smoke escaped between his lips.

Lyra saw.

“Kael!”

The Blighted stopped.

For one moment—

the world became silent.

Kael inhaled.

Something hot rose toward his mouth.

Too hot.

Wrong.

Instinct told him to release it.

Darian’s eyes widened.

“No!”

Kael froze.

“Don’t!”

Kael forced his mouth closed.

Pain tore through his chest.

He fell to one knee.

The heat disappeared.

The Blighted recovered.

One lunged.

Lyra moved between them.

Its claws struck her shoulder.

Her tunic tore.

Blood appeared.

Kael saw red.

“LYRA!”

The strange power erupted.

His eyes turned gold.

The sword in his hand flashed crimson.

Kael moved once.

A single strike.

The attacking Blighted was thrown through a tree.

The trunk cracked.

Silence.

Lyra stared.

Kael stared too.

His eyes immediately returned to normal.

The strength vanished.

Kael nearly dropped the sword.

“What…”

Darian didn’t let him finish.

“Fight!”

The remaining creatures attacked.

This time—

Kael didn’t try to call the power again.

He trusted the blade.

Lyra fought despite her wounded shoulder.

Darian joined them.

One creature fell.

Then another.

The final Blighted rushed Kael.

Kael blocked.

Lyra swept its leg.

Darian struck from behind.

The creature collapsed.

Silence.

Real silence.

No movement.

No screams.

Only three exhausted people standing among bodies.

Kael’s hands began shaking.

Lyra’s sword slipped from her fingers.

Darian immediately moved toward her.

“Shoulder.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re bleeding.”

Kael rushed over.

Four long cuts crossed her shoulder.

Not deep.

But ugly.

Lyra looked at them.

Then at Kael.

“They’re already slowing.”

Darian’s face hardened.

“No.”

Lyra frowned.

“No?”

“No healing.”

“What?”

“If you can control it, stop it.”

Lyra stared.

“I don’t know how.”

“Then cover it.”

Kael looked at him.

“Why?”

Darian glanced toward the forest.

“The hunters.”

Kael understood.

“If they find the battlefield…”

“They will examine everything.”

Lyra wrapped cloth around her shoulder.

Darian continued.

“From now on, if you can avoid using anything unusual, you do.”

Kael looked at his sword.

“Why?”

Darian pointed toward the Blighted thrown through the tree.

“Because that is not subtle.”

Kael swallowed.

“And the roar?”

Darian’s face darkened.

“That worries me more.”

Lyra looked toward the trees.

“You think something heard us?”

“I think something may have felt you.”

Kael’s stomach tightened.

“What?”

Darian turned away.

“We leave.”

Kael was getting tired of those words.

But this time—

he agreed.

They washed the black blood from their weapons downstream where the water remained clear.

Kael’s hands continued trembling.

Lyra noticed.

“You okay?”

“No.”

She sat beside him.

“Me neither.”

Kael looked back toward the battlefield.

“That was the first time…”

He stopped.

Lyra understood.

“The first time we killed something that looked human.”

Kael nodded.

The Blighted had been monsters.

He knew that.

Darian had told them there was no curing the corruption once it consumed someone completely.

Still—

they had faces.

Hands.

Clothes.

One had worn the remains of a merchant’s jacket.

Kael looked down.

“I thought fighting monsters would feel different.”

Lyra’s voice was quiet.

“Stories make everything cleaner.”

Kael looked toward her bandaged shoulder.

“You got hurt because of me.”

“No.”

“They were attacking me.”

“So?”

“You stepped between us.”

Lyra raised an eyebrow.

“You do that for me constantly.”

“That’s different.”

“How?”

Kael opened his mouth.

Nothing came out.

Lyra smiled faintly.

“Exactly.”

He looked away.

“Your shoulder?”

“Hurts.”

“Healing?”

She concentrated.

“I don’t know.”

Kael frowned.

“What do you mean?”

Lyra loosened the bandage slightly.

The cuts remained.

They had closed somewhat.

But slowly.

More normally.

Lyra stared.

“I think I can stop it.”

Kael’s eyebrows rose.

“How?”

“I just…”

She searched for the words.

“Tell my body not to.”

“That sounds medically questionable.”

Lyra smiled.

“But useful.”

Darian approached.

“Good.”

Lyra looked at him.

“You want us injured?”

“No. I want you capable of passing for ordinary.”

Kael looked at his hands.

“Can we actually do that anymore?”

Darian didn’t answer.

They found shelter beneath a group of massive roots before evening.

No fire.

No glowing sword.

No experiments.

Darian was very clear.

Lyra repaired her bowstring while Kael sharpened his blade.

His father’s sword had somehow suffered almost no damage.

Kael ran a cloth along the dark metal.

Lyra watched.

“We need new arrows.”

“Yes.”

“My short sword needs sharpening.”

“Yes.”

“Your cloak is torn.”

“Yes.”

Lyra tilted her head.

“Are you actually listening?”

“No.”

She kicked his boot.

Kael looked up.

“There she is.”

“What?”

“You’ve recovered enough to annoy me.”

“That is how you know I’m healthy.”

Kael smiled.

Darian sat opposite them.

“We need supplies before Grayhaven.”

Kael looked at him.

“How?”

“There is an old hunter’s cabin north of here.”

Lyra raised an eyebrow.

“Abandoned?”

“Hopefully.”

Kael sighed.

“That word has become worrying.”

Darian continued.

“Weapons. Arrows. Food if anything remains.”

“Beds?”

“No.”

Kael looked disappointed.

Lyra laughed.

For a few minutes—

the forest felt less threatening.

Then darkness came.

Kael woke sometime during the night.

Lyra slept nearby.

Darian was supposed to be keeping watch.

Kael looked toward the entrance.

Darian was there.

Standing completely still.

Looking upward.

Kael quietly rose.

“What?”

Darian raised one finger.

Kael listened.

At first—

nothing.

Then—

a distant sound.

Wings.

Huge wings.

Slow.

Powerful.

Kael’s chest became hot.

Lyra woke instantly.

She sat up.

“Do you hear that?”

Darian extinguished the tiny covered lantern.

Darkness.

“Do not move.”

Kael whispered—

“What is it?”

Darian did not answer.

A shadow moved across the moonlit forest.

Enormous.

Far above the trees.

Kael’s breath stopped.

Another beat of wings.

The branches trembled.

Lyra grabbed Kael’s arm.

A shape passed between gaps in the canopy.

Too large to be a bird.

Much too large.

Kael barely saw it.

A long tail.

Wings.

Scales reflecting moonlight.

Then it was gone.

Lyra whispered—

“Dragon.”

Darian closed his eyes.

“Yes.”

Kael felt the strange warmth intensify.

It seemed to pull toward the creature.

His body wanted to stand.

To follow.

To answer.

He fought the sensation.

Darian placed one hand against Kael’s chest.

“Whatever you feel, ignore it.”

Kael looked at him.

“You know?”

“I suspected.”

Lyra’s breathing changed.

“I feel it too.”

Darian turned toward her.

“Fight it.”

The wingbeats faded.

Then—

the dragon roared.

Kael’s vision flashed gold.

Lyra covered her ears.

The sound seemed to pass through both of them.

Not heard.

Felt.

For one terrifying second, Kael saw an image that was not there.

Mountains beneath his feet.

Clouds below him.

Wings spreading from his back.

Then it vanished.

He fell to one knee.

Lyra did too.

Darian caught them.

“Kael!”

“I’m fine.”

“You are not.”

Lyra looked toward the sky.

“What just happened?”

Darian’s expression was grim.

“The exact reason I told you not to use your abilities.”

Kael looked at him.

“What does our power have to do with that dragon?”

Darian hesitated.

Then answered carefully.

“Power leaves traces.”

Lyra swallowed.

“And dragons can feel them?”

“Some can.”

Kael remembered the roar during the battle.

“Was that dragon looking for us?”

“I don’t know.”

“That means yes when you say it.”

“This time it means I truly do not know.”

Kael sat against the root.

The warmth faded.

Darian crouched before them.

“Listen carefully.”

Neither joked.

Neither argued.

Darian continued.

“Whatever is happening inside you—strength, speed, healing, heat—you cannot depend on it.”

Kael looked down.

“I tried earlier. Nothing happened.”

“Exactly.”

Lyra touched her bandaged shoulder.

“And when it does happen…”

“It attracts attention.”

Darian nodded.

“The Ashen Order has instruments that can detect certain magical traces. Other creatures may sense them naturally.”

Kael looked at the sword in his hand.

“So we fight normally.”

“As much as possible.”

“With swords and bows.”

“Yes.”

Lyra frowned.

“What happens if normal isn’t enough?”

Darian looked toward the sky.

“Then you survive.”

His voice lowered.

“And hope whatever notices you arrives too late.”

Morning came slowly.

None of them slept again.

When the first sunlight passed through the trees, Kael stood.

His clothes were dirty.

His cloak was torn.

A dried cut crossed his lip.

His sword hung at his side.

Lyra rose beside him.

Her dark-red hair was tied back more tightly now.

Her shoulder remained bandaged.

Her bow had no arrows.

Their peaceful lives in Larkspur already felt like something from years ago.

Darian adjusted his pack.

“The cabin is three hours north.”

Kael looked at Lyra.

“Three actual hours?”

Darian started walking.

Kael sighed.

“Apparently not.”

Lyra smiled.

They followed.

After several minutes, Kael looked toward the sky.

Nothing.

No dragon.

Still, he could feel something.

Far away.

Like an ember beneath his ribs.

Waiting.

He tightened his hand around his sword.

Whatever he was—

whatever Lyra was—

they could not rely on it to save them.

Not yet.

Perhaps not ever.

For now, Kael had steel.

Lyra had her bow.

They had their training.

And they had each other.

In a forest filled with monsters, hunters, and dragons—

that would have to be enough.