The Sister's Cloak

The name stopped Zelda in her tracks.
“Lionel...”
For a moment, she wasn't in Donnerfels anymore.
She remembered David.
The training yard. The endless drills. The flames that never behaved the way they were supposed to. The countless times she had tried to prove that she could become the Sorcerer everyone expected her to be.
And then, suddenly, David was gone.
At the time, she had assumed it was because she was a terrible student.
But now...
Zelda's eyes lowered.
Did David really get released from his duties because I was a bad student?
Or had her grandfather already known?
Did he know I was a Spellblade?
The thought lingered.
She looked toward the old man behind the stall.
“Why are so many important people here?”
The old man continued preparing food, barely looking up.
“Because Amala and Zenoa are preparing for war.”
Zelda's expression tightened.
“A war?”
The old man nodded.
“A war that could change the balance of power.”
“The balance of power?” Zelda asked.
Before the old man could elaborate, the sound of wheels rolling across the dirt caught their attention.
Ignar Emberfare and the rest of the guild passed through the street, their chariot moving steadily toward the heart of Donnerfels.
As they drew level with the stall, Ignar suddenly frowned.
“Lionel.”
Lionel looked toward him.
“Did you feel that?”
Lionel's expression changed.
He slowly turned his head.
His eyes locked onto the stall.
Zelda and Sigrid were sitting there, quietly finishing their food.
For a moment, Lionel said nothing.
Then his gaze narrowed.
“I felt it.”
The chariot continued down the road.
Zelda never noticed the brief exchange.
---
The Palace
Sebastian stood inside his room, preparing for his journey.
His belongings were gathered beside him, and his axe rested against the wall.
Giulia watched him quietly.
“What will you do if you can't hold Vajra like last time?”
Sebastian paused.
“I'll show Father the mark.”
He looked down at his hand.
“There's nothing else I can do.”
Giulia remained silent.
Sebastian turned toward her.
Something about her felt wrong.
Her posture was too stiff. Her hands kept moving restlessly, as though she couldn't decide what to do with them. She wouldn't quite meet his eyes.
He knew his sister.
And right now, she was hiding something.
“Is there something I need to know before I go?”
Giulia shook her head.
“No.”
Sebastian stared at her.
“Giulia.”
She looked at him.
“I can see right through you. You're hiding something.”
Her expression faltered for just a moment.
“It's nothing important.”
Sebastian didn't look convinced.
“You're sure?”
“Yes.”
She forced a small smile.
“You need to go.”
Sebastian studied her for another moment before finally turning away.
“I'll be back later.”
Giulia watched him leave.
“I promise I'll tell you then,” she whispered.
Sebastian stopped at the doorway but didn't turn around.
Then he continued walking.
Moments later, he departed the palace.
---
The sun had begun to sink behind the mountains when Giulia opened a storage room beneath the palace.
She pulled out a long, dark cloak.
It covered her from head to toe.
She fastened it tightly around herself, lowered the hood over her face, and slipped out through a side entrance.
The valleys of Donnerfels stretched beyond the palace, dry and uneven beneath the fading light.
Giulia moved quickly through them.
She wasn't wandering.
She was looking for someone.
Or perhaps something.
Her eyes searched the rocky paths and distant slopes until she finally stopped.
A figure stood among the rocks.
Sandy hair.
A familiar face.
Thomas.
Giulia approached cautiously.
“I found them,” she said.
Thomas turned toward her.
“Found who?”
“Two girls.”
Giulia lowered her voice.
“They're in Donnerfels. I believe they're Sebastian's friends.”
Thomas's expression hardened.
“You're sure?”
“I heard the guards talking about them.”
She looked toward the distant village.
“I need to find them.”
A pause.
Then she looked back at Thomas.
“And I need you to bring them to me.”