Ralina stood silently as she eyed the Earthen Clan’s Elder pace with authority. Elder Shirveese commanded attention as she strode confidently, her rusted armour clinking softly with each step. The white Dragon sigil adorned her shoulder, signifying her allegiance.

Shirveese was much older than Ralina's father, with grey tips on her brown fur and lines under her intelligent eyes. Ralina knew she was old enough to remember a time before the tyranny of the Blood clan.

Shirveese had been patient, like a strategic game, waiting for an age, manoeuvring the pieces of the puzzle for decades. Waiting for a time like this.

The night and blood Felren knelt in submission before her, their naked forms set in orderly rows, heads bowed. Armoured Felren from the Earthen Clan moved through the rows, distributing clothes and provisions to the prisoners, a gesture of temporary care amidst the uncertainty.

"Currently, you’re under the control of the temporary unified alliance of the three clans!" Elder Shirveese's voice rang out. "Once all three Elders are fit, we’ll convene to plan your future and the potential of a unified people under one rule. All rituals will be suspended until further notice, and the practice of the Blood Spirit religion has been outlawed."

Ralina struggled to process the magnitude of what she was hearing. The struggle against the oppressive reign of the Blood Spirit Felren had been long and arduous, and the sudden dismantling of the religion left her astonished. The civil war, though brutal, had concluded swiftly with the demise of Imok. For now, the Felren people tasted freedom.

Amidst the crowd, an elegant woman approached Elder Shirveese, adorned in a long, pristinely white-furred coat that exuded an air of dignity befitting an Elder.

"Ah, Elder Frouhn," Shirveese greeted with a respectful bow. "Any word from Drell?"

Elder Frouhn's genuine smile graced her features. Her face, aged yet captivating, exuded wisdom and grace. Her straight, long white hair differed from the cursed humans from the beachside village whose hair was lacklustre and almost translucent. Elder Frouhn's main shone as bright as freshly fallen snow.

"No news yet, but we can still communicate with his heir, can we not?" Frouhn responded.

Elder Shirveese nodded, motioning for Ralina to approach. "Your status as the heir of the Sun clan is one matter, but your lineage of the night is another."

"I had my suspicions," Elder Frouhn commented.

"As did I," added Shirveese. "Your raven hair in human form and the darker Felren coat have sparked controversy for many years. Your father did an admirable job of concealing your ancestry."

Ralina blushed, caught off guard by the revelation. "I never knew my mother. My father never spoke of her."

Frouhn's smile turned bittersweet. "I knew her, and I mourned her loss. She possessed the same beauty as you, my dear."

"And the same fierceness," Shirveese interjected. "It's a shame about the..." She paused, her gaze settling on the long scar tissue that marred Ralina's face.

A grimace tugged at Ralina's features as the weight of their scrutiny bore down on her. "Well, the one responsible is gone now."

Frouhn's laughter filled the air. "So, you did take down the little mutt?"

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"Good for you," Shirveese chimed in with a grin.

"With some assistance," Ralina admitted, her eyes glancing towards the distant stone creature encircling the camp. Alec, the Elementalet, had played a pivotal role in their survival. Without him, they’d have perished long before their paths converged in this place.

Shirveese followed Ralina's gaze and comprehension dawned on her. "Like a pebble in a pond. The ripples caused by all these individuals have created waves of change. You seem to have a knack for making fortuitous friends, such as the magic man."

Elder Frouhn's ears perked up, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "He's rather good-looking, albeit a bit scruffy around the edges."

Ralina's face flushed, though she feigned ignorance. "I haven't really noticed," she lied.

Frouhn replied with a knowing smirk, "Shame. He would make a good mate."

Elder Shirveese playfully nudged Frouhn. "Come now."

Confusion filled Ralina's expression as she observed the cheerful camaraderie between the two Elder women.

To her astonishment, she found herself starting to embrace it.

⚔

Hope sat by the shoreline, the wind gently rustling through her translucent hair as the waves caressed her feet. Beside her, Karn lay down, seeking temporary respite after the chaos.

In that moment, her mind wandered back to the memory of first meeting Karn. The haze had lifted, and the slave tonic banished in one moment. Before Karn, it was like she was in darkness. She merely existed, devoid of real meaning.

But then everything had changed.

The magic within pages unlocked her true self, unveiling the purpose she didn’t know she long longed for. As if materializing from a dream, Karn's face appeared in her mind. The void of nothingness dissipated, replaced by his presence. The thought of that moment sent warmth through her chest.

She gazed at him, lying with closed eyes beside her, closely studying his handsome features, and feeling a subtle flutter in her heart.

A gentle wave lazily rolled onto the shore, its frothy crest reaching out to caress their legs. The cool touch of the water brought an immediate sense of relief, as if nature itself was offering solace from the trials they’d faced.

Karn turned his head towards Hope, a smile on his lips. "Feels nice, doesn't it?" he spoke softly.

Hope nodded, her gaze fixed on the gentle waves as they danced closer and then receded. "It's like a balm for the weary," she replied.

Karn turned his gaze back to Hope. "We've weathered the storm," he said softly.

Hope's heart swelled. She gazed at Karn’s hands and imagined herself reaching out. Wondering what it felt like to gently placing her hand on his with their fingers intertwining.

"Yes," she whispered. "As long as we face it together."

Karn's expression turned concerned as he studied her face.

The sand beneath them was soft, and the sun's warmth embraced them. Hope couldn't recall a time when she had been this comfortable or experienced such happiness. For the first time in her life, she felt content.

"I wish I could lie here forever," she murmured, her voice filled with a wistful longing.

Karn sighed. "Me too," Karn replied softly, his voice carrying a similar sentiment as he dug his feet deeper into the sand.

Her thoughts wandered, searching for a memory of a time when she simply rested like this.

"You alright?" Karn asked.

She nodded slowly.

"I'm sorry, it was a stupid question," Karn apologised. "At least we’re okay now. It's all over."

"Is it truly over?" she asked almost pleading.

Karn released a heavy breath, as his gaze shifted to the horizon, as if searching for answers within the vast expanse. "For now, yes," he began. "But soon, I'll be off on the mission to sever the event line."

“Break the event line?" she asked. "What does that mean?"

Karn laughed but there were no signs of humour in it. "Sounds easy, doesn't it? But believe me, it's anything but."

The weight of his responsibility seemed to settle on his shoulders. She could somehow sense that there was something he wasn’t telling her.

Hope reached out, gently placing a hand on Karn's arm.

“This task... it’s risky."

“I’m sure you will be fine,” Hope said.

Karn shook his head. “I’m not worried about me.” He looked into her eyes. “Farlen wants you to take to book to safety.”

Hope's grip tightened. “I thought that whatever lies ahead, we'll face it together."

"Thank you," he said softly, his voice filled with appreciation. "Having you by my side would give me the strength but our paths are separating."

As they sat by the shoreline, the gentle sound of the waves served as a reminder of the vastness of the task that awaited them.

Hope nodded warily, her uncertainty lingering.

END OF PART ONE:

Part two will continue in Chapter ⚔ 51.