The cave grew quiet after the commotion that the girl’s sudden fall had caused. The three men looked at each other in turn, gears in their heads working furiously, trying to think of something. The young lady’s injuries should have healed by now, as any aeternum’s would have done by now. But even the smallest cut on her arm was still visible, making them worry about her condition.

“What should we do now?” the man holding Elara asked, his tone though neutral had an edge of concern.

“I think the better question is how do we answer him?” the tall man, Lester, interjected, his tone light but couldn’t hide the angst in it. “He clearly ordered not to let her get hurt... but... it won’t be considered our fault, since it was not us who injured her, right? Unc- I mean captain?” He crossed his arms with feigned nonchalance, though his gaze kept nervously darting toward Elara’s limp body.

The deep-voiced man, who was also their captain stayed silent, looking at the fragile body of the lady they were tasked to find unscathed. She looked fragile in Vlar’s string arms, broken even, her usual commanding presence reduced to something hauntingly vulnerable. This would be the first time he was not able to completely fulfil the order he was given, and he was thinking what to tell their master. How would he justify this? The girl was already battered to this state before they arrived? No, they should have found her sooner. She looked like she was through battle... but they didn’t find any sign of fight on their way up or down the mountain... then when and where?

“For now... we send her back to the encampment before her condition worsens... As for the report...” the captain finally said, his voice steady with authority. He turned toward Vlar who was still holding Elara’s limp body, looking at the weightless body as if it might disappear if he let her out of his sight. “Vlar, I want you to stay and look around for anything- any clue that can tell of her predicament. We will send her back and return to assist you.”

Vlar said nothing but only nodded slightly in approval, his eyes still fixed on the girl in his arms. He adjusted his hold slightly, careful not to jostle her further.

“Haah!! when I thought we could finally rest...” Lester groaned, stepping forward with a dramatic sigh. “Fine, hand her over. I’ll carry her.”

“Wait,” Vlar stopped Lester after handing her the limp body, Elara shifted in his hold slightly, a hint of tear coming out of one of her eyes. He took off his cloak and wrapped it around the girl, covering her from head to toe.

“Don’t you think you are being overly cautious?” Lester asked, though there was no real bite in his question.

“I am sure she doesn’t want her knights to see her in this condition.” Vlar simply replied, his voice low even in the quiet of the cave.

“Be careful- I know you can conceal your presence skillfully even without the cloak but just in case. Lady Elara is the best fighter of her generation... she is even better than Lester- “

“You didn’t need to rub that on my face you know? That's rude.” Lester huffed, though the other thought ignored him.

“If she is in this condition, it means whoever or whatever did this is nothing to underestimate. Stay extra sharp as you look for clues.” The captain advised. He knew of Vlar’s expertise in stealth and his deadly fighting style. He was already impressed by Vlar’s control of his instincts when Elara suddenly attacked them, he had expected him to- if not kill then to gravely hurt the person but fortunately, he didn’t. Even he himself didn’t expect to be suddenly attacked by her. They must find out who and what made someone as composed and calm as Lady Elara to be agitated and wounded to this degree.

Vlar gave a slight nod, his focus unwavering. The captain, satisfied, gestured for Lester to move. And the two men along with Elara- who looked nothing more than a strange, shapeless object in Lester’s arms- left the cave. Vlar followed them out but stayed at the cave’s entrance.

The atmosphere outside the cave was a stark contrast to the stillness in it. The wind was howling, biting through the snow but it did nothing to disturb the soft fabric that was concealing them effortlessly. The fabric that was dark, just like the cave they were in moments ago instantly faded in color, mimicking the grey and white surrounding.

Although the figures were visible, but if seen from a distance, no one could tell them apart from the scenery around them.

Lester, ever the free spirit, broke the silence as he trudged through the snow. “You know, this sounded too easy to be true. ‘Find the lady, bring her back.’ He conveniently left out the part where we’d be tracking through a blizzard with her half-dead body... not to mention the sleep-free days we had to find her and that too in such cold!”

“You can say that to master’s face. Maybe he will refrain from sending you to such easy missions next time.” Vlar’s low voice sounded from the back. The man was still standing at the entrance of the cave. His eyes, instead of following his comrades, were tracking the area around, for any sign of movements.

“Why do you always have to include master in whatever I say? And you can’t comment on anything when you get to stay in the cave with all the fun detective work, while we play babysitter in this cold.” Lester sighed theatrically.

“Because you never stop complaining, if you want to complain why don’t you just say no from the start? As for my staying in the cave, we can switch anytime- “

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Quiet. This is not the time for distractions. Focus on your tasks. Vlar, flare the signal after some time.” The captain interrupted, exasperated by the two kids’ arguing all the time. Vlar was usually quiet but when it came to Lester’s complaints on mission, he couldn't stop himself either.

“Yes, yes, Captain Killjoy,” Lester muttered under his breath, though he adjusted his grip on Elara and fell silent.

The group pressed on, the storm swirling around them. Though their steps were careful, the captain’s mind was already racing ahead, calculating their next move and preparing for the inevitable confrontation with their master.

Behind them, Vlar lingered in the shadows of the cave, his sharp eyes scanning the ground for any hint of the mystery Elara had tangled herself in. He waited for the group to get out of his sight and then flared the signal, indicating they had found the Commander of Aeternum troops.

...............................

Elara however was ignorant to everything happening around her, the faint aroma of the cloak around her lulling her into the fake comfort and she once again entered her memories. The only difference was that this time she visited them as an uninvited guest, looking at the once-forgotten room from the sidelines.

Elara looked around, there were no frills or an abundance of stuffed bears that could be seen in other teenagers’ rooms. The room was in fact a blend of practicality and creativity. A large wooden bookshelf stood against one wall, filled with neatly arranged books, various awards, and some trinkets. Some were gifts from her father, brought back from his many travels, their origins unknown to anyone but him. A small, delicate vase sat atop her desk, a lavender scent clinging to the air- her mother’s favorite flowers brought back a warmth long forgotten by her. These flowers were always present, the faint fragrance that always soothed her nerves. The only thing she acknowledged ever remembering. The room though was hers, she knew because it had everything she could ever desire but at one point in time, it had changed to the mature Elara’s room. When? She couldn’t remember.

The desk was tidy but lived-in, with papers stacked neatly beside an open journal. The study materials that were organized with a mix of precise order and scattered creativity, caught her eyes, a hint of confusion evident on her face. Her backpack also sat beside the desk; its straps slightly worn from use.

A soft knock at the door broke the stillness, pulling Elara from her reverie. “Just five more minutes...” a murmur came from the other direction. A figure- a young girl barely fourteen shifted slightly on the bed, dark hair like a night sky spread across the pillow, shimmering gently in the light.

“Come on, kiddo. Or maybe you want me to practice alone today?” A familiar voice came from the other side of the door, making Elara turn sharply toward it. He was on the other side. She thought and walked toward it, but as Elara tried to open the door- she couldn’t, she couldn’t even hold the knob. She tried again desperate to see him just once but in vain.

The figure on the bed groaned slightly as she sat up, her hair falling elegantly across her sides, rubbing her eyes. The figure finally looked at the door, her vision passing straight through Elara, her turquoise eyes full of youthful innocence and life that had long left the grown-up Elara. Then, something happened, the young Elara’s eyes met with the grown-up Elara, who stood there confused and shocked. The blue in her eyes turned dark- crimson red, the little Elara said something, inaudible, her innocent smile turning into a sinister one. Elara tried to read her lips but her vision started to blur.

“What?.. w-wait!!”

The room began to fade, replaced with an open field full of white buds, the sudden exposure to the raw sunlight made Elara squint her eyes. A laughter came from a few feet away- light and carefree. Elara fully opened her eyes to see the source of it- a child. She had silver hairs that were gleaming in the sunlight, she ran through the flowers to the opposite side. Her laughter filled the air as she chased a butterfly, the buds around her bloomed, its crescent-shaped patels opening, revealing the light blue sheen coming from the inside and Elara felt she had seen the flower somewhere before.

Elara frowned. The flowers looked beautiful, ethereal even, something that didn’t belong to her world, but the familiarity and connection she felt with it... it was strange.

The girl turned; her face obscured by the sunlight. “Come one brother Kael!” she called, her voice echoing like a distant melody.

“Be careful, Elara. You might trip,” Elara turned sharply at the familiar voice, her heart racing violently. There he was, smiling widely but not at her but at the little girl. His turquoise eyes as kind as she ever remembered. It was Kael, her brother, his silver hair shining in the direct sunlight but there were some blue strands in them, just like the girl’s. He was younger here, younger than Elara ever remembered him to be.

“Elara, Kael, wait for me.” Another voice joined, this two was familiar and yet she couldn’t remember where she had heard it. She ignored it nevertheless, for now, her only priority was her brother.

“Kael?” Elara tried to call, hoping he would answer her, but her voice fell on deaf ears. Her eyes started watering. The wind caught in her black icy hair, making it float in the air, her head bent low in disappointment.

“You are finally here?” Kael’s voice asked, it was closer. Elara quickly looked up and he was there, this time looking straight at her. Elara gasped, not trusting her eyes or ears.

“Are you... really here?” she asked, the tears she had been holding started sliding down her cheeks. Kael however didn’t answer but carefully wiped the tears from her face. The touch of his warm hands felt alien to her; it was there but not at the same time.

“Now that you are here... find me.” Kael looked into her eyes; his gaze unwavering with an emotion she couldn’t understand.

“How?” Elara asked, she had become a different person, in a world she couldn’t understand nor know. “I am lost Kael. How can I find you when I am lost myself?”

Kael smiled, tucking her hair behind her ears. “You are not lost kiddo. You are at the right place. Solve the mystery and you can find me.” Out of the corner of her eyes, Elara noticed something, the strands of her black hairs where Kael had touched started changing color and in no time all her hairs had turned silver. She looked at her brother in shock, hoping for an answer but he smiled and bending forward, kissed her forehead.

“Now, wake up. You can’t keep staying in here. It is not good.... go... go and find out- “The rest of the words drowned as the surroundings once again started changing. The white buds just like the young Elara’s eyes turned black. Elara felt a distant pain in her shoulder that gradually increased making her wince. She tried to hold onto her brother, but he too started fading in blackening scenery.

“Wait, please don’t leave me again!” Elara begged, helplessly. The tears fell non-stop.

“Shhh.. You will find me soon. But not here... don’t come back here, Elara. You must find me out of here. Go-leave!” And he was gone. The world started revolving and with a start, Elara woke up.