"Where are you taking me?" Isla asked as they climbed the spiral staircase. There was nothing elegant about it — the walls, the steps, and the ceiling were all made from stone. Then again, they were climbing out of a dungeon. They had no need to impress their prisoners.

"There is someone you should meet." Florian's tone was serious. Nothing about his facial expression hinted at where they were going or who they might be meeting. Someone she should meet? So, certainly not the king.

Florian pushed the wooden door at the top of the staircase open, revealing an outdoor hallway of sorts. Wooden beams help up a beige canopy blocking the view above. In between the large beams were tall bushes with faint cracks that Isla squinted to see between. Unfortunately, with how dark the night was, she was unable to make out much. Her wrist was still being gripped and she felt their pace quicken. Clearly, Florian didn't want her snooping around.

Similar outdoor halls connected to the one they were passing through, and after a few twists and turns, Isla found herself in some sort of study. Dark wooden chairs were positioned in the corner next to tall bookshelves. A table was situated between the chairs, and she found Florian motioning for her to take a seat. Upon sitting, she noticed the rest of the room. Across from her was a large desk with a couple of chairs, all made from the same dark wood. Bookshelves were positioned around the desk, and a green rug sprawled beneath. The only windows in the room were covered by large green curtains that scraped at the floor.

She would have felt pleasant in such a well-decorated area if she were there in better circumstances. At least Florian was gone, allowing her a moment to breathe.

A few moments later, he returned with a purple-haired Fae and they took their seats across from her. He seemed older than Florian. How much older? She couldn't tell. Perhaps a hundred years? Isla was sure she had never met this man before, yet something about him felt familiar.

"You feel it too, don't you?" Florian turned to the other man who only scowled.

"Why did you have to return?" he accused. His crimson eyes flicked up at her and caused her to jolt a little.

"Who are you?" Isla asked, her voice coming out quieter than she had intended. The man before her frightened her. Everything about him radiated confidence and poise, yet he was clearly angry with her.

"This is your father." Florian crossed his arms, a victorious smile etched across his face as the man beside him winced.

Isla jolted from her seat, knocking the chair over in the process. Her first instinct was to run. She never knew her father and she had fully intended on keeping it that way. "How can you be certain?" she asked, not wanting to believe it herself.

"Ah, right. As a half-human, you're not as attuned to magic. Allow me to explain." Florian cleared his throat. "Every Fae is born with magic linked to their DNA. Because of this, we can identify families immediately. It is undeniable that your DNA and his DNA are inextricably linked. Perhaps you will find solace in the fact that he will atone for his crime."

"Crime?" Isla raised an eyebrow.

"It is strictly prohibited to breed with a non-Fae." Florian's voice was stern and knowing, yet he immediately sighed into a frown. Perhaps a part of him pitied the two before him. "I imagine you have much you wish to discuss. I will allow you five minutes."

Five minutes for a life's worth of memories? It hardly seemed fair.

When Florian left, Isla was about to follow suit before her father spoke. "Wait, why did you return?" His voice sounded desperate as if trying to use the time left to reacquaint himself with his daughter. Or perhaps make her acquaintance — they had never spoken prior.

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"I travel alongside the hero from the prophecy. We are making our way to Zetheria, and the forest was the quickest way," she answered curtly.

The man before her laughed. "Does this hero of yours have a death wish? Surely you even knew the dangers of entering the forest?"

"I trust him." Isla clenched her fists. She could leave and walk out, and part of her desperately wanted to.

"Why? Because of the prophecy? You think just because he wears some flimsy title that means he's right?" His tone was quickly increasing to the point where he was borderline shouting.

"Because I know he wouldn't abandon me the same way that you did!" Isla shouted; her patience lost. She wanted to scream and cry; she wanted him to know what horrible things she had to endure because of him. Because he abandoned her. She wasn't the type to upset others, but for once in her life, she had hoped her words stung.

And stung they did. What was he supposed to tell her? That he didn't want to leave her? That he had no choice? That was a lie, one that he refused to twist into a truth. His guilt wouldn't let him. Guilt... He spent most of his time hiding in Aeceria. At first, he had tried to blend in, wanting to know more about the city and its residents. Then, he met her mother. She was perhaps the only human he had ever met not to fear what he was. It became obvious after Isla was born that it would never work out. He couldn't work, couldn't show himself to the public. Besides, staying would have put his daughter in more danger. So, he left. He left and not once did he ever regret it.

Until now. Standing before him was his daughter, half grown up. If a human were to examine the two, they might think them siblings. But that was how aging worked with the Fae. He was happy living his life back in the forest, and he figured she might stand a chance if a Fae wasn't prevalent in her life. Yet looking at her, he could see the scars, the ones she kept to herself. What had the humans done to her? She was accompanying this hero, but was it really her choice? He knew she would never be free, and part of him wanted her to stay with him so that he could protect her as only a father could.

"I'm sorry." His words were barely above a whisper, but for once in his life, he felt it. "If I had brought you back with me, I would have been sentenced to years of isolation. Yet here you are like a ghost from my past. It seems I can't run forever. Had I accepted this truth sooner, perhaps I could have spared you. My outcome would always remain the same. And Irene, what became of her?"

"Mother passed away when I was still a child." Isla blinked back tears. The topic of her mother was always difficult. Perhaps it was because she was responsible for... No, now was not the time.

For a moment, Isla felt pity for him. Had he stayed in Aeceria he would have been victim to the suffering she herself had endured. Had he returned to the forest with her, fate wouldn't be much kinder. He had lost this war long ago, thanks to her very existence. He may have chosen what was best for him, but she couldn't fault him.

A tear streamed down her cheek as she forced a smile. Perhaps she didn't forgive him for the life he had condemned her to, but she at least understood him. "In another life, perhaps we're happy together." Isla sniffled.

"Please, what's your name?"

"Isla."

"Isla..." He smiled, holding back the tears. "Live your life free. Forget about me and focus on those around you." He chuckled before continuing, "the hero from the prophecy, huh? Fate must have big plans for you. You'll do well. You're my daughter, after all."

Isla smiled. Before she could continue, the door barged open. Two guards came to escort her father away, while Florian came to escort her seemingly back to the dungeon.

She was surprised when she was taken to a different place entirely. The room was small, containing only a bed, wardrobe, and mirror.

"Your temporary living arrangements," Florian explained.

"Where exactly are we?" Isla decided to ask. "We're close to the dungeon, yet there's an office and bedroom?"

"The barracks. This room hasn't been occupied in a while, so we saw fit to give it to you." There were individual rooms in the barracks? Perhaps Isla was too used to the Aecerian barracks. She was sure Elric's friends would have killed for a room like this.

"Why am I given special treatment?" She decided to be bold, asking more questions. One wrong question and she could end up back in the cell with her friends. Though, that thought didn't exactly bother her.

"Compared to your friends?" He raised an eyebrow. "If you recall, the crime was trespassing on Fae territory. There currently isn't anything saying half-breeds like you can't enter. Still, we must be cautious. You are not to leave this room for any reason without an escort.

So, this was a fancy prison. Got it. To think she really thought that she was getting special treatment.