Elyra and Dain followed the trail into a hidden village nestled in the shadow of towering mountains. The houses were humble but strong, their wooden beams carved with intricate sigils that hummed faintly with magic. As they stepped into the village square, all movement stopped. The villagers froze, their eyes wide as they took in the silver-haired girl and the boy with fiery orange eyes.
"The heirs have returned," an older man whispered, his voice breaking the silence.
Elyra and Dain exchanged uneasy glances. The murmurs spread quickly, the crowd closing in with awe-struck expressions. Before either of them could speak, a tall woman stepped forward, her face weathered but kind.noveldrama
"You are Elyra and Dain," she said, her voice filled with reverence. "Aurora's daughter. Fenrir's son. We've waited so long for this moment."
Elyra's breath caught in her throat. "How do you know who we are?" she asked, her voice trembling.
The woman reached out as if to touch Elyra's face but stopped short, her hands shaking. "Your parents sent you away to keep you safe," she said. "Aurora and Fenrir told us you would return when the time was right. They've been fighting the Lycan King ever since." Dain's voice cut through the murmurs, sharp and commanding. "They're alive? Both of them?"
The woman nodded solemnly. "Yes. Aurora and Cassian are leading the resistance from the eastern mountains, while Fenrir guards the northern border. They've been holding the line against the Lycan King, waiting for the day you would come back to fulfill your destiny." Elyra felt her knees weaken, her mind reeling with the revelation. Aurora and Cassian-her parents were alive. And Fenrir, the fierce man from Dain's visions, was his father.
Dain's jaw clenched as he processed the news. "So they split up," he said, his voice low. "To keep fighting, to protect what they could."
The woman nodded again, her expression somber. "Fenrir fought to protect you both until the last moment. Aurora entrusted you to the mortal world to shield you from the King's influence. Cassian stayed behind to guard her and the resistance. They knew the Lycan King would stop at nothing to find you." Elyra stared at the ground, her hands trembling. "They gave up everything for us. And we... we forgot them."
Dain's hand settled firmly on her shoulder, grounding her. "We didn't choose this," he said softly. "But we can make it right now."
The villagers ushered them into a small, warm cottage and provided food, their reverence for the pair evident in every gesture. Elyra sat near the fire, staring into the flames as the weight of the moment pressed down on her. "They've been fighting for years," she said quietly. "And we've been... living another life."