At dawn, just before the first rays of sunlight kissed the earth and while the sky still held onto its twilight hues, a soft rustling broke the stillness of the morning. A shadowy figure slipped through the underbrush, followed closely by another, their giggles dancing through the air, echoing in the quiet of the waking world.
“Come on, Elena! Hurry! The scouts will be here any minute!” Ania giggled, her excitement bubbling over. She wore a pair of oversized goggles and sturdy boots, a heavy bag slung over her shoulder.
“Yes, I’m coming…” Elena replied, her voice tinged with a hint of struggle as she adjusted the loop of ropes draped around her neck.
After a few quick steps, they arrived at a towering wall of soil, its surface rugged and inviting. With a squeal of excitement, Ania swiftly removed the rope from Elena’s neck, nearly losing her balance in the process. Elena, still clad in her pajamas and fighting off yawns, watched with a mix of admiration and anxiety.
Ania hurriedly connected her climbing tools to her makeshift hammer and began her ascent. Each slip of her foot sent a jolt of worry through Elena, who felt as if she might tumble down with her.
Then, in a moment of miscalculation, Ania lost her grip and screamed as she slid down the wall, landing in a heap on the ground, scratched and dirty.
“Ania, I told you it would be dangerous! Now,Mom will be so angry,” Elena said, her tone soft but filled with concern.
“Oh, don’t worry! She won’t notice a thing. Look, just a scratch!” Ania exclaimed, pulling a bandage from her bag and placing it over her wound. “See? It’s gone!”
“And besides,” she continued, a mischievous glint in her eye, “Mom has a meeting today, so she’ll leave early.”
Elena took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her racing heart. “What about Dad?”
“Oh, he won’t know! You know he—” Ania’s protest was abruptly cut off by a loud voice.
“HEY! YOU TWO!” They turned to see a girl with red hair approaching, her expression a mix of annoyance and disbelief.
“Every time I come through here, all I see are you two goofballs trying the same reckless stunts!” The girl, no older than nine, marched up to Ania, her hands crossed over her chest.
“Oh, come on, Emy, don’t be like that!” Ania tried to defuse the situation, but Emy grabbed her collar, unfazed by Ania’s bravado. Meanwhile, Elena stood frozen, her mind racing as she tried to process the chaos unfolding around her.
Suddenly, Emy turned her head toward them, releasing Ania’s collar as she approached Elena, annoyance etched on her face. “And you!” she snapped, pointing at Elena. “Stop following that weirdo everywhere! Make your own decisions for once!” Her voice rose, half-yelling, causing Elena to flinch as tears began to well up in her eyes.
“Hey! You made her cry, Ember!” Ania exclaimed, rushing to Elena and wrapping her arms around her shoulders in a protective hug as tears streamed down Elena’s cheeks.
“I didn’t mean to! I thought she was tougher than that!” Ember crossed her arms over her chest, her embarrassment evident as she looked away, guilt creeping into her expression.
Ember stole a glance at the two girls; Ania was still comforting Elena. Clicking her tongue in annoyance, she turned to face them, but the sound of rustling leaves halted her.
“You two better get going now. They’re close,” she said, her voice calm but her expression serious. The sudden shift in tone prompted the girls to quickly pack their things and leave.
As they made their way home, Elena kept glancing back, hoping to see if Ember was following them. Halfway through, she gave up. She’s part of Orion; she must be busy. She never has fun anyway, Elena thought to herself with a hint of sadness.
Reaching home, Ania and Elena crept in through the kitchen window, feeling like thieves in their own house. Their excitement was abruptly cut short when they spotted their parents already seated at the table, enjoying a hearty breakfast. Their father cleared his throat, making a pointed “ahem” sound to grab their attention.
“You thought that just because I have an early meeting, I wouldn’t wake up early myself, didn’t you?” Ania’s mother said, her tone a mix of amusement and authority. She quickly grabbed a washcloth and wiped the dirt from their faces, her hands gentle but firm. “Make sure to take a bath before breakfast. And Eli’s mother said she would drop him off to play.”
Ania and Elena exchanged bewildered glances, their hearts racing. “So that means no punish—” Ania began, but her celebration was cut short.
“I’ll decide your punishment after I come back from the meeting,” her mother interrupted, a knowing smile playing on her lips.
“Busted,” Ania whispered, her shoulders slumping in defeat.
“Let’s go,” Elena said softly, dragging Ania by the arm as she led her toward the bathroom. Their father chuckled at their antics, a knowing smile on his face as he watched the two girls move with a mix of urgency and shyness.
As Ania and Elena settled into the warm water of the bath, the steam curled around them like a cozy blanket. They giggled and splashed each other, their laughter echoing off the bathroom walls, filling the air with joy.
“Can you believe Ember?” Ania said, her voice bubbling with excitement. “She acts like she’s the boss of everything! It’s not like I’m trying to get in trouble on purpose!”
Elena ducked under the water for a moment, her hair floating like seaweed, before surfacing with a shy smile. “But I think she just wants to keep you safe,” she replied, her voice soft but earnest.
“Safe from what? I’m strong! Nothing can beat me!” Ania declared playfully, splashing water at Elena with a mischievous grin, her confidence shining through.
Elena let out a playful yelp, but then she suddenly stood up, water dripping from her. Ania watched, puzzled, as Elena paused, her gaze drifting toward the bathroom door. The air felt different, and Ania’s heart raced a little.
“Hey! What are you doing?” Ania asked, a hint of concern creeping into her voice. “You’ll catch a cold if you stay like that!”
Elena hesitated, her expression shifting as if she were deep in thought. “Maybe it’s the Thalavas,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ania furrowed her brow, trying to understand. What did the Thalavas have to do with anything? But before she could ask, Elena stepped out of the bath, leaving Ania alone in the warm water.
Feeling a mix of confusion and curiosity, Ania let out a soft yawn. “Weird,” she mumbled to herself, turning back to her bath. She resumed washing, her thoughts wandering as she noticed how long Elena’s hair had grown—almost reaching her back.
“Thalavas—ancient creatures that usually live in calm herds. When hunted, a single Thalavas can provide enough sustenance for all of Iorph for days. However—”
“They are extremely difficult to locate, and if found, a sane Thalavas may possess a kind of magical energy, akin to the unique gifts each of our tribes holds. According to Orion Rule Number 7: if we ever spot a Thalavas, we must either run or inform the scouts, but we must never charge at a Thalavas,” Ember explained, cutting off the instructor.
“Very good, Ember of the Orion Tribe,” Madam Fen said, her expression pleased with the response. “Now, does anyone have a question regarding Thalavas?”
A small, trembling hand rose timidly amidst the quiet crowd.
“Yes? Elena?” Madam Fen’s expression remained unchanged.
The classroom was filled with books, and a poorly drawn portrait of a Thalavas adorned the blackboard, where Madam Fen stood. Elena sat next to Ania, who, as usual, dozed off in her seat.
“I was thinking… what if a Thalavas attacked us first? What do we do then?” Elena asked, her tone hesitant.
“I’m afraid that’s the one question about Thalavas I can’t answer,” Madam Fen replied, a hint of sadness in her voice, as if she knew the answer was not a comforting one.
At that moment, a classmate in the crowd wore a noticeable smirk, her expression a stark contrast to the gravity of the discussion.
Elena's heart sank at Madam Fen's response. She had hoped for some reassurance, but the instructor's somber expression only deepened her unease. As she looked around the room, she noticed a few classmates exchanging glances, their whispers barely audible over the creaking of the old wooden desks.
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“Why does she always have to be so dramatic?” one of them muttered, casting a sidelong glance at Elena.
It had been nearly a decade since the last Thalavas attack, and the children had grown up in a world where such creatures seemed more like stories than reality. The classroom buzzed with murmurs as Madam Fen struggled to regain control, her voice a soft whisper lost among the chatter. The other students were too caught up in their own conversations, speculating about Elena and dismissing her as a liar. Each word felt like a pebble thrown at her heart, and she glanced at her best friend Ania, who was still blissfully lost in her dreams. Panic began to swell within Elena; she didn’t know how to defend herself—Ania always did that for her.
“QUIET!” boomed a voice that cut through the noise like a knife, instantly commanding the attention of every child. It was Ember, her presence both fierce and protective.
Seeing an opportunity, Madam Fen quickly dismissed the class, and the students rushed out the door, their laughter and whispers echoing in the hall like a flock of startled birds.
The sudden shout jolted Ania awake from her slumber, her confusion evident as she blinked around the room. “Where are the others?” she asked, her voice still thick with sleep.
“They all left,” Ember replied, striding over to the two girls with purpose.
Elena remained in a daze, her gaze fixed on the ground as thoughts of the rumors swirled in her mind, threatening to drown her in uncertainty.
A tall figure cast a shadow over her, pulling her from her reverie. “Hey, you,” Ember began, her sharp eyes assessing Elena’s long dark hair. Before Elena could muster a response, Ember grabbed her hand and tugged her out of the classroom, leaving Ania behind in a haze of bewilderment, yawning as she tried to piece together what had just happened.
As Ember led Elena deeper into the woods, the grip on her hand was firm, perhaps a bit too tight, but Elena didn’t protest. A moment later, the familiar climbing path came into view, and recognition dawned on her. They were nearing the soil wall, the very spot where she and Ania often ventured. But Ember stopped just short of their destination, her expression serious as she turned to face Elena.
“You’re not a liar,” Ember declared, her voice firm, dismissing the hurtful whispers of the classroom.
Elena stared at her, disbelief flickering in her golden eyes. “You’re wrong about the Thalavas. That’s all I want to say on this topic.” With that, she turned and wandered toward a nearby trunk, where she spotted something peeking out from behind the bushes—a book.
Elena’s curiosity piqued, and she approached, her heart racing as she tried to process what was happening.
“This book, you see,” Ember said, excitement bubbling in her tone, “I found it on an expedition. It’s about the surface, but I can’t read it.”
“Surface...? But no one has ever been up there!” Elena exclaimed, her voice a mix of awe and eagerness.
“Maybe not one of us,” Ember replied, her eyes gleaming with intrigue. “But this book doesn’t look fake. It even has illustrations! Look!”
Ember opened the book, revealing pages that were old and worn, the writing unfamiliar and mysterious. But the illustrations—oh, the illustrations! One depicted a creature that looked eerily similar to an Eldari, its shimmering form captured in vibrant colors.
Elena leaned closer, her heart fluttering with excitement. She reached up to Ember, gently taking the book from her hands. The slight brushing of their fingers sent a warm shiver down Ember’s spine, a feeling both strange and exhilarating.
But the usually shy Elena was unfazed, completely engrossed in the illustration of the Eldari. “I want to see it…” she murmured, her voice barely audible, as if sharing a secret wish with the universe.
“What?” Ember asked, her tone rising in surprise.
“I want to see an Eldari!” Elena repeated, her determination shining through as she looked into Ember’s eyes, her resolve unshakeable.
“But—”
“I know it’s against the rules, but Ember, you’ve seen it in secret, right? Can we… break the rules just a little bit?” In her excitement, Elena didn’t even realize her hands had moved from the book to Ember’s shoulder, her enthusiasm bubbling over like a pot on the verge of boiling.
In a flurry of realization, she quickly withdrew her hands, picking up the book from the ground and dusting it off. The gesture was innocent, yet it nearly sent Ember’s heart racing in surprise.
Ember quickly composed herself, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her lips. “Fine, loser,” she said, trying to sound nonchalant but unable to hide the warmth in her voice.
Elena’s face lit up as she hugged Ember tightly. “Thank you, Ember!” This was the first time Ember had seen her so excited, and it warmed her heart.
Breaking the embrace, Elena pulled back to look at Ember, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. “When should we leave?”
“Right now,” Ember replied, her tone more serious than she intended.
Elena’s eyes widened in surprise. “Right now?” she echoed, a flicker of doubt creeping in. She hesitated, second-guessing her choice. What if this was a mistake? But the thought of missing out tugged at her. After all, Ember was with her—how bad could it be, right?
In an instant, Elena and Ember were racing on the salvias Ember had borrowed from Eli. Elena screamed as they sped past rocky outcrops on the outskirts of Iorph. “Why… did I… trust… you?” she gasped between the jolts of the wild ride.
“Don’t forget, you’re the one who asked me to do this!” Ember replied cheerfully, clearly enjoying the thrill of the dangerous adventure.
With one final big jump from the salvias, Elena let out a scream that echoed through the air as they finally reached their destination.
Ember dismounted the salvias with swift elegance, petting its beak and offering it a treat for its service. A smile lit up her face, but it dropped instantly when she noticed someone still clinging to the salvias.
“Aren’t you coming off?” she asked, her tone tinged with annoyance.
“I love this salvias... I fear if I come off, I’ll be consumed by the soil. Only this salvias can keep me safe—” Elena muttered, her voice trembling and low. Ember rolled her eyes and pulled her leg down with a firm tug, making her tumble off and snap back to reality.
“Ow... are we there?” Elena rubbed her head in confusion.
“Yes, we are,” Ember replied, adjusting the seat on the salvias. “Behold! The River of Whispering Stars!”
Just the name was enough to make Elena faint.
When the sun had set, Elena’s eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, she thought it had all been a dream—Ember taking her to a taboo location where no Iorph was supposed to tread. I have to wake up, Ania, she thought, rubbing her eyes. As her vision adjusted, she saw a figure approaching in the darkness.
“Finally awake, huh? I never thought you’d pass out just from hearing we were at one of the taboo locations,” Ember’s voice echoed in her ears, jolting Elena fully awake.
As she looked around, she saw a beautiful lake sparkling in the moonlight, and in the distance, something white glowed atop the water. She squinted to focus on it, and Ember noticed her gaze.
“Oh? That? That’s an Eldari. Let’s go have a closer look.” Ember took her arm and started to drag Elena along, but this time, Elena pulled her hand free.
Ember looked at her in confusion. Does she not want to see it now? she wondered.
“This is wrong. You’re wrong! We’re committing a crime!” Elena said in a panic, thoughts of punishment racing through her mind.
“Relax! We’re just kids. Punishment is for adults, right? Now let’s go so we can be done here fast before your best friend complains to your stepdad,” Ember said in a mocking tone.
“She would never do that. Ania is my best friend; she can never—”
“Look, you said you wanted to see the Eldari, and now you have the chance. Trust me, those people in Iorph would never give you this opportunity—not even your surface-loving Ania.”
“Hey! Don’t talk about my friend like that!”
“Oh really? What are you going to do about it?” Ember locked eyes with her, dead serious.
Elena met her gaze, defending her best friend, which gave her a surge of confidence. But then her expression softened as she looked at something else.
“What are you—oh my!” Ember couldn’t finish her sentence as a huge crowd of Eldari floated toward the lake, glowing in the night sky.
The Eldari were breathtaking. Translucent and ethereal, they shimmered with a soft, blush-like light that surrounded them, casting a gentle glow on everything nearby. They floated gracefully, descending from the sky like stars falling into the ocean, their forms undulating as if they were part of the very air around them. Each one seemed to pulse with life, illuminating the darkness with their serene beauty.
Even the salvias stood at full attention, captivated by the sight.
Elena and Ember ducked behind nearby trees in fright. After all, even Ember had never seen this many Eldari together.
“They’re so beautiful,” Elena murmured in awe. Ember could only nod, equally mesmerized.
After an hour of watching the Eldari, Ember gently placed a hand on Elena’s shoulder, breaking the spell. “Let’s go,” she whispered. It was getting late.
Elena looked reluctant but eventually agreed, walking toward the salvias while glancing back, hoping to etch the memory into her mind. She climbed onto the salvias, and it leaped forward, making the enchanting scene vanish in seconds. Soon, they were back in Iorph.
But something inside Elena felt different. Whether it was her confidence, her heart, or her thoughts about Ember, something had changed, yet she couldn’t pinpoint what. As she got off the salvias, she lightly scratched its beak.
“What now? Feeling bad?” Ember asked, curiosity lacing her voice as she observed Elena’s reaction. For a moment, Elena was silent, then she crouched down and vomited.
Ember screamed in panic, calling her name. Eventually, Elena realized she wasn’t good with motion. However, this moment was cut short when Ember sensed someone approaching from behind the bushes with great speed. Before she had time to react, the figure was already there, looking at them.
“Ah, finally found you two! Ania was so worried about where Ember took you,” came the familiar voice. It was Ania’s father.
“Yeah... um... I’m alright,” Elena replied hesitantly, her heart racing.
“Where were you guys? I covered all of Iorph looking for you!” he exclaimed, urgency lacing his words.
“I—uh... we...” Elena felt the tension rise; she didn’t know how to lie.
“I took her to my house, to a secret base I set up!” Ember interjected, cutting her off.
“Oh? Where is this place?” Ania’s father, a member of the scouts, seemed genuinely interested. He knew every location in Iorph.
“Oh, Uncle, I can’t tell you. It’s a kids’ secret. And... anyway, Uncle, I need to go! See ya!” Ember hopped onto the salvias and sped off.
Ania’s father didn’t press further and simply motioned for Elena to follow him home.
Once they reached home, Elena was immediately enveloped in a tight hug from Ania, who was sobbing into her shoulder, her words a jumbled mess of worry and relief.
“Are you okay? Did she hurt you?” Ania’s eyes were red from crying, her cheeks flushed.
“Yes, Ania, I’m fine. Please, stop crying,” Elena reassured her softly, wrapping her arms around her friend.
“I missed you so much,” Ania whimpered, pulling back slightly to look at Elena, her eyes wide with concern.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere. I’ll always be with you,” Elena whispered, her voice steady and comforting. She pulled Ania into another gentle embrace, feeling the warmth of their friendship envelop them.
“P-Promise?” Ania sniffled, her voice trembling as she extended her pinky.
“Yes, I promise,” Elena said, meeting her gaze with sincerity as she intertwined her pinky with Ania’s. The gesture felt sacred, a bond that would never break.
“Now, let’s sleep together in my bed,” Ania suggested, a small smile breaking through her tears.
“Okay, okay,” Elena replied, her heart swelling with affection for her friend.
As they settled into Ania’s bed, the room filled with a sense of peace. On Ania’s study table, a drawing sat quietly—a depiction of an Eldari, with two small figures on top, one in blue and one in pink, resembling Elena and Ania