Valmor paid a visit to the massive tree at the heart of the city, Zin and Ephini flanking him in silence. To call the tree "large" would be an understatement—it towered above the canopy like a sentinel of time, its colossal branches piercing the sky for miles. The structure built into it wasn't so much a building as it was an extension of the tree itself. Saying the two were one wouldn't be an exaggeration—it was the truth.
The entrance loomed wide, but even that grandeur seemed modest compared to the overwhelming size of the interior. Shelves of books stretched endlessly in every direction—some stacked neatly, others floating midair, arranged by spells more ancient than any language spoken today. This was the Grand Library of Elnor, a sanctum of knowledge and history. They made their way up the staircase to the second floor. The library, unusually empty, was closed to the public for cleaning—a rare and reverent silence blanketed the halls.
Valmor opened a wooden door and let his children enter first, closing it behind them. The room they stepped into was surprisingly humble: just a warm hearth and cushions on the floor. Despite the simplicity, the weight of expectation made the air feel heavier than stone.
The door to the inner chamber creaked open. All three instinctively straightened.
The woman who entered resembled Ephini—only older, with a calm severity that seemed to bend the room around her. Her presence alone unraveled tension and revealed fear like light through mist.
"Mother…" Valmor began, but her stare silenced him. Ephini began to sweat visibly, fingers twitching against her robe. Zin, ever composed, suddenly averted his gaze, eyes cast downward like a child before judgment.
She walked calmly to the center and sat across from them. The silence that followed was deafening.
"Hmm… You decided to bully her while I was gone," she said coldly. "Seems my children have been chewing on the fruit of the World Tree."
Zin raised his hand, his voice steady. "It was for the sake of the town."
She chuckled, patting him once on the shoulder. Her fingers lingered—but then her expression shifted, glacial and sharp. "If it were truly for Elnor's sake… you would have noticed."
She pointed to a portrait hanging nearby. The moment was still—then realization bloomed like wildfire. The portrait's subject had sky-blue hair and eyes.
Valmor's face fell. Ephini gripped her clothes tightly.
"The Stubborn Queen managed to survive," she whispered. "Things are going to get interesting."
The scolding that followed was long, sharp, and brutal in the way only a mother could deliver.
When Gilly awoke, she was no longer on the cold floor where she had fallen asleep. A bed now supported her aching body. As she blinked the room into focus, she noticed the woman beside her—serene, elegant, and unsettlingly familiar. Her mind reeled—she looked like Ephini, but older. Wiser.
Gilly's eyes darted to the corner. Valmor, Ephini, and Zin stood there. Disheveled. Dirt stained their clothes, and their expressions were… subdued. She looked back at the stranger.
"Don't mind those three," the woman said with a smile, reclining casually. Her voice was calm, but something about it made Gilly's spine straighten instinctively.
Gilly's eyes darted to the corner. Valmor, Ephini, and Zin stood there. Disheveled. Dirt stained their clothes, and their expressions were… subdued. She looked back at the stranger.
The woman gave her a soft smile—unexpected, given the heavy atmosphere. Then, with a gentle sigh, she said, "I owe you an apology, child. You were dragged into something far beyond your world, and we weren't exactly... welcoming. That was unkind of us." Her voice was warm, but beneath it, there was a thread of remorse—genuine, though quietly buried.
Ephini stepped forward and sat beside her, taking her hand gently. Gilly flinched at first, but the warmth grounded her. Her panic receded.
"W-who are you?" Gilly stammered.
"Seras. I'm her grandmother," she said, nodding to Ephini.
Gilly blinked, stunned. She had assumed this woman to be Ephini's elder sister. But there was power in Seras that transcended age or blood.
After some careful conversation, the pieces of Gilly's tale were slowly gathered. There was little they could do to help Uyi for now, but Seras offered insight into the world she now lived in.
This was Selnoir—the central continent of a world governed by two major forces: magic and swordsmanship. To understand either, she'd need to register at the Grand Library and formally join the town.
Tension built again as Seras's gaze locked onto her. Her eyes glowed faintly, and for a moment Gilly felt utterly exposed. She instinctively pulled the bedcover to her chin, cheeks flushed.
"Hmm… strange," Seras murmured.
She reached out and touched Gilly's shoulder.
"I-it's over, it's over,"Gilly whispered in panic.
But Seras ignored the outburst. She examined her—head, chest, and energy. She wasn't just looking—she was seeking something. Valmor watched closely now, his usual sternness replaced with wary curiosity. Seras didn't use her powers lightly.
At last, Seras sighed and ruffled Gilly's hair gently. "Make sure to learn everything you can from these two," she said, motioning to Zin and Ephini.
Just like that, the tension in the room dissolved. Gilly exhaled, her chest light for the first time in days.
As Seras stood to leave, she paused at the door and addressed Valmor, voice neutral. "Seems you have a new family member. Treat her well."
Only Valmor noticed the emotion flicker across her face.
Later, Gilly asked about her old clothes. Seras had burned them. She said nothing more, and Gilly didn't ask again.
She spent the next few days with Ephini, learning what she could. But today, seeking something different, she wandered the town. Ephini was away, so she trailed Zin from a distance. He had no intention of showing her around, so stalking was the next best thing.
Eventually, she found herself on a hilltop training ground, where half-elves sparred in formation. But Zin was gone.
Frustrated and curious, she watched the warriors move. Despite herself, her blood stirred at the sight. Something about the flow of combat excited her.
Then—"Boo."
She spun with a scream. Zin was behind her, smirking.
His sudden exit left her flustered—and the attention of the warriors turned toward her. A man with green hair approached. His tone was friendly, but his presence wasn't.
"What brings you here?" he asked.
She glanced around. Zin was nowhere. "Is Zin here?"
That single question stirred the group. Murmurs rose: "His girlfriend?" "A new recruit?" "A rival?"
Pom, the captain of the knights, stepped forward with the demeanor of a bear and the heart of a dog. Despite his size, his friendliness was disarming.
This was the sacred training ground of Elnor—open to all who wished to grow. Pom, curious and cautious, invited Gilly to talk. From afar, Zin watched in silence, hidden in the canopy.
After a bit of teasing and banter, Gilly agreed to try swordsmanship again. Something about it felt right.
Paired against a new recruit from the guards, Gilly took a deep breath.
Let the spar begin.