The inn was quiet save for the faint crackle of a low-burning fire. Shadows clung to the wooden beams overhead, and the smell of damp straw and spilled ale lingered in the air. Lady Vael sat alone at a corner table, a glass of wine resting between her fingers.
She swirled it absently, watching the liquid twist and ripple, her reflection broken across the surface. Normally, she would have been smirking, amused by the games she played. Tonight, her expression was distant.
Why do I care? she thought bitterly, staring into the red depths. He's just a child… an unusual child, yes, but still…
The glass creaked faintly under the pressure of her grip.
He shouldn't exist. But… he does.
Her mind flickered back to the clearing, to the moment their eyes had met. No fear. No hesitation. Just that empty, unnatural calm. But what she had felt in that instant wasn't dread—it was curiosity.
Her hand tightened again, and she pushed the glass aside with a sharp exhale. "I have to see him again."
The chair scraped loudly against the floor as she rose, her cloak brushing the ground.
---
Rain pattered softly against the windows of Dain's cabin. Mei sat with her hands clenched in her lap, her face pale and drawn.
"Dain…" Her voice was barely above a whisper. "What if they never stop looking?"
The hunter sat across from her, silent for a long moment. His fingers traced the scars across his knuckles, reminders of battles long past. "Then we run."
The words hung in the air like a death sentence.
From the doorway to the next room, Ren peeked in. His small frame trembled as he clutched his wooden sword, the tip tapping softly against his leg. His parents' voices were hushed, but to him, they sounded heavy, sad, almost final.
Why do they sound so sad? he thought, pressing himself against the wall.
At the window, Reider sat still as a statue, his gaze fixed outward. The rain sliding down the glass caught in his eyes, but he did not blink. His lips parted just enough to let the words out, soft but certain.
"She's coming."
---
At the edge of the village, Lady Vael stood in the mist, her cloak heavy with moisture. For the first time in longer than she could remember, she hesitated.
What am I doing?
Her heartbeat drummed louder than the rain. She closed her eyes, drew a sharp breath, and then began forward, each step sinking into the wet grass with purpose. No more doubts.
---
The cabin door creaked open before she could knock. Dain stood framed in the doorway, his shoulders broad, his eyes hard.
"You never stop pushing, do you?" he said, voice low and wary.
Vael crossed her arms, though the usual smirk was gone. "You know why I'm here."
Thunder rumbled faintly in the distance.
Behind Dain, Mei appeared, pale and tense. She said nothing, only stood with her hand pressed against the doorframe.
From the hallway, Reider stepped forward. His blank eyes fixed on Vael, his presence filling the room with a weight that belied his size.
For the briefest instant, something inside Vael shifted. Her lips parted, her voice softer than she expected. "You're not afraid of me, are you?"
The boy tilted his head. "No."
The silence deepened, broken only by the faint crackle of the fire.
Something in her chest twisted. She crouched slightly, lowering herself to his level. "Then… do you want to come with me?"
Ren gasped from behind him, rushing forward to clutch Reider's sleeve. "Wait—go where? Reider, you can't!" The wooden sword slipped from his hand, clattering loudly against the floor.
Mei's knuckles whitened against the frame. "No. He stays here."
Vael's gaze flickered toward her, and for once there was no arrogance there—only grim understanding. "If he stays, they'll keep coming."
Dain's hand twitched at his side. His eyes met Reider's, searching. "What do you want?"
The boy turned his gaze slowly—first to Ren, then Mei, then back to Vael. "I should go."
Mei gasped, her body trembling. Ren shook his head violently, tears spilling over. "No! No, you don't have to! We can fight them! Dad can fight them!"
Reider looked at him, his expression unchanged. "This isn't a fight."
The rain outside grew heavier, tapping harder against the window panes.
Mei covered her mouth with her hand, a sob breaking through. Dain's arm circled her shoulders, silent, steadying her.
Vael stood in the doorway, her fingers twitching at her side. She hadn't expected this to hurt. Why does this feel wrong?
Reider stepped forward, and Mei dropped to her knees, pulling him into a fierce embrace. "You're my son," she whispered desperately. "No matter what."
The boy's hand rose, light as a feather, resting against her shoulder. "I know."
Ren clung to his arm, shaking, his voice cracking. "Promise you'll come back."
Reider did not answer. Instead, he reached up, his hand resting on Ren's head. "…Goodbye."
Ren's sob echoed through the small home.
Vael extended her hand, and Reider took it without hesitation. Their fingers intertwined briefly before she let go, guiding him past the threshold.
Dain stepped forward, his voice rough. "If anything happens to him—"
Vael glanced back, and for the first time, her voice carried no teasing edge. "I'll protect him. No matter what."
A flash of lightning illuminated their silhouettes as the rain poured harder, the storm swallowing them into the night.
Mei collapsed against Dain's chest, sobbing. Ren stood in the rain outside, fists clenched at his sides, watching his brother disappear into the darkness.
---
The forest was drenched, the leaves dripping with water. Vael and Reider moved quietly beneath the canopy, their cloaks heavy with rain.
"You don't talk much, do you?" Vael said, her tone lighter than she felt.
"No."
Her lips twisted. She rubbed at her temple, sighing. "Great. A kid with the personality of a rock."
Reider turned his head slightly, studying her. "You're pretending."
She arched an eyebrow. "Pretending what?"
"That you don't care."
The words stopped her mid-step. She stared at him, searching for something in his expression, but he was already looking forward again.
The rain softened as they approached a cave, and Vael guided him inside. She wrung out her cloak, muttering, "Smart kid."
They set a small fire. Reider sat close, eyes fixed on the flames, while Vael watched him from the shadows.
"Why did you agree to come with me?" she asked.
He was silent for a moment before answering. "Because you weren't lying."
Her hand froze mid-spin of her dagger. "…I lie all the time, kid."
"Not to me."
Her smirk faltered, just for a heartbeat.
---
Back at the cabin, Mei sat at the table, staring at the empty chair. The silence pressed in on her, suffocating.
Ren burst into the room, fists clenched, tears streaking his face. "Why did you let them take him?!"
The chair scraped loudly as Mei stood, startled. Dain entered behind her, his voice heavy. "Because we had no choice."
Ren slammed his fists against the table, the wood shuddering. "We always have a choice!"
Mei dropped to her knees, pulling him into her arms. "I know, sweetie. I know…"
Outside, unseen in the trees, a shadowed figure watched the house. A knight scout, his eyes sharp, his cloak damp with rain.
---
In the cave, the fire crackled. Reider stared into it, silent.
Vael leaned forward. "Why did you really come with me?"
His reply was calm, certain. "Because you weren't lying."
She chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Creepy kid."
He closed his eyes, but his words carried into the silence. "You're protecting me."
Her chest tightened unexpectedly, and she turned away, smirking faintly.
---
Far away, the royal palace was cloaked in shadow. King Alden sat with Vael's message open before him, his knuckles whitening around the parchment. Commander Garros stood waiting, the weight of the throne room pressing between them.
"Your decision, Your Majesty?"
Alden's eyes drifted to the map laid out before him, the kingdom etched in neat ink lines. "Dain is a hero. I will not send an army against him."
Garros nodded slowly, but his gaze was grim. "Then what do we do about the boy?"
The king's voice was quiet, heavy. "We wait. If the child truly is unnatural… the world will do it for us."
His seal thudded against wax, pressing finality into his words.
But as Garros turned to leave, Alden's voice followed. "Send word to the church."
The commander froze. "The church? You're serious?"
Alden's gaze did not waver. "If that child is a danger… they will know what to do."
---
Far away, a cathedral rose like a shadow against the night sky, its golden spires gleaming with eerie light. Hooded figures whispered beneath its arches, their voices low and conspiratorial. A raven landed on the sill, cawing into the silence as if announcing an omen.
To be continued…