The forest grew quiet again after the hunters retreated.
For several minutes, neither Kael nor Mira spoke.
The wind rustled softly through the tall trees, and the smell of burned leaves still lingered in the air from their magic.
Kael slowly lowered his hands. The faint flames around his fingers finally faded.
His heart was still racing.
"That was too close," he said, breathing heavily.
Mira shrugged as if the fight had been nothing.
"They were only hunters," she said. "Not the strongest soldiers the Highlands have."
Kael looked at her in disbelief.
"Only hunters?"
"They're trained trackers," she replied. "Dangerous, but predictable."
She glanced toward the forest where the soldiers had disappeared.
"They'll regroup and come back with more."
Kael frowned.
"So we should keep moving."
"Exactly."
Mira began walking deeper into the forest without waiting for him.
Kael quickly followed.
The ground was uneven and covered with fallen branches, but Mira moved through the forest like she knew the terrain well.
"You've done this before," Kael said.
"What?"
"Running from Highland soldiers."
Mira gave a small smile.
"You could say that."
Kael waited, hoping she would say more.
She didn't.
The two of them walked in silence for a while.
Eventually the forest began to thin, and the land sloped upward toward a rocky hill.
From the top, Kael could finally see far across the land.
The Lowlands stretched endlessly in every direction.
Rolling plains.
Rivers cutting through forests.
Small villages scattered across the distant landscape.
And far above it all—
The floating Highlands glowed in the sky like a second sun.
Kael stared at them.
"They control everything from up there," he said quietly.
Mira stepped beside him.
"For now."
Kael turned toward her.
"You sound like you've been planning something."
Mira crossed her arms.
"I've been surviving."
"That's not the same thing," Kael replied.
She studied him for a moment.
"You're different from most people who fight the Highlands."
"How?"
"Most of them want revenge."
Kael looked down at his hands.
He thought about his father.
The burning village.
The lies.
"I want the truth," he said.
Mira nodded slowly.
"That's more dangerous."
Kael frowned.
"Why?"
"Because the Highlands are built on lies," she said.
"If the truth spreads…"
She looked up at the floating cities again.
"…their entire world collapses."
Kael clenched his fists.
"Then that's exactly what needs to happen."
Mira laughed softly.
"You really are serious."
She turned away from the hill.
"Come on."
"Where are we going?" Kael asked.
"To a town called Raven's Crossing."
Kael blinked.
"A town?"
"Yes."
Mira continued walking down the hill.
"We need supplies."
"And information."
Kael followed her.
"Information about what?"
Mira glanced back at him.
"Other magicians."
Kael's heart skipped.
"You mean the survivors?"
She nodded.
"I've heard rumors."
"Some of the magicians who erased the dragons didn't disappear completely."
"They're hiding."
"Waiting."
Kael touched the silver pendant around his neck.
"My father said the same thing."
Mira noticed the pendant immediately.
"That's not ordinary."
"It belonged to him," Kael said.
"He told me it would guide me."
Mira studied it carefully.
"That might be more important than you realize."
Before Kael could ask what she meant—
A faint sound echoed across the valley.
The distant ringing of metal bells.
Kael looked toward the horizon.
Smoke rose from somewhere far away.
Mira's expression changed instantly.
"That's not good."
"What is it?" Kael asked.
She narrowed her eyes.
"That town I mentioned."
"Raven's Crossing."
The bells rang again in the distance.
Warning bells.
Someone was under attack.
Mira grabbed Kael's arm.
"Looks like we're arriving sooner than expected."
Kael looked toward the rising smoke.
Highland soldiers.
Or something worse.
Either way, the journey across the continent had just become more dangerous.
"Come on," Mira said.
"This time…"
She ignited a small flame in her hand.
"…we might actually need your magic."
Kael nodded.
Together, they ran toward the distant town.
And the trouble waiting for them there.