After the battle, the group continued to survey the damage to the town square. Silence settled over them, disturbed only by the tired groan of failing beams and the wind whispering through shattered windows. Destruction filled the scene: collapsed roofs, scattered splinters, broken walls, and the heavy scent of burned magic lingering in the air.
Empathy softened Oreon's brown eyes as he took in the ruined homes, shattered shops, and weary faces of the townspeople. "This is something I never get used to seeing," he sighed, watching them work without rest to salvage what remained.
"Collateral damage is common in battle, little dragon." Aura stepped beside Oreon. "Even if these people paid their dues to the Order, their lives were still caught in the crossfire." She let out a quiet sigh and closed her eyes, hiding their emerald glow as she brushed a strand of hair from her face. "It never gets easier." Then she opened them again.
"This is only one consequence of defying them," Aura said, stepping toward one of the ruined buildings. "Lives are broken." Her gaze shifted left. "Lives are erased." Then right. "Others are forced beneath their rule. As long as the Order remains, this cycle will only continue."
"Aye. Trust them to cast a shadow over the hope of innocents." Meara glanced at Oreon. "Your mother used to say that." She stepped forward beside Aura, her back still turned to him. "But I must say that you did cause this mess."
Lena gasped, a little shocked. "Grandma!" She chided.
"Still, this keeper would not be alive today without the likes of you." She smirked as she looked back at the group. "A human with dragon blood, two Elven princesses, and…" Her gaze settled on Aura. "The Eastern Guardian herself…"
"Well, I can't let you kick the bucket yet, Keeper." Aura gave a small laugh as she looked over the town. "I do have a plan," she said, drawing everyone's attention. "We need to leave. Quickly." She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again. "We may have won today, but that only means the Order will send stronger soldiers next time." Her gaze shifted meaningfully to Celestia and Sylvanie. "The Eastern Mountains offer sanctuary. My people resisted the Order there before Vel-Andria fell. We can regroup, recover, and plan our next move."
Celestia's sapphire eyes narrowed at Aura's words. "We can't simply abandon these people." She stepped forward. "They've already lost too much because of our battle. We cannot leave them to face the Order's wrath when they come searching for us." Her voice remained calm, but firm.
Sylvanie scoffed and tossed her violet hair over her shoulder, arms folded tight. "And what would you have us do, sister? Stay and die? Or worse, let ourselves be captured again?" Her crimson eyes flashed. "That bleeding heart of yours will get us killed someday. These humans chose to bow to the Order. They paid for protection, and it failed them. That burden is not ours to carry."
Celestia turned to face her sister. "They're innocent people caught in a war not of their making, Sylvanie. Just as we were." She gestured to the townspeople working together to clear debris. "Look at them—they're not our enemies and…" She turned towards Meara, who stood quietly with Lena. "Was it not the keeper, who we thought was only a mere human, who took us in when we were trying to find a place to rest our heads?" She questioned her as Sylvanie bit her lip in frustration.
Sylvanie muttered a curse in Elven, turning away as she ran a hand through her violet hair. "I hate it when you do that." She kicked a piece of rubble, sending it skittering across the ground. "Fine. You're right. The old woman helped us when she didn't have to." Her voice lowered. "But that doesn't change the fact that staying here is suicide, Celestia."
"Even so," Oreon said, finally speaking. "Celestia is right. The Order came here because of us." His gaze drifted toward the town. "Leaving these people to pick up the pieces alone…" He lowered his eyes. "That would be wrong."
"I second that," Gretta said, arms crossed over her chest. "This town was built for people who had already lost everything to the Order—loved ones, homes, families… even the hope of a normal life. They came here searching for a second chance." She looked around. "And now, through no fault of their own, they're being forced to relive that same nightmare."
"We help them secure what's left, then lead them to safety before moving on. We'll take them to the nearest settlement still free from the Order's control." Celestia suggested.
Sylvanie threw her hands up in exasperation. "And delay our own travels? Have you gone mad, sister!"
"We won't abandon those who showed us kindness!" Celestia replied firmly.
Lena looked between the two, her eyes showing concern as the two Elven sisters argued amongst each other.
"Maybe there's a middle ground here," Oreon stepped between the sisters, his hands raised in a placating gesture, his eyes going from one sister to the other.
"There is," Aura said, arms folded lightly across her chest. "If the royal sisters are finished squabbling, I would be more than happy to share the second part of my plan."
"Part two?" Oreon and Lena asked together, watching the scene unfold—Oreon still standing between the sisters while Lena remained standing beside Meara.
Sylvanie's eyes narrowed dangerously at Aura's comment. "Watch your tongue, Guardian," she hissed. "Chains or not, royal blood still runs through our veins."
Aura smirked and slowly lowered her arms, meeting Sylvanie's glare without a trace of fear. "Perhaps, Shadow Princess—but royal blood should never be mistaken for true power. Besides, Eastern Guardian is only one of my many titles." Her smirk remained. "Keep something in mind, princess. There are things in this world that your kingdom did not teach you; however, now is not the time to teach you that lesson." Aura turned towards Celestia. "That goes for you too, former fill-in queen of Vel'Andria." She made sure that her attention was on the group. "I'll keep it simple: we can shelter these people in the Eastern Sanctuary. It's a growing place with enough land and space, and it's well hidden behind a dense forest that the Order wouldn't even trek through. Aura placed a hand on her hip as she continued her explanation, catching the looks of everyone around her. "See, problem solved."
Sylvanie's jaw tightened, her eyes blazing as she glared at Aura. "You arrogant—" She took a sharp step forward.
"Sylvanie," Celestia called out, placing a hand on her sister's shoulder. "Enough."
"But she just--!"
"Enough, Sylvanie," Celestia repeated, holding her sister's gaze, causing the dark elf to back down with a frustrated growl, turning her head away like a child throwing a tantrum.
Celestia turned her attention to Aura. "A sanctuary…" She breathed. "You mean to say that such a place exists and—" She glanced around her, watching the people survey the wreckage. "You would—"
"Shelter a small town of humans?" Aura interrupted. "This wouldn't be the first town I came across that needed help."
Sylvanie rolled her eyes, though her hands lowered. Her posture stayed rigid. "And how exactly do you plan to escort an entire village through Order-controlled territory?" she challenged, sweeping a hand toward the devastation around them. "There are only four of us who can fight, and we'd be dragging parents, children, and elders behind us. At that point, we might as well march up to the Order's pearly white gates and hand ourselves over on a silver platter."
"My, you really are a handful, aren't you?" Aura sighed. "Tell me, Shadow Princess—do you truly believe the Order is the only one capable of opening escape portals?" As she spoke, she pulled out a thin slip of paper covered in magical inscriptions from a pocketed slot in her garments.
Lena blinked a bit as she took a few steps forward to look at it, confusion written on her face as well as Gretta.
Oreon walked up next, tilting his head as well, eyes blinking. "What is it?" He said, looking up at Aura.
Aura raised the inscribed paper, its faint glow lighting the curious faces around her. "This, little dragon, is a Waystone slip." She glanced down at Oreon, then lifted her voice for everyone to hear. "It is ancient Elven magic, older than Vel'Andria's golden age. With it, I can open a temporary passage to any place I've marked." Her finger brushed the delicate runes. "The Eastern Sanctuary is already marked. One activation, and we can move everyone there in minutes."
Gretta's eyes widened. "Wait—Are you saying—"
"—You can't be serious—"Lena looked up at Aura as well.
Aura's smirk widened at their reactions. "I'm dead serious, Lena." She raised the slip a little higher. "The Order hoards portal magic like greedy dragons, but they didn't create it. This art belonged to the Elves of old, who mastered it centuries before their precious council ever existed." Pride gleamed in her eyes.
Sylvanie watched on skeptically. "If such magic exists, why didn't Vel'Andria use it during the invasion? We could have evacuated thousands—"
"Because your mother sealed that knowledge away," Aura cut in, her tone sharp. "Queen Xalith feared what might happen if portal magic fell into the wrong hands. So, she destroyed most of the Waystone archives before the Order ever thought about storming Vel'Andria." Her expression darkened.
Celestia's breath caught. "Mother…knew?"
"She knew a lot of things, princess." Aura's voice softened slightly, looking away as her eyes drifted toward the sky. "She could see the writing on the wall before anyone." She brought her gaze back down to the group. "But I was one of the few who preserved the old ways. Call it…insurance."
"I call it insane," Meara spoke up, stepping up to stand beside Aura. "You know using that slip demands a lot of magic." She closed her eyes. "The toll on the caster…"
"Will be significant." Aura rolled her eyes. "Meara, I know. I'm well aware, but I'm prepared for this. The slip acts as a conduit, channeling energy from the Eastern Mountains themselves. I won't have to bear the full burden alone."
Oreon stepped closer, curiosity and concern mixing in his expression. "Can that really move an entire town?" he asked.
"That depends." Aura's gaze shifted to Oreon. "How many people we can save comes down to one thing." She paused, looking over the group. "Time."
Lena blinked, tilting her head as she loosely crossed her arms. "What do you mean?"
Meara spoke next, worry deepening the lines on her weary face. "She means that even with the Waystone's aid, opening a gateway that large can only be sustained for a short time. If the caster pushes past their limit, the result would be dangerous—downright suicidal." Her eyes stayed fixed on Aura. "At best, you would be incapacitated for days. At worst, you would die."
Aura waved a dismissive hand. "I appreciate the concern, Keeper," she said, using the title with a playful edge. "But I've opened larger gates before, and I'm far stronger than I used to be." She tucked the slip back into her garment. "The real problem isn't my stamina—it's organization. Everyone needs to be ready to move the moment I activate it." She turned back to the group. "Still, Meara isn't wrong. Opening the Waystone alone will take a heavy toll, even on me." She held out five fingers. "Five minutes. That's all we get."
The weight of Aura's words settled over the group. Two minutes. That was all they had to evacuate an entire town through a magical gateway that could be its own caster if pushed too far.
"Five minutes?" Oreon repeated. "That's—that's not enough time." He turned his head back to look at the townspeople. "How the hell are we going to be able to get everyone through in two minutes?"
"That's impossible!" Lena exclaimed. "We'd be saving half the town and leaving the rest behind. That isn't fair."
Meara closed her eyes and stood beside Aura, who rested a hand on her hip as she faced the people before her.
"Leave half the town behind?" Gretta lowered her gaze for a moment, then shook her head and looked up again. "I'm sorry, but I can't accept that. I won't abandon any of these people." She lightly gritted her teeth. "We all know that the Order is going to bring their sorry asses back here and purify whatever is left of this town. I'm not leaving anyone behind to die because they're mad about getting their asses kicked."
"You're signing your own death wish, fishing woman." Sylvanie glanced at Gretta, then turned to her older sister.
Gretta's jaw tightened as she met Sylvanie's gaze head-on. "Aye, call it what you want," she said. "But I'd rather die fighting for these people than live knowing I left them to burn." She stepped away from the group and faced the town square. "This place was my second chance, too. Ever since the Order tore through my town because a few knights saw children trying to learn magic…" She closed her eyes, shoulders tense. "They never gave those kids a chance. They didn't care. They dragged them into the middle of town, like so many others, and—" Her voice cracked. She shook her head sharply. "I was too weak to stop it… Anyone who stood up that night…" Her fists clenched at her sides. "I won't be that person again."
"Gretta…" Oreon spoke her name, eyes widening slightly as this was the first time hearing Gretta's story. "So, that's how she ended up here—I thought it was because—"
Lena's eyes glistened as she looked at Gretta, her hand covering her mouth. "Gretta…I had no idea…"
Meara kept her eyes closed for a moment longer before slowly opening them. "Purification by any justifiable means and to them, anything is justifiable."
Sylvanie clicked her tongue and turned away, a low growl slipping under her breath. Her gaze flicked toward Celestia, who looked wounded by Gretta's words. "Same story, no matter where we go," she muttered, gritting her teeth.
Celestia's hands trembled as Gretta's story settled over her. Unshed tears glimmered in her eyes, and she lowered her head. "Their cruelty knows no bounds," she whispered. Then she looked up again. "It was the same back home. They showed mercy to no one—not even the children." Her gaze returned to the town. She watched a mother cradle her crying child beside the ruins of their home, a shopkeeper gather the few belongings he had left with shaking anger, and townspeople drift through the wreckage, grief and confusion carved into their faces. "And now, only days after escaping their grasp, we learn that the same darkness that haunted our home still looms over others."
Aura still stood with one hand on her hip, watching their expressions shift with a mix of amusement and annoyance. "You're all overthinking this," Aura spoke, cutting through the chatter. "Look," She took a deep breath. "Five minutes isn't impossible. In fact, it's very doable. We just need to have everyone organized." She scanned the area. "We'll need to gather everyone in the town square—no belongings beyond what they can carry on their backs. They won't need anything that's going to slow them down." She told them as everyone looked at each other and then back at Aura.
Celestia stepped forward, her natural leadership emerging despite her fallen status. "I'll help coordinate the townspeople," She offered. "Meara," Celestia looked over at the elderly human woman. "These people may not listen to us Elves; would you—"
Meara answered without hesitation. "Of course, child. These folks know me well enough to listen," she said, already turning toward a cluster of townspeople. "But getting everyone through safely in five minutes? Even if they run, that's cutting it close—especially if they have to cross one at a time."
Aura shook her head. "They won't be crossing one at a time," she clarified. "The gateway will be wide enough for several people to pass through together. It won't be a tunnel, but it won't be a grand doorway either." She gestured with her hands to show its size. "As long as everyone lines up and moves calmly at a steady pace, we should be fine."
Sylvanie let out an annoyed sigh. "Great. So, we're really doing this." Her gaze flicked from the townspeople already gathered in the square to the slip Aura had pocketed, her tactical mind already weighing their options. "If we're going to risk our necks getting everyone through this… Waystone thing, then we should at least do it wisely." She turned back to the group. "Children and elders first, then the women, then the men. Anyone who can fight goes last, in case the Order arrives halfway through the evacuation."
Oreon tilted his head in thought, resting a hand against his chin. "I doubt the Order is coming back, at least not this soon," he said, still piecing the plan together. "Even so, while Aura gets the Waystone ready, we should start gathering everyone and meet back here." He considered it a moment longer, then looked up at Lena. "Lena, can you help me bring in the people on the outskirts of town?"
Lena nodded quickly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Yeah, of course!" Her gaze shifted toward the ruins beyond the square. "There are still families near the southern edge of town, and a few stayed close to the docks. I know where most of them are." She thought for a moment. "We could also find a carriage for their belongings and pets. If we gather everything in one place, there'll be less things for people to carry." Oreon nodded in agreement.
"Good idea. That way, they won't be slowed down carrying supplies, and the pets can be saved too." Oreon turned to Celestia. "Celestia, you and Sylvanie gather the rest of the townspeople here and take a head count. We can't leave anyone behind." Then he looked at Aura. "Aura, I know you're going to get the Waystone ready while we gather everyone, but don't open it until they trust us enough to leave." Aura nodded, understanding his plan. Oreon turned to Meara last. "Meara, we're counting on you to persuade them."
Celestia nodded as she was given her instructions. "We'll need to be swift and thorough," she said, turning to her sister. "Sylvanie, you take the houses on the east, and I'll gather the people in the west. We'll meet back in the town square."
Sylvanie gave a curt nod before walking away from the group, already getting things underway. "Try not to waste time with pleasantries, sister," She called over her shoulder. "These humans need orders, not comfort." Her comment earned a brief understanding gesture from Celestia.
Gretta stepped forward. "I'll help too. The people at the docks listen to me more than anyone else." She cracked her knuckles. "They're stubborn bastards—If I don't drag them out myself, they'll waste time arguing about leaving their boats behind."
Aura just stood back, hand still placed on her hip as her emerald eyes moved from one person to the next, a small smile tugging at her lips as she watched everything come together. "Alright then, I guess we all know what we have to do." She turned her head towards the destroyed square, eyes narrowing. "Alright then, let's get to work."