"Let her rest. She'll answer your questions later." Kai's voice was low, steady, and carried the weight of a promise. His blue hair waved in the slight breeze that blew through the camp. "And if you still want to be dumb, I'll break your bones."
The middle-aged man's eyes flickered. For a moment, fear surfaced—raw and undisguised. Then it transformed to fury. His face reddened. His fists clenched. Annoyance burned through him—that this boy, this stranger, was trying to stop him.
"You—"
Before the word could finish leaving his mouth, Lyrielle stepped forward. She tapped Kai's shoulder in gratitude—a small gesture, but significant. Then she turned to face the crowd.
"Everyone, remain calm." Her voice was calm, firm, despite the obvious pain in her posture. She held her abdomen with one hand, the bandages beneath her shirt dark with fresh blood. "The situation at the mountain is dire, but the Hero Rowan is currently dealing with the threat. We are safe here."
At the sound of those words, the crowd stilled. Not completely—the whispers continued—but the immediate pressure eased.
The Hero Rowan is involved in this?
Must be something very dangerous.
Well, if it's the Hero Rowan, everything's alright.
But didn't you see the Lady Lyrielle's state?
What do you think it is?
A monster?
An invasion?
The rumors went on and on, a low hum of speculation that circled through the camp like bees. Kai ignored them. He attended to Lyrielle, helping her stay upright, his eyes scanning the crowd for any further threats.
Then someone pushed through the press of bodies.
Dark hair came into view first—familiar, windswept, unmistakable.
"Kai! Lady Lyrielle!" Aries shouted as she ran toward them, weaving between tents and evacuees. She reached them breathless, her eyes wide with relief. "You guys are alright. Thank goodness."
She moved to Lyrielle's side, her hand hovering near the elf's arm as if afraid to touch but unwilling to leave.
"How's Raya?" Kai asked. He skipped the pleasantries entirely, his hands gripping Aries's shoulders.
"I was just about to take her to see a healer before I saw the commotion and came." Aries met his worried eyes. "She's still unconscious."
"Then let's go." Lyrielle made to move—and immediately grunted, her face tightening with pain. She held her abdomen, her knuckles white. "We don't have time to waste if Raya's condition is as grave as I heard."
Kai and Aries moved to her sides simultaneously, each taking an arm, each supporting her weight. They exchanged worried glances over her head. Lyrielle took a moment—just a moment—to breathe. Then she nodded, affirming she was okay, and they moved.
Through the camp they walked, past tents being set up to accommodate the evacuees, past small clusters of injured townsfolk receiving basic care from volunteers. Not many people were critically hurt—they had evacuated just in time—but the surroundings were still a mess. Supplies lay scattered between tents. Bedrolls were piled haphazardly. There was no order. No system.
Lyrielle noticed. And it worried her.
They reached the tent where Raya lay. Aries's grandmother sat beside her, keeping watch, her weathered hands folded in her lap.
"Where's the healer?" Lyrielle asked. She scanned the tent. No one else was present.
"Lady Lyrielle." The grandmother rose, her eyes widening at the sight of the elf's bandages. She stepped forward, reaching out to touch Lyrielle's midsection. "You're hurt."
Lyrielle groaned softly at the contact, then offered a faint smile. "I'm fine, Matilda." She touched the older woman's grey-streaked hair—a gentle gesture, almost maternal. Then she turned back to Aries. "Where's the healer?"
"At the Whisper Guild," Aries said.
Lyrielle's eyebrow rose.
"Aren't the guild members helping the evacuees?"
Before Aries could answer, Kai moved. He strode past them both, heading straight for the makeshift bed where Raya lay unconscious. Without a word, he lifted her—princess style, careful, deliberate—and turned to Aries.
"If the healer is at the guild, then let's go."
Aries didn't argue. She walked out of the tent, Kai following with Raya in his arms. Lyrielle paused just long enough to squeeze Matilda's hand—a reassurance that everything would be okay—and then followed.
The Whisper Guild rose before them, two stories of dark stone and narrow windows. A small crowd still lingered in front of the building—the protesters from before, Aries realized. They hadn't dispersed. If anything, they had grown more restless.
But when they saw Lyrielle, the crowd parted.
Eyes followed them. Whispers followed them. Surprise, relief, worry—emotions flickered across faces as the people took in the sight of the Lady Lyrielle, wounded and leaning on a boy she had carried in her arms not so long ago.
Was the threat on Blackstone Mountain that strong?
"Lady Lyrielle is here!" someone shouted.
The doors of the Whisper Guild opened almost immediately.
Lysander emerged first, his black hair catching the morning light, his emerald eyes sweeping the crowd. Eliza followed close behind, her red hair a splash of fire against the grey stone. Behind them came a handful of guild members, their postures alert, watchful.
Lysander's composure didn't crack when he saw Aries beside Lyrielle—but Aries noticed. A flicker of something. Surprise, maybe. Or curiosity.
"Lady Lyrielle." Lysander inclined his head, his expression carefully neutral. "Are you okay?"
"Does she look fine to you?" Kai cut in before Lyrielle could respond.
Lysander's gaze shifted to him. Cold. Assessing. "And you are?"
"Someone in need of help for my friend." Kai stepped forward, adjusting Raya's weight in his arms. "We were told we could get treatment for her here."
The crowd's murmur intensified. Questions rippled through them—why would the guild help only those accompanying Lyrielle? What about everyone else? Slurs began to fly. Accusations.
Lysander, calm as still water, looked at Kai with a small, unreadable smile.
"Well, we are a bit understaffed." He paused, letting the excuse hang. "But for the Lady Lyrielle, we can squeeze out some help."
The uproar swelled.
Lyrielle ignored it. She walked toward Lysander, her steps measured despite the pain, and stopped inches from him.
"Why haven't you been helping the evacuees?"
Lysander's smile didn't waver. "May we step inside?"
He turned and led the way into the guild house. Lyrielle followed. Kai and Aries followed. The doors closed behind them, muffling the crowd's shouts.
Inside, the hallway was cooler, dimmer, lit by sconces that flickered with low flames. Lysander walked ahead, his boots silent on the stone floor. Then he paused and turned to Eliza.
"Get Sevika to work on them." He gestured toward Kai and Raya.
Eliza bowed and disappeared through a doorway.
Lysander continued deeper into the building, leading them to a large hall with vaulted ceilings and long tables. Tapestries hung on the walls—scenes of battles, of heroes, of the guild's history. Dust motes floated in the shafts of light that pierced the high windows.
Lysander stopped in the center of the room and turned to face them.
"So, Blackwood," Lyrielle said, her voice carrying an edge that hadn't been there before. "You have yet to answer me."
Lysander spread his hands, palms up. "Like I said before. We're a little understaffed at the moment. I've sent for assistance from nearby guilds in other towns already."
"And they aren't here by now?"
"I don't control their movements, Lady Lyrielle." His smile tightened. "I would if I could."
"So why aren't the few members who are here helping with the evacuees?"
Lysander's expression didn't change. "I was just about to send them to help. In the little way they can."
Lyrielle's stare was flat. "I'm sure you were."
The side door opened. Eliza returned, followed by a woman with short auburn hair and sharp blue eyes. She carried a leather satchel and moved with the quiet confidence of someone who had seen worse wounds than these.
"This is Sevika," Eliza announced. "She'll be healing you."
Sevika went to work immediately, her hands glowing with soft green light as she laid them on Raya's forehead. The healing aura spread outward, warm and steady, seeping into Raya's pathways.
Lysander turned to the small group of adventurers who had gathered at the edge of the hall—watching, waiting, pretending not to listen.
"Everyone," he said, his voice carrying, "go look after the evacuees. Anyone who needs help, do your best to assist. But do not stray out of town. Do not leave for Blackstone Mountain until we have ample backup."
The adventurers dispersed, filing out of the hall in a stream of dark cloaks and murmured compliance. Lysander watched them go, then turned back to Lyrielle.
Her glare had not softened.
"If looks could kill," Lysander said lightly, "I'd already be dead, Lady Lyrielle."
"Rowan is in the mountain fighting right now." Lyrielle's voice was low, measured. "Do you not think it would be wise to send backup to assist him?"
Lysander tilted his head. "If the Hero Rowan is fighting, we have nothing to worry about." He let the sentence trail, then added, almost casually, "Unless the threat is dangerous enough to threaten him?"
He was testing. Probing. Trying to gain information.
Lyrielle didn't flinch. "The opponent was using a seal. I assume it to be at least a mythical-grade item." She watched his face. "Its effect was broken a while ago."
Lysander's expression gave nothing away. "All the more reason we should bide our time and understand this opponent before engaging."
"I'm getting a distinct feeling that you don't want to help."
Lysander's smile returned—small, fixed, unreadable. "As soon as I receive reinforcements from other guilds, I'll be heading for the mountain."
He moved past Lyrielle, his steps unhurried, and stopped briefly beside Aries.
"I could never have guessed that you would be acquainted with the Lady Lyrielle." His voice was quiet, meant only for her.
Aries met his gaze. "Is that somehow a problem?"
"No." His smile widened, just slightly. "It just makes you more interesting."
He walked away, disappearing through a side door, leaving the hall feeling somehow emptier.
Aries moved to the table where Raya lay. Sevika's hands still glowed with healing light, the aura spreading through Raya's body like warm water through cracked earth.
"Is she going to be alright?" Aries asked.
"She was almost completely drained of aura." Sevika didn't look up from her work. "I'm spreading some aura into her pathways while healing her. That should jumpstart her own circulation. She should be fine in about three hours."
While Aries and Sevika talked, Lyrielle pulled Kai aside.
"What's wrong?" Kai asked. His eyes were still on Raya, still filled with worry.
Lyrielle lowered her voice. "This guild should have more than enough adventurers to send help to Rowan. Something's not right." She glanced toward the door Lysander had used. "I need to head back to Blackstone Mountain."
Kai nodded. "I'm coming too."
"No." Lyrielle's hand caught his arm. "I need you to stay here. Keep an eye on him."
Kai's jaw tightened. "I don't care about him or what he does. Raya needed help, and she's getting it." He pulled his arm free. "Now I need to find James and Koby."
"Even if you might die?"
Kai met her eyes. "I won't die before I find them." He glanced across the hall, toward where Lysander had been standing. His gaze traced the guild master's line of sight—and found Aries. "Besides, I have a feeling Aries can handle looking after Raya and him. She's done well so far."
Lyrielle took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Her hand pressed against her bandaged abdomen. Fresh blood had seeped through during the walk.
"Heavens help us," she murmured.