They did not make camp, not properly. They only stopped for a moment under the cover of dense trees. It was long enough for them to catch their breath and get their bearings again.
There was no fire, no noise, not even the forest seemed to be listening.
"We're being watched " Lina said casually. She said it like she was commenting on the weather.
No one dismissed her.
Kael gripped his sword a bit tighter. "Since when?" he asked.
Lina tilted her head. Her eyes scanned the tree line.
"Since before the wolves " she said.
Tomas frowned. "I didn't detect anything " he said.
"Isn't that the point?" Lina replied.
There was a moment of silence.
It was heavy.
Elira turned slightly. Her voice was low. "Are they from Valtheris?" she asked.
Ronan, who was standing a few steps away answered before anyone could. "No " he said.
Kael glanced at him. "You sound so sure about that." Kael said.
Ronan's gaze remained fixed on something in front of him.
"They would have acted already if they are from Valtheris, they never missed chances like this " he said.
That did not ease the tension, it actually made it sharper.
Because whoever was watching them was choosing not to move.
"Then whoever or whatever is eyeing on us I think we should draw them out." Kael said.
He stepped forward. This time he did it on purpose making noise.
"If you're going to follow us you might well show yourselves " Kael added.
For a moment nothing happened. Then there was a shift. It was subtle. It was everywhere. Leaves rustled. It was not from the wind. It was from movement. Shapes emerged.
One. Two. Five. Ten. Figures stepped out from the forest. They were all cloaked. They were all armed. They were all silent. They did not surround the group in a way. They did encircle them.
Kael immediately moved in front of Elira.
Tomas raised his staff.
Lina vanished into shadow.
Ronan did not move.
One of the figures stepped forward. He was tall. He was scarred. His presence was heavier than the others. He lowered his hood.
It revealed a face. It was marked by years of battle and survival.
"So…" the man said. His voice was calm. It was steady. "You really are alive " he said.
There was silence.
Kael narrowed his eyes. "And you are?" he asked.
The man did not look at Kael.
His gaze was locked on Ronan. "You don't remember me " he said.
It was not a question. It was a statement.
Ronan met his gaze. He studied him. He searched. There was nothing.
"No " Ronan said.
The man exhaled slowly. It was not disappointment. It was not surprise. "I figured " he said.
Lina reappeared silently beside Elira.
"Friendly?" she whispered.
"Still unclear " Tomas replied.
Kael stepped forward a bit. "If you have something to say, then say it now." he said.
The man finally looked at Kael. Then he looked back at Ronan. "We've been looking for you " he said.
Elira's eyes sharpened. "Who are you people?" she asked.
The man straightened. "Ashbound " he said.
The name settled into the air.
Kael frowned. "I've never heard of it " he said.
"Most people haven't heard of our group." the man replied.
Lina smirked faintly. "That usually means trouble " she said.
The man ignored her. "We are what remains…" he said. "Of those you saved." he added.
There was silence.
Ronan's expression did not change. "Saved?" he repeated.
The man nodded. "Different places and different times." he said.
There was a pause.
"But always the same outcome." he said.
He gestured slightly to the others.
"Our lives should have ended in the time of the Demon Lord's terror, but we didn't." he said.
Tomas lowered his staff a bit. "You're saying he saved all of you?" he asked.
"It's not just this group." the man replied.
He took another step forward. "There are hundreds of us." he said.
That had an impact.
Elira's breath stilled. "Hundreds?" she repeated.
The man nodded. "Across all kingdoms." he said.
There was a pause.
"We are keeping track of every information we collect." he said.
Kaels eyes narrowed. "Why?" he asked.
The answer came without hesitation.
"Because the world is trying to forgot who the true hero is." he said.
There was silence. "And we didn't." he added.
Ronan said nothing, because somewhere down something stirred, a village, Fire, as a hand is reaching out, but then it was gone.
"You've been watching him all this time." Elira said.
"Yes, we did." the man replied.
"For how long?" she asked.
"Since he left the dwarven lands." he said.
That drew a glance from Ronan.
"You knew where I was?" he said.
The man nodded. "We always did " he said.
Kaels tone hardened. "So, you've just been what? Watching from a distance?" he asked.
The man's gaze sharpened a bit. "No." he said.
There was a pause. "We were waiting " he said.
"For what?" Elira asked.
The man looked at her. Then he looked back at Ronan. "For the world to notice him again " he said.
There was silence.
"And you made sure it did." Tomas said quietly.
The man did not deny it.
"It's the bard." Elira said as she realized the thing that led them to meet the former hero.
Her eyes widened a bit. "That was you, isn't it?" she said.
"Yes, I am the bard Princess Elira of Kaelmyra." the man replied.
"The rumors." Elira said.
"Yes." the man replied.
"The blacksmith at Durnholde." Elira said.
There was a pause.
"Yes " the man replied.
Kaels expression darkened. "You manipulated all of this?" he said.
The man met Kaels gaze without flinching. "Manipulation is like a little bit exaggerated, let's say we guided you to him." he said.
"Isn't that just the same concept?" Kael said.
"No…" the man said. "But it was necessary " he added.
Tension spiked.
"One move and you're all." Kael said.
"Enough…" Ronan's voice cut through it. It was not loud. It was final. Everyone stilled.
He looked at the man. Long. Careful. "Why now?" Ronan asked.
The man answered immediately. "Because Kaelmyra is in a bit of a struggle and may let it to their downfall..." he said.
There was a beat. "And Valtheris already knows after what happened outside of Durnholde." he added.
Silence fell. It was heavy.
"They're not searching for you anymore." the man continued. "They're preparing to capture all of you." he said.
"For what?" Elira asked.
The man's eyes hardened. "For War." he said.
The word did not echo. It settled. Because everyone there knew it wasn't an exaggeration.
"Then we don't have time " Tomas said.
"No..." the man agreed. "The path ahead leads to the Elven border " he said.
There was a pause.
"We can guide you " he added.
Kael did not lower his guard. "Why help us now?" he asked.
The man's gaze returned to Ronan. "Because this time…" he said. "He won't be alone." he added.
There was silence. Ronan did not respond. He did not refuse either.
That was enough. The forest shifted again. This time it did not feel like a threat.
It felt like something long hidden was finally stepping into the open.
And beyond the trees, beyond the borders beyond even the kingdoms the world itself was beginning to move.
Because the Hero had been found.
Now so had those who never stopped believing.