She risked a glance at her hand. Algernon’s ring sat innocuously, but the skin around her thumb was marked with a vivid, red burn, as if scorched by intense heat. She bit her lip to stifle a scream, carefully sliding the ring off her finger. A sigh of relief escaped her as she felt the pressure lift, though her thumb still throbbed intensely, the skin raw and blistered. She knew she should wait, but the pain was nearly unbearable. Perhaps just keeping the ring close would suffice.
Grimacing, she wrapped it in a cloth she had brought and tucked it away in her pocket alongside Godfrey’s note.
“Lost your way, Druid?” Dario’s grin was nothing short of roguish as he leaned down from his horse, extending a hand toward her. “You look like you could use a knight in slightly tarnished armor.”
Elara rolled her eyes before hoisting herself up behind him, her arms wrapping tightly around his waist. The coarse fabric of Dario’s tunic bit into her fingers as she gripped him, every muscle in her arms taut. He guided the steed with an ease that belied the tension in the air, the horse’s steady rhythm kicking up a muted cloud of dust from the worn dirt path. Their pace was unhurried, as if they were on a leisurely evening ride and not the desperate flight it truly was.
But as the towering ramparts of the castle turned into nothing more than silhouettes against the horizon, Dario’s control snapped.
With a fierce kick, he urged the horse into a wild sprint, the animal’s strength sending chunks of earth flying behind them. The pounding of hooves became the soundtrack of their escape, melding perfectly with his lean into the wind, his body and the horse moving as a single entity.
Ahead, Ansyl City sparkled like a beacon in the night, its lights a promise of refuge. And with every beat of her heart, that promise seemed to grow brighter, drawing them ever closer.
The wind wove its fingers through her hair, setting free every loose strand. Elara inhaled the night’s chill, letting it fill her with a rush of pure, unbridled joy, so alien yet utterly exhilarating. She could never run far enough to escape her duties, but maybe now, if she was careful enough, she could carve out a semblance of normalcy while still honoring the weight of her oaths. She wrapped her arms around Dario, holding onto him as if he were the only solid thing in a world spinning out of control. The speed at which they moved glued them together, his warmth bleeding into her, calming the wild beat of her heart.
Her voice came out softer than she intended, the raw truth in her words leaving her feeling bare, but she fought against the instinct to recoil. “Did I ever tell you,” she found herself whispering, letting the night carry her words, “just how amazing I think you are?”
Dario flashed her a devious grin. “You could stand to mention it more.”
Laughter burst from Elara, loud and unrestrained—a sound so unfamiliar it startled her. Her throat hitched, a sharp pang cutting through her chest, as though something inside had cracked open. She was used to the persistent presence of a muted sorrow, smothering any flicker of joy that dared surface.The idea of unfiltered happiness felt like a delicate ember, vulnerable to the faintest breeze and always on the verge of being snuffed out.
Dario looked over his shoulder and smiled. “It’s good to hear you laugh, El.”
The warmth in his words danced over her skin, stirring an unexpected chill that ran down her spine. A soft blush tinted her cheeks, and she nestled closer to him, hiding her face.
He laughed, jostling her. And right then, with every inhale of the cool night breeze and the sound of Dario’s laughter mingling with the darkness, she understood that tonight was about more than just finding answers. She was staking a claim to herself, shouting back at the cosmos to remind it—and, more importantly, herself—that despite everything, she was still strong. That there was still a spark of joy within her that refused to be snuffed out.
Osin, Edgar, the High Council—they might control so much of her life, but they didn't have all of her—not yet. She couldn't control the pain inflicted upon her, but she could control her response to it. The pain was real; the loss was real, but so was the fire inside her. It might flicker and wane, but it wouldn't go out. Not as long as she had a say. And despite everything, she still had that—a say—a voice; a part of her that was unbroken.
And there, under the cover of night, she made a vow to herself: she would never let it be forgotten again.
Chapter 12
“You didwhat?” Dario’s voice was a blend of disbelief and reprimand as he shot a sideways glance at her, his posture rigid against the saddle.
Elara’s grip on him tightened. “I gave the woman a gold coin. She asked for healing, which I obviously couldn’t provide. I felt bad—what else was I supposed to do?”
“You start by not handing out gold,” Dario said, shaking his head. “You do realize asinglegold piece could pay a healer's wages for half a year?”
“All the better then!”
His brow knitted together. “Yes, but you might as well have announced your presence with a fanfare.” His voice softened slightly. “No Druid handles money, Elara. It’s practically heresy."
Shit.
She sighed. “Well, I didn’t know that, did I?”
"Clearly," Dario retorted, the corner of his mouth twitching.
“I don’t regret what I did.”
His response was a soft, warm smile that lingered a bit too long, causing her cheeks to burn even hotter. She cleared herthroat and turned her gaze to the horizon, her heart thudding against his back. They were nearly there.
The city's gates, massive like the ancient dragons of legend, stood proudly against the backdrop of the shimmering Jade Sea. Their ramparts cast long shadows over the cobblestone path that led up to them, with the great doors swung wide open to welcome the ceaseless flow of life.
Beyond the gates, traders rolled carts heavy with spices and silks down to the docks, where ships bobbed gently on the sparkling waters. Merchants haggled loudly over their laden carts—apples, grains, and fresh catches of silver fish that glinted in the sun, all piled high and ready for bartering.
“Does the city always feel this alive?” Elara asked, her eyes wide with wonder.
