My eyes fly open. Taryn is beside me, holding me close as she walks us away from the arch. Glancing over my shoulder, I watch Wrath lift a hand to the stone. The strange gateway seals shut, leaving an empty arch.
“What was that?” I turn back to Taryn, completely frightened.
“You’ve got a lot to learn, Princess.”
I’m about to press Taryn further when I realize where we are. My breath catches in my throat in disbelief, eyes darting from left to right as I take everything in. My feet carry me forward of their own volition as I drop Taryn’s arm and surge forward.
Khalessor.
The Elvarran kingdom unfolds around me like a masterfully crafted painting. The trees are tall, with thick trunks and branches densely covered in green foliage. Soft moss grows on nearly every surface, climbing up the trees and covering almost every stone. I see small clusters of colorful mushrooms and thick tree roots beneath my boots as I walk, beckoning me to continue exploring.
There are tiny bugs with lights on them. They illuminate the forest with a golden glow as they flit happily around us.Every corner of Khalessor seems to be straight out of a fairytale. Dozens of white flowers bloom in the bushes, their petals glistening like starlight in the sun.
I lean down to smell them?—
“Don’t smell those!” Taryn yells.
“Why?” I startle upright, my cheeks heating.
“Those are Dormishade.” She strides over to me. “If you inhale the scent, they’ll put you to sleep.”
“Really?” I say in disbelief, looking back at the flowers.
She nods, walking alongside me. “You can crush the dried petals and make tea with them when you can’t sleep, though.”
“Interesting.” I hum a note of acknowledgement as we descend.
The dirt path transforms into cobblestone as the city around us takes shape. The roads are wide and arranged in neat rows, with large homes and shops standing on each side, built from dark wood and arched stained-glass windows. Between each building lay a narrow alley, begging for someone to get lost in it.
There is a constant hum of chatter and activity all around me. Merchants set up their booths to sell goods, while farmers carry carts full of fresh produce. Several Elvarrans return home from the mines, carrying pickaxes and shovels, their faces smudged with thick, black soot.
The Northern Alps are home to a plethora of mines, providing Khalessor with an abundance of natural resources such as salt, crystal, stone, and ore. The small amount of these resources that reach the south are incredibly expensive and rare; Cathros always experienced steel shortages, making it difficult to craft enough weapons.
A streak of long, curly brunette hair flashes across my vision. A woman nearly leaps into Taryn’s arms, hugging her close. She’s beautiful—warm brown skin, freckled cheeks, tallears. I notice how similar they look, nearly a mirror reflection.
“I’ve missed you!” Taryn releases the woman. “Come. We have much to catch up on…” her voice trails off as they depart, walking in the other direction.
I watch as more Elvarrans rush to greet the soldiers. Others trail off, disappearing down different roads and alleyways. Every time Valentin left for battle, I had no idea if he would return home. All I could do was wait for a letter or try to overhear gossip in the castle. It was agonizing. The Elvarrans must endure the same hardship, never knowing when their family will return.
“So?” A deep voice rumbles beside me.
I glance to my right and see Wrath. He has a smug expression on his face. My focus was so captivated by my surroundings that I did not notice him walking alongside me. I wonder how long he was watching me wander from place to place.
“It’s quite beautiful here,” I tell him.
To say anything else would be a lie. Khalessor is one of a kind, a kingdom that lives harmoniously with nature. It’s far more beautiful than Avelisar, which felt like it was holding on by a thread. Everywhere I look is something I’ve never seen.
“Thank you,” he says graciously.
I turn my attention back to the road and nearly stop in my tracks at the sight of the castle. The facade is stunningly ornate, each arch and pillar masterfully carved from white stone. A large circular window sits in the center, with detailed tracery resembling lace. Several tall, slender spires shoot out from the top, crowning each buttress with gilded details.
The beauty of Khalessor is so surreal that it feels like a dream I might wake from at any moment. My only anchor to reality is the reminder that I am walking alongside Wrath’s Blade, and this ishiskingdom. How could remaining within thecastle walls have been best for me when a place this majestic existed all along?
We reach the castle's front steps and ascend towards the large front gates. Two guards flank either side of the door, allowing us entry. As I step into the main hall, tall, pointed arch ceilings and elaborate stained-glass windows that shift in the light hang above us. There is an invisible energy swirling around me, almost as if the castle breathes with magic.
“Raelys,” Wrath says. Hearing him say my name makes my spine stiffen. “You should rest. Your body may take some time to adjust to the altitude of the north. The air is thinner up here. You may feel dizzy when exerting yourself.”
“All right.” I observe him, still unsure whether to trust him.
