After an hour of soaking in the comforting warmth of the hot spring, Rosaline and Celestia finally decided to leave. The steam clung to their skin as they rose from the water, the cool night air brushing against them as they stepped onto the soft grass.
Making their way back into the changing room, they approached their vine-lockers, which unraveled at their touch, revealing their neatly stored clothes. They grabbed a set of soft towels from a nearby rack and began drying off, the warmth of the hot spring still lingering in their bodies.
Celestia ran her fingers through her damp hair, shaking out the remaining droplets before slipping back into her clothes. Rosaline did the same, smoothing out her outfit before stretching with a content sigh.
"That was amazing," Celestia murmured as they stepped out of the changing room, their relaxed bodies carrying a slight warmth from the soak.
Rosaline nodded, adjusting her top. "Yeah… I think I needed that."
The two made their way back through the quiet hallways of the hotel, the soft flickering lanterns casting long shadows against the intricately carved wooden walls. The distant hum of conversations and the occasional clink of glassware from the lower floors faded as they climbed the stairs back to their room.
Upon entering, Celestia shut the door behind them, tossing her bag onto the chair before collapsing onto the bed with a satisfied sigh. Rosaline followed, lying down beside her, both feeling the full weight of relaxation settle into their limbs.
As Celestia lazily turned her head, her gaze landed on a calendar pinned to the wall. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she noticed a bold, red marking standing out against the otherwise plain dates.
The words "TOURNAMENT START" were scrawled across the first day of the next week.
She nudged Rosaline lightly, pointing at it. "Looks like things are going to get interesting."
Rosaline let out a slow breath, her eyes fixed on the bold red lettering. "Yeah… looks like the tournament's starting soon. Maybe we should sign up for it?"
She inhaled deeply, then exhaled with a tired sigh before lying down. Pulling the blankets over her body, she let her eyes drift shut.
"I mean…" Celestia's voice was soft, thoughtful. "We could all sign up—just to see where we rank. I doubt we'd actually win or anything... but it might be a good chance to see how we measure up against the others."
Her words hung in the air for a moment. She shifted slightly under the blanket, her eyes fluttering closed.
"Just maybe," she added softly.
In the chamber of the elven elders, a circle of aged figures sat in elegantly carved wooden chairs, their expressions calm. Faint lights flickered across their weathered faces. The room was heavy with the scent of aged parchment and dried herbs, remnants of centuries-old wisdom.
The heavy oak doors creaked open, and Commander Leo stepped inside after receiving permission. His boots clacked lightly against the marble floor, but there was a slight hesitation in his movements. He clenched his fists briefly before speaking.
"...There's a Solara member here," he said, his voice low and uncertain.
The words lingered in the air like a curse. The elders' eyes snapped toward him, their widened gazes betraying a rare flash of fear. For a moment, silence weighed down the room until one of the elder women, her silver hair braided with crystal threads, finally spoke.
"What do you mean by that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She swallowed hard. "Is it the same male human from before?"
Leo shook his head slowly, his throat dry. "N-no... it's a female human this time. She claims her name is Celestia Solara. She's traveling with a crew."
The elders exchanged tense glances, their lips pressed into thin lines. A faint sigh escaped one of them, followed by a solemn nod.
"Keep an eye on her," one of the elders ordered, her voice firm but strained. "And remember… under no circumstances should you provoke her. If she possesses a similar type of the power that the male has…" Her words trailed off, but the weight of the unspoken threat lingered.
The others nodded in grim agreement, their expressions darkening with unspoken memories.
Nearby, an elf with sharp, angular features stood just beyond the archway. Her ears twitched slightly, catching some of the conversation. Her eyes narrowed, and she slipped away swiftly and silently, her movements graceful as she vanished into the corridor.
"What do they mean by that?" she wondered, her brows furrowed. Her thoughts were clouded with confusion.
As she made her way down the hall, she spotted Commander Leo leaving through a side door, his strides slightly hurried, as if eager to distance himself from the elders' chamber. She lingered in the shadows, watching him disappear from sight.
"Why… why did they seem afraid of a mere human?' she mused, her fingers curling slightly with irritation. "They're fragile compared to us—weak in body and spirit. What could possibly warrant such caution?"
Shaking the thought aside, she pressed forward and entered a large training hall where several elves were sparring with wooden staves and curved blades. The rhythmic clash of weapons echoed faintly, but her mind remained restless, the name Solara etched into her thoughts.
After fourteen hours of sleep, Celestia's eyes slowly fluttered open. She blinked groggily, rubbing the sleep from her eyes before letting out a slow, heavy sigh. "Damn it. What time is it?" she wondered, her voice still raspy with fatigue.
With a soft yawn, she lazily scanned the room. Rosaline was sprawled out on the opposite bed, completely out cold, her face half-buried in a pillow.
Celestia exhaled sharply through her nose before tossing the blankets aside. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stood, stretching her stiff limbs with a quiet groan. Without wasting time, she quickly slipped into fresh clothes, fastening her boots with swift motions.
Silently, she slipped out of the room and made her way down the wooden hallway. Her footsteps were light, but the old flooring creaked faintly beneath her. She descended the narrow flight of stairs two steps at a time, her fingers gliding along the smooth railing.
Reaching the hotel lobby, she spotted an elven woman behind the front desk. The elf's hair was a shimmering shade of pale gold, braided loosely over her shoulder, and her emerald eyes sparkled with a welcoming warmth. She offered a pleasant smile as Celestia approached.
"Good morning. How may I help you?" the elf asked softly, her voice as gentle as a summer breeze.
Celestia met her gaze, her tone steady but to the point. "I saw on the calendar that a tournament is starting soon. Where do I go to sign up for it?"
The elf's smile remained polite but slightly widened. "Would you like a map from the hotel to the arena? It's the easiest way to explain, given how winding Silverwood's streets are."
Without waiting for a response, the elf turned and retrieved a neatly folded map from a wooden shelf behind the desk. She handed it to Celestia with the same warm smile.
"Not even giving me a chance to answer?" Celestia thought with a subtle raise of her brow. "Alright then."
She took the map with a nod of thanks and turned on her heel, making her way toward the exit. Pushing open the door, she stepped into the cool morning air. The sun was barely peeking over the horizon, casting a pale golden light through the canopy of Silverwood's towering trees.
Unfolding the map, Celestia studied the route. The winding streets were etched in fine detail, the arena marked with an elegant crest. She traced the path with her fingertip before setting off.
Unbeknownst to her, a pair of watchful eyes tracked her movements. High above, hidden among the branches of an ancient oak, Commander Leo crouched. His emerald cloak blended perfectly with the foliage, rendering him nearly invisible.
His sharp eyes narrowed as he watched her disappear into the forested path, moving with a sense of purpose. He remained still, his breath shallow, the weight of his gaze lingering on her figure.
"She's making her move... what is she up to?" he mused silently.
Celestia followed the path laid out on the map, her boots crunching softly against the forest floor. The air was thick with the earthy scent of damp leaves and wildflowers, and the early morning sun cast dappled patterns through the canopy of Silverwood's massive trees.
The route quickly became more complex than she expected. The stone-paved path soon gave way to a twisting trail of uneven dirt, winding between the towering trunks and through narrow passages flanked by sprawling roots. She ran her fingers along the rough bark of the ancient trees as she walked, keeping her pace steady but unhurried.
Before long, the trail funneled into a tunnel formed by thick, interwoven vines. Their dark green leaves glistened faintly with morning dew, and faint rays of light pierced through the small gaps, creating a mosaic of gold and shadow. The tunnel seemed almost endless, the twisting vegetation making it difficult to see far ahead. Celestia ran her fingertips over the vines as she walked, their texture rough and damp.
"Silverwood's layout is... a lot more of a nightmare than I thought." she said quietly, glancing at the map again.
Emerging from the vine tunnel, she was met with a new obstacle—a wide, shallow river cutting across the path. The water was crystal clear, reflecting the pale blue sky above, and gentle ripples shimmered as they flowed downstream. The only crossing point was an enormous tree trunk spanning the width of the river. Its surface was flattened and carved with intricate, elven markings, deliberately shaped into a natural bridge.
Celestia approached the log and pressed her boot lightly against it, testing its stability. It was firm, the centuries-old wood thick and sturdy. Without hesitation, she stepped onto it. The bark was worn smooth from use but slick with moisture, forcing her to tread carefully.
Halfway across, she paused for a moment and glanced down at the water below. Small fish darted through the shallows, their silver scales flashing beneath the sunlight.
Once across, she pressed on, following the winding path as it looped around rocky outcroppings and through narrow passages. The forest gradually thinned, revealing a wide, sloping hill ahead. She could see the arena's stone towers rising in the distance, their spires reaching for the sky.
Commander Leo stalked her from above, moving soundlessly through the canopy. His emerald cloak blended with the leaves, making him nearly imperceptible. He remained far enough away to avoid detection, yet close enough to watch her every move.
From his perch, he raised a pair of enchanted binoculars to his eyes. The lenses adjusted automatically, zooming in on Celestia's figure as she crossed the river and disappeared into the thinning woods. He trailed her patiently, his footsteps perfectly synchronized with the rustle of the leaves to mask his movements.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, studying her fluid and deliberate motions. She moved with confidence—too much confidence for a simple human. As he kept his distance, he muttered softly to himself.
"Where the hell is she heading? She's moving too precisely for someone wandering aimlessly…"
Moments later, he spotted the arena towers peeking over the forest. Realization dawned, and he let out a low, thoughtful hum.
"Ah… I see," he whispered to himself, lowering the binoculars. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "She's signing up for the tournament... Hmph. I might already know who's going to win this. If she has similar strength that the male human had…" He trailed off, recalling the destructive force of the last Solara that crossed their lands.
Without another word, Leo pressed onward, silently continuing his pursuit from the treetops.