Two days passed in a blur of cold morning and long, silent roads. Sela, Rael, and Nadia moved carefully along the fading trade routes, sticking to the edges of paths and keeping their heads low. The forests that once surrounded them had thinned into barren stretches of land. The air smelled of dust and old smoke, and no birds sang anymore.
As the late afternoon sun dipped lower, casting long golden shadows, a massive silhouette appeared in the distance. The towering stone gates of Kathelyn—the human capital—rose like a fortress against the horizon, flanked by high walls lined with rusted banners and the gleam of iron.
The trio approached slowly. Caravans passed them, and merchants grumbled as they waited in queues, their horses snorting at the crowded checkpoint. Guards in thick, weatherworn armor stood at attention. Their spears gleamed. Their eyes were sharp and skeptical.
"Halt," one barked, stepping forward. His voice was firm, but not cruel.
Rael instinctively moved in front of the girls, eyes narrow, body tense. The guards subtly angled their weapons forward—not quite a threat, but ready.
"State your business," the lead guard demanded. "Where are you from?"
Rael parted his lips to speak, but Sela placed a gentle hand on his arm and stepped ahead of him.
"We're… from a village," she said softly, her voice trembling just enough. "It's gone now. Burned down. We've been walking for days. We don't have anyone left. Or anywhere to go."
The words fell heavy in the air. Her posture slouched just a little, eyes glossy with held-back tears, shoulders drooping with exhaustion she didn't have to fake. It wasn't a performance. Not really. But it still worked like one.
Rael blinked at her in awe. He'd never seen her like this.
The guards glanced at one another, their grip on their weapons easing. One sighed, shaking his head.
"Poor kids…" he muttered. "Four days on foot, huh?"
The taller of the two leaned closer, his expression softening. "Alright. You're not a threat. Just children. There's a resthouse near the southern square—Hearthlight Inn. Ask for Myla. Tell her the guard captain said it's fine."
Sela bowed politely. "Thank you, sir. We're grateful."
Nadia nodded with quiet sincerity. "Really. Thank you."
The gates opened slowly with a groan of ancient hinges, and the trio stepped through into the heart of Kathelyn.
The city was alive.
Clanging metal from blacksmiths rang through the streets. The cries of merchants hawking fruits, bolts of fabric, and roasted meat echoed in every direction. Lanterns swayed gently from iron posts, and the scent of baked bread drifted on the wind. Cobblestones clicked beneath their boots, and for a moment—just a moment—it almost felt like they were safe.
Nadia turned to Sela with wide eyes. "You really sold that."
Sela shrugged, offering a faint smirk. "Acting. I've been doing it my whole life."
Rael walked silently beside them, his gaze unfocused.
Nadia, trying to lighten the mood, elbowed him. "That thing about the village… that was a good lie."
Sela stopped walking.
Rael froze too.
"It wasn't a lie," Sela said quietly, her voice low and steady.
Nadia's breath caught. "Oh—wait, I didn't mean… I'm sorry. I didn't know."
Sela didn't look at her. "It's okay. You couldn't have."
No one spoke after that. The streets around them buzzed with city life, but their little trio moved in silence, like ghosts in a crowd.
---
By twilight, the sun had bled into the horizon, and the lanterns along the streets flickered to life. Their glow painted everything in warm gold. Eventually, they found themselves in front of a weathered but welcoming inn tucked between two stone buildings. A wooden sign hung overhead, swinging gently in the evening breeze—Hearthlight Inn—its carved letters faded with age. Ivy climbed up the stone walls, framing the door in greenery.
Inside, the scent of stew and firewood immediately enveloped them. A crackling hearth burned in the corner, and a few travelers murmured quietly at tables. The place felt safe.
Behind the counter stood a woman with greying curls, a kind face, and eyes that had seen many weary travelers.
"Well, aren't you three a sight," she said with a warm smile. "Travelers, are you?"
Rael stepped up hesitantly. "The guards at the south gate said we could stay here. They told us to ask for Myla."
"You found her," the woman said, tapping the counter. "And yes, they sent word ahead. Said you were just some poor kids looking for a roof."
"We can work for our stay," Sela offered quickly. "Clean, sweep, anything."
Myla waved a hand. "Oh hush now. You're young. Tired. You don't owe me anything yet. First night's free. Second night, we'll talk."
Rael blinked. "That easy?"
"You expect me to charge kids for sleeping on wood floors?" she said, raising an eyebrow. "I'm not heartless."
He looked sheepish. "No complaints."
Sela let out a relieved sigh. "Coco really is such a bad author, huh? Took him weeks to write this."
Rael snorted. "Yeah, he's been slacking."
Nadia chimed in, smiling. "Lazy bum."
Their laughter—soft and real—echoed faintly under the low ceiling.
Later, after a warm meal and washing the dust from their hands and faces, the three of them climbed the narrow staircase to their room. The space was small, but cozy—three narrow beds, a flickering candle on the nightstand, and a window cracked open to let in the night air.
They collapsed onto the beds with audible groans of relief.
Sela lay flat, arms sprawled. "I forgot how soft beds are."
"I forgot how not-hungry feels," Nadia muttered, curling under a thin blanket.
Rael propped himself up on an elbow. "You think Lif and Liora are okay?"
Sela's smile faded. "They're tough. Smarter than they act."
Nadia turned over, resting her head on her arm. "That thing Lif did… when he fought those men. and their boss… It was brutal. But so clean. Like he knew exactly where to hit. Even when he got slammed into that tree, he just—stood up. Kept going... but he didn't use any elemental magic,bSo… what's his constellation?"
Rael stared at the ceiling for a moment before replying. "He doesn't have one."
Nadia blinked. "What?"
"He's hollow-born," Rael said quietly. "No constelletion. No element. Just... Lif."
Nadia looked stunned. "That's not—no. That's not possible."
"It is," Rael said. "I've met a few hollow-borns. But Lif… he was stronger than any of them. Stronger than most kids in our village."
Then he glanced over with a crooked smirk. "Not stronger than me, though."
Sela raised an eyebrow. "Name one time you beat him."
"Shut up," Rael grumbled.
They all laughed—soft, tired laughter. The kind that came after days of tension.
The room settled into a gentle quiet.
Then Sela murmured, almost to herself, "He's changing."
Nadia turned to her. "You mean like… stronger?"
"No," Sela said. "Just… different."
No one answered. The candle dimmed. One by one, their eyes drifted closed.
---
Far from the city, deep in a quiet forest glade, Liora sat under a leaning tree. The firelight from their camp cast flickering shadows across her face. Lif lay nearby, curled up under her cloak, his breath slow and steady.
He looked peaceful. Almost childlike. His brows were relaxed, his usual stubborn edge gone. In sleep, he looked more human than ever.
Liora watched him for a while, then leaned forward to brush a fallen leaf from his shoulder.
That's when she saw it.
Nestled just beside his hand, half-buried in moss, was something glowing. A shard—small, blue, and crystalline, shaped like a perfect diamond. It pulsed faintly, emitting a soft shimmer, as if it didn't belong in this world.
She slowly picked it up. It was cool to the touch. Silent. Unsettling.
"What the hell…" she whispered.
Lif didn't stir.
Liora turned the shard in her fingers, the light inside flickering like a heartbeat. After a moment, she slipped it into her pocket.
She looked down at him again.
"You're definitely not normal," she whispered.
Then she leaned back, pulled her hood over her head, and kept watch.
Steady. Silent.
And now, just a little more curious than before.