[The Secret Meeting]
The council chamber grew dim and hushed after Barik's departure, the flickering torches casting eerie shadows on the walls. Elder Mishal and the other council members exchanged curious glances with one another, their eyes lingering on Elder Faren's stern profile. Though their lips remained sealed, the air was thick with unspoken questions.
As they filed out in silence, it was clear that this wasn't a standard meeting, but rather a gathering of the respected and chosen elders who held the tribe's fate in their hands – the ones who made the final decisions, shaping the course of their world.
The air was heavy with unspoken words, and the soft hiss of torches along the stone walls seemed amplified in the silence. Smoke curled upward, darkening the walls as the flames danced. As the chamber emptied, Elder Faren remained seated, his piercing gaze fixed on the door long after it closed.
As the last echo of footsteps faded, the room revealed its true occupants: four figures bathed in the flickering torchlight. Elder Faren, the oldest and most respected, presided over the gathering, his presence commanding attention. Beside him stood Elder Rhys, his stern expression intensified by narrow, piercing eyes. Elder Kehr, a guardian of ancient lore, stood poised, her gaze gleaming with intellectual curiosity. And the old warrior, Thalen.
The latter was asked to remain seated. He was still streaked with mud and exhaustion from the day's grueling march; he sat with eyes heavy with fatigue, his presence a testament to the weight of his task. His report would lay the foundation for the final decision, one that would determine the fate of their people and shape the plans that would carry them into the unknown.
Faren's voice was low but commanding. "Thalen," he said, his gaze locking onto the old warrior. "Tell us about the mysterious light." Thalen sighed, a hint of exasperation flickering across his face as his eyes met Faren's.
The elder leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table, his eyes burning with an unyielding intensity." I want to hear it again," Faren repeated, his voice firm and unwavering. "Tell me about the light you saw."
Thalen swallowed hard, his dry throat aching for relief. His voice was barely above a whisper, laced with the weight of exhaustion. "It came when the wolves closed in, Elder... A crack tore the ground, not the sky. It wasn't thunder, not lightning. Something colder."
He paused, collecting his thoughts. "A booming sound rippled through the air... We were left deafened in its wake."
His words were slow, measured, as if pulled from the depths of his memory. "A blinding web of cold, silvery-blue light spread across the ground... Radiating from the earth itself, not the sky. It was as if the land was the source..."
Thalen's eyes glazed over, his gaze drifting inward. "Afterward, there was silence," he murmured, his voice trailing off. "As if the rain and wind were commanded to stop... The world just... held its breath."
"Elder Rhys' eyes narrowed, his expression thoughtful. "You're certain it didn't originate from the heavens?" he asked, his voice laced with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism.
Thalen hesitated, his brow furrowed in concentration. "I doubt it came from the heavens, Elder," he said slowly. "The deafening sound shook the earth beneath our feet, not the air above. It felt... primal, like it burst forth from the land itself."
Elder Faren nodded slowly, his expression contemplative. "And you also believe Eris saved Barik's team from the beast?"
Thalen's jaw clenched slightly. "I may not fully understand the story, but I believe my son," he said quietly. "Eris made it stop and wounded the beast." He muttered under his breath, "... must be the silver in his vein."
Elder Faren's voice was gentle, yet firm. "That will be all, Thalen. You've done well. I hope you understand why we asked you to recount it again. You may rest now."
Thalen nodded and left, the door's soft creak fading into silence.
"Ruvio's presence is the one clear fact," Elder Faren stated, his voice cutting through the silence. "He stepped in when the wolves attacked, and his actions saved the group."
The fire crackled, and for a heartbeat, no one breathed. Elder Kehr turned toward him, her eyes searching. "You're sure?"
Elder Faren nodded slowly. "The silver answered Ruvio once before, during the expedition beyond the Wastes. I didn't understand it then, but Thalen's description... there's no doubt, it's the same."
Elder Rhys's eyes narrowed. "And Eris… you believe the boy called the power?"
"I believe," Elder Faren said quietly, "that it heard him."
Elder Rhys spat into the fire, his disgust evident. "Then he's dangerous. That boy and the girl with him... they're marked by the same power that ruined the world. If they've bonded with it, we can't just bring them back into Haven. We don't know what they'll become or what they will bring with them."
Elder Kehr's gaze hardened. "And you'd leave them to die?"
"If it keeps the rest of us alive, yes," Elder Rhys replied, his voice cold and resolute.
Elder Rhys's voice was laced with conviction. "You saw it yourself before, Ruvio, with the silver light tearing through the ground, choosing who lives and who dies. You know what that means."
Elder Faren's face remained impassive. "I don't know what it means, but I know it was something ancient."
"Ancient?" Elder Rhys's tone turned venomous. "Cursed, more like. The silver destroyed the old world once, and it's still destroying now, claiming those it touches, feasting on the people."
Elder Kehr leaned forward, his voice calm but firm. "It also helped the old world, Rhys. The people spoke of power drawn from the earth's veins – knowledge, life, creation itself. We can't judge solely by the ashes left behind."
Elder Rhys slammed his hand on the table, his anger boiling over. "And you'd risk Haven for curiosity?"
Elder Faren raised a hand, silencing them both. His voice carried the weight of command. "Enough. Ruvio brought them to us to nurture: Eris and the siblings. And what have we given? Nothing, not even trust." Elder Faren's words hung in the air, laced with a mix of regret and resolve.
Elder Rhys turned to Elder Faren, his voice laced with accusation. "You always believe and trust Ruvio's decisions, and anything he says."
Elder Faren hesitated, the question cutting deeper than expected. "I trust him, even with my life," he said finally. "He saved me once with the silver light he called."
Elder Rhys's glare seethed with unspoken resentment, the fire's reflection dancing in his eyes like molten metal. A relative newcomer to the tribe, he had nonetheless heard tales of Elder Ruvio's heroism – not just saved the elder from harm, but also brought sustenance to the people during times of hunger. His influence ran deep, born of wisdom and knowledge gained from his solo expeditions beyond their lands. As advisor and Grand Elder, his counsel had proven invaluable.
With a dark intensity, Elder Rhys stood. "The silver stirs, and the world trembles," he warned, his voice barely above a whisper. "Pray that when the next light bursts forth from the earth, it brings mercy, not judgment."
Just then, the door opened silently, and Elder Ruvio entered. His cloak was still damp with dew, and his staff glinted faintly in the torchlight, the silver bands catching the light.
Elder Faren's quiet question was laced with embarrassment. "You heard us?"
Ruvio's expression remained unreadable as he drew nearer. "I did," Elder Ruvio replied, his voice even as he drew nearer, his eyes calm and inscrutable. "Believe what you will, but hear me now: the balance of the silver vein has shifted."
Elder Kehr turned sharply, startled. "The vein? Then it's true... Eris..."
Ruvio inclined his head. "Eris grows stronger, though he doesn't yet understand the weight of the path ahead."
"How are they?" Elder Faren asked, concern etched in his voice.
"They are safe," Elder Ruvio said, his words reassuring. "Kaylah used her gift to place the two wounded hunters in a healing rest. They will survive."
Elder Kehr's gaze lingered, her eyes searching. "You speak as if Eris's awakening is certain."
"It is," Elder Ruvio said simply. "And not just him, but Kaylah as well. The silver has chosen them, as it once chose others long ago. But Eris is not a danger to Haven. If guided well, he will be its shield, not its ruin. Kaylah, too, has healing power – not much now, but it will grow."
Ruvio's silence on Kaylah's other abilities spoke volumes, leaving unspoken the depth of her potential.
Elder Kehr's voice was laced with worry. "But I fear what he'll become if we don't guide him."
Elder Rhys's response was stark. "In my opinion, we must control him."
Elder Ruvio's calm demeanor was a counterpoint to Rhys's intensity. "Guidance, not control. We need to tread carefully, keep this quiet for now. If the people learn the silver has chosen him, fear will take hold, and Haven will be torn apart."
Ruvio's voice dropped to a low tone. "Let's not discuss what we can't change, Rhys. The question is what we do next."
The chamber fell silent, the only sound the low crackle of torches. After a moment, Elder Faren leaned back, his fingers steepled. "Then we must prepare to bring them home. What do you advise?"
"Send a recovery team at first light," Elder Ruvio replied. "Let Barik lead them. He will insist, and he knows the path. Choose your strongest hunters to accompany him, and men strong enough to bear the wounded. They'll also need carts to carry the remains of the beast. What lies in that cave will draw attention if left too long."
Elder Faren's nod was a silent understanding. "And you..." he asked.
Elder Ruvio's expression remained steadfast. "I'll remain in the shadows, unseen. The watchers are still out there, and they need to believe I'm merely protecting Eris – not revealing my own hand."
Elder Kehr frowned. "The Shadows... they still linger?"
"They never left," Elder Ruvio said. "But as long as I walk between them and the boy, they cannot touch him."
The elders exchanged uneasy glances. Finally, Elder Faren rose, his expression solemn. "Then it is settled. We move at dawn."
In perfect harmony, the elders stood, their voices blending in the familiar refrain: "For Haven, for all – one blood, one bond."
The words, imbued with tradition and meaning, echoed through the chamber, a reminder of the unshakeable bond that united them. As the last notes faded, the elders dispersed, their footsteps disappearing into the corridors above.
Ruvio was nowhere to be seen, having slipped away unnoticed, his message delivered.
They left Faren alone beside the dying fire, gazing into the fading embers, his thoughts consumed by the uncertain fate of his tribe. It was a persistent shadow that haunted his mind.
"May the Haven's walls hold... the silver stay bound within its rightful bearer," he silently prayed.
In the darkness beyond the door, Elder Rhys lingered, his presence a whispered breath. His boots scraped softly against the stone as he murmured into the darkness, "Mercy or not, if that boy brings ruin, I'll end it myself…"
***
[A Sister's Doubt, a Sister's Faith]
After the debriefing with the elders, Barik made his way to Kaylah's siblings, eager to deliver news of her safety. With a forced smile, he spun a tale of Eris' bravery and Kaylah's magical healing abilities.
Finally, he assured them, "They're safe and sound, and they've got a bounty to share… the gargantuan beast's carcass!" Barik exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with forced enthusiasm. "That fearsome creature's turned into a feast, and they're saving it all for you."
Barik approached Myrah, his finger lightly touching the tip of her nose. "And Myrah, you'll have enough meat to last a lifetime! Ha!" he teased, his grin mischievous.
"Okay, fine, maybe just a week... ugh, and who knows? Eris might catch you... not just a... A meal! But also a... A cute pet to play with! Ha!" He stammered, his words tumbling out in confused fragments, trying to lighten the mood and distract the youngest from her worries.
Myrah was already bouncing with joy, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Meat soup every day! Yay!" she exclaimed, her eyes gleaming with anticipation as she drooled almost visibly at the thought of steaming bowls and endless possibilities.
The others laughed when they saw Myrah's face aglow with excitement. But Barik's laughter died abruptly as he caught Lisei's gaze fixed on his torn and bloodstained clothes.
A flush rose to his cheeks as he remembered his disheveled state. His meeting with the elders was abrupt and had left him dazed; he'd forgotten to change. With a wry smile, he murmured a hasty excuse and beat a swift retreat, leaving the children and their antics behind.
After Barik left, Lisei stood frozen in the doorway, her fingers gripping the frame as she watched him disappear toward the Main Gate. "Something's wrong," she whispered, more to herself than anyone else. The faint scent of blood lingered in the air, and Barik's torn, stained clothes told a story that his words couldn't entirely mask. Despite his composed demeanor and the joyous tone of his words, his eyes betrayed the weight of what he'd seen.
Lisei turned to Luna, who was gently tucking a blanket around Myrah's sleeping form. "What happened?" Lisei whispered, her brow furrowed in concern. Just moments ago, her sister had been beaming with joy, now she was fast asleep. "How come?" Lisei asked, confusion etched on her face.
Luna met Lisei's gaze with a soothing smile. "I didn't want her to pick up on your worry," she explained softly. "I put her to sleep. She'll just remember the exciting parts of Barik's story, the adventure and the meat." Luna's voice was calming. "They'll be fine, Lisei. Ruvio's with them."
Lisei exhaled slowly, but her shoulders remained tense. "Did you notice... the blood... still fresh on Barik's torn clothes?"
Lisei exhaled shakily, her mind unraveling a nightmare of images; Eris and Kaylah lost in the ruins, surrounded by the snarling shapes of beasts and mutants, their silver veins flaring in the dark.
Luna knew Barik's words carried an undercurrent of unease, subtle enough to escape Myrah's innocent ears but not the discerning gazes of hers and Lisei's. Children might swallow tales of heroism and safety whole, but Lisei was old enough to read between the lines, her intuition sharpened by experience.
She saw the cracks in Barik's story. His face had been pale with exhaustion, and his clothes were ripped, dark, and stiff with dried blood; the stark evidence of a violence he had been too rushed to hide. The elders, in their urgency, had forgotten the simple decency of letting him change before being ushered into the council chamber. That raw display of combat had overridden every soft word Barik spoke.
Luna pushed away the scraps of cloth she was folding and moved closer to Lisei. She put her hand on Lisei's arm, a small, firm gesture.
"He told us the truth about their bravery," Luna said, her voice low and steady. "And I believe him about their safety, too. Remember that Elder Ruvio said he'll watch them before he leaves."
Lisei's breathing hitched.
"Elder Ruvio knew what was coming," Luna reassured her, tightening her grip. "He chose them to stay behind. He would not have left them if they were defenseless. Elder Ruvio is with them. Perhaps not in body, but in knowledge. He always protects his own. They are safe."
Lisei finally met her gaze, and the tension in her shoulders slowly eased. The name Elder Ruvio carried more weight than Barik's entire story. It was the only reassurance strong enough to counter the horror of the stain on Barik's clothes. She nodded once, a silent acceptance of the faith that was all they had left.
For a moment, the two sat in silence. Lisei nodded at last, though her eyes lingered on the fading embers in the hearth, as if she were watching them for a sign, a spark that might reach across the miles to where her brother and sister lay.
"You're right," she whispered finally, her voice barely audible. "The Elder was with them. Nothing bad will happen." Her gaze returned to Myrah, and for a moment, she seemed to draw strength from her sister's peaceful slumber.
***