The room fell into an uneasy silence. Everyone stared at the girl who had just spoken her name and heritage — Lilian of Astravelle. The air felt heavy, almost pressing down on their chests.
Lilian blinked, realizing the weight of her words. Oh no... I said it out loud. For a moment, she feared she had revealed too much. But then, a sly smirk crept onto her lips. Wait… maybe this could work in my favor. She straightened her posture, her prideful demeanor returning. If they know I'm from Astravelle, they'll think twice before doing anything. Maybe I can even get some resources out of this place… for free.
She giggled softly, a smug little sound that caught everyone's attention. Yet, when her eyes met Kairo's calm confusion and Theo's innocent curiosity, her confidence wavered. Only Shiri's sharp, reptilian eyes held any recognition — and concern.
Then Theo tilted his head, his expression pure as ever.
"Uh… Astra-what? Where is that place?"
Kairo nodded in agreement, looking equally puzzled. "Yeah, I've never heard of Astravelle before. Is it near our terratory or something?"
Lilian froze. Her lips parted slightly as her brain failed to process what she was hearing. "…What?" she muttered, almost in disbelief.
At that, Shiri groaned, dragging his clawed hand down his scaled face in utter frustration.
"For the love of the gods, you two…" he hissed, shaking his head. "You're both completely clueless."
He crossed his arms, tail twitching as he exhaled heavily. "Astravelle," he declared, "isn't somewhere near the likes of us. It's the strongest magical kingdom on the Forbidden Continent—just below the Three Absolutes themselves."
Kairo's expression hardened instantly. Lilian, hearing that, lifted her chin proudly, her violet eyes gleaming.
At last, she thought, (they understand)
Theo, still sitting on the edge of the table, blinked twice and tilted his head.
"I… still don't get it," he said flatly, munching on a leftover piece of meat.
Lilian froze mid-smirk, her face turning red from embarrassment. (He doesn't get it? After that grand reveal?) Her pride wavered, and she puffed her cheeks in frustration, muttering something under her breath.
Meanwhile, Kairo leaned back, his calm eyes narrowing slightly. (Someone from Astravelle… here? he thought. Of all places, why my territory? What could she be after?) He exhaled softly, rubbing his temple. "Alright," he finally said, "first, we need to understand what we're dealing with."
He turned toward Shiri. "Tell us about Astravelle."
Shiri nodded and opened his mouth to speak, but before he could utter a word—
"Let me do the honor!" Lilian interrupted, shooting up from her position with sudden enthusiasm.
Kairo flinched, startled by her energy. She's this lively after all those injuries? he thought. Theo just stared blankly, whispering, "She's weird…"
Lilian proudly placed a hand on her chest. "Astravelle," she began with a dramatic flair, "is a prestigious kingdom founded by the greatest magi to ever live—the ones who pioneered the art of magic itself on the Forbidden Continent! Our halls contain every secret of arcane power you could ever dream of. For centuries, we have stood at the forefront of magical progress, unmatched and eternal!"
Shiri sighed, crossing his arms. I should've been the one explaining… he muttered.
But Lilian continued, her voice filled with pride. "And our strength, our glory—it all comes from our belief in Eve, the Mother of Life and Magic."
Kairo's interest sharpened. "Eve?" he asked curiously.
Lilian turned to him, eyes wide. "You don't know about Eve? She's the first human and the first wielder of magic—the mother of mankind itself!"
Theo's eyes sparkled. "That's… amazing!" he exclaimed, his excitement matching Kairo's intrigue.
Lilian lifted her chin, her heart swelling with pride. Finally, she thought, (someone recognizes my greatness.) Kairo's and Theo's awe felt like music to her ears. She sat straighter, her chest puffed out like a victorious noble.
But her moment of triumph didn't last long.
Theo blinked, pointing toward the worn, pointy hat lying beside her. "That's cool and all," he said casually, "but… why do you have a witch's hat? Are you a real witch?"
Lilian froze for a moment, then quickly snatched the hat from the table. "This is no ordinary hat!" she declared dramatically. "She's called Hatty!"
"Hatty?" Theo echoed, eyebrows raised.
"Yes!" Lilian nodded seriously, placing it on her head with exaggerated care. "And I am a witch—no, the witch—destined to become a legendary one in the future!"
Her voice echoed with confidence… until the oversized hat suddenly drooped forward and covered her entire face.
Theo stifled a snort, but failed miserably, laughing aloud. "Can you even do magic?" he teased.
Lilian puffed her cheeks in frustration. "Of course I can!" she said indignantly. "Just watch!"
She raised her palm, focusing. A tiny flame flickered to life—glowing bright and steady.
Everyone paused. Even Kairo leaned closer, eyes gleaming. "So this is… magic," he muttered softly. "It feels different from the energy Onyx or Flint use…"
For a brief moment, the flame burned proudly. Then—puff!—it sputtered and turned into a small cloud of smoke.
Lilian froze, then began frantically waving her hand. "Wait! It's supposed to—oh no, come on!"
Theo burst into laughter, nearly falling off the table, tears forming in his eyes. "You call that magic?"
"Don't laugh at a lady!" Lilian shouted, face bright red.
Kairo cleared his throat, his tone turning calm but sharp. "Lilian… what were you doing in the ruins? And how did you end up here?"
The laughter died instantly. Lilian blinked, caught completely off guard.
Lilian froze at Kairo's question, her confident smile faltering. Oh no… oh no… I can't tell them I ran away from home! Panic flared across her violet eyes as she glanced between the three of them. Her mind spun wildly. Think, Lilian, think! If they find out I chickened out and ran from my family, I'll lose all credibility!
Her cheeks flushed red as she mumbled under her breath, "Come on, brain, work…" Then suddenly, her eyes brightened. "Ah! Right!" she said aloud, trying to sound composed.
"I'm totally a mage in training at the royal court," she began proudly, "and I was here for… uh, field training! You know, gaining real experience and all!"
Theo snorted, chuckling from the table. "Well, you definitely need the training part right."
Lilian glared at him, pouting, "You're so rude!" But she quickly cleared her throat and continued, her tone shifting to something more serious. "B-but I wasn't here by choice."
Kairo, who had been quietly watching her, leaned forward. "Not by choice? What do you mean by that?"
Lilian sighed, pretending to look exhausted by the memory. "While I was on my way to another location for training, I encountered a herd of beasts heading this way. Then—out of nowhere—they started chasing me!"
The room instantly changed. Theo's playful expression faded. Shiri straightened up, and Kairo's eyes narrowed.
"Beasts?" Kairo asked, his tone calm but edged with tension. "What did they look like?"
Lilian placed a finger on her chin, thinking. "It was dark… but they looked like big wolves. And—oh!—there was a red light shining around their necks."
Shiri's tail twitched. He repeated quietly, "Red light…" Then his expression turned grim. He covered his mouth with a clawed hand, thinking deeply.
Kairo noticed. "What is it, Shiri?"
Shiri finally spoke. "This is just a theory… but if that red light was consistent, it could mean they were under someone's control."
Kairo's eyes hardened. "You mean…?"
Shiri nodded. "Yes. Someone—or something—is commanding them."
Kairo stood from his chair, determination blazing in his blue eyes. "Theo, gather Flint and the troops. If someone intends to invade our land, they'll have to go through us first."
Shiri nodded. "Let's start setting up defenses. We can't let this be a repeat of last time."
Kairo smiled faintly. "Agreed."
As the two marched toward the door, Lilian blinked rapidly, realizing they were leaving. "W-wait! You might need… um… a strong witch's help!" she declared, puffing her chest with false bravery. "So I'll, you know, stay here—behind these safe walls—to… protect the base!"
Everyone turned to look at her. Kairo sighed, rubbing his temple. "Fine. Just don't cause trouble."
Lilian grinned nervously. "Of course not! I'm a professional!"
And so, the once-proud yet helpless witch found unexpected refuge beneath Kairo's steadfast and growing territory.
To be continued....