Zelene lay awake long after Elias had vanished into the mist, her mind tangled in the weight of his words.
The Auryn — the ancient sentinels she'd once dismissed as bedtime stories. Legends scholars used to romanticize power they could never touch. Yet Elias had spoken of them as one who remembered. His voice hadn't carried the tone of myth… but of memory.
If those beings were real, she thought, then so was the Flame of Will.
The Crimson Auryn, the Flame who could judge and rewrite fate.
And if Elias was right… her family's downfall was no accident.
Her fingers curled over the fabric of her dress, the faint glow of dawn spilling through the window. If finding the Auryn means uncovering the truth behind Evandelle's fall… then I'll find them all.
She turned her gaze toward the bed. Ray was still asleep, his chest rising in steady rhythm, the faintest trace of color returning to his skin. For a brief moment, she allowed herself to breathe — quietly, carefully — like she was afraid to disturb the fragile peace between them.
He's done so much for me already, she thought, her chest tightening. I shouldn't drag him into more danger.
Morning
The first rays of sunlight spilled through the window, bathing the room in pale gold. Zelene had already made her decision.
"Ray," she said gently, setting a basin of cool water beside him, "you should rest a little longer. Your wounds aren't fully healed."
He groaned faintly, eyes half-open. "We can't stay too long… the longer we wait—"
"I know," she interrupted softly, forcing a small smile. "But I won't be selfish this time. You've done enough. Let me handle things for once."
Ray frowned, stubbornness flickering in his gaze. "Zel—Lynn," he corrected, "I can walk just fine."
"Then walk to the bed and rest," she countered.
He blinked, caught off guard by her tone. For a heartbeat, the air between them softened — her worry, his quiet exasperation — until he finally sighed in defeat. "You're impossible."
"I learned from the best," she said, a ghost of amusement in her tone before slipping out the door.
Outside, the air carried the scent of morning dew and freshly chopped wood. Elias and Finn were already at work near the small garden — though the atmosphere between them was… tense.
Elias worked in silence, his movements quieter than usual, his clumsiness tempered by a certain heaviness. Finn, on the other hand, moved with restrained annoyance, answering questions with short nods and clipped words.
When Zelene approached, both men paused.
"I can help," she offered softly, rolling up her sleeves.
Finn frowned, hesitant. "You should be resting."
She shook her head. "I need to do something useful."
He sighed, muttering something under his breath before handing her a basket of herbs. "Fine. Just… don't trip over Elias."
"Hey," Elias protested lightly, flashing a crooked smile. "That happened once."
"Twice," Finn corrected dryly. "Yesterday alone."
Zelene tried to stifle a laugh — but the memory of last night clung to the edges of her mind, making every word feel heavier than it should. The awkwardness lingered, unspoken yet palpable.
The sound of a door creaking drew their attention.
Ray stood there, leaning slightly against the frame, dressed in borrowed clothes — simple, worn, the kind a traveler might wear. He looked around, his eyes settling first on Zelene, then on Elias.
"Morning," he said, voice rough but steady.
Elias turned, his smile warm. "Good to see you up and walking."
Zelene's hands stilled, the air between them tightening for a moment as she watched the two exchange polite words. If what Elias said was true… does Ray even know?
Did he realize he carried the gift of the Aureate Auryn — the power to stir hearts and twist fate itself?
Her thoughts drifted back to that night when Darius had been following them at the Dravenhart's manor. The air had grown heavy — and Darius himself had faltered, his conviction crumbling under Ray's gaze.
She hadn't understood it then. She thought it was just his gift.
Now she wasn't so sure.
Everything was happening too fast — too much to understand, too much to believe.
Her hands stilled on the basket as her thoughts slipped to another name — Kael.
His quiet strength. The way he stood, unflinching, even when the world burned around them.
I hope you're safe, she thought. You, your house… all of them.
The morning light warmed her skin, but her heart remained cold with uncertainty — for every truth she uncovered seemed only to lead her deeper into a world she no longer recognized.
And somewhere in the distance, beyond the trees and the fog, the path to Dravenhart waited — carrying both answers and the storm that would come with them.