Life in Eldermire settled into a rhythm—a comforting one, almost normal.
Almost.
Because peace, for the Dureth twins, never lasted long.
Their world was growing larger, brighter, more complicated… and cracks were already forming beneath their feet.
A City of Wonders
Eldermire was alive in a way Treece had never been.
During the mornings, the sounds of merchants hawking their wares echoed through the streets:
"Mana-infused bread! Twice the energy,
half the price!"
"Enchanted quills! Write your essays without lifting a hand!"
"Fresh fruit from the southern isles!"
Liam's eyes always sparkled at the
sight of adventurers in leather cloaks, swords strapped to their backs, boasting about monsters they'd slain.
"Someday," he whispered.
Evelyn rolled her eyes. "Not if Mom has anything to say about it."
But in truth, she loved Eldermire too.
Not for the battles or the knights—but for the stories.
The book district was her personal heaven. Entire streets lined with bookshops, floating lanterns guiding readers at night, and storytellers performing tales from ancient Vaerith.
Every time she dragged Liam along, she
left with at least one new romance novel, purchased with Liam's coin.
"You're draining my savings," Liam muttered one afternoon as she hugged three new books to her chest.
"They're investments," Evelyn said. "In my emotional wellbeing."
"That's what you said last time."
"And it was true then too."
He had no comeback for that.
Liam's Plan for Money
As Yuna struggled with grief, finances became tighter.
Liam—ever the problem-solver and overly determined reincarnated child—decided he would contribute.
His brilliant plan?
Become an adventurer.
A logical leap, in his mind.
He spent two weeks sneaking into low-ranking guild halls, asking questions, trying to sign up for quests.
He was rejected every time.
"Come back when you're older."
"You can't hold a longsword properly."
"We're not letting a seven-year-old
fight goblins."
So he tried odd jobs instead.
Delivering packages.
Cleaning stables.
Carrying crates for merchants.
Helping a blacksmith stoke his forge.
When Yuna found out, she nearly fainted.
"Liam Dureth!" she scolded, dragging him inside by the ear. "You could have been hurt!"
"I'm helping," Liam insisted. "We need money."
"We need you alive," Yuna corrected, voice cracking. "Let me worry about the rest."
Evelyn watched quietly, then later nudged Liam's shoulder. "Your heart's in the right place," she murmured. "Your brain, however, is in a very, very different place."
Evelyn's Secret Talent
While Liam trained with Garren, Evelyn
spent her free hours reading at Alyss's manor—curled up by a window, fire hovering harmlessly in her palm to warm her pages.
But she wasn't just reading romances.
She was writing them.
Late at night, when everyone slept,
Evelyn scribbled stories under the covers using a quill that sparked faint embers.
When Liam caught her one evening, she
yanked the notebook behind her.
"No peeking!"
"You're writing?" he asked, stunned.
"It's nothing," she muttered. "Just…ideas."
"About magic?"
"No."
"Monsters?"
"No."
"…romance?"
She turned bright red. "Shut up."
Liam grinned. "My sister, the novelist."
"I will set your pillow on fire."
He decided not to push further.
Nexi and the Alliance Festival
Eldermire was preparing for something big.
Banners of Kaereth and Vaerith fluttered side by side. Stalls selling elven jewelry, dwarven runes, orcish battle charms, and drow shadow lanterns lined the streets.
The Alliance Festival—a massive celebration marking the first year that Vaerith's races were allowed to study at the Academy of Eldermire—was days away.
And the Vaerith delegates, including Nexi's family, were at the center of it.
Liam saw her more often because of it.
Sometimes at the training estate.
Sometimes walking through the markets
with her mother.
Sometimes giving him the stink-eye for
no apparent reason.
When Evelyn learned this, she pounced.
"You should talk to her more," Evelyn
said one afternoon, poking Liam with a spoon.
"I talk to her plenty!"
"You argue with her."
"Same thing."
"No," Evelyn said. "It's not."
Liam frowned. "Why do you care?"
"Because," she said with a small smile, "it's nice seeing you smile at something that isn't a sword."
Liam didn't respond to that.
But he thought about it.
A lot.
Trouble in the Training Yard
Days before the festival, Liam arrived at Garren's estate to find Nexi already in the courtyard.
She was sparring with wooden staves
against one of Garren's knights—and holding her own. Her movements were fluid,
graceful, almost dance-like.
Liam watched, impressed.
Until she tripped.
On absolutely nothing.
And fell face-first into the dirt.
The knight froze.
Liam choked back a laugh.
Nexi sprang up, ears bright red. "I meant to do that!"
"Sure you did," Liam said.
She whirled on him. "You saw nothing!"
"I saw everything."
"Then you're blind."
"That doesn't make any sense."
"You don't make any sense!"
The knight wisely walked away.
Garren arrived seconds later.
"Good," he said. "You two are warmed up. Spar together."
"What?!"
"What?!"
"You heard me," Garren said. "Wooden
blades. First to land a hit wins."
Nexi grabbed a practice sword, chin high. "Try not to embarrass yourself."
"I'll try," Liam said. "But I can't make any promises about you."
Nexi's eye twitched.
The sparring began.
Liam was fast. Lightning-fast.
Nexi was precise. Like a needle aimed at his weak points.
They clashed again and again—wood
striking wood.
Nexi swept low.
Liam jumped.
Liam feinted left.
Nexi dodged right.
Then Nexi stepped too close, swung too
hard, overshot, and Liam tapped her shoulder lightly with his blade.
A hit.
Nexi froze.
Liam froze.
Garren coughed. "Match goes to Liam."
Nexi stared at the ground, mortified.
Liam shifted nervously. "You… um… you
were really good, though."
Nexi's head snapped up. "I lost."
"Yeah, but—"
"You beat me."
"Barely!"
"THAT'S WORSE!"
Liam had no idea what that meant.
But he noticed her ears were red again.
A Shadow Over the Festival
As Eldermire prepared for the Alliance
Festival, tensions simmered beneath the surface.
Whispers spread.
"Did you hear? Mana storms near the coast…"
"They say the raiders in the north have been acting strange…"
"Some claim the Blight reached another
fishing town…"
Most dismissed the rumors.
But Yuna stiffened every time she heard them.
And Liam noticed Garren spending more
time conferring with knights, brows furrowed.
Even Nexi's usually cheerful mother
looked troubled.
Something was wrong.
Something was coming.
The Twins at Sunset
One evening, Liam and Evelyn sat atop
the manor roof, legs dangling over the edge as they watched the sun dip behind Eldermire's skyline.
The sky blazed orange and red. Fire and lightning.
"Do you ever think," Evelyn asked softly, "that everything is happening too fast?"
Liam nodded. "Yeah."
"I keep feeling like…" She hugged her
knees. "Like the world is getting ready for something. Something big."
Liam swallowed. "I feel it too."
They fell into silence, the city buzzing below.
Evelyn nudged him gently. "Whatever it
is… we'll face it together, right?"
He squeezed her hand.
"Always."
Far across the sea, in Ostren, the Hand of Slaughter lifted his head.
He felt the spark of lightning.
He felt the flicker of fire.
He smiled.
The Blighted Gods had taken notice.
And the festival—the moment all the capital gathered in one place—would be the perfect time to strike.