Silence followed my words.
The ancient stranger studied me carefully.
Kael looked… concerned.
Good.
Someone should be.
I crossed my arms.
"If I'm going anywhere with either of you, we set rules first."
The stranger raised a brow slightly.
"Rules?"
"Yes. I'm very fond of them suddenly."
Kael sighed quietly beside me.
Probably already regretting meeting me.
The stranger folded his hands behind his back.
"Speak, then."
"First," I said, "stop calling me 'heir.'"
A pause.
"I have a name."
His expression remained calm.
"…Diana."
Better.
"Second, nobody makes decisions for me anymore."
Kael glanced at me briefly.
Something unreadable in his eyes.
Approval maybe.
The stranger, however, looked unconvinced.
"You carry an ancient bloodline," he said. "Your choices affect more than yourself."
"And yet," I replied smoothly, "they're still my choices."
Silence.
Then
"Fair enough."
That surprised me.
I honestly expected another cryptic speech.
Progress.
"Third," I continued, "I want answers."
Kael rubbed his temple lightly.
"This will take a while."
"I've noticed everyone enjoys dragging conversations out."
The stranger ignored that.
"What answers?"
"All of them."
Simple.
Easy.
Reasonable.
"Who's hunting me. What I am. Why my powers are awakening now. And why every dangerous creature in existence suddenly knows my location."
A pause.
"Preferably in that order."
Kael almost smiled again.
Almost.
The ancient stranger nodded slowly.
"You deserve the truth."
Finally.
Someone with functioning logic.
"But not here," he added.
And there it was.
Disappointment.
I pointed at him immediately.
"That. That's the problem."
Kael looked away briefly.
Definitely hiding amusement now.
Traitor.
Another howl echoed through the forest.
Closer.
The stranger's expression hardened.
"They're moving faster."
Kael stepped forward slightly.
"We need to leave."
I frowned.
"And go where exactly?"
The ancient stranger answered this time.
"The Hollow."
The name alone sounded suspicious.
"What kind of place is called 'The Hollow' and isn't dangerous?"
Neither of them answered.
"…Right. That's comforting."
Kael looked toward me.
"You'll be safe there."
"People keep saying that before terrible things happen."
"This time I mean it."
The words came quickly.
Honestly.
I looked at him for a second longer than intended.
Dangerous mistake.
I looked away first.
Absolutely not.
The stranger turned toward the trees.
"We move now."
I stayed where I was.
Both of them noticed.
Kael sighed softly.
"What now?"
"I'm thinking."
"That's concerning."
I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Do you enjoy annoying me?"
"A little."
Rude.
I looked between them carefully.
One ancient mystery wolf.
One frustratingly calm protector.
And me
Apparently the center of everyone's problems.
My life had become ridiculous.
Still…
If stronger things were hunting me now, standing alone in the forest probably wasn't my best plan.
Annoying realization.
I hated those.
"Fine," I said at last.
Kael relaxed slightly.
Interesting.
"But if either of you lies to me again, I leave."
The ancient stranger nodded once.
"Understood."
Kael looked less confident about that agreement.
Smart man.
We started moving through the forest again.
This time together.
Uneasy.
Suspicious.
Temporary.
But together.
The silence lasted a few minutes before I spoke again.
"So," I said lightly, "does anyone want to explain why monsters keep trying to eat me?"
Kael glanced at me.
"No."
I stared at him.
"You're unbelievably unhelpful."
"I've been told that before."
The ancient stranger spoke calmly from ahead.
"The Void Beasts are drawn to ancient energy."
I frowned.
"So my bloodline is basically a giant warning signal?"
"Yes."
"…Fantastic."
Kael looked toward me again.
"You're handling this surprisingly well."
I scoffed softly.
"No, I'm coping aggressively."
That time
He actually laughed.
Brief.
Low.
Real.
The sound caught me off guard.
And judging by his expression
It surprised him too.
Interesting.
Very interesting.