The morning sun filtered through the stained-glass windows of The Frosty Dawn’s modest common room. Ventania and the Doombroks gathered around a heavy wooden table strewn with half-eaten breakfast plates, none quite sure how to begin. The events of the previous night at the Burnt Orchard weighed heavily: a mysterious rogue had demanded Ventania’s “horn,” revealing secrets she’d long concealed.

  Aeryn, the elven rogue, twirled a dagger idly. “That rogue, Esverna… she wants your horn. What horn?” She shot Ventania an apprehensive look. “We’ve never seen any horn on you.”

  Rathgar leaned forward, half-ogre arms folded protectively. Eldrin, the human mage, studied Ventania, worry etched on his brow. Ventania hesitated – these three had fought alongside her for years, yet she’d hidden a lifetime of truths. But she could no longer remain silent.

  Finally, she exhaled shakily. “There’s something I never told you,” she began. “I’m not… entirely human.” Her gaze flicked over their faces. “I was born in Brocéliande to two unicorns of the highest order, Seralyne and Azarion. I’ve hidden my horn with illusions.”

  Silence slammed over the table. Aeryn’s eyes widened in disbelief. Eldrin blinked behind his spectacles, half remembering old legends. Rathgar made a soft grunt of amazement.

  “You’re a… unicorn?” Aeryn whispered. “But how—”

  Ventania forced a nod. “I concealed it. I never told anyone, not at the Academy, not even you. My parents vanished when I was small, taken by a group that apparently uses the same symbol Roy had on his demon scroll. I needed to keep my identity hidden for safety.”

  Eldrin gently reached for her hand. “You are our friend no matter your nature,” he said softly. “We suspected something… unusual. But you’re still you.”

  A flicker of relief lit Ventania’s pinkish-red cheeks. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I feared you’d see me as some monster or deception.”

  “Monster? Bah,” Rathgar rumbled, patting her shoulder. “You’re family here, lass.”

  Their moment of acceptance ended swiftly when Eldrin leaned in, alarm in his voice: “Vent, your skin— it’s redder now. It was pinkish before. And your eyes… they have a strange glow.”

  Rathgar frowned, noticing it too. Aeryn looked Ventania over in concern. Ventania swallowed, bracing herself. “I have another secret,” she said, voice trembling. “My left arm isn’t just a normal transplant. It’s from a high demon, and I meddled with the runes to make it appear normal.”

  That made them recoil. “A demon’s arm?” Aeryn blurted. “Vent, how could you keep that from us?”

  Ventania hunched her shoulders. “I… was afraid you’d think me broken. I accepted the transplant after a demon severed my original arm. Then I went further, messing with necromantic forging to hide the demon-limb’s true form. Now, it’s changing me more than I realized. I can see auras, for instance.”

  Eldrin’s mind raced, connecting the pinkish hue to infernal synergy. Rathgar let out a troubled sigh, hooking his thumbs in his belt. Aeryn’s lips parted in dismay, but her gaze held empathy. “Why hide something so huge?”

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  “Because I didn’t want you to pity me,” Ventania admitted softly. “Or see me as some half-demon monstrosity, especially with my unicorn lineage. But last night, I realized it’s past hiding.”

  Amid the stunned hush, Eldrin ventured carefully: “If you are indeed a unicorn from Brocéliande, that suggests old legends about a child of prophecy—someone born in a cataclysmic storm. I’ve read that such a being could either save the world or tear it asunder.”

  Aeryn’s eyes widened. “Is that the same storm you were born in?”

  Ventania nodded grimly. “Yes. Ferlin mentioned it. I never told you because it sounded like a fairytale. But with Roy’s demon fiasco, the rogue’s clues, and my parents’ captivity… I can’t deny something big is at play.”

  Rathgar rumbled, “A demon-limb unicorn. That’s… quite the combination.” His paternal gaze softened. “We’ll figure this out, lass.”

  Ventania’s eyes shone with gratitude. “You’re not… repelled?”

  “We traveled together for years,” Aeryn said firmly. “We’ve faced monstrous foes and illusions. This? You are family.”

  Her chest tightened, relief warring with the darkness swirling inside. “Thank you.”

  Eldrin exhaled slowly. “We can’t handle this alone. If your prophecy is overshadowed by demon synergy, we need an expert.”

  “Exactly,” Ventania agreed. “Ferlin is the only one I trust. My old teacher in the forest. We parted on… complicated terms, but if anyone understands bridging synergy or healing demon corruption, it’s him.”

  Rathgar nodded. “Where do we find him?”

  Ventania shrugged. “He roams. Last I heard, he was exploring arcane ruins west of here. We must track him. Once I gain clarity, we can figure out how to rescue Seralyne and Azarion.”

  Aeryn tightened a fist. “Let’s do it. We’ll gather supplies, maybe do a few more quests to fund travel. Then we head west.”

  Thus, the group set their plan: find Ferlin, glean how to stabilize or purge the demon-limb, and see if Ventania’s prophecy must inevitably lead to world-shaking events. Only after that would they attempt the rescue mission in the Dark Elves’ domain.

  Despite the tension, a soft warmth settled around them. They realized how dangerously far Ventania had traveled alone, physically and emotionally. One by one, they pledged their unwavering loyalty. Aeryn raised her dagger, pressing it gently to her palm as though forming a pact. Rathgar laid a broad hand on Ventania’s shoulder. Eldrin folded his arms in a solemn gesture.

  Ventania swallowed thickly. “You’re all risking so much just by standing with me…” her voice quavered. “I’ll never lie or hide anything from you again.”

  Eldrin gave a kind nod. “Then allow us to vow the same. We do nothing alone. We share knowledge, burdens, secrets.”

  Rathgar rumbled, “Your demon-limb, your unicorn nature—none of it drives us apart. We’re Doombroks.” He flashed a rare grin.

  Aeryn lightly tapped her dagger against Ventania’s staff. “We vow to face the storms together.”

  Ventania’s throat tightened with mingled relief and love for these companions. She dipped her head and whispered, “I vow, too. No more secrets, no more illusions. You’re my family.”

  In that silent moment, their hands met in the center of the table—Ventania’s staff, Aeryn’s dagger, Eldrin’s scroll, Rathgar’s gauntleted hand. They sealed the vow with hushed determination, forging a bond that ran deeper than any prophecy or demon-limb.

  With their vow renewed, they left the inn’s glow. Outside, the sun crept higher, bathing the farmland in mild spring light. The orchard fiasco behind them, an uncertain future ahead. But the Doombroks walked in step, hearts aligned in solidarity.

  Ventania glanced at the pinkish hue of her flesh, a swirl of dread and hope mingling in her chest. Her left horn, invisible to mortal eyes, felt like an ache. She was no longer alone in her secrets. She had the Doombroks—and for the first time in memory, she felt free.

  Aeryn brushed Ventania’s shoulder. “Let’s find Ferlin, then see about saving your parents.”

  Ventania nodded, synergy thrumming. “We will. And we’ll do it together.”

  Their horses whickered as they mounted up, forging westward with quiet resolve. In the hush of that dawn, Ventania rode side by side with her cherished companions, the vow of honesty and unity illuminating their path. Though the demon-limb synergy smoldered within her, she felt no fear. The Doombroks were at her side, prepared to face any prophecy or darkness that threatened their bond—and the world.

  End of Chapter 8