Chapter 15

  Several hours later, Eldric, Fiora, Rendrick, and Nyssa collapsed onto the soft grass of a clearing just beyond Oaklea. The group lay scattered, their chests heaving as they struggled to catch their breath. The golden rays of the setting sun cast a warm glow over the field, but their minds were far from serene.

  “Why… Why were we sent here?” Eldric finally asked, his voice raspy as he gulped for air.

  “Peace?” Nyssa repeated, her tone a mix of confusion and disbelief. “Are we really going to have peace with them?”

  “Maybe Cerys sent us here to observe how the citizens reacted to the news,” Fiora offered, her breathing still uneven as she tried to make sense of it all.

  “That makes sense to me,” Rendrick added, swiping a hand across his sweaty forehead. He glanced at the others. “Though it sure didn’t feel like a mission worth all this effort.”

  Fiora pulled her satchel off her shoulder and retrieved a flask of water. The others quickly followed her lead, uncapping their flasks and taking long, grateful sips.

  “It’s getting late,” Fiora observed, her gaze fixed on the horizon where the sun’s amber hues slowly faded into twilight. She shifted her attention back to the group. “We should set up camp here and continue to Aldcliff at first light. Alicia needs to know what we’ve discovered as soon as possible.”

  “Yeah, no kidding,” Eldric muttered, lowering his flask. His thoughts were still a jumble. “That place was nothing like what I expected.”

  “Same here,” Rendrick agreed, leaning back and letting out a slow breath. “I was expecting something… a lot more sinister.” He poured water into his palm and splashed it across his face, the coolness offering some relief from the day’s journey.

  Nyssa flopped onto her back, arms stretched out, a dreamy look crossing her face. “Peace,” she murmured, almost wistfully. “That would be so grand.”

  Fiora pushed herself to her feet, brushing stray blades of grass from her trousers. “Well, let’s get to work setting up camp,” she said with a grunt, snapping the others out of their reveries. The group exchanged tired glances but rose without complaint. Together, they worked to stomp out a patch of grass large enough to accommodate them for the night.

  Fiora rummaged through her bag and pulled out a small lantern, setting it in the center of the makeshift camp. Its soft glow began to chase away the encroaching darkness. “Clearly, it’s too dangerous to start a campfire,” she said, gesturing toward the lantern. “We’ll have to make do with this.”

  The others grunted in acknowledgment, each seeking a comfortable place to lie down.

  “Well, I’m going to bed,” Fiora said, settling on her side. She wrapped her cloak tightly around her. “As I said, we’ll start again first thing in the morning.”

  Rendrick stretched out on his back and let out a long sigh. “Sounds goo…” His voice trailed off midsentence as sleep overtook him almost instantly.

  Nyssa caught sight of Eldric, who sat with his eyes fixed on the faint glow of the lantern. Its light flickered weakly, casting long shadows across his face. “You going to bed?” she asked through a stifled yawn.

  “In a bit,” Eldric replied, his gaze unmoving.

  “Well then, I’ll see you in the morning,” Nyssa said with a cheerful smile before rolling over and closing her eyes.

  Fiora, still awake, lay on her side, her attention drawn to Eldric. Tears welled up in her eyes, though she wasn’t sure why. “Goodnight,” she called softly, her voice trembling slightly. She lingered in silence for a moment, watching him, before the weight of exhaustion finally pulled her into a deep sleep.

  With the others lost in slumber, Eldric remained seated. He leaned forward, resting his head in his arms. His mind raced with thoughts he couldn’t quiet. “What am I going to do?” he whispered to himself with a heavy sigh.

  Fiora woke suddenly, the steady chirping of crickets filling the cool night air. Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes and scanned the clearing. Above her, a sea of stars shimmered like scattered diamonds in the pitch-black sky, the only source of light now that the lantern had long since burned out.

  She glanced toward where Eldric had been lying but found his spot empty. Her heart sank momentarily before determination set in. Rising quietly, she scanned the clearing until she caught sight of him standing some distance away, silhouetted by the faint glimmer of starlight. Without hesitation, she hurried after him.

  Eldric came to a halt beside a small, babbling stream. Cupping his hands, he dipped them into the cool water, then brought the handful to his lips. The refreshing drink seemed to rejuvenate him. As he straightened, he tilted his head back, his eyes fixed once again on the vast expanse above.

  “You sure do like looking up at the sky, don’t you?” Fiora whispered, her voice soft but teasing, hoping to startle him.

  To her surprise, Eldric turned around calmly, a small smile playing on his lips. “Yeah, I do,” he said lightly. “And you sure like to follow me.” He took a step toward her but stumbled over a low-lying bush.

  The sudden motion sent a cloud of fireflies scattering into the air. Their tiny glowing bodies floated upward like embers from a fire, swirling against the dark backdrop of the night. Eldric flinched and let out a startled gasp, then chuckled as he watched the fireflies drift away.

  Fiora couldn’t help but laugh softly, the tension in her chest easing. “You’re such a klutz,” she teased, crossing her arms.

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  Eldric smiled sheepishly. “Maybe, but at least I gave us a light show.”

  Fiora giggled softly, her laughter light as the drifting fireflies. “Sure, I can’t sneak up on you, but a bunch of harmless fireflies can scare your pants off.”

  Eldric smirked and rolled his eyes. “Shut up.” His voice carried a teasing warmth as he turned to look at her. The fireflies illuminated her face, their soft glow enhancing her features. For a fleeting moment, he found himself captivated, his gaze lingering. Her brownish-green eyes glistened in the dim light, reflecting the fireflies’ dance around them.

  Realizing the silence between them was stretching uncomfortably long, Eldric quickly averted his gaze, focusing instead on the starry expanse above. “I didn’t think it would bother you,” he said finally, breaking the stillness.

  Fiora’s soft smile vanished, replaced by a pained expression. “Why?” she choked, her voice trembling. “Why her of all people?” She paused, her emotions bubbling to the surface. “It should have been me. I even changed for you! I started pretending to be nice to them so you wouldn’t hate me. I tried so hard to make you like me, yet you still rejected me!”

  Eldric turned to her, his brow furrowed in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

  Fiora’s breaths came fast and shallow as she fought to regain her composure. She wiped her tear-streaked face with the back of her hand. “I was told I’d lose you if I stayed the way I was,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “So, I tried to change. For you! And in the end, I still lose.”

  Eldric stepped closer, his voice firm yet gentle. “Who on earth gave you such an absurd idea?”

  “Cerys,” Fiora admitted, her words spilling out through her sobs. “She said if I didn’t start getting along with the team and stop being so possessive, you’d leave me.” Her shoulders shook as fresh tears fell.

  Eldric stared at her for a moment, then burst into a chuckle. Reaching out, he gave her cheek a light, playful slap. “You idiot,” he said with a laugh. “I liked you just the way you were.”

  Fiora froze, her tears halting as she stared at him in disbelief. “You… you liked me the way I was?”

  “Of course, I did,” Eldric said softly, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “You’ve always been you, and that’s what I’ve cared about. This fake persona you’ve been putting on is honestly pretty annoying.”

  Fiora blinked, stunned. Slowly, the weight of his words began to lift the burden on her heart. “You liked me… just as I was?” she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

  Eldric nodded, his expression gentle. “Yeah.”

  Without warning, Fiora wiped the last of her tears away and stepped forward, wrapping her arms tightly around him. Eldric hesitated for only a moment before returning the embrace. Together, they stood in the moonlit clearing, the gentle hum of nature their only witness. They turned their gaze skyward, the vast tapestry of stars above them offering a quiet solace.

  After a long silence, Fiora finally spoke. “I was thinking about what you said last night,” she began, her voice steadier now. “About settling down and living a life of peace.”

  Eldric tilted his head slightly, his attention fully on her.

  “Well,” she continued, stepping back just enough to look him in the eyes, “after everything we saw today, I’ve changed my mind. I agree with you.” A small smile broke across her face. “I think it’s something we should do.”

  She stepped fully out of his arms and stood before him, her expression resolute. “But only if I get to spend that time with you,” she added, her voice filled with a quiet determination.

  Eldric stared at her, his heart swelling as he processed her words. For the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to imagine a future filled with peace, and her by his side.

  Eldric smiled softly at Fiora. “Of course. We could live out the rest of our lives in peace—no war between Oaklea and Aldcliff, no cloaked women haunting us…” His voice trailed off as he noticed Fiora’s face turning several shades of red. “Hey, are you okay?” he asked, his brow furrowing in concern.

  Fiora briefly looked down at the ground before meeting his gaze, her eyes shimmering with a mixture of determination and vulnerability. Taking a deep breath, she spoke.

  “Eldric, I love you!” The words tumbled out in a rush. “I want you to stay with me forever. You make me feel safe!” She clamped her eyes shut, her body trembling as she awaited his response.

  Eldric froze, caught off guard by her sudden confession. He stared at her, struggling to find the right words. “Fiora… I…”

  Before he could finish, Fiora rose onto her toes and kissed him softly. The moment lingered, but when she pulled back, Eldric’s expression remained one of confusion and surprise. “Fiora, I…” he started again, but his words were once more cut short, not by Fiora this time, but by the sound of distant footsteps.

  The rhythmic pounding grew louder, and the crickets fell eerily silent. Fiora’s wide eyes locked with Eldric’s in alarm. Without a word, they bolted back to camp.

  “What’s going—” Nyssa began to whisper groggily, only for Eldric to violently shake her awake. He pressed a finger to his lips, silencing her protest. Before she could argue further, she heard it too, the unmistakable sound of hundreds, maybe thousands, of boots marching in unison.

  Nearby, Fiora hurriedly woke Rendrick, motioning for him to grab his gear. The group worked quickly, cleaning the area of any trace of their presence. They crouched low in the tall grass just as the first wave of burly soldiers marched past on the trail.

  The men were heavily armed, carrying swords, axes, and shields, their faces grim with purpose. The rhythmic clinking of armor and the muffled grunts of soldiers filled the air as the endless battalion moved forward. The group watched in stunned silence, their breathing shallow as they tried to remain unseen.

  As the last of the rear guard passed, Fiora signaled the group to follow. They crept after the battalion, keeping to the shadows and tall grass. The march seemed endless, but as the morning sun began to rise, they finally saw the towering gates of Oaklea materialize in the distance.

  “Maybe they’re Oaklea’s troops returning from a mission?” Eldric suggested, though doubt laced his tone.

  “I doubt it,” Rendrick replied, his eyes narrowing. “Something about this feels… wrong.”

  The tension in the air snapped as the city gates suddenly lurched open. Hundreds of Oaklea’s guards poured out to meet the incoming soldiers. For a fleeting moment, it seemed like the guards might hold the line, but then the opposing battalion roared in unison, their voices echoing like thunder.

  “For the Great Cities!” they bellowed as they surged forward, crashing into the Oaklea guards with terrifying ferocity.

  “What’s going on?” Nyssa shrieked, panic evident in her voice.

  “I don’t know,” Fiora shouted back, her face pale, “but we need to get back to Aldcliff right now! Something is seriously wrong!”

  Without hesitation, the group turned and sprinted away from the chaos. Their legs burned, and time became a blur as they pushed forward in a desperate race. The sun climbed higher in the sky, but no one dared to slow down.

  Finally, they crested the last ridge overlooking Aldcliff—and came to a dead stop.

  Eldric’s breath hitched in his throat as his wide eyes took in the devastation below. All six cities of the Great Republic were engulfed in flames. The once-proud towers that had defined the skyline were nothing more than smoldering piles of rubble. The air was thick with black smoke, rising like funeral pyres into the heavens.

  Screams echoed faintly, barely audible over the deafening roar of the inferno. The acrid stench of burning wood and stone clawed at their throats.

  “No…” Eldric whispered, his voice cracking as despair gripped him. “This… this can’t be real…”

  The group stood frozen, their faces pale and their hearts pounding in unison. Their peaceful lives had shattered in an instant, and an overwhelming sense of dread settled upon them as they stared at the carnage.

  Whatever peace they had hoped for was gone.