The weight of the morning’s conversation still lingered in Elara’s mind as she wandered through the castle halls. The idea that the Forgotten Order had been waiting for someone—waiting for her—made her stomach twist uncomfortably.
It wasn’t just paranoia. Orion’s hesitation, his careful choice of words, all pointed to the same thing. This wasn’t just about the Order resurfacing. It was about why now.
Elara sighed, rubbing her temples. "Why does everything always have to be so complicated?" she muttered to herself.
She turned a corner and nearly crashed into Kai.
"Woah there, princess," he teased, stepping back just in time. "Thinking so hard you forgot how to walk?"
Elara gave him a flat look. "I wasn’t—ugh, never mind. What do you want?"
Kai grinned. "You, me, Sylva, Orion. We’re having a strategy meeting."
Elara blinked. "Now?"
"Yes, now," Kai said. "Unless you have better things to do than figure out how not to get killed by a centuries-old secret order?"
She sighed. "Fine. Lead the way."
---
The meeting was held in a private chamber within the castle, away from prying ears. A large wooden table stood in the center, covered in maps, old books, and scattered notes.
Sylva was already seated, flipping through a leather-bound journal. Orion stood near the window, arms crossed, lost in thought.
Elara took a seat, eyeing the mess of documents. "Alright. Let’s talk."
Kai leaned against the table. "So, what do we know?"
Sylva pushed a map toward them. "We know that the Forgotten Order was supposed to have disappeared centuries ago, but recent attacks prove otherwise. Their members are well-trained, well-informed, and, more importantly, they seem to have been watching us for a long time."
Elara frowned. "Watching me."
Sylva nodded. "It’s the only thing that makes sense. They weren’t just targeting random people. They were targeting you."
Orion finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. "We need to figure out what they want with you. And we need to do it fast."
Elara exhaled slowly, staring at the table. "If they’ve been waiting for me, then that means they have a plan. And if they have a plan… then I must be important to it."
Kai whistled. "That’s not ominous at all."
Orion ignored him. "We have two choices. We can go on the defensive—fortify our position, prepare for an attack. Or we can go on the offensive—find them before they find us."
Sylva folded her arms. "And how do you propose we do that? They’ve been in hiding for centuries. If they don’t want to be found, we won’t find them."
A silence settled over the group.
Then, Elara said, "What if we make them come to us?"
Kai raised an eyebrow. "You have a plan?"
She hesitated, then nodded. "They want me, right? Then I’ll give them an opportunity to take me."
Orion stiffened. "No."
Elara turned to him. "Orion—"
"No," he said again, his voice sharper this time. "Absolutely not."
She frowned. "It’s the fastest way to draw them out. If they think I’m vulnerable—"
"Then they will take you," Orion snapped. "This isn’t a game, Elara. You’re playing with your life."
Elara met his gaze. "And what do you suggest? That we sit around and wait for them to make the first move? We don’t have time for that, Orion."
His jaw clenched. For a long moment, he didn’t speak.
Then, quietly, he said, "There has to be another way."
Kai, who had been watching the exchange with interest, finally spoke. "As much as I love watching you two argue, we still need a plan. Elara’s idea is risky, but she’s not wrong. If they want her, we can use that against them."
Sylva sighed. "We just need to make sure we control the situation. If we do this, we do it our way."
Orion still looked like he wanted to argue, but he stayed silent.
Elara softened slightly. "I’ll be careful."
His eyes met hers, unreadable. "You better be."
---
Later that night, Elara found herself outside, staring up at the stars.
She heard footsteps behind her.
"You should be resting," Orion said.
She glanced at him. "So should you."
He exhaled through his nose, stepping closer. "I don’t like this plan."
"I know."
He was quiet for a moment. Then, softly, he said, "You scare me sometimes."
Elara blinked. "What?"
Orion looked away. "You take too many risks. You act like your life doesn’t matter as much as everyone else’s."
Her breath hitched. "That’s not true."
"Then stop acting like it is."
The intensity in his voice made her heart clench.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Then, hesitantly, Orion reached out—just a small movement, as if he wanted to touch her but wasn’t sure if he should.
Elara, without thinking, closed the distance, resting her head lightly against his shoulder.
Orion tensed, just for a second, before he let out a quiet sigh and relaxed.
They stood like that, in silence, under the stars.
Just for a moment.
Before the storm came.