The air was heavy with tension the following morning.
Elara stood in the center of the strategy room, arms crossed, as the others finalized the details of their plan. The weight of her decision pressed down on her, but she held her ground.
She knew what she was getting into.
Orion, however, was still visibly displeased. He sat with his arms folded, jaw tight as he listened to the discussion. Kai and Sylva took turns mapping out escape routes and backup plans, but Elara could feel Orion’s gaze on her, burning with silent disapproval.
She ignored it.
"We need to make it believable," Kai said, pointing to a section of the map. "If they think Elara is alone, they’ll come for her. But we have to be close enough to intervene before things go south."
Sylva nodded. "I’ve prepared a few enchantments that will act as early warnings. The moment they step into our trap, we’ll know."
Elara glanced at Orion. "And if things go wrong?"
His response was immediate. "Then we burn them to the ground."
Kai let out a low whistle. "Someone’s in a good mood."
Orion shot him a glare. "This isn’t a joke."
Kai raised his hands in surrender. "Never said it was."
Elara exhaled. "Alright. Let’s do this."
---
That evening, Elara stood alone in the castle gardens, bathed in the glow of the setting sun. The warmth of the day was fading, replaced by a crisp night breeze.
She was the bait.
She knew they were watching. She could feel it.
The shadows between the trees seemed deeper than usual, the silence heavier. Her pulse quickened, but she kept her breathing steady.
Then—movement.
A flicker in the darkness. A whisper of footsteps on grass.
They were here.
Elara turned her head slightly, giving the illusion that she hadn’t noticed. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to run, to prepare for an attack, but she held her ground.
Wait for it.
A branch snapped behind her.
She pivoted just in time to see a hooded figure lunging toward her.
---
Chaos erupted.
Elara barely had time to dodge before another figure emerged from the shadows. They were fast—too fast—but she was ready.
She ducked under a blade, twisting to the side. Magic surged through her veins, and she threw up a barrier just in time to block a second strike.
"Now!" she shouted.
The garden exploded with movement.
Kai and Sylva sprang from their hiding spots, weapons drawn. Orion moved like a shadow, his sword cutting through the air as he intercepted one of the attackers.
The fight was brutal. The Forgotten Order’s assassins were skilled, but they had underestimated them.
Elara focused on the figure closest to her. She raised her hands, summoning energy, and sent a wave of force crashing into her opponent. They stumbled but didn’t fall.
"Persistent," she muttered.
The assassin lunged again. Elara ducked, sweeping her leg out to trip them. They hit the ground hard.
But before she could react, a sharp pain shot through her arm.
She gasped, looking down. A thin dagger had grazed her skin, leaving a shallow but burning wound.
Poison.
Orion saw it happen.
His eyes darkened, and for the first time, Elara saw rage.
The battle shifted.
Orion moved with deadly precision, cutting through their enemies with terrifying efficiency. His blade flashed under the moonlight, and one by one, the assassins fell.
By the time the last one hit the ground, silence had returned.
Elara swayed slightly, the poison already making her dizzy.
Orion caught her before she could fall.
"You’re hurt," he said, his voice low.
Elara managed a weak smile. "Just a scratch."
His grip on her tightened. "Don’t do that. Don’t act like it’s nothing."
She blinked up at him, surprised by the intensity in his gaze.
Kai and Sylva approached, checking the bodies of their attackers. "Looks like we got them all," Kai said. "But something feels… off."
Sylva knelt beside one of the fallen assassins. She frowned, brushing her fingers over their cloak. "These symbols…"
Elara, still leaning against Orion, narrowed her eyes. "What about them?"
Sylva hesitated. Then, in a grim voice, she said,
"This wasn’t just an attack. This was a warning."
Orion’s grip on Elara tightened. "Then we send one back."
Elara’s vision blurred slightly, the poison making her sluggish. But despite the pain, she forced herself to stand.
Because she knew this wasn’t over.
It was only the beginning.
---
Elara sat in the dimly lit chamber, her arm throbbing from the wound she had received earlier. The poison had slowed her down, but thanks to Sylva’s quick intervention, it hadn’t spread far. Still, exhaustion clung to her like a second skin.
Orion hadn’t left her side.
He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his gaze locked onto her. There was something unreadable in his expression—frustration, maybe even anger—but he said nothing.
"You're staring," Elara muttered.
"You scared me." His voice was low, but the weight behind it was undeniable.
She blinked. "I was fine."
"You were poisoned."
"Just a little."
"That's not funny."
Elara sighed, tilting her head back against the chair. "We got what we needed, didn't we?"
Orion exhaled sharply. "At what cost?"
Before she could answer, the door creaked open, and Kai stepped in, carrying a tray of warm tea and a few bandages. "Alright, lovebirds, break it up. We have more pressing matters to discuss."
Orion shot him a glare. "Not in the mood, Kai."
Kai smirked but wisely chose not to push further. He set the tray down on the table and took a seat across from them. "So, here’s the problem. Sylva examined those assassins more closely, and she was right. This wasn’t just an attempt to kill Elara."
Elara sat up. "What did she find?"
Kai’s expression turned serious. "They wanted to mark you."
She frowned. "Mark me?"
Orion’s grip on the chair tightened. "Explain."
Kai tapped his fingers against the table. "The symbols on their cloaks weren’t just insignias of the Forgotten Order. They were binding seals. If they had succeeded, Elara wouldn’t just be dead—she would have been bound to their cause. Mind, body, and soul."
A chill ran down her spine.
She had encountered dark magic before, but this… this was different.
"So, what do we do?" she asked quietly.
Kai leaned back. "We find out who sent them. And we end this before they try again."
---
Later that night, Elara found herself standing by the castle balcony, staring at the endless expanse of stars above.
Despite the exhaustion, sleep wouldn’t come.
She felt Orion’s presence before he spoke.
"You should be resting," he said.
"So should you."
Orion leaned against the railing beside her, silent for a moment. "You’re not scared?"
She hesitated. "Of what?"
"Of them coming back. Of what could have happened tonight."
Elara exhaled, her breath visible in the cold night air. "I don’t have time to be scared."
His gaze lingered on her before he said, "You don’t always have to be strong, you know."
She turned to face him fully, searching his face. "And if I’m not?"
Orion’s expression softened just a fraction. "Then let someone else be strong for you."
Elara’s heart skipped a beat.
It was rare for Orion to speak like this—to let his guard down, even a little. But she knew he meant it.
She looked away, focusing back on the stars. "Maybe one day."
Orion didn’t push. He just stood beside her, silent but unwavering.
And for tonight, that was enough.
---
The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and lingering embers from last night’s fire. Elara tightened the cloak around her shoulders as she stepped out of the castle, feeling the weight of everything that had happened settle onto her shoulders.
The others were already awake.
Kai was hunched over a map spread across a makeshift table, muttering to himself. Sylva was tending to her herbs, crushing dried leaves into a fine powder. And Orion—well, Orion was standing near the edge of the courtyard, arms crossed, watching her like he had been doing for the past few days.
She was getting used to it.
"Good morning," she said as she approached.
"You didn’t sleep," Orion noted.
She shrugged. "Neither did you."
He didn’t argue. Instead, he nodded toward the others. "We need to move soon. Kai thinks he found something."
Kai, overhearing them, waved a hand. "I know I found something. Whether it’s good or bad news depends on how much you like surprises."
"Not in the mood for riddles," Orion muttered, walking over.
Elara followed, glancing down at the map. "What did you find?"
Kai tapped a marked location. "This is where the assassins were supposed to regroup. It’s not a fortress, not even a hideout—it’s a ruin. Abandoned for centuries."
"Then why go there?" Elara frowned.
Kai grinned. "That’s the fun part. It’s not abandoned. Someone’s been using it. And if my sources are right, it’s where they were planning to take you."
Silence.
Orion’s hand clenched into a fist. "We leave now."
Sylva sighed, setting down her herbs. "At least let me finish my tea first."
---
The journey was rough.
Dense forests, uneven terrain, and Kai complaining every five minutes about his legs cramping.
"Maybe if you actually trained instead of lounging around—" Orion started.
"Okay, first of all," Kai interrupted, "lounging is an art. And second, I do train. I just prefer situations where I don’t have to use it."
Elara rolled her eyes, adjusting the sword at her hip. The banter was familiar, comforting even, but she knew they were all on edge.
As they neared the ruins, the air changed.
It was subtle at first—a shift in the wind, the way the trees seemed too still. Then came the whispers.
Faint, almost indistinguishable. Voices carried on the wind, speaking in a language Elara didn’t recognize.
"Tell me I’m not the only one hearing that," Kai muttered.
"You’re not," Sylva confirmed, her hand resting on the dagger strapped to her thigh.
Orion drew his sword. "Stay close."
Elara did the same, heart pounding.
The ruins were just ahead—dark stone, crumbling towers, and an eerie glow emanating from within.
Something was waiting for them.
And it had been expecting them.