The morning after the festival began peacefully.
Elara opened the shop early, arranging the goods on the shelves while the village slowly came to life.
Mira sat on a small wooden stool near the doorway, playing with the doll Kael had given her.
“Do you think Kael will come today?” Mira asked.
Elara continued arranging the goods.
“He has duties.”
“That means maybe?”
Elara smiled faintly.
“Yes. Maybe.”
Mira looked down at her doll, smiling.
“I think he'll come.”
Elara glanced at her.
“You seem very certain.”
“He always comes back.”
Elara paused.
Her eyes drifted toward the road.
For some reason, Mira's words stayed with her.
He always comes back.
The Capital
Kael stood in the training yard, his sword cutting through the air.
One strike.
Two.
Three.
He stopped and lowered his blade.
Aldric watched him from the side.
“You're distracted.”
Kael glanced at him.
“Am I?”
“Yes.”
“Maybe I'm tired.”
Aldric walked closer.
“You've been saying that for weeks.”
Kael gave a small smile.
Aldric studied him for a moment before speaking.
“Is it the girl?”
Kael fell silent.
Aldric laughed.
“So it is.”
Kael shook his head.
“I don't know.”
“You don't know what?”
“What this is.”
Aldric folded his arms.
“Then find out.”
Kael looked at him.
“How?”
“Talk to her.”
Kael let out a quiet laugh.
“That's easier said than done.”
Aldric smiled.
“You can fight ten men without hesitation, but you're afraid of talking to one woman?”
“I'm not afraid.”
“Of course not.”
Aldric turned and began walking away.
Kael shook his head, smiling to himself.
For a moment, the training yard felt peaceful.
Then a messenger hurried into the courtyard.
“Sir Kael!”
Kael turned.
“What is it?”
“A patrol sent along the western road hasn't returned.”
His smile disappeared.
“How long?”
“They were expected back yesterday.”
Aldric's expression immediately changed.
“Prepare the horses.”
The Western Road
Kael rode toward the western road with six soldiers.
The journey took them through a stretch of open land before they reached a small forest.
Something was wrong.
The patrol's horses were scattered near the trees. Their equipment lay abandoned, and one soldier was sitting against a tree, struggling to remain conscious.
Kael quickly dismounted and ran toward him.
“What happened?”
The injured soldier tried to speak.
“Men…”
“How many?”
“Too many.”
“Who were they?”
The soldier looked terrified.
“I don't know.”
Kael glanced around.
Footprints covered the ground, leading in different directions.
But there were no bodies.
No weapons.
Nothing that could explain what had happened.
Whoever had attacked the patrol had taken everything they could.
Kael slowly stood.
“Search the area. Look for anything they might have left behind.”
The soldiers spread out among the trees.
A few minutes later, one of them returned carrying a broken piece of metal.
“Sir, I found this.”
Kael took it.
It was part of a shield. The surface was damaged, but a symbol remained carved into the metal.
Kael recognized it immediately.
“The Western Kingdom.”
Aldric stepped closer.
“Are you certain?”
Kael nodded.
“Yes.”
Aldric's expression hardened.
“Take the injured soldier back to the capital. Report what happened to the King.”
One of the soldiers helped the wounded man onto a horse.
Kael continued staring toward the west.
“Something is happening.”
Aldric stood beside him.
“And now we know it isn't just a rumor.”
Kael tightened his grip on the broken piece of metal.
For the first time, the danger they had discussed in the royal hall had become real.
The Village
That evening, Elara was preparing to close the shop.
The village was quiet. Most people had already returned to their homes, and the last sunlight was fading behind the rooftops.
Mira was inside, helping prepare dinner.
Then Elara heard the sound of approaching horses.
She looked toward the road.
Kael appeared.
But something was different.
His armor was damaged. Dirt covered his clothes, and his expression was far more serious than usual.
Elara immediately stepped outside.
“What happened?”
“Nothing happened to me.”
Her eyes moved to his arm.
“Then why are you injured?”
Kael glanced down.
A small cut ran along his arm.
“It's nothing.”
Elara frowned.
“You always say that.”
Before he could answer, she took his hand.
“Come inside.”
Kael followed her.
She brought a small cloth and water, then carefully began cleaning the wound.
Mira watched from nearby.
“Did someone attack you?” Elara asked.
“A patrol was attacked.”
Her hands stopped.
“By whom?”
“We don't know for certain.”
Elara looked at him.
“But you have an idea.”
Kael nodded.
“The Western Kingdom.”
She became quiet.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then she asked,
“Does that mean war?”
Kael looked down.
“I hope not.”
Elara resumed cleaning his wound, but her expression had changed.
Her hands remained steady, even though her thoughts were elsewhere.
Kael noticed.
“You're worried.”
She looked at him.
“Of course I am.”
“Why?”
Elara hesitated.
Then she spoke quietly.
“Because the people I loved were taken from me once.”
Kael understood.
He knew how much she had lost. He also knew how hard she had worked to build a life for herself and Mira.
He gently placed his hand over hers.
“I'll be careful.”
Elara looked down at their hands.
Then she met his eyes.
“Promise?”
Kael nodded.
“I promise.”
For the first time, Elara didn't let go immediately.
Neither did Kael.
Mira quietly watched them, but said nothing.
Outside, the evening wind moved through the village.
The peaceful days they had begun to take for granted were slowly slipping away.
And far beyond the western border, armies were beginning to prepare.
The first fear had finally reached the village.