The forest was quiet now. It was too quiet. Smoke curled up from the ground, where the fight had damaged trees and rocks. Broken branches, charred roots, and shattered arrows littered the area. Kael stood with his sword drawn. His breath was steady but tense, and his eyes were focused on the path where the last shadowy attacker had disappeared into the dusk.
Seris crouched next to a fallen enemy. She gently placed her hand on the man's chest. Her golden eyes showed no emotion as the blood on her fingers began to cool.
"He knew my name," she said softly, her voice shaky.
Aeren limped over to them. He had a makeshift bandage tied around his thigh. "You burned half the mountain down, Seris. Whoever he was, he probably heard it from the fire gods themselves."
"That wasn't just a random attack," Lorent said as he looked at the trees. "It was planned. They knew what they wanted."
Seris stood up slowly. Her fingers trembled, not from fear, but from anger. "He called me Ashenlight."
The name hit them hard. Kael straightened up. "That name again…"
Aeren's expression changed. He said, "That's the same thing the Empire whispered back at the Vault."
Lorent moved closer and looked at Seris. He asked, "What did they do to you?"
There was silence.
Then Seris turned to Kael. Her eyes looked hurt. She said, "I don't know, but I'm beginning to remember the screams."
Kael reached out to her. His hand was gentle on her arm. He said, "You're not alone in this."
Seris looked into his eyes. They were wide and desperate. She was searching for the support she had once pushed away.They heard a rustling sound. They quickly turned around with their weapons ready. But it was just a child. He looked about ten years old, dirty, and wide-eyed. He ran out from behind a big rock.
Aeren lowered his weapon, surprised. "Where did he come from?" he asked.
The boy ran to Seris and hugged her leg tightly. "You came back," he whispered in a weak voice. "Ashenlight always comes back."
Seris stood still, shocked.
Kael moved closer and asked, "Do you know her?"
The boy nodded his head. "She saved us once. A long time ago. When our village burned. You lit up the night like a storm."
Seris felt a lump in her throat. "I—I don't remember you," she said.
The boy looked at them with wide eyes. "That's okay," he said. "You don't remember much. The old man said they took it from you."
Seris stepped back, shocked. "Who?"
The boy didn't answer. He stared past them, his eyes growing wide again. "You should go. Before they come back."
Lorent grabbed Kael's shoulder. "We're not safe here."
Kael nodded. "Move. Now."
---
In the Empire Citadel, in the Lower Echelon Tower, the inquisitor spoke. "You're sure it was her?"
"Absolutely," he replied, bowing low. "The field agents confirmed it. They saw the resonance flare. The surviving shadow cell said she spoke the name herself."
"Ashenlight," said a robed woman with white hair. Her voice was smooth but cold. "So the seal is breaking."
A cloaked man in armor stepped out of the shadows. His armor had no symbols. "Then it starts. Call the inner order. The Empress must know."
"She already knows," said another voice from the dark.
A tall woman with a ghostly presence entered the room. Her face was covered in gold, and her voice was powerful. "Seris has awakened. The bloodline continues."
Everyone fell silent.
"And Kael?" she asked.
"Still with her," the inquisitor confirmed. "Closer than ever."
The Empress nodded. "Good. He was always important. Keep them close, but don't interfere—yet."
Someone asked, "What if she remembers everything?"
The Empress turned slowly, her expression serious. "Then we remind her why forgetting was a kindness."
---
The stars were barely visible behind the clouds. The campfire cast long shadows on the moss and stones. Aeren poked the flames while Lorent stood guard, resting his blade on his shoulder.
Seris sat next to Kael, her knees pulled to her chest. She hadn't said a word since the boy ran away.
Kael gently brushed his finger along her arm. "Talk to me," he urged.
"I knew him," she whispered. "Not just from the village. I think I saved him from those people. Whoever they are."
Kael moved closer. "Seris, whatever they did to you, it doesn't matter. You are stronger now."
She turned to him slowly, her eyes filled with tears and fear. "Kael… if they turned me into a weapon, what will happen when they come for me?"
Kael leaned in, their foreheads almost touching. "Let them come. I will fight for you."
Seris took a deep breath and kissed him. This kiss was different. It was filled with all the struggles they had faced together. Her hands cupped his face as his arms wrapped around her waist. The kiss felt long and full of unspoken promises.
When they finally pulled apart, Seris whispered, "Thank you for staying."
Kael smiled at her. "I'm not going anywhere."
Aeren tossed a pinecone into the fire and joked, "We might need earplugs soon."
Lorent grinned and replied, "Let them enjoy this. Who knows how long this peace will last?"
For the first time in a long while, Seris felt a sense of relief.
But in the shadows beyond the trees, something was watching them. And it was waiting.
In the trees, strange eyes blinked. They were not animal or human. The figure moved like fog. It wore dark cloth that blended with the night. A veil covered its face, decorated with ancient symbols. It watched the campfire and the girl sitting next to it.
Her name was Seris. The figure whispered, but not with words. It spoke with a feeling, like a memory or an echo.
"She breathes fire again," it said, its voice rough yet smooth. "The bond is strong."
Another figure appeared next to it. This one was bigger and wore tough leather armor. It had a mark that hadn't been seen since the fall of the Ashen Temple.
"The Empire will come for her," the second figure said, its voice raspy. "But she was ours first."
The first figure tilted its head. "We will wait. Let the boy lead her into love and weakness. When the time is right, she will make her choice."
"What if she doesn't?" the second figure asked.
The first figure smiled under the veil. "Then we will remind her of her true purpose."
Just as quietly as they came, they disappeared. The cold air swirled around the warmth of the fire.
Meanwhile, Seris slept. She turned slightly toward Kael, her brow twitching with a dream she would not remember. Not yet.