The sun rose on the horizon, painting pale gold across the crumbling walls of the Southern Fortress. Morning mist curled at Liana's feet as she walked behind the Shadow King and Sera, her eyes sharp, every muscle tight. Her heart was heavy after these past days—the sweetness of Sera's smile, the near-misses with death, the cold silences.
And then—he appeared.
A figure stepped from the mist, standing atop a broken arch as if it were solid ground. Sunlight struck his platinum hair, making it shine like a halo. His long coat flared in the wind, the intricate emblems of the Celestial Realm glinting softly on his sleeves.
Liana froze. Even the Shadow King halted.
The stranger smiled, one hand resting lightly on the hilt of a curved blade. "Hard to catch up with you lot," he called, his voice warm, deep, laced with humor. His gaze shifted—and when it landed on Liana, the world seemed to tilt.
Auren.
"I'm Auren," he said, effortlessly dropping down from the arch to the ground. "Sent by the Celestial Realm to investigate the disruptions between realms. And," his gaze settled on Liana, "to find the one who wields the Blade of the Veil."
The Shadow King stepped forward, silver eyes cool as ice. His voice dropped, rare amusement threading through his words. "You're always troublesome, Auren. I thought you perished in the war back then."
Auren chuckled, blue eyes glinting with mischief. "Disappointed to see me alive, old friend?"
The Shadow King let out a sigh, his shoulders loosening slightly, though his voice stayed as cold as morning frost. "You have a habit of stirring chaos… but at least you're trustworthy."
Liana blinked, surprised, watching the two men. The Shadow King was not one to trust easily—yet before Auren, the ice in him seemed to crack just a little.
Sera smiled as well, lips curving upward though her violet eyes flicked to Liana with a sharpness, as though noting a new threat.
They were crossing a narrow ravine when the ground cracked open, unleashing a pack of creatures—warped shades of bone and flesh. Liana drew her sword instinctively, feeling the pulse of power under her fingers.
"Stay close together!" the Shadow King barked, silver eyes flashing.
But before anyone could move, Auren darted forward, his curved sword slicing through the air in a flash of silver light. His blade danced through the monsters, cutting their twisted forms as easily as spider silk. A grin flashed across his face, glimmering in the sunlight.
"Too slow, old friend," Auren teased, tilting his head toward the Shadow King.
The Shadow King let out a low sound of annoyance. "Less talking, more fighting."
When the last of the creatures fell, Auren turned to Liana, holding out a hand. "You okay? Any wounds?"
Liana hesitated. His blue eyes, his gentle voice, his steady hand—everything about him radiated reassurance. And yet, a hard knot in her chest warned her not to trust too quickly.
"I'm fine," she said softly, pulling her hand back. "I can manage."
Auren smiled, unbothered. "Then let me handle the watch tonight."
Night fell. Around the fire, Auren brewed healing herbs, deftly wrapping bandages around a small cut on Liana's hand, despite her insisting she could do it herself. His voice was light, telling stories of old battles, of wild adventures with the Shadow King. Occasionally, the Shadow King would grunt a short reply, earning a low laugh from Auren, his eyes alight with teasing warmth.
Sera sat nearby, quieter than usual, her gaze drifting between Auren and Liana, lingering a bit too long sometimes.
Liana sat curled beside the fire, arms around her knees, watching Auren and the Shadow King trade stories. Part of her wanted to trust Auren—to lean into the comfort he offered. But another voice inside her whispered: Remember Sera's sweetness. Remember the betrayal beneath the smile.
Before sleep, Auren approached Liana, holding out a small pouch strung with a delicate silver cord.
"For protection," he murmured, smiling gently. "In case I'm not nearby."
Liana took it, fingers brushing his for a heartbeat. She offered a faint, awkward smile. "Thank you…"
When he turned away, she clenched the charm in her hand, heart pounding.
He was kind, funny, gentle. He had come when she needed someone most. But… Sera, too, had once seemed kind.
She glanced at the Shadow King and caught his steady, deep gaze. He said nothing. But within her, doubt coiled like a vine.
That night, Liana lay awake, watching the fire fade. Auren sat nearby, his gaze sweeping the darkness, fingers absently spinning his curved blade in his hands. His breath was steady—not the deep rhythm of sleep, but the quiet focus of a watchman, just as he had promised.
She closed her eyes.
In the darkness, her heart whispered:
"Is he truly the one to save me… or just another storm on the horizon?"
Liana shifted under her blanket, feeling the rough weave of her cloak against her skin. The night was cold, the wind sharp with whispers that stirred old fears. She listened to the quiet murmurs of Sera's voice drifting from across the fire—low, sweet, threading through the silence as she spoke softly to the Shadow King.
Auren's steady breathing was a counterpoint to the night sounds, and without meaning to, Liana found herself watching the rise and fall of his chest, the way his pale hair caught stray moonbeams. He looked so at peace, so untouched by the weight pressing on them all.
And yet.
She remembered the sharp taste of the water Sera had handed her days ago. The knife slipping too close to her arm. The crumbling earth at the ravine. Every muscle in her body tensed.
Not again, she thought fiercely. I won't be caught off guard again.
She forced herself to look away, gripping the pouch Auren had given her. The threads were soft between her fingers, the charm inside radiating faint warmth. She could feel the magic in it, woven through with care, meant to shield her from curses and harm.
She wanted to trust him.
She wanted to believe in something, in someone.
But trust, once broken, was not so easily mended.
Auren stirred, shifting in his sleep, his brow furrowing as if sensing the weight of her gaze.
Liana's breath caught. She turned away swiftly, pulling her cloak tighter.
Across the fire, the Shadow King raised his eyes from the blade he was polishing, his silver gaze unreadable.
Sera leaned closer to him, whispering something that made him pause, his hands stilling. The moment stretched like a wire between them, and then the Shadow King stood abruptly, walking away from the fire's glow, his shadow merging with the night.
Liana's chest tightened.
No more. Tomorrow, she promised herself. Tomorrow, I'll face the truth—whatever it is.
As dawn broke, casting the fortress ruins in pale light, the group packed their gear in silence. Liana adjusted the straps on her pack, feeling the comforting weight of the Blade of the Veil at her hip.
Auren caught her eye, his smile warm, his voice quiet. "We'll be all right, Liana."
She nodded stiffly.
They set out toward the eastern cliffs, where the last rumor of the stolen Heart had led them.
And as they walked, Liana told herself over and over:
I'll be ready.