“How does she do it? Every time I think I have her, she somehow manages to keep going. I thought her fragile, yet she has grown only stronger since this nightmare began. This is getting out of hand, I must make this personal.”

Rell

The only thing that filled the cavern late at night was the gentle dripping of water against the floors, and the ever-so-quiet flow of the underground lake. Rell was curled up against the wall of the cave, shivering a little as she tried to keep herself warm. Rune sat down beside her as Kenta and the other Arden, Alduin, stood watch.

Rell opened one eye and looked past Kenta, seeing lights flicker across the walls from the torches that tried to fill the cave. Despite her discomfort, she could sense the warmth radiating from the small community that had formed underground here.

Kenta and Alduin were whispering back and forth between each other anxiously. Rell attempted to listen, but to no avail. Unable to get comfortable, she sat up with a groan.

“You too, aye princess?” Celendrin’s voice reached her as little more than a murmur. She turned her head to face him, finding him lying on his side, eyes open and a hand under his head like a makeshift pillow.

Rell shook her head and leaned back beside Rune. Celendrin sighed and pulled himself up, shifting across the ground to reach her as he joined the princesses. “I suppose this is what we get, isn’t it? A taste of our own medicine.”

“We’re royalty. We should be treated better than this,” Rune grumbled.

“Not to them, we’re not,” Rell responded.

Rune opened her mouth as if to speak in response, but her expression shifted to one of disappointment as she looked back at the floor, appearing rather defeated.

“He was truly something, wasn’t he?” Celendrin said.

Rell glanced back to him. “Who?”

“Tuulin, the older-looking one. He is responsible for Madia’s deep sleep, is he not?”

“Aye. That he is,” Kenta spoke quietly as he turned around.

The three prisoners looked at him simultaneously in a bit of surprise as he sat down in front of them. Alduin remained behind, keeping his eyes forward and scanning the rest of the cave.

Rune growled. “Don’t talk to us.”

“Forgive me. Would you like something to eat?” Kenta questioned.

Rune appeared taken aback, staring at him in confusion for a moment before nodding slowly.

Kenta smiled a little, before revealing his hand from behind his back, holding an apple out for the young girl. “Here… this was meant for me, but I haven’t any appetite.”

Rune accepted the apple, narrowing her eyes as she looked it over.

“There’s nothing wrong with it, your majesty. My eyes may be weak, but I know a bad apple when I sense one,” Celendrin reasoned before looking Kenta in the eye. Kenta leaned back a bit as Celendrin’s soft gaze seemed to strike him.

Rune bit her lip, looking at Kenta again, before turning away and grumbling. “Thanks.”

“Kenta?” Rell said.

The young Arden looked back at her, eyes wide to see her address him. “Yes?”

“You don’t like doing this, do you?”

Kenta opened his mouth, before closing it again as he let out a breath. “Sometimes we have to do things we don’t like in order to make things better,” Kenta replied. “Take Tuulin, for example.” Kenta gestured with his head towards the tent Tuulin was staying in, letting the princess’s eyes follow. “He doesn’t enjoy being a leader. I believe he is a capable one but he far from charismatic.”

Celendrin listened intently as Kenta spoke. “What is it that Tuulin desires, then? From what I gathered, he seeks peace between Arden and man, yet his methods invite war and conflict.”

Kenta stammered a bit. “W-well, prior to the invasion, Tuulin was a strategist of war. His methods typically revolved around gaining the upper hand and leveraging an advantage against his opponents. The same goes for his methods in getting what he wants.”

“So instead of finding the most peaceful resolution, he takes a more aggressive stance?” Celendrin asked.

“Tuulin does not want to appear weak. He is attempting to make a display of strength, while avoiding direct conflict.”

Rell sat upright. “So he wants your people to look strong, but at the risk of making humans hate your people even more?”

“No, your majesty. Not hate, but fear,” Kenta carried on. “He doesn’t want Fendra to forget that the Arden are still strong even without Mennic as their leader.”

“But my point still stands! People will only hate you more!” Rell said.

“Tuulin’s guidance has never done us wrong before. There has never been an Arden smarter or wiser than he. We must trust he knows best. He is the last of the Keepers of Muurin,” Kenta hissed.

That seemed to get Rune’s attention as she turned back around, her mouth still full of apple as she spoke. “Keepers of Muurin?”

Kenta scratched his head. “Muurin had its own Keepers, much like Alarulin has now. We called them the Orek’ten, meaning pillars of magic.”

Rell narrowed her eyes. “Yes, but what happened to the others?”

Kenta looked down, a look of pain on his face. “Simply put, they perished…”

“I thought Keepers lived forever!” Rune piped up.

“Only by time’s grace. They are immune only to the effects of aging,” Kenta said. “First, we lost Allenda, our Keeper of Time. She attempted to turn back time, in order rescue her first-born son.”

“What happened to her?” Rell dared to ask.

“By the time she was in the care of our healers, her hair had turned pure-white – a sign of depleting the magic in her body. We did not have reagents in Muurin, for only the Orek’ten were capable of casting.”

“The Keepers of Muurin used their very lives to cast magic?” Rell asked incredulously.

“That they did, but Allenda could have survived had she not acted out of desperation. The Keepers are meant to balance each other, and cooperate. Nothing can come between them when they are of the same goals, not even normal limitations.”

“Mennic was a Keeper, wasn’t he?” Celendrin asked.

Kenta nodded. “Correct. Ironically enough, he was the Keeper of Law, and our king. As the other Keepers died, he took their abilities upon himself. But he could not handle such power, and before long, he was driven mad by the burden of his fallen friends.”

Rell shivered as Mennic’s agonized cries pierced her mind again, feeling as though the very air around her had turned hot, the light around her red with fury. She let out a breath as she looked back at Kenta in confusion. “Why are you telling us this?”

Kenta looked over his shoulder to Alduin, who was looking back as well. Alduin nodded, before walking away and announcing. “I’m going to get something to eat. I haven’t eaten since before we left camp to fetch the princesses.”

This seemed to catch Celendrin’s attention as he opened his mouth a little. Rune seemed to notice something was up too.

“Because, your majesty,” Kenta’s voice lowered to a whisper. “The way to peace between our peoples is not through mystery and lies, but through understanding.”

With that, Kenta reached forward towards Rell. The child gasped and leaned away from him, before Kenta placed a finger to her mouth. “Shh…”

Rell felt her heart begin to pound as she tried to make sense of what was happening, as Kenta pulled Madia’s knife out. Rune began to stand up, but Celendrin suddenly grabbed her by the sleeve and shook his head. Rell watched nervously as he placed the knife up against her ankle, before she felt a snap around her foot and found the rope tying her down had been sliced away.

“Kenta?” Rell questioned as she rolled her foot, now freed from its binding.

“Celendrin, Rune… I am sorry, I can’t take all of you,” Kenta said quietly.

Celendrin had a look of intensity on his face as he nodded. “Rune, we will stay behind. Kenta is going to help your sister escape.”

Rune stared up at the Arden. “But why not me?”

“I cannot escort two children from the camp at once, and Rell may be able to help us if she is returned to Elra.”

Rune looked to Rell, concern filling her eyes. “Rell?”

The blonde princess looked back and forth between her sister and Kenta, before pulling herself to her feet. I don’t get it; who’s side is Kenta on?

“Come, your majesty, while everyone still sleeps,” Kenta insisted, extending a hand to her.

“Go, child,” Celendrin insisted. “His heart harbors no doubt,” he continued as he looked into Kenta’s eyes.

Kenta smiled a little again. “My thanks, scholar. You will be rescued before long. I promise.” Kenta paused as he turned around, before looking back at Rell. “And I am not one to back down from a promise.”

Rell nodded and stood up beside Kenta, looking over her shoulder to Rune. Rune had lost the look of skepticism, and it was now replaced by a look of fear. She could feel her little sister’s eyes staring into her, before, at last, Rune leaned back, not taking her eyes away as she watched. Rell smiled painfully. “Don’t worry Rune. I know you can take care of yourself,” Rell reassured her sister.

“It’s not me that I’m worried about.” Rune’s voice had risen in pitch, her typically stern and confident posture broken as Rell began to walk away.

With that, Rell turned forward as Kenta led her towards the lake.

“No time to waste, your majesty. The night of the festival draws close.” Kenta said urgently as he picked up the pace.

“I don’t understand… you came to us for help, then you betrayed us, and now you’re helping us again?” Rell whispered as she chased after him.

“Tuulin gave me a mission; to get your trust. He wanted me to prove myself,” Kenta continued as he slowed down and snuck behind a tent.

Rell followed as she ducked down a bit. “But then you saved Rune from Tuulin’s spell back at the castle. And even after that, you turned on us!” Rell hissed.

“No, I never turned on you your majesty.” Kenta said. “I was sent to help you by Aevum. He had seen the barrier collapse and asked me to find you. But by the time I had caught up, my comrades had already found you first.”

“Aevum trusted you with that?”

“He and I spoke. We all want the same thing, but our cultures are so different. We have different methods.” Kenta reasoned. “But in this world your kind is in charge, and we can’t expect to get anywhere trying to use the methods of Muurin on the people of Alarulin. We have to adapt.”

Rell shook her head as she tried to make sense of what he was saying, her head starting to ache as he took her by the hand and pulled her forward as they ran under a torch. “But then Tuulin just welcomed you back, like it was all part of his plan!”

“Oh trust me, Tuulin very much wanted to kill me back there. But he knew doing so in front of you would only make the situation worse,” Kenta said.

“And then he trusted you to guard us?”

Kenta paused at that, looking down at the ground in thought as he seemed to be processing something. “That is one thing that I am not entirely certain about.”

“What if you’re doing exactly what he wants you to do?” Rell wondered aloud.

“That may be the case, but it’s the best chance our people have, even if it’s exactly what Tuulin wants,” said Kenta as the two came to the underground lake.

Kenta gestured for Rell to climb into the boat, which she did obediently as Kenta looked back at the camp. “Wait here, and stay out of sight. I need to grab something.”

Rell stared for a moment, looking into his eyes as they frowned with determination. The young girl nodded before lowering herself down, barely peeking up over the rim of the boat as Kenta began to run back to the camp.

She saw him slip into a tent, leaving her to watch aimlessly as all went quiet, before he came back out, a young lady following him briefly as he gripped a sword wrapped in a leather cloth. The Arden woman looked anxious as he turned around to face her, placing a hand on her shoulder and nodding to her.

Rell felt her heart pounding as she saw another Arden man approach. She gulped as she saw them exchanging words, before Kenta gestured towards the boat. Rell ducked down and tried her best to stay low. Is he telling the other Dragonkind I’m here? Is he telling them he’s helping me escape? Rell’s head spun as she felt her breathing picking up, before there was a thump and the boat lurched. She gasped as she tensed up, the boat beginning to slip into the water. Moments later, with a crunch of gravel, Kenta swung himself up and into the boat, causing it to rock and sway in the waters.

“It’s alright your majesty. It’s only me. Let’s get you out of here.” Kenta pulled a wooden oar out from the bottom of the vessel before dipping it into the water, carefully pushing back as they drifted across.

Rell let out a breath. “Who were those two?”

Kenta looked back at Rell. “My younger brother and sister. They are on the other side of the coin, much like I am. It may not be obvious, but there are many Arden uncomfortable with Tuulin’s rule, and your confrontation with him solidified our concerns.”

Rell’s heart softened for the Arden man helping her escape. He has a family that cares for him, and that he cares for too. Why did I ever think the Dragonkind so different from us?

“We are not in the clear yet. We should be safe once we are beyond the tunnel,” Kenta said.

Rell nodded and slouched back down, trying to conceal her presence from any other prying eyes. She desperately wanted to look back down the cave in order to see her sister and Celendrin once more before departing, but she forced herself not to for fear of being found out.

Several minutes felt like an eternity before there was a gentle thud, and the boat came to a stop. Kenta placed the oar down, and took hold of a rope, before tying it to the end of the boat and the other end to the wooden logs that made up the makeshift dock. He hopped out and gave Rell his hand once more, which Rell gratefully accepted as she balanced herself on the wood, climbing onto the dock. Before long they were running down the tunnel.

“How will we get back to the castle in time?” Rell questioned.

“We aren’t as far from it as you may think. There are many tunnels underground that we have dug in order to get around and reach other camps and settlements easier. The one we took you through last night is actually only a short distance north of Elra, while the one I took when I first went to the castle a few days ago was further into the mountains,” Kenta explained.

Rell nodded in acknowledgement. “How long until the festival?”

“I am tempted to say two days now… perhaps three. But it is very soon, and judging by how you speak of it, you already know that something is going to happen that night.”

Rell nodded. “Yes, something about the Realm of Dreams being really close.” Rell gasped and nearly stomped in frustration as she realized she had forgotten something. “Flain’s letter! Celendrin had it! It said everything Flain had figured out about Tuulin’s plans!”

“We’ve got something better,” Kenta raised his voice a bit as the end of the tunnel approached. “A pair of witnesses; you and I.”

Kenta went first, stepping up the steep flight of stairs and guiding Rell up before they came out into the late night air. Rell let out an exhausted, yet refreshed breath as she took in the cold open breeze.

Kenta let out a satisfied sigh. “Come, my lady. Let’s take you home-”

Kenta was interrupted by a low growl from behind. He froze and turned around, as did Rell. Behind them was an enormous wolf, as big as Rell was if not bigger as it slowly walked forward, baring its teeth. Kenta placed his arm around Rell, pulling her closer as he bit and tugged at a string dangling from the leather around his blade. The leather slipped off, revealing a shining white broadsword. There wasn’t a single dent in the blade, not even a stain as he angled the blade in front of himself defensively.

Rell heard a rustling coming from the side and took a breath as she saw another wolf step out. Before long, they were surrounded as the pack gathered around.

Kenta defensive stance deepened. “Stay close Rell,” he commanded quietly, keeping his sword forward.

One of the wolves lunged forward. Rell screeched as she ducked down. Kenta turned to swing his blade, but was struck by another wolf that had come from behind. He was taken to the ground, shouting in surprise as he kicked the beast off. Rell ducked to the side as Kenta pulled himself up just in time for another wolf to land on his back. He cried out in pain as it bit at his shoulder, before he swung his sword in front of him, sending another attacking wolf to flee, lest it be struck by the sharp blade.

Rell looked around frantically, not sure where to go as the wolves surrounded them and Kenta tried to shake off the one clinging to his back. Rell tensed up as she realized the pouch of dust was still on her tunic. She felt energy coursing through her veins. For once, I can do something!

In that instant, she raised her hand and with a spark, the wolf on Kenta’s back howled as a small flame burst to life on its tail. It immediately released Kenta and jumped down before slapping its tail against the earth and rolling a little. The flame was small enough that it went out almost immediately, but it had done the trick. Kenta backed up again to Rell’s side.

“M-magic? You can use magic?” Kenta sputtered.

“Only barely!” Rell pointed out, before she snapped her fingers and fire enveloped her hand and wrist, casting an orange light on the animals around them.

Kenta snorted as he looked at the fire around her arm. “Barely… right.”

The wolves barked and growled as they strafed, looking for a chance to strike. The heat radiating from her palms cast a sense of calm over Rell as an odd familiarity washed over her.

Rell traced her hand through the air, keeping her focus on the energy around her hand as she let the tongues of fire dance in front of her. The wolves seemed reluctant to approach now that the flame had been added to the conflict. Rell dared to lean forward challengingly, holding her hand towards them. The wolves ahead of her stepped back, but did not flee.

“They aren’t leaving,” Rell said quietly, fear rising in her voice.

“There are six of them. They have strength in numbers,” Kenta reasoned.

Another wolf lunged at Kenta, who ducked and elbowed it hard, causing it to yelp as it skidded across the ground, Rell turning around to face it as she backed up with Kenta.

In that instant, the other wolves jumped, rushing forward. Rell swung her hand desperately, causing the fire to lash out and clip one of the animals, which howled as it crashed to the ground and writhed for a moment before jumping back.

Kenta swung his blade, causing another wolf to duck under before leaping up at Rell, who barely had time to respond as it bit her arm hard. She screamed as it dragged her to the ground, shaking its head as though to pull her away. The flame around Rell’s hand dissipated as she lost her concentration, and Kenta shouted in anger as he jabbed his sword down. The wolf released Rell just before the blade struck.

Another dashed in, grabbing at Kenta’s arm now. He merely grunted as he lost his grip on the weapon, which began to fall to the ground. It stabbed into the earth, and Rell caught a glimpse of Kenta’s fury as, with a roar, he swung the arm the wolf was clinging to and slammed it into the blade. It barked loudly as it made contact, before scrambling on the ground, releasing Kenta and taking off into the forest, blood dripping from its fur.

Rell grimaced as she tried to bring the flame back, unable to concentrate as her arm screamed in pain, the blood starting to stain her tunic as she stood back up, placing her other hand over her wounded limb.

“I-I can’t focus!” Rell gasped through the pain.

Kenta dislodged his sword just in time to slice at another wolf, nicking its leg and causing it to immediately turn tail and hobble away. Kenta collapsed onto one knee as his muscles tensed, struggling to keep the enormous blade up. He forced himself to stand, but the tip of his sword dragged against the ground as he cautiously moved back, unable to maintain his intimidating posture now that he couldn’t lift his weapon properly. The wolves began to close in again, sizing up their prey as they were now down to four.

“HYAAA!” There was a loud battle cry as the sound of horses galloping reached Rell’s ears. Branches and leaves crashed and the wolves immediately turned around in surprise.

Three horses suddenly came barreling out of the bushes, one of which was mounted by a young man clad in animal hides and furs. His hair was dark blonde, long and ruffled like Kenta’s, only extended shortly past his shoulders as he readied an arrow. He released it with a whip, and the arrow struck one of the nearby wolves in its side. The other animals barked as they all lowered their heads before darting around for a moment. The one struck by the arrow stumbled forward before collapsing as the man drew another arrow.

The other two horses continued forward, sending the remaining beasts scattering into the trees. The man on the horse looked around, pointing his bow as though looking for another target. In that same moment, one last wolf jumped up at him from behind.

“L-Lookout!” Rell shouted. The man immediately twirled around on his horse, which remained almost completely still as he loosed another arrow, striking the wolf hard in mid-air as the impact caused it to lose its momentum, falling lifelessly to the ground.

Rell and Kenta glanced around nervously, but all the remaining wolves had fled. It was then that Rell recognized the other horses accompanying him. Rell’s own pony, Fae, trotted circles around her as the other - no doubt Celendrin’s - returned to the man's side. “Fae! Fae you’re okay!”

“S’that her name? Been callin’ her cotton and she responded perfectly well to that,” the man muttered as he hopped off his steed, a thick accent accompanying his speech. “Now what in Spring’s name are a Dragonkind and a princess doing out in the wilderness at night?”

Rell looked up and down the man, finding him shorter than she expected. “You are from the highland tribes! You are Fihulen, are you not?”

The man spat as he raised an eyebrow. “That I am.”

Kenta narrowed his eyes. “You speak like a Ket.”

The man snorted. “Aye and you’d know all ‘bout that wouldn’t you, foreigner?”

Kenta looked taken aback as he bit his lip.

Their savior returned his gaze to Rell as he addressed her. “I’m surprised you don’t recognize me, princess. Granted, I suppose I’ve grown quite the mane since we visited you in Elra.”

Now it was Rell’s turn to look taken aback as she tilted her head in confusion. “Pardon?”

“Well allow me to refresh your memory. The name’s Elkin, of the Eranor family,” the man introduced himself.

Rell’s eyes went wide. “The Eranor family? You mean the ones from the highland troupe?”

Elkin rolled his eyes. “No, the Eranor family trying to invent the wheel. O’ course the ones beyond Elra! There’s only one Eranor family. Daft little noble…”

Kenta stepped forward. “She is the rightful heir! Show some respect!”

“Firstly, since when did you care? And secondly, I give respect where it’s due, Dragonkind. Regardless, we need to get out of these woods. I had best take you to the cottage. My little sister will fix you up proper.”