“If there is any one thing we can pinpoint as the crucial foundation of Myndiri society, it is their mastery of magic. The scattered Myndiri ruins alone, should be counted as a testament to the power of their magic. In fact, many can be seen standing, not exactly intact, but certainly explorable despite suffering what we would call, ‘catastrophic damage’.”

- Gallius Segosa, Lecture at the Arterian Academy of History “A Different View on Our Ancestors”

Sophie sighed languidly from the lounge chair, her eyes glazing over her cup of chamomile tea. Across from her, Elaria flashed her a tired smile and yawed, prompting Sophie to yawn as well. Sat in the courtyard under the ethereal but beautiful pale rays of moonlight, Sophie felt her heart skip a beat at how they illuminated Elaria’s now jet black hair shining under the moonlight. Huh, so Eva could look good with dyed hair.

After the hectic morning of information assaulting her mind, the entity seemed satisfied enough that it eventually left the two girls alone. Awkward, confused and still a little wary, they tidied up everything and began sorting out Sophie’s belongings for her return back to Cyndralia. During which, perhaps nervous, Sophie asked if dream Eva had wanted to hear some stories whilst they decided upon her name, a suggestion that was eagerly accepted.

So it was that as they cleaned, Sophie regaled her adventure so far. Her time with Eva, her misadventures in the Mistveil, of Annalise and Runebound, the tragedy of Eichafen and the bloody battle of the barrows. Each time she spoke she found joy at the sight of Eva’s rapt attention, and thus they chatted well into the evening as Sophie finally finished recalling her experiences in the horrid loop the entity had trapped her in. She got worried at the moment of silence that began to stretch between them, fearing that perhaps she had said something offensive or had hurt Eva somehow when her companion finally spoke.

“Call me Elaria.” Dream Eva now Elaria had declared.

“I think its wonderful.” Sophie had smiled, and it truly was to her, “But why that?”

“I…the me now, I have been Eva for so long it’d be weird not to have my name start with an E. As for the rest? Well, I suppose I took inspiration from you, Sophie. I have a strong desire to protect you and that doesn’t seem likely to change anytime soon. So I felt perhaps I’d honor the sacrifice of people like Sara and Karelia. One was a healer who protected the innocent, the other a loving sibling who gave her all to her youngers.”

Sophie remembered recoiling at the sudden explanation, finding it poetic and wholesome, but somewhat unexpected. She would say that in that moment she felt proud, proud to have someone like Elaria be her sibling. Thinking of the memory she chuckled slightly and drew in a deep breath.

“Something funny?” Ela arched an eyebrow.

“No, just thinking about everything that happened here. I still can’t quite believe…well any of it.”

“Mmhmm.”

“I do know one thing though.”

“Oh?”

“You’ll be a great sister.”

Ela did not speak but just cocked her head sideways, a playful smirk growing on her face.

“Ela?” Sophie prodded, a little concerned.

“Nothing, just wondering why my little sister is being such a cute gremlin.”

“Ah! Well I mean, in the little time I’ve known you I think I would’ve gone…hey wait a second, I’m not a gremlin! Also definitely the older one! By years or by experience.” Sophie huffed.

“Tch, sure, but who’s the more mature one? Might I also add, that I’m based on how you saw Eva as a smart, capable, older and more nurturing type than someone to be babied?” Ela grinned, “Unlike a certain little gremlin in front of me.”

“I’m not a gremlin!”

Wordlessly, Elaria opened herself up for a hug and gestured for Sophie. Pouting the best she could Sophie was tempted by the comforting gesture and surrendered to the hug. “I’m not a gremlin.” She grumbled softly.

“But you do like to be spoiled every once in a while too, so let me have that at least. Especially considering how long we might have to spend apart.”

That caught Sophie’s attention and she pushed back slightly to look Elaria in the eye. “What do you mean? Aren’t you coming with?” Sophie asked, a hint of worry in her voice.

Elaria shook her head sadly and patted Sophie’s head, “I’m sorry Sophie, but for now it’s just going to be you.”

“Wait, why?!” Sophie protested.

“Shh, calm down Sophie. It’s just because the Goddess and the others haven’t clocked onto the Master sending you back and forth between realms. The energy involved to travel that far should be used sparingly anyways.”

“But why?”

“Tsk, Sophie didn’t Eva teach you about stars and planets?” Ela pointed upward above the courtyard, at the majestic purple cloud in the distance, the twinkling stars, the moon that Sophie hoped wasn’t an eye in disguise.

“I mean, kinda. Don’t give me that look! I know what they are at least. Like Cyndralia is a world, which is a planet we err I? We? Live on. The sun of Cyndralia is a star. It’s what everything else orbits around. Umm that there are also millions of stars in the night star hence all the twinkling. Some planets we probably can’t live on, like the moon, which is a planet with no air or atmosphere.” Sophie recounted the facts, quietly hoping Ela wouldn’t scold her for being dumb.

To her pleasant surprise, Ela gave her another small pat on the head, “Smart.” Her now older sister acknowledged, “So can you get to the moon?”

That was a strange question, and Sophie pondered for a moment before she shook her head, “Not really, we can’t breathe in space and if we used magic we’d need a lot of it…ah!”

“Ding ding! If that takes a lot of magic and energy, imagine having to go hundreds, thousands, even millions of years away.”

“Millions?!” Sophie exclaimed in shock, “To travel a million years would be…I can’t even imagine it.”

“Yup! And that’s why only one gets to go through during a transfer. Because your-our home is that far away from here. But don’t worry I’ll come through soon enough.” Ela gave her a sly grin, “Besides, I have to tidy up any messes you made here anyways.”

Sophie sulked but accepted her answer, a little flicker of excitement leaving as she was intrigued to see what everyone would think about her having a sister. She moved to say more when Ela gently pried her off herself and looked towards the doorway. The action plummeting Sophie’s mood.

“Is it already time?” She murmured, her heart drooping at the thought of throwing away the hard earned stability after the series of suffering.

Sophie glanced upwards to find Ela giving her nose a gentle boop. “Yeah, the moon’s overhead so it’s now or never.”

Sophie scrunched up her face at the sudden assault but did not resist when Ela booped her again and tugged her along.

It was a quiet and contemplative walk from the courtyard to the portal room, but this time instead of disappearing, Ela pulled out a small sapphire and waggled it in front of Sophie.

“Looks like your eyes, doesn't it?” Ela quipped before slotting it into the gem socket.

At once a brilliant flash enveloped the room before their eyes refocused on the shimmering portal within the dias. Blurred backgrounds and sights greeted them and Sophie felt a pang of dread take hold as she wondered where it would spit her out at. Before she could express her doubts, Ela placed a small necklace with a tiny blue crystal hanging from it around Sophie’s neck. Curious, she let Ela finish clicking the necklace together before cocking her head at the girl.

“Think of it as a helpful memento.” Ela smirked, remaining silent and staring at Sophie for a minute before rolling her eyes, “You’ll see.”

With the unhelpful answer, Sophie gave her sister one last pout before turning to the doorway, but found her feet glued to the floor, unwilling to head forward.

“What’s the matter?” Ela asked.

“I…I don’t want to leave, it's comfy here now, with you.” Sophie replied.

Ela giggled before holding onto Sophie’s shoulders and leaning in like some noble’s instructor, “But I want to see the world too, you’re not gonna deny me that are you?” Ela whispered sweetly, and the guilt at denying her sister’s dream crushed her frail resistance.

Unfair! Foul play! Sophie’s mind screamed and she finally sighed, leaning into Ela’s arms. “Guess not.” She grumbled sarcastically.

“Alright then you little brat, better get things done quick so I can see you soon yeah?”

“I’m not a brat-” Sophie began but her eyes widened in horror as she found herself flying into the portal. She pushed me? She pushed me! Rude! In another brief flash, she was gone.

In the silence that followed Elaria plucked the gem from its socket, the portal immediately fading away. A small eyestalk slinked its way through the palace halls and propped itself up quizzically, Elaria meeting its gaze with a raised eyebrow of her own.

“You did not inform her then?” The master queried, the slimy stalk bobbing up and down as it examined the dias.

“No, you did give me the discretion to choose, did you not?” Elaria tutted.

“Indeed.”

“She’ll find out on her own, and she’ll be better for it. When she needs me, then I’ll be there.”

The eye narrowed at her for a moment before it began slithering away.

“Very well then, little one, I shall leave you to your own devices.”

Taking one last look back at where the portal was, Ela wondered if she made the right call. Too late for regrets now, she grunted and closed the door behind her, hoping that Sophie would make it out alright.

Annalise grimaced at the intrusive feeling that suddenly washed over her. The air nearby heavy from the marsh fog that hung over the bog. Each step a sodden mushy squelch that only served to lower her mood even further even from atop her horse. Their guides, captors and protectors on the other hand, plodded through the area with relative ease, making it seem as if they simply defied the muddy ground and its disgustingly icky properties.

Mila and herself had been saved by the druidic circle of the moonlit grove and accompanying elven rangers that numbered no more than two handfuls. Their disastrous crossing attempt had thankfully been noticed whence Lirebus, the druid that saved them, forced the others to allow him to cross over and rescue the two.

Since then, she calculated that they had spent about a week heading northwards towards the Frostwind Ranges. It accomplished both goals of assessing the situation of Melisgrad before they entered, and to join along with the order in an attempt to rendezvous with some scattered tribes that the seers had ordered them to meet. It wasn’t an ideal compromise to depart so heavily from their schedule of already being in Melisgrad by now, but as they were informed by a slightly more elderly looking elf, they had been lucky.

Evidently, during the time they had been harassed by orcish raiders and entering the cursed remains of the damned river town, the two factions vying for the Meltonian throne had finally clashed in the battle of the Melisian Plains. As such, when King Edward had left to deal with the usurper prince, the city was placed in strict lockdown preventing travel in and out. Hence why they reluctantly agreed to travel with the druids until either King Edward returns or Prince Alvin arrives to seize the throne.

In the downtime, Mila mostly spent it scowling whilst practicing her techniques, earning herself more than a few glances from surprised druids or judgemental elves. Annalise meaning while took note of the more important figures in camp; there was obviously Lirebus, a powerful druid though slightly incomprehensible; First Warden Ardelion, the ranger leader and main liason between the druid and elves; and finally Treesinger Vulen, the more eldery elf who treated the duo with far less contempt than the rest of the rangers.

It hadn’t exactly been miserable, but in her eyes, though they let the duo wander, they weren’t exactly free to leave. Prisoners, that’s what we are, prisoners. Still, she was at least thankful for the rescue though more than once she had turned a concerned gaze towards Mila since then, I wonder what haunts her so badly?

“Cheer up! A little longer and we’ll be out.” Treesinger Vulen quipped cheerfully at Annalise.

“I will be when we get out of this shithole.” She grumbled back, making the old elf chuckle slightly.

“Tsk, you younglings never know when to appreciate the moment.” He tutted jokingly.

To his credit, there was a certain sense of majesty at the sight around them. Though the marsh fog hung lower, there were still enough openings that they would often glimpse the capital off to the west. Its large city walls and bigger clan holds dotted the area, all just barely out of reach. In the north up ahead and stretching all the way past the north eastern horizon were the Frostwind ranges, huge mountains rising out of the ground, perpetually covered in snow halfway up and surrounded by a dense layer of alpine and subalpine tundra forests, home of the various tribal holdings that made up Northern Melton’s chaotic political landscape. Seeing it up close she finally understood why the nation remained so unwilling to fully subjugate the tribes and instead grant them autonomy, fighting through and up that area would be a living hell.

“I’d just rather not lose my crutch in this bog.”

The elf chuckled and Annalise looked back at him. There was something strange about this one, something she couldn’t quite place down, he was friendlier than most that’s for sure but didn’t seem like a city elf. Peculiar.

She snuck in a small glance backwards at Mila on her horse, the girl still scowling but raised an eyebrow at the attention. Anna shrugged and the inquisitor huffed, something’s still on her mind.

Wordlessly the two traveled for another few hours with the group till they finally reached the bottom of the Frostwind, most of the humans more exhausted than their elvish counterparts. All the while Lirebus and the First Warden pointed and gestured up at the mountains. Their more serious expressions raised a hint of concern in Annalise’s mind. No one plans this intensely for just a visit. Still, the general unfriendliness of the elven rangers meant they were unlikely to pry much information out of them and the treesinger seemed strangely absent as well.

Nightfall had brought about both the most majestic but also the most terrifying sight that Annalise witnessed in Melton so far. High above them the white tipped outskirts of the Frostwind towered, beyond them the stars and moon inching slowly across the sky. But if she looked back towards the bog, the heavy fog still hung over the land like some sickly blanket, and every once in a while she could see pale ethereal lights hovering from within, some strange looking shadows illuminated onto the fog.

Her breath too had grown frosty, the chill from beyond the northern ranges trickling down the mountainside onto this forgotten corner of Melton, naught but half a day’s journey from the capital. It felt eerie to be able to see the outline of the city past the fog, even worse when the strange wisps of light flickered in and around it. Mighty lord of the earth Tessadus, let this land heal and may I never step foot here again, she prayed quietly.

A series of quick bird-like whistles quickly shattered her concentration and her ears perked up, hand reaching for the crutch next to her. The sentries saw something. Worriedly, she hobbled over to the tent she shared with Mila and roused the groggy girl. Initially welcomed by a very unfriendly scowl, Mila’s expression shifted to one of seriousness when she glimpsed Annalise’s expression, quickly grabbing her sword as well.

“What is it?” Mila hissed.

“No clue, just heard the sentries.” Annalise mumbled out a reply.

“Hah? You woke me up for nothing?” Mila scowled even harder than she usually did.

“Yes and no. They used bird whistles, so either they saw something, or they’re signaling something.”

“So?”

“So? I mean, shouldn’t we find out about what’s going on?” Annalise replied, a little startled by Mila’s nonchalant reply.

“Err…no?”

“Huh? But shouldn’t we know about our…escorts? I mean aren’t you in the inquisition and what about that talk about druidic magic earlier?”

“Pfft, ranger, please. If they’re doing something they don’t want us to know, we don’t find out. The druids? There’s more than a dozen of them here not counting the ten odd rangers, elven forest rangers might I add. The saint damn-err I mean the hells am I going to do? Much less you.” Mila scowled.

Annalise froze mid step and pondered her words, knowing they were right but feeling a little miffed at being so easily rationalised away.

“Patience is a virtue for ones so young you know? Your comrade is right.” A raspy voice chuckled in the background.

“Gah!”

“The hells?”

The sudden interruption of the treesinger startled both of them and Mila unconsciously gripped onto Annalise’s left arm, the shifting weight almost sending her tumbling.

“Morea’s teat, you can’t just jump out like that. I would’ve shot you if I was quicker on the draw” Annalise complained whilst Mila just scowled.

“Heheh, old habits.” Vulen nodded apologetically, “But one should be more attentive to one’s health no? Especially at your age.” He tutted, “Regardless there is no need for alarm, that whistle was one of caution, not danger.”

“Caution?” Annalise raised an eyebrow.

“Mmhmm, caution. We did inform you we were meeting the mountain tribes, yes?”

Two nods.

“Then you should know that although they are nominally allied with the kingdom, their autonomy has always been something of a contentious issue here.” Vulen spoke, almost like some court instructor, “Most of the tribes barely even acknowledge the rule of the crown. If not for the orcish threats and whatever else lies to the north of the mountains, they would spend just as much time raiding and pillaging the settlements down here.”

Annalise and Mila shared a concerned glance between themselves. To Anna’s surprise, the look Mila gave indicated that this was somewhat new information to her too, guess they don’t teach apprentice inquisitors everything.

“Heheh, I see your looks, tis not the kingdom’s fault. Even here, the landscape forward and behind us are arduous if not criminally harsh without the right preparations. Thankfully the intervention of the druidic orders stymied most thoughts of conflict through a tenuous balance between both sides. Though after the past few decades more tribes grow varying of their young falling prey to the allure of civilization.” At that Vulen gave a thoughtful chuckle, as if he was laughing at himself before he continued, “Ah here i go on a tangent again, my apologies. What it means is that the sentries likely spotted some tribals or clansmen, though they recognise the legitimacy of the druids, it still helps to be careful.”

The duo nodded along, somewhat satisfied with the answer though Annalise still sensed some questions bubbling up inside MIla. Their night however, was only just getting started as an elven ranger, tall, lithe and unusually steady on his feet rushed over to the elder, bowing before delivering his message.

“Haill garunt tulic, Arakantor.” The ranger spoke curtly before casting a wary gaze at the duo.

Vulen bowed deeply and waved for the two to follow, earning them a cautionary look from the ranger.

“Arakantor…” The ranger whispered from under his hood, as if the other two weren’t even there.

Vulen simply grinned and waved him away, giving another deep bow as the ranger reluctantly headed back away. He then turned to the two, anticipating their questions and before Annalise could even speak, he just nodded knowingly.

“It seems the chieftain’s or their representatives have finally arrived, so come. Why not join the proceedings?”

Mila shrugged and Annalise spoke up for the two, “Wouldn’t our presence be…intrusive? I mean, we’re clearly not exactly druids or elves.”

That earned her a small snort from the apprentice whilst Vulen tactfully nodded, if slightly amused.

“Then count this as a learning experience. Besides, if you are curious, it’d be better being there than skulking around and potentially starting problems.” He winked at his own statement, like he had just delivered an important fact.

Receiving a shrug of agreement from Mila, Annalise nodded on the duo’s behalf.

“Wonderful! Come, come. Perhaps you young ones will get a better understanding of this land or even learn more about peace and coexistence itself.” He beamed before casually walking over to the main camp.

“Why do I feel like this is a bad idea?” Mila growled once he was out of earshot.

“I’ll be damned if I know, all I can feel is that we’re about to stumble into another mess and a half.” Annalise grunted.

The two traded a tired sigh before they moved to follow the treesinger. Yet, Annalise agreed with Mila’s assessment and she couldn’t quite shake the feeling that even more problems were about to be heaped onto their shoulders. Why do I feel like we’re about to get dragged into a war?