Elara blinked, voice sharp. "Is that praise or criticism?
"Depends on your definition of professional," he replied, smirk teasing, eyes glinting. "Though I must admit, you're… persistent."
"I have to be," she shot back. "People will die otherwise. And unlike some, I don't hide in the shadows pretending to be mysterious."
Kaelen's smirk widened. "Touché. You certainly don't mince words."
Lyra, standing nearby, noticed the subtle tension. Her jaw tightened. "He seems… unusually interested," she muttered under her breath, tone laced with jealousy.
Finally, King Aldric stood, signaling the end of the emergency treatment. "Thank you, Alaric. Thank you, Elara. Many lives were saved today."
Alaric bowed. "It was my honor, Your Majesty."
Elara inclined her head, still flushed from the encounters and the revelation about Kaelen.
Kaelen approached, voice low so only she could hear: "You've got skill.. Don't let anyone convince you otherwise."
She blinked. "Thanks… I think?"
He smirked, glance sharp and curious. "Don't get used to being safe. Eldoria has its storms and not all of them are simple ."
Elara's heartbeat skipped. "I'll keep that in mind… Your Majesty."
Lyra's sharp eyes followed him as he turned away, lips pressing into a thin line. "Careful," she whispered to Elara. "The prince may be charming, but he's trouble and clearly… you've caught his attention."
Elara straightened, gripping her satchel of herbs. "I survive storms. I'll survive him too."
The forest did not breathe. The summons had come at dawn.
Alaric was requested immediately. Three scouts returned from the eastern border with injuries no blade could explain. Elara had followed him despite his hesitation.
"You will remain beside me," her father warned.
She nodded. But something restless had already begun to stir inside her.
The war chamber was heavy with tension.
King Aldric stood over the map table, jaw set. General Lysender's voice was clipped.
"Livestock drained. Trees scorched from within. And one scout who would only say one word."
Kaelen's eyes darkened. "What word?" Lysender's throat tightened.. "Eyes."
Silence followed.
Alaric examined sketches of the wounds, frowning deeply. Elara stepped closer without realizing.
"That isn't flame," she said softly.
The General's gaze snapped at her. "And what would you call it?" She hesitated.. "burns."
The King studied her carefully.. "You will accompany the scouting party."
Alaric stiffened. "Your Majesty.... "
"She has insight," the King replied calmly. "If this threat understands fear, we must understand it first."
Kaelen straightened. "I'll lead."
Lyra stepped forward instantly. "Then I'm coming too."
Her eyes flicked toward Elara, sharp and competitive. The decision was made.
The forest swallowed them whole, no winds, no birds, no insects just quietness.
Even the air felt wrong, thick, pressing against them. They walked deeper than patrols normally dared.
And then they saw something in the clearing.
Ash covered the ground in a wide circle. But nothing was burned. The trees stood untouched. Yet the earth was grey and dead.
Elara stepped into the ash. It crunched softly beneath her boots. A low vibration rolled through the ground.
Not a roar.
The soldiers tensed. Then, It stepped from the shadows looking massive like non of them has ever seen before. Scaled like molten stone cooled into armor.
Golden eyes burning like twin suns. The Varyndor.
The ground trembled beneath its weight. One soldier stumbled backward.
Lyra drew her blade with a sharp hiss of steel.
The beast did not look at her.. It looked at Elara.
Slowly, deliberately, it began to circle them.
Ash spiraled around its massive body.
Each claw sank deep into the earth, leaving cracks behind.
"Don't move," Kaelen murmured near Elara.
But she couldn't have moved if she tried. The Varyndor circled not once but twice coming closer each time.
Its gaze never breaking from Elara. Lyra's breathing grew sharper. Frustrated and ignored.
"I won't stand here while it stalks us," she snapped.
Before anyone could stop her, she lunged forward with her blade raised high. The Varyndor moved faster than thought. Its tail lashed out at her.
The impact thundered through the clearing.
Lyra was thrown violently across the ash, her body slamming into the cracked earth.
A collective gasp tore through the soldiers.
"Lyra!" Elara shouted.
She ran to her without hesitation, dropping to her knees beside her.
Lyra groaned, trying to push herself up, pride
flickering even through pain.
"I'm fine," she hissed, though she was clearly not.
The Varyndor had stopped circling. Now it stood directly before Elara very close.
So close she could see her reflection in its burning eyes.
Then, It lifted its head toward the sky.
And roared. The sound split the forest open.
The ground cracked violently. Trees splintered.
Soldiers fell to their knees.
The cracks shot outward. But stopped just short of Elara's feet.
The roar faded into echo, heavy silence followed with mix of breathing.
Silence fell.
The Varyndor lowered its head slowly. Not aggression, not submission but recognition.
Then it stepped backward. Its massive form dissolving into shadow of the tress. Gone.
No one spoke for several heartbeats.The forest felt smaller now.
Kaelen was the first to move. "Help her up."
Two soldiers rushed to assist Lyra. She shook them off stubbornly but leaned slightly when she thought no one noticed.
Kaelen's gaze shifted to Elara."It didn't attack you."
She swallowed. "It didn't look like it was hunting."
Lyra's voice cut through the tension. "Or it decided you weren't worth the effort." But doubt flickered in her eyes.
Elara glanced down. For a brief second,
A faint ember-like glow flickered beneath her wrist.
Then vanished. She quickly lowered her hand.
Kaelen noticed. Of course he did.
His expression hardened. "We have to return to the palace. Now."
The journey back was quieter than the forest itself.
No one spoke of what they had seen.
The cracked earth remained behind them like a scar.
By the time the palace gates came into view, twilight had fallen. Torches flickered along the walls.
Whispers began immediately as the scouting party entered.
King Aldric was waiting. His eyes moved first to Lyra bruised but standing.Then to Kaelen
and then to Elara. "Well?"
Kaelen's voice was steady."It's real."
The chamber stilled. "And it chose not to kill us it observed and left."
"And why would a beast do that?" General Lysender demanded. Kaelen did not look away from Elara.
"That," he said quietly, "is the question."
And somewhere far beyond the palace walls… Golden eyes opened once more in the darkness.