Part IV – Beneath the Shadows of the Mountains
Ayame's words still lingered in the air, carrying a lightness that contrasted with the weight of the situation. The group, gathered around the holographic map, continued to stare at the image of Elaria—the Tenth Continent—as if something unseen was binding them to that untouched land.
Kayla couldn't tear her eyes away from Elaria. Her expression remained unreadable, but her eyes, as always, betrayed an unexpected interest. It was clear that the story of the Dwarves and the Stair of the Seven Vows didn't fully convince her. She would never admit it, but Ayame's words intrigued her, as if something—or someone—was calling her toward that land.
"Elaria... the last hope. Or perhaps the final trap," Kayla muttered, her tone tinged with her usual sarcasm.
Ayame smiled, amused by Kayla's reaction. "Maybe both. Things are never that simple."
Meanwhile, Lucen remained silent, his gaze turned to the night sky. The stars continued to shine, but one of them pulsed more intensely, as if trying to draw his attention. Elaria... Something inside him stirred at the sound of that name, but he couldn't quite remember why. His father's memories—so blurred and fragmented—seemed to hide the truth behind that unspoiled land.
Yuri, in the meantime, couldn't help but watch Alexander with a curious look. She sensed there was more to him than he had shown so far. His actions, his silences—everything hinted at a depth she couldn't quite decipher.
"And you, Alexander?" she asked, stepping a little closer. "What do you think of Elaria?"
Alexander looked away from the stars and met her gaze, but for a moment, it seemed as though he was searching for the right words. "Maybe it's the place where answers will find us, Yuri. I'm not sure, but... I feel it's where we need to go."
His own words surprised him. He hadn't meant to reveal so much, but his instinct told him that Elaria was the key to something—something he had yet to understand.
Kayla raised an eyebrow, catching the change in his tone. "Still so mysterious, aren't you?"
Alexander didn't respond. His gaze returned to the map. His thoughts drifted far—to his father's dark past and the secrets he had tried to bury. Maybe Elaria wasn't just an untainted land. Maybe it hid something that could either destroy them… or save them all.
Ayame shifted slightly, tilting her head in theatrical fashion. "Ah, but it's not just the land that's interesting. The Stair of the Seven Vows... now that is another story. Seven oaths... seven ascents. It's not just a test of strength or courage. It's the heart that matters."
Yuri seemed to reflect on those words, but Kayla was the one to answer, sharp as ever. "And what if the heart breaks? What if what we find in Elaria is nothing more than a trap for the soul?"
Ayame smiled, as if she had expected the question. "Then perhaps you'll finally discover who you truly are. It's never just about fate, Kayla. It's the path we choose that defines who we become."
Kayla tightened her grip on her cloak, as if she wanted to throw back an equally biting retort—but held herself back. She knew too much was at stake, and the answers wouldn't come easily.
Lucen, meanwhile, stepped closer to the map and placed a finger on the Tenth Continent, tracing a small circle over Elaria. "I don't know what we'll find there. But something tells me it's time to face it."
Yuri looked at him, sensing that those words carried more weight than they appeared to.
The night was still young, and the crisp air of the Forest of Illusions was growing sharper. Ayame took a step back, leaving the group in a silence heavy with tension. They didn't know what awaited them, but one thing was certain: the journey to Elaria would be only the beginning of something none of them had foreseen.