She tended to the garden without missing a day.
It was no longer just Esme's garden. It had become hers too.
And through it, she kept Esme close.
But she knew she couldn't keep this up long.
Having now known love and happiness. She felt more alone than ever. Terrible nightmares engulfed her every night. Waking up every morning with tears in her eyes.
She tried to carry on. She followed the instructions Esme had left, cooked the same meals, read the same books, and kept the home alive with careful routine. But nothing filled the hollow space left behind.
Sometimes, she'd sit by the bed, staring at the empty chair where Esme once read to her. Other times, she'd lie in the garden, eyes to the sky, wondering if Esme was somewhere beyond the clouds.
The nightmares never stopped. They clawed at her sleep. Never giving her a break.
And so she chose to leave her home again.
For a second time.
She didn't look back.
With a small bag of essentials, Esme's letter folded safely inside, and her heart heavier than ever, she spread her wings and took to the skies. The house grew smaller beneath her, the garden shrinking into a patch of green among the trees.
And so she flew, not just to escape the pain but to find something more.
Flying in the direction of Peter. Holding a memento that Esme gave her, a white shard. She didn't know what Peter would be like or if he would even be alive. But Esme had trusted him. That was enough.
And one day she reached a city. The capital of the Elarian Alliance.
Towering walls, silver spires, and a river winding through its heart. It was unlike anything she had ever seen.
She landed quietly in a nearby forest, hidden beneath the trees. With a breath, her wings folded and vanished into light. Sadly, the same couldn't be said for her horns and tail. No matter how much she focused, they remained.
She pulled the hood of her cloak low over her head, wrapping her tail tightly around her waist beneath the fabric.
It was time to enter the world of people.
***
At the city's North Entrance, a small figure moved into the line.
Cloaked and silent, she stood among merchants, travelers, and soldiers returning from patrol. She looked like another bystander under the shadow of the massive gates, and most people paid her no mind. Until eventually it was time for her to enter.
The guard eyed the figure before him.
She had the appearance of a teenager. Slight in frame, yet something about her presence made him hesitate. Her cloak was elegant, bearing traces of nobility in its stitching and clasp. Its gray fabric, though carefully wrapped, failed to fully hide her raven-black hair, which shimmered faintly in the light.
The guard furrowed his brow.
"Name and purpose of visit?"
"Velessa Asharic. I have come to visit a family member."
Asharic?
The name echoed in his mind. It was strangely familiar, yet he couldn't place it. A noble house? A forgotten line? He couldn't be sure.
"Do you have an ID?"
He asked, his tone cautious but not yet suspicious.
"I do not."
Velessa paused, then reached into her cloak and pulled out a folded letter sealed with wax. Esme's seal. She held it out with both hands.
"This was written by my guardian. It explains everything."
The guard took it, slowly breaking the seal. His eyes skipped through the contents, and his posture gradually softened.
A long breath left him.
"…Peter Graye?"
She nodded once.
He studied her for a moment longer, then returned the letter and stepped aside.
"Head down the main road until you reach the Moonveil Plaza. Ask for the Graye residence. You'll be escorted."
"Also, do not show this letter to anyone else except Peter."
A faint nod of gratitude was all she gave before walking past him. Entering the city.
And instantly, she stopped in awe at what was before her.
The capital stretched wide and alive, a city of stone and silver, color and sound. Towering buildings lined the cobbled roads, banners fluttered in the breeze, and people moved with purpose and passion. Street vendors called out their wares, musicians played lively tunes at corners, and the scent of baked bread and roasted meat filled the air.
Velessa's breath caught in her throat.
She had never seen so many people. So many different faces and voices. It was a world completely unlike the quiet garden and the still forests she had known.
For a moment, she just stood there, letting the excitement wash over her. But then she shook her head and continued walking.
'I cannot lose focus.'
She said those words, but still, from time to time, she stopped to gaze at the surroundings. She may have grown a lot, but she still was a child.
A child that had lost much.
A child that wanted to believe there was more waiting for her in this world.
The streets narrowed as she walked deeper into the heart of the city, the towering spires above casting long shadows over the cobblestone paths. She clutched the shard in her pocket tightly.
People brushed past her, some in polished armor, others in fine robes or worn traveler's attire. No one gave her more than a passing glance. And yet, to her, every face held a story. She remembered each one of them.
This city was special, it was unlike any other in the world.
It was built into three vast sections, each one shaped by and dedicated to a different race.
The outermost section belonged to the humans. Spiraling towers, bustling markets, and winding streets filled with life and noise. It was a place of constant movement, where change happened by the day and ambition drove everything forward. Merchants, knights, scholars, and commoners all mingled beneath banners bearing the sigil of the Alliance.
Further in was the dwarven district. Crafted from stone and metal, every building was carved to perfection. The sound of hammers echoed through the air, and many forges lit the streets in warm orange hues.
At the city's heart was the elven domain. Graceful towers wrapped in vines, crystal bridges arching over small rivers, and music drifting faintly through the air. Magic lingered in every corner, and nature itself seemed to coexist alongside the civilization.
Yet in the true heart of the city stood a tower.
It rose high above all else, piercing the sky like a needle of silver and stone. There was no longer a race associated with the tower, unlike the surrounding districts. For the race that once inhabited it was long gone. It was ancient, older than the city itself, older than the Alliance. No one knew who built it.
Yet no one dared to claim it.
It wasn't out of fear, nor superstition, nor any lingering threat.
It was out of respect for the true owner of the tower.
A being whose name still carried weight. Despite them being long gone.
The sun was setting.
After asking a stranger for directions and getting escorted. Velessa now stood in front of a manor.
It was modest by noble standards, yet dignified. Ivy curled along the walls, and the windows glowed with warm light from within. The gate bore no sigil, no crest. Velessa took a breath. She opened the gates and walked to the door of the manor.
This was the place. The home of Peter Graye.
She stepped forward and raised her hand.
Then, with a single knock, she announced her presence.
The door creaked open after a few moments.
A man with sharp eyes and gray strands in his dark hair stood there.
His age was somewhere in the fifties.
Velessa shivered under his cold gaze.
"Who are you, and what do you want?"
He asked, his tone curt, almost irritated. It was obvious that he wasn't in a good mood. Velessa hesitated for a moment, caught off guard by the bluntness. Then she took out two letters, the one opened by the guard and another written by Esme for Peter.
Peter's eyes narrowed as he took the sealed letter. He recognized the handwriting on it immediately.
His fingers lingered on it for a moment before he stepped back.
"Come in," he muttered. "And don't touch anything."
He left the door open behind him and walked further into the house, already opening the envelope.
Velessa didn't have much of a choice and followed him behind, closing the door behind her.