The breeze had the flavor of ashes.
Elira knelt on the charred ridge, the moonlight's silver outline highlighting the contours of her sword. Deep below, the remains of what had been a village fumed, transformed into ash and recollection. Nothing existed here anymore except for the shadows. And she.
She repositioned the weathered leather strap over her shoulder, sensing the familiar heft of her sword. The world had ignited before, and it would ignite again if she didn't locate the person who sparked the initial fire.
However, this evening, the moon was at its fullest.
And that indicated it was observing.
Elira knelt on the charred ridge, the moonlight highlighting the contours of her weapon. Deep below, the remains of what used to be a village burnt lightly, turned to ash and recollection. There was nothing living here anymore only the shadows. And her.
She repositioned the frayed leather strap on her shoulder, sensing the customary heft of her sword. The world had ignited before, and it would ignite again if she couldn't locate the one who sparked the initial fire.
However, this evening, the moon was complete.
And that signified it was observing.
Elira stood up gradually, her boots crunching ash under her heels. The remnants sprawled out like the skeleton of a massive creature, sharp stone chimneys jutting up like fractured teeth into the sky. Once, this was Raleth a modest settlement at the edge of the Eastern Reach. At this moment, only stillness lingered.
She navigated the debris carefully. Her fingers glided along the charred remains of a doorframe; the air remaining warm from the lingering memory of fire. No indications of survivors. No tracks. Only smoke and sadness.
A whisper wove its way through the air. Not a breeze. Not exactly. A sound. Weak. Elira became motionless.
"You are unwelcome in this place."
Her hand shot to her sword's hilt. The voice was timeless a roughness shaped by ages. She rotated gradually, her eyes squinting.
From the darkness of a decaying well, a silhouette appeared. Veiled in smoke and ash, its shape flowed like liquid darkness. No visage. Without sight. Just a crown of horn crafted from bone.
"Ashborn," Elira whispered.
It floated toward her, its limbs extending in an unnatural manner. The temperature dropped. Her sword gleamed in the moonlight.
"I am looking for the person who guides you," she stated, her voice calm. "The Monarch of Ashes."
The creature emitted a hiss, a noise reminiscent of flames extinguished in oil. "She notices you." She lingers. "And when the moon becomes crimson, you will blaze alongside the others."
Elira did not wait for it to hit. She surged forward, metal cutting through darkness. The being screamed, breaking apart into a mist of dark particles. A section of its cloak drifted to the ground, vanishing.
The quiet came back.
She crouched down, breathing heavily. The Queen was aware of her presence. That altered everything.
In the distant east, thunder rumbled a noise too profound for a tempest. The Ashborn were in motion.
Elira remained upright, holding onto her sword.
Time to go.
"I am in search of the person who guides you," she stated, her voice unwavering. "The Sovereign of Embers."
The creature let out a hiss, a noise reminiscent of flames extinguished in oil. "She is watching you." She remains in anticipation. "And when the moon turns crimson, you will perish alongside the others."
Elira did not wait for it to hit. She surged forward, metal cutting through darkness. The being screamed, scattering into a puff of dark dust. A fragment of its mantle fell to the earth, vanishing.
The quiet came back.
She knelt, her breathing labored. The Queen was aware of her presence. That altered everything.
In the distant east, thunder rumbled with a tone too profound for a tempest. The Ashborn were advancing.
Elira remained standing, holding her sword tightly.
It's time to go.
By morning, she arrived at the slope overlooking the Hollow Vale.
A gentle mist enveloped the valley beneath, wrapping around the gnarled branches of lifeless trees. A brook shimmered softly in the glow of the waning moon, and nestled among the trees, scarcely seen, stood a stone edifice—a shrine, largely overlooked by many. But not by her.
She moved down cautiously, each step intentional. The shrine predated the empire, etched into the hillside with moss-laden stone and decaying arches. At its center was a statue of Virela, the goddess of twilight and judgment, her face concealed, one hand lifted in blessing and the other gripping a dagger.
Elira crouched in front of it, placing her sword over her thighs.
"Lead me," she murmured. "Bestow upon me vision." I tread on ashes. I move in darkness. "I stroll by myself."
The breeze began to move. A soft rustling replied—not from the trees, but from the rear.
"You have always enjoyed the theatrical prayers."
Elira sprang up, weapon drawn. Her gaze expanded.
A man was positioned at the foot of the shrine stairs, cloaked in a traveler's garment with his hood up.
Auburn hair. Over one brow, a scar. Eyes like secrets and darkness. "Kaelen," she inhaled deeply. He gave a cautious, hesitant smile. "Didn't think I'd find you this far east." "I thought you were dead." "Most days, so do I." Time dragged as they gazed at one other. Then she dropped her sword slowly. "What are you doing here?"
"Searching for solutions. the same as you. And perhaps a means of halting the impending events." Elira put her blade away. She ought to have experienced relief, rage, or some combination of these emotions. Rather, she had the familiar pain in her chest. "You know about the Queen?" Kaelen gave a nod. "More than I would have liked to. Elira, we must speak. Prior to it being too late. She turned her gaze away from him and toward the shadowy horizon where the sky was still covered with ash. "After that, we converse. However, not here. He moved to the side and gestured for her to take the lead. "Where to, then?" She turned after giving the veiled goddess another look. "To the starting point. To Caer Vareth's ruins." Kaelen stopped smiling. "Gods help us."