Fourth Day of the Waning Moon — At the Edges of the Dark Autumn Forest

  The ground was damp. The air… thick. The mist covered everything like a blanket dirty with time and silence.

  Sarya moved ahead first, spear in hand, her sharp gaze scanning the unseen corners of the brush. Leli followed close behind, breathing carefully — the bow still new in her hands, but her heart steady. A short spear rested on her back.

  — Can you hear the forest? — Sarya murmured, barely turning her head.

  — I hear the wind. The leaves. The fear.

  Sarya gave a faint smile.

  — Then you’re hearing correctly.

  The mission was simple. Find the nest of a griorra, a creature of the mist, and mark its territory with a spiritual seal — proof they were ready to enter the village’s true vigilance circles.

  But the griorra was made of forgetfulness. Whoever entered its territory forgot their own name. If you didn’t know how to deal with your psychological nightmares, they attacked what was buried deep in your memory.

  If you lost yourself, you also lost memories.

  If you weren’t fast, you could end up forgetting who you were.

  Mist spirits were sneaky. Many slave traders had passed through there trying to capture elves, but none ever returned — either killed by the elves or found by a griorra.

  And the mist there now whispered lies.

  Hours passed. Sarya drew runes on the ground with the tip of her spear. Leli tried to remember how many turns they had taken.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  — You said… the south was that way, right? — Leli asked.

  Sarya frowned.

  — I never said that.

  — But… you…

  They looked at each other.

  The mist shimmered for a second.

  Two figures appeared.

  One was Lukas — or seemed to be. The perfect shadow. Same height. Same voice.

  — Leli… you shouldn’t be here. You’re going to die… — he whispered.

  The other was María, Sarya’s former companion from the House of Blades, dead for years.

  — You let me die. Are you going to let her die too?

  Leli stepped back. Her throat tightened.

  — Hey, Leli, focus. Remember, it’s not real. Listen to the forest, not the mist. The forest will be your shield here.

  Sarya closed her eyes.

  — It’s not real. It’s not real. It’s not real.

  She swung her spear in a horizontal arc.

  — Not real? How dare you say that after letting me die, Sarya? Are you going to let her die like you let me? How will you look at that boy and tell him you let his sister die? He will hate you. Everyone around you dies. You’ll never have a family. Everyone fears you. Great Autumn huntress… you exist to kill. You reek of blood, hunting dog.

  Sarya felt the weight of the words but showed no reaction. She simply released her orange aura — the shimmering aura of Autumn.

  — Crimson Purge.

  The mist screamed.

  The figures vanished.

  Leli exhaled.

  — I swear… it was Lukas. The voice. The way he spoke. It was him. For a second, I believed it…

  — That stupid griorra really thought I’d fall for its twisted words? It might look like him, but my brother would never say that. Damn griorras… I hate them.

  Sarya didn’t answer. She only breathed deeply, relieved that Leli was safe.

  She knew those were not ordinary griorras.

  — Leli!

  — Yes, Sarya… I mean, master.

  — You still have a lot to lose, Leli. And that is strength… but also weakness. The forest will test you on that. And the griorras will try to attack where it hurts you most.

  Leli took a deep breath.

  — I want to be ready. Because if he falls… I want to be someone who can hold everything together.

  Sarya looked at her more carefully now. For the first time, she felt she was getting too close. Feeling too much. And that was dangerous. She feared having to feel affection again.

  But she didn’t know if that feeling was good or bad. She only knew… it was good in some way.

  The seal was drawn with both their blood on the trunk of the old tree where the griorra had claimed dominance.

  The mist faded for a while. The silence felt lighter.

  Those griorras were erased by the forest. And Mother Rubra now held greater control over that region.

  Sarya placed a hand on Leli’s shoulder.

  — You remind me of myself, before I ran from my past.

  — Is that good?

  — That’s dangerous.

  Leli smiled.

  — Danger… has always been my last name. I’m a Fernandes.

  Sarya, against her will, laughed.

  Later, on top of a rock, both sat watching the horizon.

  But in Leli’s thoughts, questions stirred:

  What had Sarya seen?

  Why had she reacted like that?

  Leli whispered:

  — He’s going to come back different, right?

  Sarya answered without hesitation:

  — Yes. But he will come back.

  Leli closed her eyes. Her hand touched the leaf mark on her arm.

  — Then I’ll be ready too.

  End of Chapter 3 ??