(Full Canon Beat)
The moon was low when Sereth and Elyra slipped from the estate.
The world slept — foolishly trusting that the night would remain gentle.
The Rangers Who Should Have Stayed in Bed
They moved like ghosts through the halls.
No creaking floors.
No whispered goodbye.
Outside, the stables were hushed.
Only the soft snorts of their mounts greeted them.
Sereth didn’t hesitate. She strapped her quiver tight, mounted with practiced grace despite her pregnancy, and whispered:
Sereth:
“Don’t gallop until we’re out of earshot.”
Elyra nodded, tightening Tavian’s new circlet-bracer beneath her braid.
Sereth’s eyes flicked to it.
Sereth:
“…New gift?”
Elyra kept her gaze forward.
Elyra:
“From Tavian.
It works well.”
She didn’t mention why she needed it.
Or how terrified she’d been to lose the circlet again.
They trotted quietly down the road, the estate shrinking behind them, the sky slowly bruising with dawn.
At the treeline of Vale Forest, the shadows grew strange.
Still.
Watching.
Sereth inhaled sharply, her ranger instincts thrumming.
Elyra clenched the reins.
They entered anyway.
BACK AT THE ESTATE — PANCAKE KNOWS
Downstairs, sunlight barely touched the windows when Pancake jolted awake on Elyra’s empty bed.
He sniffed the air.
Tilted his head.
Whiskers twitched frantically.
Pancake:
“Little Hawk?
Little Hawk??”
No answer.
And that — that was wrong.
He scampered down the stairs, claws skittering, tiny body vibrating with cosmic dread.
The base of the stairs told the whole horrible story:
- Elyra’s green-silver heels, abandoned
- No boots
- No bow
- No cloak
- And the faint scent of night air
Pancake sucked in a breath.
Pancake:
“Oh no no no no no—
VORNS DID BAD THING—
VERY bad thing—”
He turned and shot up the stairs like a furry meteor.
THE MASTER BEDROOM — BRIMSTONE
Elaris awoke before Pancake even reached the door.
A smell ripped him from sleep.
Brimstone.
He sat up so fast his head spun.
Sereth’s side of the bed?
Empty.
His pulse hammered.
A soft tap… tap… tap came from the fireplace.
Elaris snapped a hand up and fired a necrotic bolt.
It struck stone — harmlessly.
When the smoke cleared, she stood there.
Tall.
Smirking.
Perfectly manicured.
Dressed like trouble.
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Valthrix.
She glanced at the scorched fireplace, then at him.
Valthrix (dryly):
“Darling, is that any way to treat a friend?”
Elaris was already out of bed.
Already reaching out with magic.
Already calling for Sereth with every atom of his soul.
But there was no answer.
He patted the sheets again, just to make sure.
Empty.
Elaris:
“Where is she?!”
Valthrix blinked lazily.
Valthrix:
“Who?
Your wife…
or your daughter?”
His heart stopped.
Elaris:
“What?!”
She twirled a quill and conjured a floating mirror made of smoke and silver.
Two silhouettes appeared:
Sereth and Elyra, mounted and already riding into the Vale.
Valthrix:
“Mother-daughter outing, looks like.”
Elaris’s entire body shook with fury.
Elaris:
“No. No—no. Lies. You tricked them. Why would they go alone?!”
Valthrix tapped her chin thoughtfully.
Valthrix:
“Maybe they didn’t want daddy being a burden?”
He launched a skeletal hand — a violent green lash.
She sidestepped it gracefully, like stepping around a spilled drink.
Valthrix:
“Can’t get me with that twice in a row.”
Elaris’s vision went dark around the edges.
Elaris:
“What are you suggesting?!”
She inspected her nails.
Valthrix:
“Only that you won’t get there in time.
They took the horses.
You? You have… feet.”
His magic arced in wild, dangerous surges.
She grinned.
Valthrix:
“So! You have two options:
Option A — I let you watch their little misadventure from a comfy seat—”
Elaris glared murder.
She continued anyway.
“—Or option B — you strike another delightful deal with me.”
Elaris went cold.
Absolutely frozen.
He whispered:
Elaris:
“I will make no more deals with you.”
Valthrix’s smile stretched, pleased.
Valthrix:
“Wonderful.
Truly.”
She snapped her fingers.
“Then gather your little friends.
This will be quite the show.”
And before he could strike again—
—she vanished in a twist of red smoke.
Pancake finally skidded into the room.
Saw Elaris.
Saw the empty bed.
Saw the mirror fading.
He whispered, horrified:
Pancake:
“…Vorns did bad thing.”
Elaris’s breath shook.
Elaris:
“They’re in the Vale.”
Pancake nodded solemnly.
Pancake:
“Forest very mad.
Forest very hungry.
Forest want… blood.”
He looked up at Elaris.
Eyes full of cosmic certainty.
Pancake:
“Time to wake the others.”
THE ESTATE IN PANIC — AND THE FOREST THAT CALLS THE RANGERS HOME
Valthrix’s mirror hung in the center of Aurelthane’s grand hall like a wound in reality.
A swirling pane of smoke and silver, showing Sereth and Elyra riding deeper into the Vale Forest.
Everyone was awake now.
Everyone was shouting.
Everyone was terrified.
The Dice Watching Their Sisters Walk Into Death
Laz ran a hand through his hair, pacing so fast his boots squeaked on the polished floor.
Laz:
“They’re already halfway in—
They’re already halfway in—
WHY would they go ALONE?!”
Vex clutched her temples.
Vex:
“Sereth I understand, she’s reckless—
BUT THE CHILD?!”
Kaer stood like a statue, jaw locked, breathing through his nose with barely-contained fury.
Garruk smashed a fist into a column.
Garruk:
“WE RIDE NOW.
WE RIDE NOW!”
Arden had her hands clasped, whispering desperate prayers that wouldn’t leave her throat.
Pancake climbed onto the table to be seen.
Pancake:
“They go because they angry.
They go because hurt.
They think they strong enough.”
Kaer turned on Elaris.
Kaer:
“We can still catch them.”
But Elaris…
Elaris was staring into the mirror like it was swallowing him whole.
His hands shook.
Magic crawled up his arms like frostbite.
He couldn’t breathe.
Elaris (hoarse):
“They’re too far.”
The hall went silent.
Dead silent.
Valthrix sat on the banister like a cat, swinging her legs, enjoying the spectacle.
Valthrix:
“Oh darling, don’t feel bad.
You didn’t lose them—
they wandered off like toddlers.”
Laz snarled and tried to stab her.
His blade went straight through an illusion.
She winked.
Valthrix:
“Try again when you hit puberty, sweetheart.”
THE LATTICE SCREAMS
And then—
a spike in the air.
Like lightning cracking inside every skull.
Sereth froze in her saddle.
Elyra clutched her head.
Inside the estate, Elaris gasped and fell to his knees.
His voice burst into the Rangers' minds—
not spoken, but exploding through the Lattice.
A father’s rage.
A husband’s terror.
A necromancer’s breaking heart.
Elaris (Lattice-voice, shaking, raw):
Why did you go alone—
STOP—
COME BACK—
COME BACK NOW—
Sereth teared up.
But she didn't falter.
Elyra winced, squeezing her reins.
They didn’t answer with words.
They answered with a feeling:
A warm, steady pulse.
Love.
Resolve.
Courage.
A message:
We know.
We’re together.
We can do this.
Elaris felt it.
It wasn’t enough.
He stood.
Elaris:
“We go.
NOW.”
Kaer was already moving.
Garruk howled and sprinted for the stables.
Laz and Vex vanished in smoke and sparks.
Arden brushed tears from her cheeks, nodding.
Pancake leapt into Elaris’s arms.
Pancake:
“Go save your hawks.”
The Dice bolted.
Behind them, Valthrix laughed sweetly.
Valthrix:
“Oh, this is going to be delicious.”
THE VALE FOREST WHISPERS
Sereth and Elyra slowed, instincts screaming that something was wrong.
The mists thickened.
The trees twisted.
Cold seeped into the ground like venom.
Elyra whispered:
Elyra:
“…She’s here.”
Sereth nocked an arrow.
Sereth:
“Stay close.”
The woods darkened.
And then—
A voice slithered through the leaves.
Varsha (echoing, delighted, cruel):
“Rangers…
you came…”
A laugh like knives against glass.
Varsha:
“Let’s see how prepared you are…”
Elyra tightened her grip on her bow.
Sereth exhaled, steady and cold.
Behind them, far off, they felt Elaris’s panic like a storm pressing against their spines.
But they pressed forward.
They had no choice.
The forest closed behind them