On their second day in the Whispering Glen, the evening grew chilly, and after a long walk with hardly any rest, the travellers decided to stop for the night. They dismounted and walked through the dense branches blocking their paths, but William confidently led the way, as though he perfectly knew the terrain.

As the sun went down, William worked hard to light a fire. The damp wood resisted his efforts, hissing and sputtering until a persistent flame finally took hold. It crackled, sending plumes of thick smoke into the air—a beacon for any lurking danger.

Yet William agreed to take the risk because Elizabeth was too cold to go on. Shivering uncontrollably, she drew her cloak tight, but it did little to stave off the chill. She glanced at Dan, hoping for warmth, but he remained distant, his gaze fixed elsewhere.

As the girl hunched by the fire, lost in disappointment, a pair of hands gently draped a thick cloak over her shoulders. She turned to thank Dan, but to her surprise, William's tall figure stood behind her, his presence sturdy and reassuring. This unexpected tenderness left her momentarily speechless. She hesitated, searching for words, then whispered, "Thank you," her grateful eyes meeting his.

Dan immediately turned his attention to Elizabeth. His sharp eyes narrowed as unease grew within him. It seemed that William's hands had lingered too long on Elizabeth's shoulders. Was it just his imagination, or was there more to it? To assert his presence, Dan stood up and closed the distance between them. "We didn't ask for your help," he said sharply, eyeing William. But William didn't even glance his way. Instead, he gracefully stepped back, maintaining his composure.

Warmth spread through Elizabeth's chest after William's kind gesture, and she smiled involuntarily. But since then, Dan had started to embrace her more often, always within William's sight, as if trying to prove something to him. Elizabeth knew Dan disliked William, and though she wished there was no tension between the men, she couldn't deny the comfort William had brought her.

༺ ✧ ༻

The following day, they gathered around the fire, seeking warmth and respite. William kept a respectful distance from the couple, giving them space. Dan drew Elizabeth closer, his arm wrapping around her waist with possessive ease. Despite Dan's glances toward William, the knight seemed disinterested in their closeness, focused instead on organising his gear.

Emboldened by William's apparent indifference, Dan leaned in to steal a kiss from Elizabeth. But as his lips approached, she pulled away. "I think this isn't the right time or place, Dan."

Dan's eyes flicked back to William. "Come on," his voice grew insistent, his hand lingering at Elizabeth's waist, "he's not watching." Then, unyielding, he held Elizabeth's face in his hands, his lips seeking hers.

"No, I don't want this!" Filled with newfound strength, she firmly pushed Dan away.

Irritation flashed in Dan's eyes. "You wanted me to kiss you in the park, remember?" His tone became cold, dismissive. "What's the problem now? You just don't know what you want!"

"It's different now, Dan. This eerie forest is nothing like the familiar park back home. Romance feels out of place here. Besides," she lowered her voice and cast a discreet glance toward William, "we're not alone."

"Yeah," Dan said with a smirk, glancing at William, "that vacant stare is quite the romance killer. I'd be shocked if he even knows how to read or write."

Elizabeth's cheeks flushed a deep crimson at Dan's cruel words. She longed to vanish into the cool ground beneath her. William, clearly having overheard their conversation, kept up an admirable facade of indifference, pretending to be oblivious to their exchange.

"Come on, Liz, you know I'm right. Why won't you just say it?"

Dan always stood out because of his education, looks, and polished manner. Exceptionally groomed, he was the highlight in any crowd. Unlike him, William was more reserved, a subtle presence who cared little about appearances. Yet, his striking, noble features and the intensity of his eyes lent him a distinct allure that Dan's more overt charm couldn't match.

"No, you're wrong."

Dan's face turned hard as stone."Oh? You find him attractive, then?"

The hidden darkness in Dan had been concealed during their early days together, but now it had become more apparent. Despite his prestigious education abroad, his true nature remained unchanged. He showed contempt not only for William but also for her friends, often insulting them in her presence. She had stayed quiet, lacking the courage to speak up. Now, though, her anger was rising. "Have you no shame?" Her eyes flashed in defiance.

Dan's expression hardened, but then he said, feigning concern, "Liz, you need more rest. The lack of it is affecting your looks."

Elizabeth didn't respond to the sharp retort, but surprisingly, she remained calm inside. At that moment, she realised she no longer cared what Dan thought of her.

༺ ✧ ༻

As Dan and William fell asleep, Elizabeth kept watch. The night sky, dotted with countless stars forming unfamiliar constellations, stretched above her. The wind had died down, and a calm atmosphere embraced her. A crescent moon cast a silver glow over their small forest clearing, just enough to outline the surrounding trees. Captivated by the celestial display, Elizabeth let her imagination weave whimsical shapes among the stars. Though alien, the starlit sky brought her solace.

As she sat there, a gentle breeze stirred, making the trees whisper. After a while, the breeze intensified, its warm caress brushing against Elizabeth's face. Then, something unusual happened. At the forest's edge, where the mountain loomed indistinctly, a faint golden glow appeared, and countless tiny sparkles, like fireflies, floated up together. They spread across the sky, outshining the stars. Then, the sparkles merged into a luminous stream, cascading down in a mesmerising wave.

Elizabeth sprang to her feet, awe and apprehension appearing on her face as she watched the otherworldly display. It looked as if something supernatural had created the breathtaking show. She felt the urge to wake Dan and William but found herself rooted to the spot, unwilling to interrupt the dazzling spectacle and half-convinced she was dreaming.

When the wave of golden sparkles lowered, it reached a tree and vanished within its gnarled bark. The leaves rustled, and the tree radiated a brilliant golden glow. Almost as quickly as it had appeared, the light faded, returning the clearing to its previous tranquillity.

Frozen in place, Elizabeth gaped into the darkness. The night had grown calm, yet she couldn't shake her amazement at the forest's mysteries. It was unlike anything she had ever seen before.

In the morning, still captivated by the spectacle she had witnessed the previous night, Elizabeth decided to share her experience. "I saw something strange last night... Golden sparkles... flying. Like fireflies."

"Perhaps they were just fireflies," William said with a casual shrug.

"No! I'm sure they weren't fireflies. It was something... otherworldly."

Rather than exploring the topic further, William changed the subject. "I need to gather wood for tonight's fire." He strode into the dense vegetation surrounding their campsite. Elizabeth sighed with frustration, her curiosity unappeased. His apparent disinterest in her extraordinary encounter was puzzling, to say the least.

༺ ✧ ༻

"Hey, William! Let me help you," Dan called out as the underbrush rustled around the knight. William paused, giving Dan a surprised look, but then nodded, and the two men began gathering dry twigs beneath the shadowy canopy.

Like a heavy, thick fog, unspoken tension filled the air. Dan, after picking up a few twigs, threw them back on the ground and, without warning, approached William. His brown eyes burned with hostility as he glared at the man. "Stay away from Elizabeth. You're too old for her." His words sliced through the tense air like tendrils of smoke. Despite the threatening tone, Dan's voice shook ever so slightly.

A heavy silence fell as William scrutinised Dan with an unreadable expression. His grip on the bundle of twigs tightened, his knuckles whitening. "You're not the one to order me around, boy," he said, his voice low and feral, like an animal poised to attack.

Dan's enthusiasm quickly faded, giving way to fear. He swallowed hard, blinking rapidly. Younger and less imposing than William, he sensed an unmistakable menace in the older man's tone. His heart raced like a wild animal caged within his ribs. Confronted with William's intense stare, menacing in its own right, Dan stepped back, his body tensing—he had sorely underestimated William.

Suddenly, a piercing cry from Elizabeth cut through the silence, the terror in her voice leaving both men breathless. The tension between them dissolved in an instant, overtaken by mutual concern. Back at the camp, their horses neighed, sensing the urgency in Elizabeth's cry. With a swift motion, William drew his sword and dashed toward the camp. Dan followed closely behind, pale and wide-eyed with fear, as they moved through the shadowy forest.

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