The morning light was weak, shrouded by a thick fog that clung to the forest like a living thing. The air was damp, heavy with the scent of wet earth and decaying leaves. Elara and Kael moved through the trees in silence, their steps careful, as though they were intruding on some ancient and forgotten place. They had barely escaped Nythora the night before, the first fragment of the Crown of Aether safely tucked away in Elara's pouch. But the encounter with the guardian still haunted them, and the threat of what may lay ahead pressed heavily on their minds. 

Elara's fingers unconsciously brushed over the fragment. It hummed faintly with power, a constant reminder of what they had gained — and what they still had to lose to gain all the fragments. 

"We need to find shelter," Kael muttered, his voice low. His eyes scanned the dense forest, his usual cocky demeanour dampened by their recent brush with death. " This fog will slow us down, and we have been running for hours. I can't shake the feeling that something's following us silently." 

Elara frowned but didn't argue as she sensed it too. Her legs ached, and her thoughts were clouded with fatigue. " There should be a village not far from here, " she said, recalling the map they had studied before embarking on this journey. " A small place, nothing grand, but it'll have somewhere we can rest. "

Kael shot her a skeptical glance. " Are you sure about that? " 

" As sure as I can be. I have never been this far into the northern territories, but my sources were most reliable. It is either that or we risk camping out in the open. And I would rather not tempt the spirits of this forest. " 

Kael sighed, running a hand through his tousled dark hair. " Fine. Let us hope your sources were right. " 

They pushed forward through the fog, the trees looming tall and ominous around them. The forest here was different from the ones in the southern territories where they had grown up — older, wilder. There was a weight to it, as though the land itself carried the memories of ancient times long before their own. The silence was unnerving, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant call of unseen birds. 

Elara kept her eyes sharp, alert for any sign of danger. She had felt it too — that unsettling sensation of being watched, followed by something unseen. The forest was thick with magic, old and untamed, and she knew better than to underestimate it. 

" Have you ever wondered... " Kael began, his voice cutting through the quiet, " ...what it would be like to just... leave? To not have to carry the fate of the realm on your shoulders? " 

Elara glanced at him, surprised by the sudden shift in tone. His usual sarcasm and bravado were absent, replaced by something quieter, more reflective. 

" Leave? " she repeated, raising an eyebrow. " And go where? " 

Kael shrugged, his eyes fixed on the path ahead. " Anywhere. Somewhere no one knows us. Somewhere we are not hunted down by warlords or cursed tomb guardians. A place where we can live out our days without worrying about crowns, fragments, or the fate of the world, where we could just live a normal life ".  

Elara's heart twisted at the thought. The idea was tempting — more tempting than she cared to admit. But it wasn't that simple. " You know we can't do that, Kael. If we don't find the rest of the fragments, this world will fall into chaos. It's already on the brink. " 

Kael snorted softly. " Yeah, well, seems like it's been on the brink for a while now. " 

They continued in silence for a moment, the fog swirling all around them like a living thing. The weight of their journey — of the choices they had made — pressed heavily on Elara's chest. She had never wanted this responsibility, had never sought to be a hero. But destiny had a way of pulling people into its web, whether they were ready or not. 

 "I didn't choose this, " Elara said quietly, her voice barely more than a whisper. " But I can't walk away from it. Especially not when so much is at stake. " 

Kael didn't respond right away. When he finally spoke, his voice was soft, almost resigned. "I know. I just... I don't want to lose you to this, Elara. This quest, these fragments — they'll tear you apart if you let them." 

Elara felt a lump form in her throat. She wanted to tell him that she was stronger than that, that she wouldn't let the weight of the crown destroy her. But deep down, she wasn't so sure. The power of the fragments was already affecting her, in ways she didn't fully understand. It was like a hunger — gnawing at the edges of her mind, whispering promises of strength, of control. 

Before she could respond, the fog began to thin, revealing the outline of a small village nestled between the trees. The buildings were humble, constructed of weathered wood and stone, with thatched roofs and smoke curling from chimneys. It was a quiet place, untouched by the chaos of the world beyond the forest. 

"Looks like you were right," Kael said with a relieved sigh. "Come on, let's find somewhere to rest before we collapse." 

They made their way into the village, drawing a few curious glances from the villagers who were out and about, tending to their daily tasks. Elara could sense the suspicion in their eyes—strangers were not often welcomed here, especially not ones dressed like travelers from far-off lands. But they didn't have time to worry about that now. 

"There," Kael said, nodding toward a small inn on the edge of the village. Its sign, worn and faded, swung gently in the breeze. 

They entered the inn, the warm glow of the hearth immediately easing some of the tension in Elara's muscles. The air inside was thick with the smell of stew and bread, and the sound of quiet conversation filled the room. A few patrons sat at tables, sipping ale and speaking in hushed tones, their eyes briefly flickering to the newcomers before returning to their meals. 

Elara and Kael approached the innkeeper, a burly man with a grizzled beard and a stern expression. He looked them up and down, his eyes lingering on the weapons at their sides. 

"Travelers, eh?" he grunted, his voice rough. " Haven't seen many of your kind around here in a long time. What brings you to these parts? " 

Elara met his gaze, keeping her tone neutral. " Just passing through. We're looking for a place to rest for the night. " 

The innkeeper eyed them for a moment longer before nodding. "Rooms are five coppers each. Pay up front." 

Kael tossed a few coins onto the counter. "We'll take two." 

The innkeeper scooped up the coins and gestured toward the stairs at the back of the room. "Rooms are upstairs. Don't cause any trouble, and we won't have any problems." 

Elara and Kael nodded, making their way up the narrow staircase to the small, modest rooms. Elara's room was simple—a bed, a washbasin, and a small window that looked out over the village. She dropped her pack onto the floor and sat on the edge of the bed, her body aching from exhaustion. 

For a moment, she allowed herself to relax, to let the tension drain from her muscles. But her mind was still racing, thoughts of the fragment and the journey ahead swirling in a chaotic storm. She pulled the fragment from her pouch, staring at it as it glowed faintly in the dim light. 

What had they truly gotten themselves into? 

A knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. Kael entered, his expression serious. "We need to talk." 

Elara raised an eyebrow. "What is it?" 

Kael shut the door behind him, lowering his voice. "I overheard some of the villagers talking downstairs. There's been trouble in the northern regions—dark magic, creatures attacking settlements. People are saying it's connected to the crown fragments." 

Elara's heart sank. Of course, it was connected. The power of the crown was leaking into the world, fueling chaos wherever it touched. 

"We knew this was coming," she said quietly. "The longer the fragments remain scattered, the worse things will get." 

Kael nodded, his jaw tight. "Then we don't have time to waste. We need to find the next fragment before things get worse." 

Elara's grip tightened on the fragment in her hand. She could feel the weight of it—the responsibility, the danger. There was no turning back now. They were in this, for better or for worse. 

And as much as she feared what lay ahead, she knew they had to keep going. The fate of Azalea depended on it.