Elena woke slowly, a soft yawn escaping her lips as she stretched her arms above her head. For a moment, she didn't remember where she was. Her body felt oddly relaxed, warm in a way she hadn't felt in a long time.
It took a few seconds before the memories came rushing back.
The forest.
The journey.
Lena.
She blinked up at the canopy above her. The sky beyond the thick leaves was pale and bright, though the sun itself had not yet fully risen into view. Morning light filtered through the branches in soft streaks.
Birds chirped continuously and somewhere nearby, she could hear the rustle of small animals moving through the undergrowth. The forest felt alive in a gentle, comforting way.
It was quiet. Peaceful.
And strangely… calming.
Elena pushed herself up slowly, surprised at how well she had slept. Despite lying on the cold forest floor with nothing but a cloak and a small fire for comfort, she felt more rested than she had in weeks.
It was her first time waking up this late.
Normally, by now, she would have been busy doing something — probably baking some bread.
The thought of the tavern drifted into her mind.
Aunt Kate.
Leo.
She wondered how they were coping without her.
A faint smile tugged at her lips.
Aunt Kate would probably be throwing a celebration, relieved that Elena was finally gone. She could almost imagine the woman shouting orders at the staff with renewed energy.
Leo…
Her smile faded slightly.
She had no idea what he would be doing.
He had been acting strange ever since he returned from Riverria. Quieter. Distracted. Watching her like he wanted to say something but never did.
Elena shook her head lightly, pushing the thoughts away.
The air smelled faintly sweet. Fruits. Fresh ones. Her stomach gave a small growl at the thought of biting into something juicy.
She turned, rubbing the sleep from her eyes—
And nearly jumped.
A white-haired girl was crouched close to her, smiling far too brightly for someone who had supposedly just woken up.
Elena forced herself not to gasp.
"What has got you so excited this early in the morning?" she asked, trying to sound calm.
She still wasn't used to Lena. Not yet.
Lena tilted her head slightly. "I'm sorry… did I scare you?"
"No. Of course not," Elena replied quickly, a little too quickly. "I just didn't expect to see you so close."
Lena's smile widened, her eyes sparkling. "I'm just happy to finally have a friend. It's my first time sleeping next to someone."
The innocence in her voice made Elena pause.
"Okay…" she said slowly as she began gathering her things. "I still don't know who or what you are. But after I rescue Amber, we're going to have to find out where you came from. There must be some record somewhere. Someone must know something."
Lena nodded eagerly. "I'll gladly help! I'm curious too. I want to know who I am." She clasped her hands together. "And don't worry about Amber. I'm sure you'll be able to rescue her. I'll help however I can. She sounds strong. I don't think she'd like seeing you so tense."
Elena stopped mid-motion, her hand still inside her bag.
Slowly, she turned.
"How do you know Amber?" she asked quietly.
Lena blinked. "Huh?"
"You just spoke about her like you know her," Elena continued, her voice calm but sharp. "A normal person would have asked who Amber was. Or why I'm trying to rescue her. But you didn't."
Lena took a small step back.
"I know we look alike," Elena continued, narrowing her eyes, "but isn't it strange to share the same best friend too?"
Lena lowered her gaze, suddenly looking timid.
"I'm sorry if I invaded your privacy," she said softly. "You woke me up in the middle of the night. You were talking about her. About how you were going to rescue your friend."
Elena's eyes widened.
"I did?"
"Of course," Lena said. "You kept repeating her name."
Elena stared at her, disbelief written across her face.
She had never spoken in her sleep before.
Even during her worst nightmares, she had never screamed or muttered.
Lena continued gently, "You also mentioned someone else. A certain Dante. You said you missed him. You said you were sorry."
Elena's face instantly turned red.
"I'm sure you heard wrong," she said stiffly.
Lena shook her head. "No, I heard clearly. You kept saying, 'Dante… I'm sorry… I miss you so much.'"
"Shut up!" Elena snapped, lunging forward to cover Lena's mouth.
Her hand passed right through her.
Lena giggled, drifting backward like a passing breeze.
Her laughter echoed faintly through the forest, soft and light.
"Why is your face so red, Elena?" she teased. "Dante must be really special."
"He is not!" Elena shot back immediately.
"He's just a stupid, ugly guy with an inflated ego and annoying jokes."
Lena watched her silently, clearly unconvinced.
Elena let out a frustrated sigh. "Look, the point is, Dante is nothing special."
"Sure," Lena replied, rolling her eyes. "Keep telling yourself that."
She turned and pointed ahead. "There's a stream nearby. The water should still be warm enough. I'm sure you want to wash up."
Elena nodded quickly. "Lead the way."
****
Later, after a quick wash and a small meal, Elena sat on a rock by the stream, chewing her bread quietly but quickly.
Lena watched her.
The raven-haired girl looked calmer now, but there was something in her eyes — a heaviness that refused to fade. Her left hand twitched occasionally, as if she were restraining something she didn't fully understand.
"I'm done, Lena. Let's go," Elena said, standing up.
"Shouldn't you refill your water can?" Lena asked. "The stream is safe to drink from."
Elena paused. "You're right. I almost forgot."
She dipped her container into the rushing water, watching the current swirl around her fingers.
"I'm not even sure Amber is still in this forest," she muttered. "It's been so long. We haven't seen a single person. Just animals and trees."
Lena nodded slowly. "You did say someone tracked a possible lead here. But if that's true… they might have moved on by now."
"So where could they be now?" Elena groaned, frustration creeping into her voice.
Lena fell quiet, closing her eyes.
Elena began pacing.
"Maybe Leo would have been useful," she muttered, smacking her forehead. "I'm so stupid. Why did I insist on doing this alone? I haven't even manifested my magic yet. How am I supposed to convince Amber to come back if I find her?"
Her breathing grew uneven as she tugged at her hair in frustration.
Lena slowly opened her eyes.
"There's a small village just beyond the forest," she said softly.
Elena froze.
"How did you—?"
"I concentrated," Lena replied. "I felt warmth. The kind only humans give off."
Elena's face lit up. "Lena, you're the best!"
Lena smiled shyly, looking away. "I'm glad I can help—"
The distant sound of galloping hooves cut her off.
Elena turned sharply.
A horse burst through the trees and came to an abrupt stop a few paces away. A man sat atop it, breathing hard, his eyes scanning the area.
He looked startled when he noticed Elena.
"Miss, what are you doing alone in this forest?" he asked.
"I'm on my way to the next village," Elena replied.
"If you know what's good for you, don't go," he said sharply.
"Huh?" Elena blinked, caught off guard by his sudden intensity.
"The village was attacked yesterday," he said grimly. "By cursed beings. Many people were hurt. Our village leader barely survived."
Elena covered her mouth. "Oh my goodness…"
"My daughter was lucky to escape," he continued. "She said one of them… a young woman… protected her. But a man died right in front of her. She hasn't recovered from the shock."
Elena's heart started racing.
"Wait… you said a girl?" she asked quickly.
"Yes," the rider replied, confused by her sudden urgency.
"Did she have red hair?"
He stared at her strangely.
Before he could respond, a small, trembling voice came from behind him.
"Red… eyes…" the little girl whispered weakly.
The man turned sharply. "Don't talk to strangers, baby."
Without another word, he urged his horse forward and rode off, dust swirling behind him.
Elena watched him disappear, her pulse thundering.
"Lena…"
"Yes?" Lena appeared beside her like a breeze.
Elena's lips curled into a determined smile.
"I think we just found our next lead."
There was only one person with eyes like that.
"I'm coming for you, Amber."
****
A/N
Dear readers,
Here's another chapter by yours truly.
Please drop a comment and vote for me.
I have a question.
Is Lena a friend or a foe?
Drop your answers in the comments!