Arrows whistled through the air as soldiers discovered their escape.
The sound came first—a sharp hiss—then the violent thud of iron biting into wood. One arrow shattered against the stone wall inches from Elara's head. She gasped and stumbled backward.
"Run!" the old man shouted, grabbing her arm and pulling her toward the narrow passage ahead.
Boots thundered behind them. Torches flared, casting wild shadows across the tunnel walls. The smell of smoke and metal filled the air.
Elara's heart hammered in her chest. The black-gold embers beneath her skin pulsed, warm and dangerous, as if sensing the threat. She clenched her fists, terrified of losing control.
Suddenly, a figure stepped into the tunnel entrance.
A stranger.
He planted his feet firmly and raised a cracked blue shield, its surface scratched and faded from countless battles. Despite the chaos, he wore a crooked grin, like this was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
"Not today," he said calmly.
An arrow slammed into his shield with a loud clang. Another followed. He braced himself, sparks flying as metal scraped against enchanted glass.
"Who are you?!" Elara cried, torn between fear and disbelief.
"Kael," he replied without looking back. "Professional troublemaker."
With a sharp movement, he threw a small sphere onto the ground. It burst into thick silver smoke, swallowing the tunnel in blinding fog.
"Now would be a great time to run," Kael added.
They didn't hesitate.
Elara and the old man bolted forward as Kael sprinted after them. They burst out of the tunnel and into the forest beyond. Moonlight spilled through the trees, lighting a maze of roots and shadows. Branches clawed at Elara's cloak as they ran. Her lungs burned, her legs screamed, but she kept moving.
Behind them, angry shouts echoed, followed by the distant barking of hounds.
They crossed a shallow river, wading through icy water to erase their trail. Then they climbed rocky slopes, slipping and stumbling, until the forest finally swallowed them whole.
Only when the sounds of pursuit faded did they stop.
That night, they rested beside a small fire hidden between thick trees. The flames flickered softly, painting warm light across tired faces.
Kael crouched near the fire, poking the embers with a stick. "So… black-gold embers," he said casually. "That's terrifying and impressive. Not something you see every day."
Elara hugged her arms, staring into the flames. "Everyone is afraid of me," she whispered. "They look at me like I'm a weapon. Like I'm a curse."
Kael looked up.
For once, he wasn't smiling.
He met her eyes, steady and sincere. "I'm not. I see someone trying not to fall apart. Someone carrying too much and still standing."
Her breath caught.
The words slipped past the walls she had built around her heart.
Tears slid down her cheeks before she could stop them.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Kael nodded softly and turned back to the fire, giving her space to cry without shame.
Above them, the stars watched in silence.
And for the first time since the embers awakened inside her, Elara felt something unfamiliar—
Hope.