The sun hung low in the sky, casting long golden rays over the town as Elara made her way down the familiar path toward the forest.
It had been a month since she uncovered the dark secret of the Divine Order, but she had kept her discovery hidden deep within her heart. She had returned to the temple every day since then, playing the role of a devoted follower with a serene mask of faith.
Her steps were steady, her demeanor calm. No one suspected a thing. She recited her prayers, made offerings, and attended every sermon as usual. But behind the veil of her quiet devotion, her mind raced, searching for cracks in the temple's pristine façade.
Every glance she exchanged with a priestess, every chant she repeated, held hidden meaning, as she hoped to uncover more. Yet the Order was clever, guarding its secrets well.
As she passed through the temple gates that evening, Elara let out a sigh of frustration. Another day of pretending, and still, she was no closer to the truth.
The weight of the secret she carried felt heavier with each passing day, but she knew she couldn't act rashly. She had to be careful. One misstep, and they would notice.
Walking through the town streets toward her small home, she realized her stomach growled in protest. She hadn't eaten anything since breakfast. "Of course," she muttered to herself, "no food left."
She had spent the last of her coin earlier in the week, and the odd jobs around town didn't pay much. She'd have to find something in the forest again, like she often did when times were hard.
Elara adjusted her cloak around her shoulders and took a detour, heading towards the deeper parts of the forest just outside of town. The forest path was overgrown but familiar, the thick canopy above casting the ground in a soft twilight.
The rustling of leaves and the occasional call of distant birds were the only sounds that accompanied her. Elara's body moved on autopilot, her senses alert for anything edible—mushrooms, berries, maybe even some wild roots. But her mind was elsewhere, playing and replaying the conversation she had overheard in the temple's forbidden hallway.
She shivered at the memory of the high-level priestess's voice, cold and calculating, as they discussed the forbidden knowledge they wielded, their manipulation of the faithful.
Elara could still hardly believe it. The same people she had placed her trust in, the same figures she had seen as protectors and guides, were nothing but deceivers. It had shattered something inside her.
But I'll make them pay, she thought grimly. I'll expose them, even if it takes me years.
As she gathered a small bundle of mushrooms she recognized as safe to eat, she couldn't help but recall how innocent she once was. She had been devoted, foolishly trusting that the temple would shelter and guide her. How blind she had been to the rot hiding beneath the surface.
Just as she stood to continue her foraging, she heard a sound behind her—a branch snapping. Her heart jumped, and she quickly spun around.
The forest was thick, shadowy, and though she couldn't see anyone, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.
"Who's there?" she called out, her voice steadier than she felt. Silence greeted her in return.
Elara narrowed her eyes, her instincts telling her she wasn't alone. She scanned the darkening forest, her breath catching.
It wasn't unheard of for bandits to prowl these parts. Her hand slid to the dagger at her belt, fingers tightening around the hilt.
After a tense moment, she finally saw it—a figure moving between the trees, cloaked and hooded. Too far to see clearly but enough to make her blood freeze.
They weren't coming toward her, but they were lingering too close for comfort. Was someone following her? Had the Order finally noticed her prying?
Without waiting to find out, Elara quickly turned on her heel and made her way back to the town, her heart racing faster with every step. She moved swiftly but carefully, not wanting to draw attention, but fear gnawed at her.
Her hand never left the dagger, and with each glance over her shoulder, she expected to see the cloaked figure trailing her.
By the time she reached the edge of the forest, the sun had dipped below the horizon, and the town was lit by the warm glow of lanterns. She hurried through the streets, ignoring the curious looks from a few townsfolk who were still out and about.
Only when she closed the door to her small home and slid the bolt into place did she let out the breath she had been holding. Her hands were trembling, and she slumped against the door, sliding down to sit on the floor.
"That was close," she whispered to herself. "Too close."
Elara didn't know if it was the Order or some other force that had followed her, but it didn't matter. They were watching. The realization sent a chill down her spine. She was playing a dangerous game, and if she wasn't careful, she would lose.
But she wasn't going to stop.
Pushing herself to her feet, Elara made her way to the small table in the corner of her room. She laid the mushrooms she had gathered on the table but didn't have the appetite to cook them anymore. Instead, she sat down in the quiet of her home, the weight of the day heavy on her shoulders.
Her mind raced as she thought about the Order and the temple, about what they had been hiding, and about the steps she needed to take. She couldn't confront them yet. Not without more proof, not without a plan. But she couldn't let them continue unchecked.
As the evening darkened into night, Elara pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders, her thoughts swirling. She didn't know how she would expose the Order's lies, but she knew one thing for certain: she was in this now, and there was no turning back.