The journey back to Eryndor was a different experience than Rylan had anticipated. With the blessing of the Va'Korin shamans, he no longer felt like an intruder in the wildlands. The forest seemed to breathe with him, its sounds and movements less ominous and more welcoming. He felt a kinship with the land itself, as if he could sense its pulse, feel the presence of unseen creatures that watched him with silent approval as he passed.
The token the shaman had given him, a pendant carved from dark wood and etched with ancient glyphs, hung around his neck. It was a sign of his newfound kinship with the Va'Korin—a symbol that marked him as a trusted ally and bound him to their cause as much as to Eryndor's.
He arrived at the border of Sunhold by nightfall, the towers and ramparts bathed in moonlight. The sight of his homeland stirred a bittersweet sense of relief in him, but a newfound restlessness lingered as well. He wasn't the same scout who had left a few days prior. He was Rylan of Tressam, kin to Va'Korin, bearer of secrets that could tip the balance in the looming war.
As he approached the gates, a pair of guards, weary but vigilant, called down to him.
"State your name and purpose!"
"It's Rylan of Tressam, back from a mission under Lady Aria's orders," he replied, pulling back his hood so they could see his face in the torchlight.
A murmur passed between the guards, and one of them hurried off, leaving the other to watch him. Moments later, the gates opened, and Rylan was ushered inside, where Captain Aldric stood waiting.
"Rylan," Aldric said, his voice a low rumble of relief and curiosity. "You've returned sooner than expected."
Rylan nodded, holding out the wooden pendant. "The Va'Korin accepted Eryndor's plea. They have granted us an alliance… and their blessing."
Aldric's eyes narrowed slightly as he took in the token, but then he nodded with approval. "Lady Aria will be pleased to hear this. She's already gathered the council. Drakkenfell's movements have been bolder in your absence, and tensions have only risen since you left. Your report is needed immediately."
Inside the war council chamber, the tension was palpable. Lady Aria and her commanders stood around the central table, maps and reports scattered across its surface, their faces hardened and their voices low with urgency. The moment he entered, Lady Aria's gaze lifted, relief and pride flickering in her eyes.
"Rylan," she said, her tone steady but warmer than he'd ever heard it. "Welcome back."
He stepped forward, giving a respectful bow, then held up the pendant. "I bring news from the Va'Korin. They have accepted our alliance. I underwent their trials, and they have blessed me as kin. They will support Eryndor's defense."
A quiet murmur rippled through the room, the commanders glancing at each other with surprise and some disbelief. Lord Eamon, one of the oldest and most skeptical of the council, raised a brow.
"So the Va'Korin finally come out of their trees to join the fight," he muttered, though there was a hint of approval in his gruff tone. "About time."
Lady Aria gave him a quieting look, then turned back to Rylan. "The council has been debating our next move. With the Va'Korin as allies, our reach extends to the north. We can establish a line of defense against Drakkenfell. But I need your insights, Rylan. Tell us what you've seen in the wildlands and what to expect from our new allies."
Rylan took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "The Va'Korin are fierce and proud. They hold no love for outsiders, but their loyalty to the land runs deep. They respect strength and honor above all. Their shamans have already sent spirit-beasts to patrol our borders, and they have scouts ready to support us in the event of an invasion."
He looked around the table, meeting the eyes of each commander. "But they won't take orders like regular soldiers. They operate on instinct and experience with the land, and they value their autonomy. We need to respect their ways if we want to keep this alliance strong."
Aldric nodded thoughtfully, his gaze meeting Lady Aria's. "Then we need to be careful in how we integrate them into our ranks. A direct command structure may cause friction, but we can position their scouts as our forward guard."
Lady Aria considered this, her fingers tapping lightly on the table. "Good. The Va'Korin will defend our northern territories. And Rylan," she added, her gaze steady, "I'll need you to act as our liaison. You understand their ways better than anyone here now. And we'll need that trust."
A murmur of agreement passed around the table. Rylan nodded, feeling the weight of the responsibility settle over him. He was no longer just a scout—he was a bridge between Eryndor and Va'Korin, tasked with ensuring that the delicate alliance remained strong in the face of Drakkenfell's growing aggression.
At that moment, a loud knock interrupted the council's discussions. The doors swung open, revealing a messenger, his face pale and his breath quick from the haste of his arrival.
"My lady!" he called, his voice echoing in the hall. "Urgent news from the border."
Lady Aria straightened, her expression tightening. "Speak."
"Drakkenfell has mobilized a battalion," the messenger replied, his voice strained with urgency. "They're advancing along the eastern front, marching under the banner of the Iron Empire. Their scouts have already crossed into Eryndor's territory, and they're using fire magic to clear the forest paths."
A ripple of tension surged through the room. The commanders murmured among themselves, some already reaching for weapons, others issuing orders to the nearest soldiers.
Lady Aria's gaze flickered with a sharp determination. "If they seek war, they shall find it," she said, her voice calm but unyielding. She turned to Aldric. "Prepare the soldiers to mobilize. We'll need our best defenses along the eastern front, but we cannot leave the north vulnerable. Drakkenfell's forces may be a distraction for a larger attack from the Va'Korin border."
Rylan's heart raced as he took in the gravity of the situation. This wasn't a mere skirmish—it was a full advance, a brazen attempt to invade Eryndor itself. He felt the pendant around his neck, a reminder of the alliance he'd forged. The Va'Korin would be prepared to protect the northern front, but he would need to ensure they knew what was at stake.
Lady Aria turned back to him, her gaze sharp and intent. "Rylan, you must go to Va'Korin immediately and warn them of the attack. Tell them that Drakkenfell is advancing and that we need their warriors ready to hold the north. Our soldiers will defend the east, but the north cannot fall."
Rylan nodded, feeling the weight of the mission settle on his shoulders. He was prepared to ride out, to defend Eryndor alongside the Va'Korin, but a new thought struck him.
"My lady," he said, a hint of caution in his voice. "If Drakkenfell is using fire magic to burn their way through our lands… their sorcerers may have called upon the dragon spirit itself. We should prepare for more than just soldiers."
The council's murmuring fell silent, the gravity of his words sinking in. The dragon spirit was a force of ancient, destructive power, one that Drakkenfell's sorcerers could invoke to wreak havoc upon the battlefield. Lady Aria's face tightened, her gaze flicking between the commanders and Rylan.
"Then we will meet fire with light," she declared. "I will personally lead the eastern front, and we will call upon every healer and blessed warrior in Eryndor to hold the line. Rylan, gather the Va'Korin and prepare to defend the north."
He straightened, the finality of her words filling him with a fierce sense of purpose. "Yes, my lady."
With a last look around the room, Lady Aria gave him a nod of approval, then turned back to the council, issuing orders with swift precision. Rylan left the chamber, feeling the weight of his role as a messenger and fighter for both realms. He would return to Va'Korin not as a mere scout, but as an emissary, entrusted with the protection of their lands.
Outside, Rylan mounted his horse and urged it forward, galloping through the darkened streets of Sunhold and out into the night. The weight of his mission pulsed with every beat of his heart as he rode, the chill of the wind sharpening his resolve. He thought of Lady Aria's unwavering confidence, of Captain Aldric's trust, and of the Va'Korin's fierce pride. Eryndor and Va'Korin needed each other, and it was up to him to see that alliance through.
As the forests of Va'Korin rose up ahead, Rylan felt a strange, almost comforting calm settle over him. He could feel the presence of the spirit-beasts, the eyes of the wilds watching him, sensing his purpose. The land itself seemed to know what was coming, a dark storm gathering that would test them all.
With a final burst of speed, he crossed the border into Va'Korin, determined to honor the trust he had earned and to protect both the lands he now called home. And as he moved deeper into the wildlands, he sensed that the spirits of Va'Korin were with him, guiding his steps as he carried Eryndor's hopes—and his own courage—into the shadows.