Gentle sounds of life filled the village of Elaris the next morning. Birds chattered from the trees, soft wind rustled the leaves, and hammer clanged across the village square-a sound so constant that it became the heartbeat of Elaris itself.
Kai and Lia had intended to spend another day exploring, but before they could slip off into the forest, they had been drawn toward the forge of the blacksmith. Along the edge of the village square stood a sturdy stone building with a large chimney puffing dark smoke in the sky. Inside rang out the loud booming voice of the blacksmith as he hammered away at a piece of glowing metal.
"Eldrin's at it again," Lia said, nudging Kai with her elbow as they walked towards the forge.
"Ah, if it isn't my two favorite troublemakers!" Eldrin's voice thundered out, his grin spreading wide. "Come to watch a real craftsman at work, have you?"
Kai smiled. "You're the only blacksmith we know."
Eldrin chuckled, a deep rumble that seemed to shake the forge itself. "That doesn't mean I'm not the best! Even in Havenbrook, there's none who can match my swing. Isn't that right?" He winked at Kai.
Lia rolled her eyes at him playfully. "You say that every time, but we've never been to Havenbrook to ask!"
"Bah! That'll change soon enough." He waved them off, though his eyes sparkled with affection. "But what are you two up to, hmm? More mischief in the woods, I bet."
Kai and Lia looked at each other as innocently as they possibly could.
But he struck his hammer into his anvil firmly and said with a flourish: "Now get along, or else I shall set you to work!"
Kai and Lia laughed as they left, waving over their shoulders to the blacksmith. The echoes of Eldrin's booming laughter still clung in the air long after the forge had fallen behind it, growing fainter as they moved further and further from it.
The curving paths that wove through the heart of the village brought the siblings to the very same and familiar face of Aurelia, Lia's mother. She stood before a very small herbal shop; there, her fingers nimbly bound freshly plucked lavender bundles. There, in her dark hair streaked by a fleck of silver, sun highlighted her lines and told in her old face something equally ancient and equally warm with it the village.
Lia was as much the village as anyone else would be to the people who lived in Elaris, and so it was on that day when Aurelia found her near the very edge of the village before taking her in and dedicating all the love, care, and attention, just like a devoted mother, to raise her for herself.
"Good morrow, Aurelia!" was the call from Kai at their approach.
Aurelia's soft smile bloomed all over her face as she caught sight of them. "Good morning, children," she said as she pushed her herbs aside to use the leaves to wipe from her hands, leaning forward to brush the leaf from Lia's hair. "Another day of adventuring, I see?"
Lia nodded, a very bright-eyed expression on her face. "We spied a secret clearing yesterday. We are going back for some more exploration!"
Aurelia's smile crept up as she drew her fingers through Lia's hair, quiet pride flaring in her eyes. "Just don't forget to be back before sunset, alright? The forest has a mind of its own after dark."
"We'll be back, promise!" Lia said, inclining her head into her mother's touch. A small bunch of lavender was now pressed gently into her hands.
Aurelia laughed, hugging Lia close. "Good. You have enough wild spirit for all of us." She turned to Kai, placing a light touch on his shoulder. "And you, young man—keep an eye on her, will you?"
Kai nodded, feeling himself expand a little under her gaze. "I will."
They spent their day wandering over the farthest reaches of the woods, climbing on trees, wading through the shallows, and letting imagination run free. For Kai and Lia, the whole world was Elaris; as long as they had each other, they needed nothing else.
By the time the sun was going down, all of the village was dressed in its golden hues with Kai and Lia feeling knackered but happy with themselves. They went their separate ways, splitting along the lines of the main village square where Lia called it a day with going home to her mother but Kai had to return to the small cottage on the outskirts.
Inside was so quiet and still; air had its familiar scent, warm herbs and wood. Mira greeted him with a soft smile, and there in front of him sat the simple dinner. They both ate in comfortable silence and then Mira started questioning him about his day when they finished their meal.
As dinner went by, exhaustion caught up with Kai. Mira softly smiled and pulled him upstairs with her hand resting on his shoulder to his room.
"Do you enjoy yourself?" she asks as she puts him in bed, speaking softly and sensuously.
"Yeah," Kai mumbles with his eyelids heavy. "Lia and I found that other cool place in the forest."
Her hand skimmed over his forehead; her eyes relaxed. "Good. You two always seem to find your little adventures."
A small smile crossed his face as he drifted away. "Yeah. we do."
She tarried a little longer over his bedside, watching how softly his chest rose and fell, her hand still lightly touching his cheek. So soft now with love did her eyes seem looking on him, but heavy lay something in them-hardest to hide from himself.
Just as Kai slipped into a deep sleep, Mira leaned over and gently kissed his forehead. "Sleep well, my love," she whispered softly. She rose, casting one last, lingering look over him before she slipped out quietly past the closed door.
Outside, the sleeping village of Elaris lay wrapped in the darkness of night without any inkling that something old and slumbering had already started to stir behind the serenity of their world. In the dense woods, an about-silence rustled-noise broke forth-it was as if a whisper was trying to be heard.