The carriage rattled over a bumpy stretch of forest path, each jolt loosening the tension that had settled in Orin's chest after the battle with the Stoneclaw. Seraphine sat quietly beside him, her silver staff propped against her shoulder. Her sharp eyes remained vigilant as the shadows of the forest lengthened. Lira, seated beside her, couldn't take her eyes off their mysterious savior.
After a while, Lira cleared her throat, her curiosity bubbling over. "Seraphine… how do you know Mara?" Her voice held a mix of hesitation and intrigue.
A soft smile played on Seraphine's lips, her gaze flicking toward Mara, who was at the front of the carriage, before turning back to Lira. "Mara is my aunt," she replied, her tone warm but measured. "My mother is her older sister."
Orin's gaze snapped up in surprise, catching the subtle shift in Mara's posture. Though her eyes remained fixed on the winding path ahead, there was a fondness in her expression, softened by the glow of the dying daylight filtering through the trees.
"Your aunt?" Lira repeated, glancing between the two women. "Then… did your mother send you?"
Seraphine nodded. "My mother was worried when she heard Mara was traveling to Helior alone. The journey through Fir is dangerous, and it's only become more unpredictable lately. She asked me to find her and ensure she made it to the capital safely."
Mara chuckled deeply, a note of amusement in her voice. She glanced back at Seraphine with affection. "My sister worries about everything. I've been making this journey for years." Her tone was teasing, but there was a glint of pride in her eyes. "I told her I'd be fine."
"Maybe she knew you'd say that," Seraphine teased back, a small smile tugging at her lips. "But she insisted."
Mara shook her head, though a trace of warmth lingered in her gaze. "Sounds just like her. Stubborn as an oak."
Lira watched them exchange banter with fascination. She was about to ask another question when Orin spoke, his eyes focused on Seraphine. "So, you traveled through the entire forest of Fir alone, just to find Mara?"
Seraphine nodded, her gaze steady. "I've been through Fir before. Aetheric users like myself endure the journey more easily. Our connection to aether enhances our bodies. For us, a hundred miles isn't too difficult—though that doesn't make it safe."
Lira tilted her head, a frown of curiosity creasing her brow. "Enhanced bodies?" she echoed. "So… all Aether users are like this?"
Seraphine nodded, choosing her words carefully. "It's a side effect of channeling aether. The body adapts to endure the physical strain. We become stronger, faster, and more resilient." Her gaze drifted to the trees outside the window, her voice softening. "But it also makes us targets. Creatures are drawn to aether, especially in places like Fir, where the air is thick with old magic."
Orin leaned forward, his interest piqued. "So, when you sensed the disturbance back there with the Stoneclaw, it was because of your connection to aether?"
Seraphine's lavender eyes met his, something ancient flickering behind them. "Yes. Aetheric disturbances resonate through the forest. It's as though the forest itself is alive and can sense us, just as we can sense it."
Lira's gaze shifted uneasily toward the deepening shadows outside. "But if it's so dangerous, how did you make it through on your own?"
Seraphine's smile was faint, almost rueful. "It wasn't easy. I had to move carefully. But I made it. That's why I was near when the Stoneclaw attacked. It must have sensed my presence as I tracked Mara's path."
Mara scoffed, half-amused. "And I had no idea my own niece was following me."
Seraphine smiled softly. "I meant to join you quietly. I didn't expect to meet you quite like that."
Lira chuckled, and for a moment, the weight of the journey seemed lighter, the tension easing in their little carriage. But as the light dimmed and the shadows grew longer, their laughter faded, replaced once more by the oppressive atmosphere of the forest.
Mara's voice broke the silence. She glanced up at the sky, where streaks of violet hinted at nightfall. "We won't make it much farther today. It's best we set up camp before full darkness falls."
Orin nodded in agreement, though a prickle of unease crawled up his spine. Fir was beautiful in its mystery, but it felt as if the forest was shifting, hiding something within its ancient limbs. Setting camp here felt like tempting fate.
After a short distance, they found a small clearing, sheltered by towering trees with canopies so thick they formed a natural roof. Mara steered the carriage into the clearing, and they set about preparing their camp.
Seraphine stepped out of the carriage, stretching her arms, the faint glow of her silver staff casting a soft light over the camp. Lira watched her, her eyes wide with admiration as Seraphine moved with a grace that made her seem almost otherworldly.
While Orin tended to the fire, Lira could no longer hold back her curiosity. "So, Seraphine… what is it like to be an aether user? To have the kind of strength you do?"
Seraphine paused, considering her answer carefully. "It's complicated," she said after a long moment. "The training is demanding, and controlling the aether is not easy. It often feels like fighting against it, trying to shape something that resists you." She looked at her hands, her expression softening. "But it's a part of me now. Like breathing."
Orin glanced up from the fire, his curiosity piqued. "May I ask, what is your rank?"
Seraphine met his gaze without hesitation. "I am an Acolyte, rank 6."
Lira's eyes widened. "In Myre, I've only heard legends of Celestial guardians fighting powerful foes. An Acolyte… does that mean you're powerful?"
Seraphine shook her head. "I am strong for my rank, but compared to my mentor, Alduis the Radiant, a Celestial Knight, or even a Celestial Squire above me, my power is nothing."
Lira blinked in awe. "I thought those were just stories. But you… you're one of them?" She paused, a flicker of disbelief crossing her face. "I've heard of aether, of the classes, but for someone who grew up in a village away from the capital, it all seemed like a fairy tale."
Orin exchanged a look with Lira, his thoughts mirroring hers. To him, aether manipulation had once been nothing more than a distant dream.
He looked back at Seraphine, the question burning in his eyes. "Can anyone become an Acolyte?"
Seraphine shook her head slowly. "No, not everyone. It depends on your connection to the stars, to the constellations. Some are born with the ability to channel aether, others are not. Even among those who can, few have the strength or will to ascend to the ranks of Acolytes. The trials are brutal, and with each class increase, the Heavenly Restriction becomes more demanding."
Lira's eyes sparkled with understanding, but a quiet sadness touched her voice. "It must be lonely sometimes."
Seraphine's gaze turned distant, her thoughts inward. "It can be. Aetheric energy can isolate you. People either fear it or idolize it. Neither is comfortable." She met Lira's gaze with a small smile. "But I chose this path. I knew the cost, and I accepted it."
Mara joined them by the fire, laying out dried meats and flatbread. They settled around the fire, the orange glow casting shifting shadows on their faces, while the night deepened around them. The breeze rustled through the leaves, the only sound breaking the stillness.
The crackle of the fire filled the space as they ate in silence, each lost in their thoughts, wary of the ever-watchful forest. Yet, despite the unease, Orin felt a strange sense of comfort in their circle—a warmth that grew stronger with every passing moment. He realized that this journey wasn't just about regaining his memories—it was about forging new bonds.
Finally, after a long silence, Mara broke it with a teasing tone. "Seraphine, did your mother really think I couldn't handle this on my own?" She glanced at Seraphine, a playful glint in her eye, but a vulnerability flickered in her expression.
Seraphine's smile softened. "She never doubted your strength, Aunt Mara. She just... worries. The forest is different now than it was when you were younger. She couldn't bear the thought of you out here alone."
Mara looked away, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then she glanced at Seraphine, her gaze full of quiet affection. "I suppose I can't argue with that." She paused, her voice quieter. "But I'm glad you're here. I might not have said it earlier, but... I wouldn't want to face Fir alone."
Seraphine's eyes softened, and she reached out to squeeze Mara's hand, a silent exchange between them.
Night had fully descended, the darkness pressing in on them. The fire flickered in the gloom, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch infinitely. Orin couldn't shake the feeling that Fir was alive, a living, breathing entity that held its secrets close.
Lira looked around at their small group, her face calm but her voice cautious. "So, what now? Should we keep watch?"
Seraphine nodded, her lavender eyes scanning the trees. "It's safest that way. Fir may be quiet now, but creatures are drawn to aether. I'll take the first watch."
Orin gave a nod of agreement, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of his dagger. "Wake me when you need to rest. I'll take the second shift."
Seraphine inclined her head, her silver staff glinting in the firelight as she rose and moved to the edge of the clearing. She stood watch, a solitary figure in the darkness, her presence a quiet shield against whatever might emerge from the shadows.
As they drifted off to sleep, the wind whispered through the trees, carrying with it the soft murmurs of the forest. But within the circle of their camp, Orin felt a small but growing sense of security—a glimmer of hope that together, they could face whatever lay ahead