The first rays of sunlight filtered through the wooden slats of the inn's windows, casting a warm, honeyed glow across the room.
The air was thick with the scent of tropical flowers and the soft, melodic hum of distant birds.
Their songs, vibrant and chirping, echoed through the stillness of the early morning.
Elliot stirred in his bed, blinking sleepily at the ceiling, the bright sunlight warming his skin.
Outside, the world seemed alive in a way he had never known—vivid, untamed, and full of possibilities.
Amiyan was the first to disturb the calm. He snored loudly, his deep breaths echoing across the room.
Atlan was nestled under the covers, a single arm hanging out, his fingers twitching as though still lost in dreams.
Wuxian was the odd one out—sitting cross-legged, his hands resting lightly on his knees, his eyes closed, a serene expression on his face.
He didn't seem to be sleeping, but his stillness was unshakable, like a stone carved from the mountain itself.
Elliot lay there for a moment, his thoughts adrift.
The room was warm and tranquil, but there was a soft, persistent noise drifting up from below. The faint clinking of plates and the murmur of voices.
He sat up, stretching, then swung his legs over the edge of the bed.
The inn was quiet, save for the sounds from downstairs, and the gentle rustling of the leaves outside the open window.
He felt… at peace. This place was strange, different, but somehow comforting.
Downstairs, Maya and the other children were already awake, bustling about in the dining area.
Their laughter and lighthearted chatter floated up the stairs, filling the silence with a welcome hum of normalcy.
As Elliot stepped down, he was greeted by the sweet smell of warm food—fresh fruit, sizzling fish, and the savory scent of fried rice.
"Good morning, Elliot!" Maya called out, her voice bright. She was sitting with a few other children, all eating and enjoying the morning meal. Her voice had that motherly warmth to it, and her smile was one of quiet confidence.
Elliot waved back and joined them, taking a seat at the large wooden table. "Good morning. You all are up early."
Maya nodded, lifting a bowl of something that looked like a mixture of rice puffs and tropical fruits. "We didn't want to miss out on breakfast," she said with a grin. "After all, you never know when you'll get a feast like this again."
The rest of the children were animated, talking amongst themselves. They were an odd mix of personalities, but each had something to say.
One of the younger boys, barely out of his teens, was attempting to teach a girl beside him how to use chopsticks properly, but his clumsy attempts only caused him to burst into laughter.
Wuxian finally came downstairs, his usual composed demeanor still in place despite the fact that his feet moved in rhythm with his silent breathing exercises.
Amiyan soon followed, rubbing his eyes and yawning. "Ugh, is it morning already?" Amiyan grumbled, stumbling over to the table and flopping down. "I'm hungry, is there any food left?"
The banter continued as the group gathered around the table, and the atmosphere felt almost like home.
Everyone was already making themselves comfortable, as if the strange and foreign world outside didn't matter for a while.
"So, when do we get to go back to our homes?" Roshan asked suddenly, her voice cutting through the casual chatter.
Before anyone could answer, the door creaked open, and Quizig stepped into the room.
He nodded respectfully to Maya and the others before turning to the children. "It is time," he said simply. "You should prepare. We head out soon."
The mood shifted immediately.
Some of the children's faces brightened, and others let out soft, relieved sighs. A few even wiped their eyes, trying to hide their emotions as best they could.
Wuxian raised an eyebrow. "Head back? To where?"
"Back to your homes," Quizig replied, his tone calm, but a glimmer of something else in his eyes. "The military has completed the necessary preparations to return you to your families. It is time for you to return."
At that, a wave of mixed emotions flooded the room. Some of the children beamed with joy, while others looked at the thought of leaving with something akin to sadness.
They'd been through so much—fought so hard—and now they were finally going home.
"What about those who don't belong to this realm?" Roshan asked curiously. "What about us?"
Quizig's expression became serious. "The military cannot cross into another Archon's realm. You will be treated as guests of the Archon for now. But plans are being made for those who live beyond. The military is still figuring out how best to proceed."
Roshan shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, I wouldn't mind staying here a bit longer. It's not so bad."
The others nodded, but before any more banter could begin, the room erupted in chaos as the other children rushed out of their rooms upon hearing the news, their faces flushed from the excitement of the upcoming journey.
The time had come to say their goodbyes. The children were escorted by warriors who had come to guide them home, some of the goodbyes tearful, others filled with promises to remember each other.
After breakfast, Elliot and his friends stood and watched as the caravan marched away, their figures slowly disappearing into the horizon, swallowed by the distance.
His heart tightened as the last of the children disappeared from sight, knowing they would soon be where they truly belonged.
As the final cart disappeared into the distance, Quizig turned toward Elliot, a glint of seriousness in his gaze. "The Archon wishes to meet you, Elliot. You as well, Amiyan."
Before Elliot could even respond, Altan cut in, grinning widely. "How lucky," he said, nudging Elliot with his elbow. "Not many get to meet an Archon face to face."
Roshan, ever the firecracker, frowned. "Why only them? I want to meet the Archon too!" She crossed her arms, a pout forming on her lips.
Wuxian, who had been quiet up until now, shook his head with a small smirk. "My lady, you're a handful." He shot her a teasing smile. "They'll end up in jail if you go with them."
Altan teased playfully, "Yeah, they'll throw you into the dungeons for being too much of a handful."
"No, I'm not!" Roshan huffed, throwing her hands in the air.
"Oh sure you are, my lady," Wuxian teased, his voice dripping with mock formality, "You might knock over priceless relics just by walking through the door."
"Yeah, you know," Amiyan chimed in, "the Archon's palace have all sorts of valuable antiques. You'd probably end up breaking an entire collection."
Roshan shot him a glare. "I wouldn't break anything!"
Elliot laughed, trying to defuse the teasing. "Now, now, let's stop picking on our gorilla princess," he said, giving Roshan a wink.
"Elliot!"
Quizig, cuts in before Roshan pulls out all of Elliot's hair. "Why not all of you? You've been through a lot, and I'm sure the Archon would be delighted to meet a lively bunch like you. Come with me. I'll take you to meet the Archon."
Roshan's eyes widened, and she immediately jumped to her feet. "Wait, really? She clasped her hands together, suddenly looking regal. "Well, if the Archon insists, I suppose I'll grace them with my presence."
Wuxian gave her a dry look. "Your humility knows no bounds, my lady."
Quizig grinned, his amusement clear as he shook his head. "You are a troublesome group, but I suppose that's what makes you... *interesting*." He clapped his hands together. "Let's get going, before you all find some way to delay this meeting with even more nonsense."
As they began walking toward the heart of the city, Roshan bounced on her heels, clearly excited at the prospect of meeting the Archon. "What do you think they'll be like? Do you think they have a massive throne, with big armrests and gold trinkets all over it?"
Altan laughed. "I think you've been reading too many fairy tales."
"No I'm not! The Archons are basically the gods of their realm. The Wind Archon's throne in Parthemia was gigantic. Well, I guess it's understandable that a barbarian like you wouldn't know",
Roshan retorted teasingly.
Wuxian, walking alongside them, chuckled. "I guess I'll have to agree with you this time, my lady. The Archon's palaces are indeed monumental. For reference, Xia's Archon resides in a palace the size of a city".
Quizig led them through winding streets until they reached a towering staircase, its steps carved into the massive roots of the Great Tree.
The stairs continued up, disappearing into the trunk above.
"Here we are," Quizig said, a note of amusement in his voice as he motioned toward the staircase. "The Archon awaits."
Roshan immediately grimaced, looking up at the seemingly endless ascent. "Do we *have* to climb that?"
"You can always stay behind," Amiyan teased, his voice playful and amused. "I'm sure the Archon won't mind if you *rest* here for a while."
Roshan narrowed her eyes. "I'll *show* you who's staying behind," she muttered, immediately climbing up the stairs.
Altan started walking up the steps with far more enthusiasm, his face lit up with excitement. "I'm sure it's going to be amazing up there. Can't wait to see what the Archon's palace is like!"
Wuxian stretched his arms, grinning. "If it's anything like those legends, we're in for quite a sight."
Elliot took a deep breath, looking at the stairs ahead. He couldn't help but feel a little intimidated.
He'd never seen anything like this in his world—a tree this *massive*, with a staircase that seemed to go on forever. What was waiting at the top?
But before he could dwell on it, he heard Amiyan's voice, already ahead of him. "We can do this! Let's go meet the matriarch!"
"No way! I'll arrive there first!", Roshan replied with a shout.
Elliot laughed, feeling a spark of excitement. Maybe this journey wasn't so bad after all. With that, he quickened his pace to catch up.
As they began their climb, the stairs seemed to grow steeper with every step. Elliot's legs burned, his breath quickened.
He had never seen anything like this on Earth—endless steps leading up into a tree so vast it seemed like an impossible dream.
By the time they neared the top, everyone was panting and exhausted. Wuxian, though he tried to maintain his composure, can't hide the tremble of his legs.
Amiyan, who had been walking beside Elliot, suddenly dropped to the ground, laying on the ground without a care. "I did it," he said between breaths. "Man, I can't get used to this. I think I'm going to pass out…"
Meanwhile, Roshan who started enthusiastically is now several meters behind and was literally crawling up step by step, like an infant, "I can't… I can't anymore… I'm gonna die".
Quizig, who had been leading the way, turned around with a gentle smile and bent down to pick up Roshan. "You did well, young lady" he said with a chuckle. "Let's get you to the top."
Despite their exhaustion, the group made it to the palace gates, where they finally collapsed, grateful for a moment to rest.
The grand gates before them loomed. They had reached the heart of the realm, and now, they were about to meet the Archon.