Elena sat by the flickering fire in the center of the room, her mind a whirlwind of questions. The stone walls of the sanctuary seemed to close in on her, as if they were part of a world she hadn't yet discovered. She could still feel the weight of Kael's gaze lingering on her, like an invisible force that both comforted and unsettled her.
She glanced over at him. Kael was standing near the entrance, his posture stiff, eyes scanning the horizon outside through the narrow window slats. Even in the dim light, he looked like he belonged to another world—a world of danger, of power, and of secrets.
Kael immediately stepped forward, his posture rigid, his hand brushing the hilt of the sword strapped to his side. His sharp gaze locked on the man, who stood in the doorway like a phantom from the dark. Elena couldn't make out much of his face, just the glint of his eyes beneath the shadow of his cloak, the faint outline of his jaw. He was tall—imposing—and his presence seemed to fill the room before he even spoke.
" Once everyone's here, we'll begin planning." The man said . "I can't go with you but I brought someone."
Elena's gaze flicked between Kael, Jonas, and the man, her mind racing.
Her eyes darted between Kael, Jonas, and the man in the doorway. Kael's eyes, usually hard as stone, softened for a brief moment when they met hers. But before she could fully process the look, he turned toward the newcomer and gestured for him to enter.
The stranger didn't move immediately, as if he were sizing her up. Elena could feel his gaze on her, like fingers brushing against her skin, and it made her stomach tighten. She didn't know what it was about him, but something about him felt… off.
Finally, the man stepped inside, his footsteps purposeful as he crossed the threshold. Kael and Jonas exchanged a brief glance, one laden with meaning, but neither of them spoke. The room seemed to close in on Elena, and she felt more out of place than ever.
"Raelle," Kael said, his voice softer now. "We were waiting for you."
Elena's brow furrowed, but before she could ask any questions, the woman who had entered the room stepped forward. She was every bit as imposing as the man, though in a different way. Her eyes were sharp, calculating, and there was a quiet power in the way she carried herself. She gave Elena a quick, appraising look but didn't linger, her attention moving straight to Kael.
"Things are worse than we thought," Raelle said, her voice low but firm. There was an edge to her words, one that made the hairs on the back of Elena's neck stand up. "We need to act quickly."
Kael's expression darkened, the lines of worry that Elena had briefly caught in his eyes now fully visible. He didn't answer right away. Instead, he turned back to Elena, his gaze intense, almost as if he was weighing something in his mind.
Elena met his gaze, feeling the pull between them like a current. There was something in the air now, a change she couldn't quite place. The tension was palpable, and the unspoken connection between them felt like a silent understanding, as if Kael was saying everything without uttering a single word.
For a moment, Elena forgot the danger, forgot the strangeness of her surroundings. She felt... safe.
But then man cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "Kael, the last person will be here soon. We don't have time for distractions."
Kael's jaw clenched, and he stepped aside, motioning for Raelle to take the floor. The woman wasted no time. Her movements were decisive, her voice strong.
"We're running out of options," she said, her eyes scanning the room before landing on Elena. "The enemies are closer than we anticipated. We've been on the defensive for too long. Now, it's time to take the fight to them."
Elena felt a chill run through her. The way Raelle spoke about them, the enemy, as if they were already part of her world, made her stomach tighten. She wasn't ready for a battle. She wasn't even sure she could fight.
"Why me?" Elena asked, her voice barely a whisper, but the words hung heavily in the room.
Kael's expression softened ever so slightly. "You are the key, Elena. Whether you believe it or not, this war is yours to win or lose. We are only here to help you understand what's at stake."
Elena shook her head, still grappling with the weight of his words. A key? What did that even mean? What kind of person was she becoming?
Raelle stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. "You were born for this. You just have to accept it."
Elena's heart pounded in her chest. The room was closing in again, and she could feel herself being pulled in different directions. She wasn't sure if it was the fight she feared or the growing connection she felt to Kael, a bond she couldn't explain but couldn't ignore.
Suddenly, the door opened once more, and Elena turned sharply. The air seemed to crackle with anticipation as another figure entered the room. The door closed behind him with a soft click. He stood tall, his eyes scanning the room before he looked directly at Elena.
"Him?" Kael said,staring at the figure.
"Ready?" he asked, his voice calm but commanding.
Raelle nodded, her expression grave. "We have no time to waste. Gather what you need. This fight isn't waiting for us."