The woman moved with a quiet confidence, her staff's crystal casting a pale light that danced across the forest floor. Kael followed at a cautious distance, his grip on the compass tight. Every step felt like a gamble, but he had little choice. Whoever she was, she clearly knew more about the compass and the dangers it attracted than he did.
"You can stop glaring holes into my back, you know," she said without turning around. Her voice was calm but tinged with amusement. "If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't have bothered saving your life."
Kael frowned but said nothing. His legs ached from the relentless pace, and his mind was a whirl of unanswered questions. Finally, he couldn't hold back anymore.
"Who are you?" he asked, his tone sharper than intended. "And how do you know about this?" He held up the compass, its faint glow illuminating his face.
The woman stopped abruptly, turning to face him. Her features were striking: angular cheekbones, piercing green eyes, and a cascade of dark hair that framed her face. She looked at him for a long moment, as if weighing how much to reveal.
"My name is Elira," she said at last. "I'm… an emissary of sorts, sent to keep artifacts like that out of the wrong hands."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Artifacts like this? You mean there are more?"
Elira sighed, her expression darkening. "More than you'd like to know. Relics of Leverko, all tied to a power that should've stayed buried. That compass you're holding? It's one of the most dangerous."
Kael's stomach twisted. Dangerous. The word hung in the air like a threat. "If it's so dangerous, why was it hidden in a village hearth? And why did it choose me?"
"Good questions," Elira admitted. "But the answers aren't simple. Artifacts like the compass don't just 'choose' people randomly. There's something about you—something it's responding to."
Kael's frustration boiled over. "That doesn't tell me anything! My village is gone, my mentor's dead, and now I'm being hunted by monsters. If you know something, anything, then start talking."
Elira's gaze softened, though her tone remained firm. "I understand your anger, Kael, but shouting won't bring them back. Right now, staying alive has to be your priority."
Kael bit back a retort, his fists clenching at his sides. He hated how helpless he felt, how little he understood. But Elira was right about one thing: survival came first.
They continued walking in silence, the forest gradually thinning as they approached a rocky outcrop. A narrow cave entrance yawned before them, shrouded in shadow. Elira motioned for him to follow as she ducked inside, her staff's light revealing a winding passage.
The air inside was cool and damp, carrying the faint scent of moss and stone. Kael's footsteps echoed softly as he trailed behind Elira, his unease growing with every step.
"What is this place?" he asked.
"A safehouse," she replied. "One of many scattered across the kingdom. The people I work with use them to regroup, rest, and plan."
Kael's curiosity piqued. "The people you work with? Who are they?"
Elira hesitated before answering. "We're called the Sentinels. Our mission is to protect Luminaris from the remnants of Leverko's legacy. Relics like your compass hold immense power, but that power comes at a cost. If it falls into the wrong hands…" She trailed off, her expression grim.
Kael swallowed hard. "And these 'wrong hands'… they're the ones who attacked my village?"
"Yes," Elira said. "They're part of a cult that calls themselves the Shadowbound. They've been searching for the relics for years, hoping to use their power to… reshape the world."
Kael's stomach churned. "Reshape the world? What does that even mean?"
Elira's lips pressed into a thin line. "Nothing good. Let's leave it at that for now."
The passage widened into a small chamber, its walls lined with shelves cluttered with maps, books, and vials of strange liquids. A crude table sat in the center, surrounded by mismatched chairs. Elira gestured for Kael to sit as she set her staff against the wall.
"We'll rest here for the night," she said. "You look like you're about to collapse."
Kael wanted to protest, but the exhaustion was undeniable. He sank into a chair, the weight of the day's events pressing down on him. As Elira rummaged through a satchel, pulling out dried meat and a flask of water, he couldn't help but ask one more question.
"What happens now?"
Elira handed him a piece of meat, her expression serious. "Now, we figure out why the compass chose you. And we make damn sure the Shadowbound don't get their hands on it."
Kael nodded, a flicker of determination igniting within him. The road ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear: he couldn't run from this. If the compass had chosen him, he had to find out why—and what it meant for the fate of Luminaris.