The alabaster towers of Selenopolis, capital of Lunaris, gleamed under the morning sun. Caelum and Rowan stood at the gates of the city, their figures small against the majestic backdrop. The young man from Myralis couldn't help but gaze in wonder at every detail of this new world unfolding before him.
"Don't forget why we're here, kid," Rowan grumbled, pulling Caelum from his contemplation. "The beauty of Lunaris often hides dangers for those who aren't welcome."
Caelum nodded, forcing himself to stay alert. They progressed through undulating fields, dotted here and there with silvery groves. In the distance, the slender spires of the capital rose, their peaks seeming to touch the clouds.
As they approached a denser wooded area, Rowan suddenly raised his hand, signaling a halt. His eyes scanned the shadows between the trees, his body tense as a bowstring.
"We're not alone," he whispered.
No sooner were these words spoken than figures emerged from the underbrush. Half a dozen men, dressed in rags and armed with rusty blades, quickly surrounded them.
"Well, well," sneered the one who seemed to be their leader, a scarred colossus. "What do we have here? Travelers lost in the lands of Lunaris?"
Caelum felt his heart race, his hand tight on the pommel of his sword. He glanced at Rowan, looking for a sign on how to proceed.
"We don't want any trouble," Rowan calmly stated, his voice betraying no fear. "Let us pass, and no one will have to suffer."
A general laugh greeted these words. The leader stepped forward, his blade gleaming dangerously in the morning light. "Oh, but trouble has already found you, my friends. Give us your belongings, and maybe we'll let you leave... alive."
Caelum felt a wave of anger rise within him. These men were no different from those who had attacked Eryndor. Without thinking, he drew his sword, the metal singing in the crisp morning air.
"Caelum, no!" Rowan shouted, but it was too late.
The fight erupted in a whirlwind of blades and cries. Caelum found himself back-to-back with Rowan, parrying and attacking with a ferocity that surprised even the bandits. The old knight's lessons were bearing fruit, each of Caelum's movements more precise, more deadly than during his fight in Eryndor.
But the assailants were numerous and determined. As Caelum repelled an attack, he saw out of the corner of his eye a blade heading towards Rowan's exposed flank.
Suddenly, a silver flash illuminated the clearing. A graceful figure landed in the midst of the combat, her night-blue cape swirling around her. With a fluid gesture, she disarmed two bandits, sending them rolling to the ground.
"Enough!" thundered a female voice, laden with authority.
The fighters froze, as if struck by a spell. Caelum, panting, observed the newcomer. Tall and slender, she exuded an aura of power and nobility. Her silver hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her eyes, an almost luminous pale blue, swept the scene with penetrating intensity.
"Lady Aria," whispered one of the bandits, fear evident in his voice.
The woman, Lady Aria, fixed her gaze on the leader of the assailants. "Dorn," she said in an icy voice, "I thought I had warned you the last time. The lands of Lunaris are not your hunting ground."
The man named Dorn lowered his eyes, all his bravado gone. "Forgive us, my lady. We... we're leaving right away."
With a gesture, Lady Aria dismissed the bandits, who quickly disappeared into the woods. She then turned to Caelum and Rowan, scrutinizing them with a mixture of curiosity and mistrust.
"And you," she said, "who are you to venture so boldly into our lands?"
Rowan stepped forward, bowing slightly. "I am Rowan, my lady, and this is my apprentice, Caelum. We come in peace, to participate in the tournament of nations."
An elegantly arched eyebrow was Lady Aria's only visible reaction. "The tournament of nations? Interesting. And from which nation do you come, exactly?"
Caelum felt his heart tighten. This was the moment of truth. "From Myralis, my lady," he replied, his voice more assured than he would have thought.
A flash of surprise passed through Lady Aria's eyes. "Myralis? The forgotten nation? This is... unexpected."
She observed them for a moment in silence, seeming to weigh the pros and cons of an important decision. Finally, she nodded. "Very well. You intrigue me, I must admit. I am Lady Aria Moonwhisper, member of the council that oversees the tournament. Come with me. We have much to discuss, and these woods are not the ideal place for that."
As they fell into step behind Lady Aria, Caelum exchanged a glance with Rowan. Their journey was taking an unexpected turn, and he felt that their true trial was only just beginning.
The capital of Lunaris loomed before them, its silver towers glittering under the rising sun. Caelum couldn't help but wonder what secrets, what challenges awaited them behind these shimmering walls. One thing was certain: their quest for Myralis had just entered a new phase, more dangerous and more promising than anything he could have imagined.