The air in the canyon remained cool and still, the sharp silence unnerving but strangely peaceful after days of relentless fighting. Calypsius and Ellara pressed onward, their boots crunching softly against the gravel-strewn path. The faint glow of the shard guided their steps, though its urgency had lessened, allowing them a rare moment to breathe.
As they emerged from the narrowest part of the canyon, the trail opened into a small clearing surrounded by jagged cliffs. Overhead, the sky was beginning to darken, streaked with shades of deep purple and orange.
"We should stop here for the night," Ellara said, glancing around the clearing.
Calypsius nodded. "Agreed. I doubt we'll find a better spot before nightfall."
They worked quickly, gathering dry brush and stones to set up a makeshift camp. Ellara lit a small fire, its warm glow casting dancing shadows on the rock walls around them. Calypsius sat nearby, cleaning Valenyr's blade with slow, methodical strokes.
For a while, they worked in companionable silence, the crackling fire the only sound between them. But as the sun dipped below the horizon, and the stars began to emerge, Ellara broke the quiet.
"You're different, you know," she said, her tone thoughtful.
Calypsius glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "Different how?"
Ellara hesitated, her gaze fixed on the fire. "You carry yourself like someone who doesn't belong here. You don't look at the world the way most people do. And the way Valenyr chose you… It's like you were always meant to be part of something bigger, but not in the way the elders made it seem."
He set the sword aside, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. "You're observant. I'll give you that."
"It's part of surviving," she said with a small smirk, though her expression quickly turned serious. "But I'm right, aren't I? There's something you're not telling me."
Calypsius leaned back, letting out a long breath as he gazed up at the stars. "You're right," he admitted. "I'm not from here. Not really."
Ellara's brows knitted together in confusion. "What do you mean? Not from this region?"
He shook his head, his voice quiet. "Not from this world."
She stared at him, stunned into silence. The firelight flickered across her face, highlighting her wide eyes.
"You're joking," she said finally, though her tone carried more disbelief than certainty.
"I'm not"
"I was exploring a cave back home," Calypsius began, his voice low but steady. "It was supposed to be just another trip—me, some equipment, and the thrill of discovery. But something went wrong. The cave collapsed. I didn't make it out."
Ellara's gaze sharpened, her breath catching in her throat. "You mean… you died?"
Calypsius nodded. "At least, that's what I think happened. One moment, the rocks were crashing down around me, and the next, I woke up here. But I wasn't free. The Grimkin found me immediately."
Her expression shifted to shock. "The Grimkin? They captured you?"
"Not quite," he said bitterly. "It was only one of them—a hulking creature with claws like scythes and eyes like blackened coals. It didn't speak much, just muttered about how 'my kind' didn't belong here and how it was going to take my eyes as a trophy."
Ellara shuddered at the thought. "What did you do?"
"I didn't know anything about this world or its creatures back then," Calypsius continued, his tone grim. "But as I sat there, tied up in the cave, I noticed something—every time light flickered off my gear, the Grimkin flinched, like it was in pain. That's when I realized its weakness. Light."
Ellara leaned forward, her eyes wide. "You used light against it?"
"I didn't have much to work with," he admitted. "But there was a small, reflective stone near where I was tied. I waited until it got close—until I could see the greed in its eyes—and then I angled the stone just right, catching a glint of light from its torch. The flash was enough to disorient it. It howled, clawing at its face, and I used the moment to cut myself loose and run."
"And you escaped?" she asked, her voice filled with a mix of awe and disbelief.
"Barely," Calypsius said, his voice heavy. "The thing chased me through the cave, but I managed to find a narrow tunnel it couldn't squeeze through. I don't know how far I ran, but when I finally emerged into the open air, I felt like I could breathe again. I thought I was safe, but that's when I found the elven town. And, well… you know the rest."
Ellara sat back, her expression thoughtful. "So you've been fighting for your life ever since you got here."
He nodded. "Pretty much. I didn't ask for this. I didn't ask for any of it. But somehow, I ended up here, with Valenyr in my hands and a destiny I never wanted."
Ellara's gaze softened. "You're stronger than you give yourself credit for, Calypsius. You've survived so much—more than most people could even imagine. And you're still standing."
He met her eyes, her words sinking in like a balm to his weary soul. "Sometimes, I wonder if I was brought here for a reason. If Valenyr chose me because I'm supposed to do something… something that matters."
"You don't have to figure it all out now," she said gently. "But whatever happens, you're not alone. We're in this together."
For the first time in what felt like forever, Calypsius allowed himself a small, genuine smile.