The morning sun crept slowly over the horizon, casting long, slender shadows over the narrow streets of Saladan. The air was still, thick with the smell of damp earth and the distant sound of voices, both rising and falling in the busy market square. Princess Liria sat by the window, her gaze distant as she stared out at the city that was both their sanctuary and their prison. It had been days—weeks, even—since they had arrived in Midland, and every moment felt like an eternity to her.
Liria had become accustomed to the quiet routine of their new life. She practiced her sword skills in the mornings, struggled to hold the hilt with the strength and precision that Prince Belin had shown her, while Tia prepared their breakfast. The simple act of surviving each day had become their focus, and though Liria was grateful for the safety they had found in Saladan, a dark gnawing worry kept tugging at her thoughts. They were safe for now—but how long would that last?
Prince Belin, as always, seemed to be a little more restless than she was. Every morning, his eyes would wander, as if he was watching something in the distance, something he could not reach. Today, however, something had changed in him. He paced the small, dimly lit room, his boots scraping against the floorboards, his brow furrowed in thought. His hands clenched and unclenched as though he were struggling with an internal battle.
Finally, Liria couldn't stand it any longer. She had seen this look on him before—this feeling of helplessness that slowly consumed him when he felt like he was failing at something. His crown, his kingdom, his family… everything weighed heavily on him, and it was becoming unbearable.
"Belin," she called softly, placing her sword on the ground beside her. "What's going on? You've been pacing for an hour. What's bothering you?"
He stopped, meeting her gaze with an intensity that made her chest tighten. For a moment, he said nothing, his jaw tightening as though he were choosing his words carefully.
"I can't stay here anymore, Liria," he said at last, his voice low but firm. "I should be back to Eastanzarth. It's my duty to protect our kingdom, to protect our family. I can't just sit here, pretending like everything's fine when my father, my mother, my kingdom... they need me."
Liria felt a sharp pang in her chest, hearing the raw desperation in his voice. She understood his feelings—she shared them, after all. But this... this wasn't the time for rash decisions.
"Belin, no," she said, shaking her head. "You can't go back. You have no idea what's waiting for you in Eastanzarth. We don't know the full extent of what's happened, or who is behind all of this. You can't just throw yourself into danger without knowing anything. And you can't risk being exposed. If you leave now, you will jeopardize everything we've worked for. Our disguise... everything."
Belin clenched his fists again, his frustration evident in the way his knuckles whitened. "I don't care about the disguise anymore, Liria! I can't sit here while my family might be in danger. It is my responsibility to protect them. I'm the crown prince, for the gods' sake!"
Liria stood, her heart pounding in her chest as she faced him. She understood his urgency, his sense of responsibility—but she also knew that rushing headlong into the unknown would only get them both killed. "You are not the only one who has responsibilities, Belin. I'm your sister. And I will not sit idly by while you throw your life away for nothing. I understand your need to go back, but we can't do this recklessly."
He looked at her, disbelief flashing across his face. "So, you think I should just stay here? Keep hiding while everything falls apart in Eastanzarth? While our mother, our father—our entire kingdom is at risk?"
Liria took a deep breath, steadying herself. "We can't do this alone. We have no idea what's really happening in Eastanzarth. You can't go back in there without knowing what's going on. We don't know if they're even still looking for us. And if you leave, we'll lose any hope of blending in with the civilians here. The assassins are still out there, Belin. They will be watching for any signs, any hints that the prince is still alive."
She took a step toward him, her hand resting on his arm in an attempt to calm his heated frustration. "We will figure this out, Belin. Together. But you can't risk everything on a hunch. If you leave now, we may never get a chance to help anyone again."
Her words seemed to hang in the air between them, suspended by the tension that crackled in the room. Belin's chest rose and fell with the deep breaths he took, his eyes never left hers. For a long while, there was nothing but the sound of their breathing filling the space.
"I just feel so... helpless," he murmured finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "I should be back there, doing something. Fighting, protecting, leading. But instead, here I am, hiding like some common thief. It's not right."
Liria stepped forward and placed a hand on his cheek, her touch soft and steady. "You're not helpless, Belin. You're not hiding, either. We're all in this together. And right now, what we need is patience. We need to learn, to grow stronger. We need to figure out what's happening first, before we act. And right now, we don't have enough information to make any decisions."
She took a step back, her eyes soft but resolute. "I can't lose you, Belin. Not like this. Not when we don't even know who our enemy is yet. I need you to stay with me. We will find a way, together. But not yet."
Belin stared at her for a long moment, his expression shifting as he absorbed her words. Finally, with a heavy sigh, he lowered his gaze, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "You're right. I'm being reckless. I've been so focused on what I think needs to be done that I haven't stopped to think about the bigger picture. We don't know enough. And we can't risk drawing attention to ourselves."
Liria gave a small, relieved smile. "Thank you. I know it's hard, but we have to be smart about this. We can't afford to be reckless—not when everything is on the line."
He nodded slowly, then, after a pause, offered her a wry grin. "I suppose you're right. I'll wait. Just… don't make me wait too long, Liria. I can't stay here forever. I will protect you. And I will protect our family."
Liria placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently. "And I'll protect you. We'll do this together. But we need to be patient. We need to learn and grow stronger, not just with weapons, but with knowledge. Only then will we be ready to face whatever comes."
They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of their decision sinking in. The world outside their small, hidden house was still, but the uncertainty of what lay ahead lingered like a heavy fog. The assassin threat was still very real. And Eastanzarth, their kingdom, their family, was a distant shadow they could only reach for in their dreams.
But for now, the decision had been made. They would stay in Saladan, remain hidden, and wait for the next step in this dangerous game.
Liria turned toward the door, her heart a little lighter now, knowing that her brother—her protector—had listened. The path ahead was uncertain, but at least they would walk it together.
"We'll wait," she murmured to herself, as if the words could give her strength.
For a brief moment, it felt as though the world outside would wait for them, too.