The night air felt heavier in the aftermath of the stranger's warning. Alina's fingers trembled as she clutched the parchment, her mind a storm of questions. She should have been afraid—any rational person would have been—but instead, she felt something else.
Determination.
Kael dusted himself off, his expression unreadable as he retrieved his sword. His movements were slower than before, his body still shaken from whatever force the woman had used against him. "You're not actually thinking of continuing this, are you?"
Alina met his gaze. "Of course I am."
Kael exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "She literally threw me across the ground with a flick of her hand. That wasn't some cheap magic trick, Alina. Whoever she was, she's powerful. And she's not the only one."
Alina tightened her grip on the parchment. "That's exactly why I *have* to keep going. If this was just some meaningless star, they wouldn't care. But they do. That means there's something important here—something they don't want us to know."
Kael ran a hand through his dark hair, clearly frustrated. "You're making a mistake."
Alina raised a brow. "Then why are you still here?"
Kael blinked, caught off guard.
"You could leave," she continued, tilting her head. "You don't owe me anything. You saved me from the bandits—twice, now. If you think this is too dangerous, you can walk away."
Kael looked at her for a long moment.
Then, with a sigh, he sheathed his sword. "You're impossible."
A small smile tugged at the corner of Alina's lips. "That's what my colleagues say."
Kael muttered something under his breath, then turned serious again. "If you're set on this, we need to leave. Staying here after what just happened isn't an option."
Alina nodded. "Agreed. But go where?"
Kael glanced at the parchment. "That star pattern. It must lead somewhere."
Alina carefully unfolded the parchment, scanning the celestial markings. The constellation was familiar, but the way it was arranged… it was a map.
Her breath hitched as realization struck.
"The Ruins of Eldryn," she murmured.
Kael frowned. "You know where this leads?"
She nodded. "The ruins are ancient—older than any civilization we know. Scholars believe they were once a temple devoted to celestial worship, but no one has been able to decipher the markings left behind."
Kael's expression darkened. "And you think that's where this star is leading us?"
Alina exhaled. "I don't think—I *know*."
The weight of her words settled between them.
Kael studied her carefully, as if searching for any hesitation. When he found none, he sighed again. "Then we leave at first light."
Alina's heart pounded with anticipation.
The answers she had been chasing her whole life were finally within reach.
And no warning, no threat, was going to stop her now.
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