[Lavinia's POV — Village Verdelune—At the Dam]
The villagers, for some reason, had followed me toward the dam, their eyes wide with curiosity and a little fear. Sir Haldor walked at my side, Marshi swishing his tail like a tiny, judgmental flag, Solena perched confidently on Sir Haldor's shoulder, and Sera… well, she was a full-on, judgmental cloud. The morning sun glinted off the water, highlighting the cracked stonework like a silent, hidden warning.
"Looks… bigger than I imagined," I murmured, stepping closer. "Though they said it was just a faint crack."
Sir Haldor cleared his throat and gestured toward a boy standing nervously to the side. "Your Highness… this is the boy who kept sending letters."
Black hair, brown eyes… and by his personality, he sure doesn't look like some ordinary village boy.
I stepped forward, eyes narrowing slightly. "What's your name?"
Before the boy could speak, the village head blurted out, "His name is Kalix, Your Highness… he is the son of—"
