Ardyn left the town before the sun came up.
The streets were empty, still wet from the rain. He hadn't slept. He couldn't. The image of the silver-eyed girl and the weight of the pendant around his neck kept him awake. Something deep inside told him to follow her.
He didn't know why.
He just had to.
The path led into the forest, where the trees twisted together and the fog hung low. It was quiet, too quiet. Every step he took felt like it was being watched.
After walking for what felt like an hour, he saw her.
Kaela stood at the edge of a cliff, looking down into the fog. Her glowing sword was still at her side. The mist swirled around her, but didn't touch her. Like even the fog feared her.
She didn't look at him. "Took you long enough."
"I don't even know your name," Ardyn said.
"You used to," she answered. "But you can call me Kaela now."
He stepped beside her. "Where are you taking me?"
She finally turned to face him. "To someone who remembers. Someone who saw what happened when the stars fell."
She pointed.
Below the cliff was a ruined tower, half-buried in the ground. Its stones were cracked and covered in vines. A dim red light glowed at the top, steady like a heartbeat.
"He's in there," Kaela said. "The Watcher. He remembers everything."
Ardyn's stomach twisted. "And he'll help me remember too?"
Kaela's voice dropped. "If he doesn't kill you first."
Then, for the first time, she smiled.
It wasn't a friendly smile.