The night pressed close around them, broken only by the faint rustle of the forest and the soft breath of the little elf resting in Rael's arms. They had made a small camp near the clearing where the battle had ended, its embers glowing faintly against the dark.
Rael looked at the child's green-flecked eyes, then at his companions. His voice, low but steady, carried a weight of resolve.
"You don't have to get involved in this matter," he said firmly. "It isn't safe. What we saw tonight… it's only the beginning. I won't ask any of you to risk yourselves further."
The silence that followed was broken by Alice. She rose, brushing back a strand of her hair as her eyes glimmered with quiet determination.
"And leave you to shoulder this alone?" she asked softly, yet her words struck with conviction. "No, Rael. You saved us once. You've fought for us more than once. This time, we stand with you."
Lyra's twin blades lay across her lap, catching the flicker of the fire. She gave a short nod, her voice carrying a sharper edge — not defiance, but loyalty forged in steel.
"A blade unsheathed for one is a blade unsheathed for all," she said. "You saved us; now we fight together. No shadows, no fear."
Darren, usually quiet, gave a grunt of agreement, tightening the straps on his gear. Alice glanced at him, half-surprised, but his silence spoke more than words — he had already chosen.
Herbert, who had been leaning on his staff, exhaled slowly, his eyes fixed on the trees that loomed like dark sentinels.
"The Forest of Elarian is not merciful," he said at last, his voice heavy with warning. "Paths twist, dangers stir unseen. But together, perhaps, we stand a chance. Alone… we would be swallowed."
The child stirred in Rael's arms. She blinked, her eyes shining like dew caught in moonlight. At first, she only looked at Rael, her small fingers tightening around his cloak. She didn't speak, not to the others — only to him, answering his gentle questions with faint nods or soft words.
But as the night wore on, she began to steal glances at Alice. When Alice offered her water, she hesitated, then accepted it with a tiny nod. Lyra, curious as always, showed her one of her blades — carefully, not to frighten her. To their surprise, the girl's lips curved into the faintest smile.
For the first time since they had met her, the little elf whispered — her voice like leaves brushing in the wind.
"…thank you."
Rael looked down, surprised, as her small fingers tugged faintly at his sleeve. She gazed up at him, eyes wide with a strange mix of innocence and quiet knowing.
"You're… different," she said softly. "Not like the others. Why?"
The question hung in the air like a thread of starlight. Rael's expression flickered — a hint of emotion too deep to name — but he only brushed a hand gently over her hair.
"That's a story for another time," he said, his voice steady yet distant.
The girl gave a tiny nod, as if satisfied for now. Then, shyly, she whispered her name.
"…Elara."
The sound lingered among them, soft as a secret, as though the forest itself leaned in to listen.
No grand oaths were spoken after that, no grand speeches. Yet as the fire crackled and the forest watched in silence, a bond settled around them — quiet, unshakable, and stronger than steel.