Time: Late night
Age: Elira – 6 years old, Kael – 3 years old
The palace was quiet. Even the distant footsteps of guards seemed muffled by the thick walls. Elira sat cross-legged on the floor of the western wing, Kael curled beside her in a small blanket.
Three years of hiding, teaching, and training had shaped them both. Kael now walked steadily, could follow instructions carefully, and even shared toys willingly with the few children who sometimes wandered near their wing.
Elira gazed down at him. He was still young, but she could see the beginnings of strength in his small frame. Not just physical, but emotional strength—patience, kindness, the quiet courage to survive without complaint.
Her thoughts drifted to the Empress. The dream she had received years ago—words of love, whispers of protection—felt both comforting and painful. The Empress had loved her, but she had also made choices that hurt others, choices Elira could not forgive.
She loved me," Elira whispered, brushing Kael's hair from his forehead, "but she was wrong. I cannot forgive her for what she did to them… even if it wasn't me."
Elira clenched her small fists. Love alone does not make people safe. I cannot depend on anyone else—not even her.
She looked at Kael again. "We have to rely on ourselves," she murmured. "And we will."
Her mind wandered to her secret training: magic practice, physical combat, stealth exercises. Every day she grew stronger, mastering her energy without leaving a trace. Every day, she taught Kael small virtues and small skills to survive
One night, Kael stirred and whispered, "Elira… will I ever be strong like you?"
Elira smiled softly. "You are already strong, Kael. Strong in ways others cannot see. And one day, you'll be even stronger. Not just in your body, but in your heart."
She felt a surge of determination. The empire might ignore them, might dismiss them as powerless children, but they had each other, and that bond could not be broken.
Elira made another vow silently:
• She would continue developing her power, her mind, and her body, training in secret.
• She would continue teaching Kael, building his heart and his strength.
• And one day, they would face the empire on their own terms, unafraid, unstoppable, and ready.
The western wing, once a place of loneliness and neglect, now held quiet determination. The shadows were no longer just empty—they were protective, shielding two children who were growing, learning, and preparing to shape their own destiny.
And as the moonlight fell across their small forms, Elira whispered again, almost to herself, "We will be strong… but we will also be good. Always."