Leah's fingers were still caught in Frauner's grasp when he asked, quietly,
"Are you sure this is a great idea?"
There was no command in his voice now. No rank. No authority.
Just concern.
Leah met his eyes.
And for the first time that night, she did not look uncertain.
She looked tired. Hurt. Determined.
"Why can't you understand?" she said, her voice tight, trembling not with fear but with restraint.
"I need this."
Frauner said nothing.
"I wanted to do something good," she continued.
"Not just stand there and be watched. Not just be protected. I wanted to prove myself. To them. To my father. To everyone."
To myself.
Frauner's grip loosened slightly, but he did not let go.
She pulled her hand free and turned away from him.
"If you don't want to come," she said without looking back, "then stay here. I'm going. And I'm not forcing anyone to come with me."
She began to walk.
One step.
Two.
Frauner grabbed her hand again and pulled her back;not roughly, but firmly enough to stop her.
"Someone has to be there," he said, his voice low, almost reluctant, "to make sure you don't do anything stupid."
Leah's eyes flashed.
She yanked her hand free.
"I don't need any knight in shining armor to protect me," she said sharply. "I can protect myself."
She turned and walked away faster this time.
Frauner followed.
"I'm not letting you walk into a demon forest with just stubborn courage and a sword,"
he called after her. "Someone has to keep you alive."
She didn't slow.
"Get ready," he added. "Let's do this together. Like the old times."
She stopped.
Slowly, she turned back.
Her eyes were narrowed in annoyance.
"Yeah," she said flatly.
Frauner allowed himself the faintest smile.
"You. Me. Mauris. Thalia. Like the old times," he said. "And I know you're brave. I know you can protect yourself."
He hesitated.
"But I'll look after you."
Leah stared at him.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Heat crept into her cheeks before she could stop it.
She turned away quickly, hiding it.
Her lips curved into the smallest smile.
Then her face hardened again.
"Don't be late," she said. "If you are, we'll leave without you."
Frauner chuckled softly.
"Yes, Princess."
He turned and walked down the corridor.
Leah stood there for a moment longer.
Then she walked toward her chamber.
Her room was silent.
Moonlight spilled through the tall window, painting the floor in silver.
Leah closed the door behind her and leaned against it for a moment.
Her heart was racing.
Not from fear.
From decision.
She crossed the room and lifted her sword from its stand.
The familiar weight settled against her palm.
She fastened it across her back.
Then she moved to her desk.
Her fingers hesitated over a small wooden box.
She opened it.
Inside lay a dagger.
It was no ordinary blade.
It was short and slender, its metal pale and luminous, like frozen starlight. Fine runes were etched along its center, faintly glowing when they caught the moon.
The hilt was wrapped in white leather, worn soft with age, and at its pommel rested a small crystal the color of dawn.
Her mother had given it to her years ago.
"For when you must stand on your own," she had said.
Leah lifted it carefully.
Even now, it felt alive.
She slid it into the sheath at her waist.
Then she stood still.
Closed her eyes.
Took one breath.
And turned away.
The palace was quiet.
Most had gone to sleep.
Leah moved through its halls like a shadow.
She avoided the main gates.
Instead, she followed an older path.
A smaller entrance.
Near the forgotten tunnels beneath the castle.
When she reached it, she saw them.
Frauner stood closest to the door, his sword already at his side.
Mauris leaned against the wall, her spear resting casually on her shoulder.
Thalia stood beside her, bow in hand, a quiver of arrows across her back.
Mauris grinned when she saw Leah.
"Well," she said gracefully, "look who decided to come back."
Leah rolled her eyes.
"We used to sneak out and play when we were little," Mauris added.
For a moment, all of them smiled.
The memory hung between them.
Simpler times.
Before duty.
Before blood.
Before tonight.
Leah looked at Thalia.
"You managed to get rid of Henry?"
Thalia nodded.
"I told him we changed our plan and would leave tomorrow."
Leah raised an eyebrow.
"Did he believe you? He's not that dumb."
Thalia smirked faintly.
"I pretended to fall asleep. Then I waited until he slept. And sneaked out."
Leah chuckled.
"You are a great deceiver."
Thalia nudged her.
Frauner stepped forward and grabbed the heavy iron handle of the tunnel door.
It resisted him at first.
Then, with effort, it groaned open.
Dust fell from its hinges.
Cold air spilled out.
"Let's go," he said. "Soon the sun will rise."
"Yeah," Leah replied.
Mauris stepped aside and gestured dramatically.
"After you, Princess."
Leah looked at him,
Then shook her head.
"No," she said.
She extended her hand.
"Let's go together."
Like we used to do.
Mauris smiled.
She took Leah's hand.
Thalia placed hers over theirs.
Frauner hesitated.
Then he joined them.
For a moment, they stood there.
Four hands.
Four hearts.
Four souls bound by something older than rank.
Older than fear.
Mauris lifted the torch and lit it.
The flame flickered to life.
They stepped forward together.
Their feet crossed the threshold.
And the darkness swallowed them whole.
Behind them, the palace slept.
Ahead of them;
Ashenveil waited.