The giant guardian slowly turned and began walking deeper into the forest.
Each step shook the ground slightly.
"Follow," the ancient creature said.
Its voice sounded like trees moving in the wind.
Kael looked at Dwaho.
"Are we sure following the giant tree monster is a good idea?"
Dwaho sheathed his sword.
"In Valedorn, if the forest guardian invites you… you follow."
Aeralion lowered his wings and walked behind them like a silent mountain.
The deeper they went into the forest, the stranger the world became.
The golden trees grew larger.
Some were so wide that entire houses could have been built inside them.
Glowing flowers lit the ground like tiny lanterns.
Strange animals watched from the branches — creatures with bright eyes and silver fur.
After a long walk, the guardian stopped.
Kael stepped beside it.
"What is it?"
The giant raised one wooden arm and pointed forward.
At first Kael saw nothing.
Then the trees slowly moved apart.
And something incredible appeared.
A hidden city.
But it was not built from stone.
The city was grown from the forest itself.
Houses formed inside giant tree trunks.
Bridges made of vines connected branches high in the air.
Water flowed through clear streams across the city floor.
Soft golden lights glowed everywhere.
Kael's mouth slowly opened.
"Okay… that might be the most beautiful place I've ever seen."
Dwaho smiled slightly.
"Welcome to Elarwyn."
"The hidden capital of Valedorn."
As they walked into the city, people began appearing from the trees.
But these were not ordinary humans.
They were forest folk.
Tall.
Graceful.
Their eyes glowed faintly green, and their hair carried leaves and flowers woven through it.
When they saw Kael, they whispered among themselves.
"The mark…"
"The Gatewalker…"
The giant guardian knelt before a massive tree at the center of the city.
From the tree's opening, a woman stepped forward.
She wore a crown made of living branches.
Her long silver-green hair flowed like leaves in the wind.
Her eyes were ancient and calm.
"The Gatewalker has arrived," she said softly.
Everyone bowed their heads.
Dwaho whispered to Kael.
"That's Queen Elyndra."
"Ruler of Valedorn."
Kael stepped forward awkwardly.
"Uh… hello, Your Majesty."
Queen Elyndra studied him carefully.
Her gaze moved to the faint glowing mark beneath his shirt.
"The prophecy speaks true."
She walked closer.
"For a thousand years we waited for the traveler from another world."
Kael sighed.
"Yeah… everyone keeps saying that."
The queen smiled slightly.
"But the prophecy does not only speak of you."
She turned toward Dwaho.
"And it speaks of the companion of shadow and courage."
Dwaho blinked.
"Wait… what?"
The queen's expression became serious.
"You carry a past you have hidden from your friend."
Kael turned toward him.
"Okay… now I'm interested."
Dwaho looked uncomfortable.
"It's nothing."
But Queen Elyndra shook her head.
"No secrets can hide in Valedorn."
She raised her hand.
Golden light surrounded Dwaho briefly.
A strange symbol appeared faintly on his arm.
It was a dark crest shaped like a broken crown.
Kael stared.
"What does that mean?"
The queen spoke quietly.
"It means Dwaho was born in the Void Mountains."
Silence filled the city.
Kael slowly turned.
"…You're from the enemy kingdom?"
Dwaho clenched his fists.
"I left when I was a child."
"I hate the Emperor more than anyone."
But the queen's voice carried a warning.
"The Dark Emperor does not let his blood escape easily."
Far away in the north…
Inside a fortress carved into black mountains…
The Dark Emperor sat upon his throne.
Before him knelt Varkor, the Void hunter who had escaped the forest.
"The Gatewalker lives," Varkor said.
"And he now travels with the boy from your past."
The Emperor's dark eyes burned like dying stars.
"Dwaho…"
He whispered the name slowly.
"So the lost heir finally reveals himself."
The throne room trembled slightly as the Emperor stood.
"Prepare the Night Assassin."
His voice turned cold as ice.
"The Gatewalker will not survive the next sunrise."
Back in Valedorn…
Aeralion suddenly lifted his head.
"The wind carries danger."
Kael looked around nervously.
"What kind of danger?"
Aeralion's wings slowly opened.
"The kind that kills in silence."
High above the forest…
A dark figure moved between the clouds.
Watching.
Waiting.
The assassin had arrived