Two figures walked briskly through the streets. One was a tall young man with black hair and piercing blue eyes, and the other was hooded, slim but small in stature. Both wore swords at their sides.

  Shadows seemed to stir as they passed. Occasionally glancing over their shoulders, they knew they were being followed. But their pursuers had yet to show any sign of direct hostility.

  They entered a tavern and took a free table. The place was fairly crowded, buzzing with activity. A waitress offered them food and drink before walking away. They ate and drank in silence, listening to the rumors around them.

  “…apparently, people have seen the Emperor walking around town, down south,” said a man at a nearby table.

  “The Emperor? Why would he be out in public alone?” replied his companion.

  “No idea. But do you know any others with silver hair?”

  “Hm. I wonder what he was doing there…”

  The young man and his hooded companion exchanged a knowing glance. The man got up, went to the counter, and booked a room for the night.

  ???

  Six months had passed since the attack on the village. Since then, life had mostly returned to normal: the villagers had managed to rebuild, and food supplies would last for several months.

  Elvira and her father had finished the repairs and prepared everything for their journey. They were ready. Wearing a warm fur cloak and sturdy leather gear, with a bag containing only the essentials for leaving the mountain, they said their goodbyes to the villagers.

  Elvira had used the time to work on her fencing basics and strengthen her magic as much as she could. Her father had made sure she had everything she needed to defend herself, without having to rely on either of them.

  She was eager to leave the mountain, but she knew she had to be patient. She couldn’t rush: this was as much an initiation journey as it was a way to get closer to her brother and mother.

  She was now thirteen; still too young to travel alone, but old enough to understand what she wanted to achieve. Her father had promised to accompany her once the village had regained its independence.

  But things were different now. They both felt watched. They knew she had attracted attention, and that there would be consequences. But this didn’t change their plans.

  The descent down the mountain was dangerous: snowstorms, crevasses, avalanches, unstable ground, deadly slopes… no one escaped these hazards, not even a seasoned adventurer. Her father knew the terrain well and could avoid most traps, but he was still vulnerable to the elements, the biting cold, and exhaustion.

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  Yet, the journey went smoothly. The positive aura Elvira radiated seemed to shield them, strengthening both their spirits and their will. She had never left the mountain before, but the lightness of her steps in the snow made her seem like a fish in water.

  They quickly reached the plains, and fatigue caught up with them. The constant focus that had allowed her to keep going had taken its toll, and they spent several days recovering before moving on.

  She discovered much milder weather and felt the sun’s warmth on her skin for the first time. Her eyes sparkled as a whole new world opened before her.

  ???

  Since their departure a few weeks earlier, similar rumors had circulated regularly. The Emperor had supposedly appeared in different places. No one knew what he was doing, or why he was there, but one thing was certain: he looked exactly like him.

  The young man had explained to Elvira that, although the Emperor rarely appeared in public, he had a unique appearance—so much so that anyone could recognize him, even without having ever seen him. The young man himself had never met him, but he had heard about him: pointed ears, long silver hair, and golden eyes. His aura was so intense that no one dared oppose him, and all feared him.

  The first time he had seen Owen, he understood the bond between them. He knew it was almost impossible that Owen had left no trace of his presence; witnesses would inevitably mistake him for the Emperor.

  The waiting period before Elvira could search for her brother served several purposes: besides helping the village and preparing for the journey, it also allowed time for the rumors to take effect.

  During their travels, they alternated between staying at inns and camping. He taught her everything he knew about hunting and fishing.

  Their path sometimes crossed with bandits. He used these moments to teach her real combat techniques: how to fight without killing, but also when survival had to come before compassion. As healers, they could usually avoid such encounters, but he wanted her ready for anything.

  At first, Elvira had refused to draw blood. She was torn between her desire to learn to fight and her refusal to harm others. Her father had to intervene to prevent a fatal injury. She had promised herself she would only resort to violence when absolutely necessary, but even then, her emotions sometimes took over. She knew her father understood and that he did not ask this of her for pleasure, despite the lingering pain the experience still caused him.

  Her father observed her extraordinary abilities every day. He felt a mix of pride and worry, fearing that too lenient training might not prepare her for future challenges.

  The soldiers showed no hostility, but they tried to avoid their checkpoints whenever possible. One day, as they approached one, soldiers stopped them abruptly. One of them was clearly drawn to Elvira after meeting her gaze. He didn’t seem to recognize her, yet he acted strangely, as if pulled toward her like a magnet. Before her father could even realize something was wrong, the others began watching her with the same intensity. Father and daughter had to flee before any confrontation could occur.

  This experience revealed a major problem they would confirm later: when she met someone’s gaze, it seemed to be enchanted and uncontrollable. From then on, it was decided she would hide her face in public.

  Elvira now wanted to find out if it was possible to control and use this new power. She would need time: this long journey had only just begun, and both her training and mastery of her ability would require patience.

  Meanwhile, one thing remained the same: they were still constantly being watched.