The path Pyn chose was nothing like the roads Lyra knew.
It curved where it should have gone straight, and dipped when the land ahead appeared level, Trees much larger than Oakhart or even the trees from the Valley. Pale grass bent aside without breaking.
"This way," Pyn said easily, never once looking back to check if they followed.
They did.
Selene stayed close to Lyra's side, their shoulders brushing whenever the path narrowed. The contact was small, unspoken—but constant. Rory ranged ahead and back, awe finally outweighing fear, while Shawn and Elise flanked the rear, alert and quiet, eyes tracking every movement of the land.
The air grew sweeter as they moved, tinged with something floral and rare, like moonlit petals crushed beneath rain.
"If it's a rare flower," Pyn said over her shoulder, "it's likely from the spring." She paused, then added thoughtfully, "Or perhaps the flower simply doesn't want to be found."
Rory frowned. "That doesn't make any sense."
Pyn glanced back with a grin. "Most important things don't."
They walked in silence for a while longer, broken only by the soft hum of insects and the whisper of grass against their legs, until curiosity finally won.
"So," Pyn said casually as she stepped over a low rise, "where did you guys come from?"
"Oakhart," Lyra answered, straightforward as ever.
Pyn waited.
No one elaborated.
She snorted. "Wow. You seem fun. What—do you work as the kingdom's jester?"
A laugh escaped Shawn before he could stop it. He quickly cleared his throat and schooled his expression.
Rory spun around, scandalized. "What?! No—she's General Lyra Grey!"
Pyn paused mid-step and glanced back, one brow lifting. "Oh. A General." Her gaze slid to Lyra, slow and assessing. "Figures."
Lyra didn't rise to it. Her hand tightened briefly around Selene's, grounding herself.
Rory, emboldened by the attention, kept going. "The General is well known, the best-" this made Lyra smile.
Pyn however said "Never heard of her"
"Huh,everybody knows the General" Rory said proudly "Anyway, He's a lieutenant," he added, pointing at Shawn. "Elise is a knight, shes the fastest. Im a..a.."
"Knight in training"Selene added, Rory grin
He 'continued "But the King of Oakhart got mad and chased us out because he wanted Selene—"
"What about moongirl?" Pyn cut in lightly.
"She's—"
Elise's hand clamped firmly over Rory's mouth.
"That's enough, Rory," she said calmly, though her eyes were sharp.
Rory peeled her hand away, indignant. "But she already saw Selene healing us!" He turned to Pyn, earnest and wide-eyed. "You're not a bad person, right?"
Pyn slowed.
Then stopped.
For a brief moment, the forest itself seemed to lean closer, the air tightening as though listening.
"I don't think I am," Pyn answered vaguely.
They walked on.
Rory kicked at a stone, clearly unsatisfied. "Hey," he said after a few steps, "back there—in the cavern. Some of those bandits… they changed. Turned into animals."
Selene stiffened slightly.
Lyra felt it immediately.
Pyn hummed. "They did."
"How?" Rory pressed. "Is that magic? A curse? Can anyone do that?"
"Anyone?" Pyn echoed. "No. Only those who live in Avalon. There are few who stays outside but they dont want to be hunted down so I bet they are in hiding"
"So what are they" Rory asks again
She tilted her head. "Half-bloods. Shape shifters. Elves. And so on"
Rory's eyes went wide. "What?"
Pyn grinned. "Avalon protects its own. That's why it holds the largest territory—and the strictest borders—of any kingdom."
Selene spoke up softly, curiosity edging her voice. "What about mages? Or witches?"
Pyn's expression shifted—only slightly. "Theres no witches, theyre hunted down" she said. "Avalon might still carry magic, but not as it once did. What remains learned how to survive even with little magic" She gestured vaguely. "That's why there are half-bloods. Half human, half wolf. Half elf. Half bird. And so on."
Her gaze flicked to Selene, teasing. "Are you scared, moongirl? Don't worry—I'll protect you."
Lyra bristled, irritation flashing sharp and instinctive—but Selene tugged gently at her hand, a quiet plea. Elise had been quiet too long.
"You're a good fighter," she said suddenly. Not accusatory. Simply factual. "Better than most mercenaries. Better than some knights I've trained with."
Pyn smiled without slowing. "Flattery?"
Elise shook her head. "Observation."
She let the words hang for a moment before adding carefully, "When those creatures attacked, you didn't hesitate. You're… definitely stronger."
The path narrowed, tall silver grass brushing against their legs.
Elise finished softly, "Are you… half something too?"
Pyn stopped.
Turned.
Her gaze swept over them—Elise, Rory, Shawn, Selene—and lingered last on Lyra. Something unreadable flickered there. Old. Guarded.
"That's a dangerous question," Pyn said lightly.
Rory opened his mouth. "Are you?" The eagerness in his voice was unmistakable.
Pyn turned back toward the path, lifting her chin. "Yes."
Rory nearly bounced. "Whoa—what are you?"
Pyn laughed, sharp and bright. "Well, what's the fun in that?" She pointed ahead. "Guess. We have a long way anyway"
Then, as if it were an afterthought, she added, "Up ahead, a gigantic boa lives near here. So… heads up."
Lyra tightened her grip on Selene's hand.
The path continued forward.