Where could she be?
Strangely enough, I wasn't truly afraid that Genevive might be dead. Something deep inside me stubbornly insisted she still breathed. Perhaps it was because, after everything happening around me, I had begun to believe the things I was told since childhood… including the truth of Genevieve's healing gift. A gift strong enough to save her from situations that would kill an avarage person.
Still… right now was the moment I wished more than ever that I could be of use. That I could do more than stand here, helpless, watching everything fall apart around us. First demons. Now plague. What next? What more could possibly crumble before my eyes? I felt as though I was constantly steps behind.
More thoughts spiraled in my mind—guilt, frustration, longing
Just then, Berevreth placed her hand gently on my shoulder.
"I know what you may be thinking," she said softly, "But salvation won't be won by brooding over it. Action, Elowen. You must learn your gift, master it. Only then will you be able to complete the Rite of Dawn, and only then will the kingdoms stand a chance."
"What is the use," I muttered, emotion prickling behind my eyes, "if Genevive is not even here? The plague will sweep through our lands regardless. The kingdoms will remain trapped."
Berevreth exhaled deeply, she had clearly thought of it too and reached no satisfying conclusion.
I pressed on.
"We can't complete the Rite without her. Why should I bother with my gift when I can actually join the search? I could help—I'm good at tracking routes, and I know how to read terrain better than most knights. I'm not entirely useless."
Berevreth stepped closer.
"And when we do find her," she countered, "what then? Wait for ages while you finally learn to control your gift?"
I opened my mouth to argue.
"I—"
"You should focus on your gifts," she continued firmly. "At least then we will have a fighting chance of ridding our lands of demons."
She slid her palm from my shoulder and straightened. Her height towered over mine—annoyingly so. I was a tall princess, but my sisters always seemed to be a step ahead of me in nearly everything.
Just then, two knights of Verya approached on horseback. One led a single brown mare behind him. They stopped a few paces away, waiting for Berevreth.
I turned to look at them, then back at her. Emotion rose in my throat, sharp enough to sting. My eyes burned as I quickly looked away, blinking. This wasn't the time to be fragile. But Berevreth's presence… it had been the closest thing to home I had left. A familiar face in a place that suddenly felt foreign.
"I wish I could stay longer," Berevreth said softly, "but duty pulls harder than comfort."
I nodded, "I understand." i said
She offered me a sad, knowing smile. ""Be steadfast Elowen, hold your courage close, Even when your heart shakes." she said
Without waiting for my reply, she turned and walked toward the knights. They bowed to me before helping her mount the brown horse. Then, with a final glance in my direction, they rode off, their figures shrinking down the temple path until they disappeared entirely.
---
In Aurelen Kingdom
At the capital gate, Queen Isola stood with a few knights behind her, speaking with King Maeric. His own men stood neatly at his back.
"Your hospitality is generous as ever," she said.
The king smiled. "And your presence has been nothing short of honourable, Queen Isola."
She nodded subtly.
"Although," he continued, "I find it hard to understand why you are leaving so soon. I thought we agreed to wait until we had word of Princess Genevieve's whereabouts. Is this because of the plague?"
"Partly," she answered with a gentle smile. "I cannot go seeking aid for my people only to meet my downfall before victory even begins. But that alone is not the reason. I realized I can pursue other routes while I wait for a report."
King Maeric narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Why do I feel as though you've resigned yourself to disappointment even before the search has truly begun?"
"The likelihood of finding the princess grows thinner by the day," she replied, her voice calm but weighted. "It has been days since the knights were dispatched, and still we have received nothing. Meanwhile, the enemy's grip on my kingdom tightens with each sunrise. I cannot afford such risks, King Maeric — and I believe you understand that. In truth, I suspect our thoughts on this matter are not so different, and there is no need to spell them out further."
Her practiced smile remained, though her eyes hinted at strain. The king exhaled quietly.
"Well then," he said at last, clasping his hands behind him. "If those are your thoughts, I can only respect them. However" His voice steadied
"I do not share your doubt. I believe the princess will be found, and once she is, I will personally see to it that my knights ride to your aid."
"Very well," Queen Isola replied, offering a graceful bow. "I look forward to that day, King Maeric. And while I am on my own quest, I shall see to it that I aid in the search for your missing princess in whatever way I can."
They bowed once more.
As she turned to mount her horse, she cast a final glance at him, her eyes studying him closely.
King Maeric's complexion, once bright, had grown pale, the faint shadows beneath his eyes hinted at sleepless nights, and his posture, though upright, carried the unmistakable weight of exhaustion.
"You must take care, Your Majesty," she said gently. "Leadership means nothing if the body bearing it collapses."
He forced a small, awkward smile.
"I appreciate the concern."
They bowed again.
Queen Isola mounted her horse, and with her knights behind her, began the steady ride away from the capital. King Maeric turned the opposite direction and walked through the gates, Sire Aldric at his side.
"Inform Brother Kaius," the king said quietly, "that he may resume his journey with the Guardian Knight."
---
In the Cathedral Library
I sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor, surrounded by scattered scrolls, ancient tomes, and parchment maps. One lay open in my hands as I studied its markings, my gaze fixed and intent.
Yes, Berevreth and the others urged me to focus solely on my gift — to prepare for the Rite of Dawn — and leave the searching to them.
But deep inside, I knew that wasn't enough.
I had spent years trying to understand my power, and nothing had worked. Practising it for a few more days would change nothing. What we needed now was action — all forms of it. My training could come later.
I searched for maps of the outer lands, the regions beyond our borders. After speaking with Father Simon, one truth settled firmly in my mind:
Genevieve is no longer within the Three Kingdoms.
I suspected House Verya at first, since they were under the enemy's control… but even they wouldn't be foolish enough to keep her there. Unless they wanted a full-out war from the surrounding kingdoms. And though both kingdoms were severely wounded… if they united, they could take House Verya down.
This attack was planned. Calculated.
Even Genevieve's kidnapping wasn't a coincidence.
Either they wanted a hefty ransom—or it had to do with her healing gift.
And since no ransom has been demanded…
It must be the latter.
Thinking about who would need Genevieve's healing power is the same as thinking of all the sick people in the world—an impossible list to even begin sorting through.