The evening after Kaelen's visit, I sat alone in my chambers, the fire crackling softly in the hearth. My body still ached from training, but the ache was familiar now, almost comforting—a reminder that I was growing stronger, preparing for what was to come.
A soft knock at the door interrupted my thoughts.
I opened it to find Elara, her warm brown eyes shadowed with something I had not seen before. She stood in the corridor, wrapped in a heavy cloak, her hands clasped tightly before her.
"Can we talk?" she asked quietly.
I stepped aside, gesturing her in. She moved to the fire, holding her hands out to the warmth, and I saw that they were trembling.
I sat across from her, waiting. Elara was not one for silence—she filled spaces with chatter, with laughter, with the bright energy that made her who she was. But tonight, she was still, quiet, gathering herself.
"It's coming," she said finally. "The monster wave, sooner than anyone expected."
