The dawn in the Kingdom of Oakhaven didn't arrive with the usual chorus of birds and the rustle of wind through the pines. Instead, it arrived with the rhythmic, hypnotic scratching of a quill against parchment and the overwhelming scent of crushed jasmine.
I opened my eyes, the haze of sleep clinging to my brain like thick cobwebs. My limbs felt heavy—unnaturally so—but my bed was softer than it had ever been. I looked down to find silk sheets, a deep, royal crimson, draped over me. This wasn't the rugged wool sleeping bag I usually used on the trail.
"You're finally awake, Elian," a voice hummed, soft and melodic as a temple bell.
Serafina was sitting at the foot of the bed. She was the party's High Cleric, the woman who had pulled me back from the brink of death more times than I could count. Her silver hair was braided perfectly, not a single strand out of place despite the early hour. In her lap sat a tray with a single, perfect glaze-lily—a flower that only grew in the lethal, monster-infested Whispering Ravines.
"Sera?" My voice was a raspy ghost of itself. "Where are we? The last thing I remember was the raid on the Orc encampment..."
"You took a nasty blow to the head, my love," she said, leaning forward. She placed a cool, damp cloth on my forehead. Her touch was electric, but her eyes... they were wide, shimmering with a devotion that felt like it was physically pressing against my chest. "I brought you back to the villa. I couldn't have you recovering in some drafty guild hall where just anyone could walk in and disturb you."
I tried to sit up, but a sudden wave of vertigo crashed over me. Serafina was there instantly, her arms wrapping around my shoulders with surprising strength, guiding me back down against the pillows.
"Easy, Elian. You're still so fragile," she whispered, her breath warm against my ear. "I went to the ravines before the sun even touched the horizon to get that lily for you. I know how much you love the scent. I had to kill three Manticores to get to the clearing, but it was worth it. To see you open your eyes and look at me? I would burn the entire ravine to the ground for that."
I forced a dry swallow. "You shouldn't have risked yourself, Sera. The party needs you. Where are Kaelen and the others? We were supposed to divide the loot today."
The smile she gave me was small, almost pitying. She began to peel a blood-orange with a silver paring knife, her movements precise and surgical.
"They were... loud," she said simply. "Kaelen was shouting about gold while you were bleeding. He didn't care about your pain. He only cared about the coin. It made me realize that they don't truly appreciate you, Elian. Not like I do. They see a Vanguard; I see a soul that needs guarding."
She held a slice of the fruit to my lips. I didn't want it, but the way she stared at me—unblinking, her pupils dilated until her eyes were almost entirely black—made it feel like a command. I bit into it. It was sickeningly sweet.
"I've taken care of everything," she continued, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial purr. "The maps, the gold, the future. You don't need to worry about the 'party' anymore. You just need to focus on getting strong again. For me."
I looked toward the window. It was barred with intricate ironwork, shaped like climbing vines. It was beautiful, but as I watched the way the sunlight hit the metal, I realized the bars weren't there to keep monsters out. They were designed to keep something in.
"Sera," I said, my heart beginning to hammer against my ribs. "Why is the door locked?"
She didn't answer immediately. She just leaned down and kissed my forehead, her lips lingering there for a long, suffocating moment.
"Because the world is a dangerous place, Elian," she whispered. "And I'm the only one who can keep you safe from it. Even if I have to save you from yourself."