The Great Tree’s massive wooden doors slammed shut behind Elowen with a resounding thud that echoed the finality of her declaration. The cackling laughter of the Head Elf still grated in her ears, a chilling counterpoint to the thrum of righteous anger in her veins. She hadn’t expected the mockery, the sheer disdain. But then again, she hadn’t expected silence either when she’d called for allies. Not a single elf had stirred, not one had met her gaze, let alone offered to stand with her. The betrayal stung more than the Elder’s venomous words.
Leo was there, of course. He always was. His arm snaked around her shoulder, a familiar comfort in the overwhelming storm of her emotions. “Ellie, are you alright?” he asked, his voice low and laced with concern. He didn’t press, didn’t try to tell her “I told you so,” even though he’d warned her. That was Leo – steady, supportive, a quiet anchor in her turbulent life.
She shook her head, unable to speak, the lump in her throat too big, too painful. She walked on, her steps purposeful, her mind racing. The path back through the village, usually a vibrant tapestry of bustling elves, was eerily quiet. Some darted into doorways, others averted their eyes, and a few even whispered behind cupped hands. She felt their judgment, their fear, their silent condemnation. Traitors, she thought, a bitter taste in her mouth. All of them.
“So,” Leo said, breaking the suffocating silence, his voice carefully neutral. “What now?”
Elowen stopped, turning to face him. The twin suns were higher now, casting long, slender shadows behind them. Her breath still plumed in the cool air, but it wasn't from nervousness anymore. It was from resolve. “Now,” she said, her voice a little hoarse but firm, “I start. With or without them.” She looked around the deserted path, then back at Leo. “But I’m not alone, am I?”
Leo managed a small, tired smile. “Never, Ellie. You’re never alone.” He squeezed her shoulder. “But this quest… it’s dangerous. You heard the Elder. You heard the prophecy. You need more than just me.”
“The prophecy of the six,” Elowen murmured, looking up at the sky. “It says six, doesn’t it? Not one, not two. Six. Strong, brave, true.” She paused, a new thought forming. “They don’t have to be from Alestari, do they?”
Leo’s eyebrows furrowed. “The prophecy doesn’t specify origin, no. But where would you even begin to look for such individuals? The other villages have their own concerns, their own Elders, their own beliefs. They might not even acknowledge this darkness, let alone a quest to fight it.”
Elowen’s gaze hardened. “Then we’ll make them believe. We’ll show them.” She started walking again, her pace quickening, no longer stomping in anger, but moving with renewed purpose. “The darkness spreads, Leo. It doesn't care about village borders or Elventy decrees. It will consume everyone if someone doesn't stop it.”
They walked in silence for a while, the only sounds the crunch of leaves and the distant chirping of birds. But this time, Elowen found herself appreciating the beauty, a quiet strength settling within her. She was leaving behind the only life she’d ever known, stepping into an uncertain future, but it felt right. This was her destiny, yes, but more than that, it was her choice.
“So, where first?” Leo asked, finally.
Elowen paused at the edge of the village, looking out at the vast, ancient forest that stretched into the hazy distance. “The Whispering Woods,” she declared, a faint smile touching her lips. “They say the oldest magic still lingers there. Perhaps it holds a clue… or a companion.”
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