Two days after the mist — Autumn Training Clearing

  The ground was covered in golden leaves. Around them, the forest watched in silence, like an invisible audience. The sky was overcast, but there was a soft light, as if Autumn itself warmed that place.

  Sarya had her hair tied in a long braid down to her waist, as always, her spear planted beside her.

  Leli came trotting with firm steps. She wore light training clothes — nothing like ceremonial robes. Just armor, her body, and the morning cold.

  — You’ve never used a spear — Sarya said, without judgment.

  — Never. Only bows and swords, like light, fast rapiers.

  Sarya picked up one of the spare spears and extended it toward Leli.

  — The spear is an extension of distance. Between you and danger. Between you… and what you love.

  Leli took the weapon. It was cold. Heavy.

  Training began.

  First steps. Wrist rotation. Light thrusts. Then guard spins. Variations in stance.

  Leli was sweating quickly, but she didn’t complain.

  Sarya corrected her firmly, but with attentive eyes.

  — The spear is balance. The spear is the breath of wind after the harvest. You don’t push it — you invite it.

  Leli slipped during a wider strike.

  Sarya caught her by the arm.

  — One more thing. Autumn doesn’t shout. It whispers.

  Pause.

  Sitting in the shade of a wide tree, Leli drank water in small gulps.

  — Wow, this is really cool. Your spear, dagger, and bow techniques… you’re an incredible hunter. No wonder everyone respects you, Sarya. Hunter of Autumn isn’t a title for nothing. If you keep this up, you’ll be the one leading the Autumn elves, not that boring Valen.

  Sarya flicked her forehead.

  — Don’t talk nonsense, Leli. Valen is heir by right. He’s the Patriarch’s son.

  — Yeah, sure… but the elves choose the next leader after the current one retires or dies, right? So you have high chances. A lot of people only favor the polished prince because he’s the Patriarch’s son, but if he’s not a good leader it’ll be hard for all of you. A leader can make bad choices and cause problems for the whole clan. That’s why I think you’d be a good choice. For Autumn. A lot of others think so too.

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  — Are you done talking?

  — I’m serious, Sarya! Why pretend you’re not the strongest among the young elves? You’re an elite hunter, one of the Autumn Rubros. There are only seven members. One is Patriarch Aurelius. Another is you. And five more. And that polished prince isn’t one of them.

  — He puffs his chest out for being Prince of Autumn, but he’s never beaten you. Not even close. Shouldn’t the leader be the strongest? So why does someone who couldn’t even become one of the Elite Rubros have to lead just because of blood?

  — Hey, you’re sounding like a dictator today. Planning a coup, hmm?

  — I didn’t say that! Sarya, I’m serious!

  Sarya kept her usual cold expression, looking emotionless. But in truth, she was happy that Leli didn’t look at her with fear. Even among the Autumn elves, she was feared.

  She sighed.

  — Tell me, little dictator… have you chosen what weapon you’ll wield?

  — Yes! — Leli said, eyes shining. — I want something with impact, something I can use for attack and defense, something that gives me much more freedom than a rapier. Light, but powerful, like my sister’s Regina Caeli.

  — Something no blacksmith can forge, only me. My weapon will be unique. It’ll be a technique. Seeing that turtle-shell barrier Lukas made back in the capital, the one that protected the entire Empire, gave me some crazy ideas about mana compression.

  Sarya observed.

  — So… you want something only you, and whoever masters your so-called compression technique, can wield. In other words, something that defines its creator.

  — Exactly, Sarya.

  — But hey, Sarya… I’m curious. Tell me something.

  Sarya raised an eyebrow. Leli excited was pure chaos — and she knew it.

  — What is it?

  — Sarya…

  — Hm?

  — Have you ever had someone?

  The hunter looked at the horizon for a moment.

  Without showing any reaction, Leli watched carefully for the slightest change in her face… but nothing shifted.

  — I had important people. Before… yes. They… don’t exist anymore.

  Leli, eyes shining:

  — Okay, but I meant… have you ever looked at someone and thought they were beautiful?

  Hmm.

  Sarya flicked her forehead again.

  — You’re too curious, brat.

  — Haaa, so that means yes!

  — You always seem cold, emotionless. But you don’t hit me hard. That means you have a warm heart like a volcano, even if you don’t look like it.

  — I think I’m starting to understand you. You get quieter when you’re thinking or angry. Short sentences or silence show discomfort. A forehead flick? That’s affection.

  Sarya stared at her.

  — You’re observing too much, don’t you think?

  Leli, eyes sparkling:

  — Learned from the best of Autumn.

  She mimicked Sarya’s calm, cold posture.

  — First lesson: always keep your eyes sharp, Leli. Never miss a detail, no matter how useless it seems. Want to predict someone? Pay attention to the environment. It will tell you what the enemy doesn’t.

  — That works to find out more about people I’m curious about too, you know?

  Sarya sighed internally.

  I’m creating a little monster. If she uses this to gossip, that’s trouble for sure.

  ---

  — But, Sarya… I saw something during that ceremony when I faced myself. I saw a brother I didn’t recognize. There. Strange, right?

  — You mean Lukas?

  Leli didn’t answer right away.

  — I’m talking about everything he carries… and doesn’t show. He’s hiding something. Like how he got so strong, for example. And now, according to him, he’s gone to train to rebuild himself. But what if he comes back… a different person?

  — Those memories I saw were terrifying. I saw a brother who scared me. A frightening smile. Eyes full of rage. A crazy smile. And can you believe his title was Blood Demon? Can you believe that? That’s what the one who said she was me said. But I thought it was a bad joke. Maybe just a test from Mother Rubra…

  — That Lukas looked very strong… but lifeless, somehow. His body looked like steel. Lean but firm muscles, like someone who trains all the time just to kill.

  — Sometimes I get chills near my brother. But now that I saw that… I’m confused if I’ll look at him and remember that strange image from the Autumn ceremony.

  Sarya sighed.

  — And if he becomes what you saw?

  — Then we hold on to whatever remains of the Lukas we love. And help him remember.

  Wait… we love?

  Sarya fell silent.

  Crimson silence. Leli’s words got stuck in the air.

  Leli puffed smoke from her head, angry, stomping.

  Little sign above Leli: “Sarya, stop being boring!”

  Later that day — Ceremony of the Burning Leaf

  Leli knelt before the Mother Tree, the Red Angelim of Autumn, where glowing leaves fell slowly — like fragments of a living season.

  Patriarch of Autumn, Aurelius, wrapped in cloaks that looked like leaves burned by frost, watched.

  — Leli Fernandes. You have bled. You have lost yourself in the mist. You chose to stay when you could have fled. Are you ready?

  — I am — she said, voice steady.

  — Autumn does not demand perfection. Only courage. Only truth.

  He touched Leli’s forehead with a curved branch.

  A mark appeared on her collarbone — the symbol of the Burning Leaf. Proof that the spirit of the season now recognized her.

  Then it faded.

  A symbol carved into the soul.

  Sarya watched from afar. In silence. But with pride.

  That night, while Sarya sharpened her spear and Leli drew symbols in the dirt with a stick, an owl descended between them.

  It carried a letter.

  Sealed with a pink lotus.

  The owl stopped beside Leli.

  — It’s a letter from Mom.

  End of Chapter 4 ????