With a soft patter through the tiny home, InuShin brushed away the curtain and stepped into his mother’s room. Inside, a heavy silence filled the air mixed with uneasiness of her pending journey.

  Her shoulders, tense and drawn, shifted slightly as she folded spare clothes into a traveling satchel. Her movements, though graceful as ever, carried a stiffness that InuShin grew to recognize. She withheld something from him.

  Lingering in the doorway at first, his ear twitched slightly. “You’re leaving,” he finally said, his voice soft, pleading.

  Without looking up, she reached for a small pouch of dried herbs, tying it closed with steady fingers. “Only for a short while,” she replied, her tone calm. “There are matters that need tending to.”

  Stepping into the room, his bare feet brushed against the polished wood. “Matters that require this much preparation?” His zaffre eyes narrowed slightly, trying to read the emotions hidden behind her serene expression.

  She glanced over her shoulder, giving the faintest of smiles. “The council and I believe it’s important. You don’t need to trouble yourself with it.”

  “That’s the problem,” he said, tightening his jaw. “You keep saying I don’t need to know, but if I’m going to stay here. In this realm. I need to know. I need to understand what’s happening.”

  Her hands froze over the satchel. “Shin…”

  “I can’t keep feeling like I’m always a step behind,” he continued, stepping closer. “First the whispers about another, learning about Sye’s past, and now this trip. Everyone’s moving like there’s a storm coming. And I’m supposed to just watch from the window?”

  Her eyes darted towards him, her tone sharp. “How did you hear about another war?”

  InuShin’s eyes widened as his stomach dropped. “I…uh I overheard your conversation through the window.” He sucked his cheek in, ears flattening slightly. “I didn’t want to be left out, so I eavesdropped. You looked so worried, and I want to help.”

  Her expression softened. She slowly laid her cloak down and turned to face him. “It’s not that I want to keep you out, there are just some things that are too heavy for a child to carry…”

  “I’m not asking to fight,” he interrupted. “I’m asking to learn. If war is even a possibility, I need to see for myself what kind of world I’m living in. If I’m going to call this realm home, I need to know what it means to protect it and the people I care about.”

  A silence stretched between them, the faint rustle of leaves outside echoed around them.

  “You’ve grown quite stubborn,” she said quietly, but there was no anger in her voice.

  “Learned it from you,” InuShin replied, and for a brief moment, his lips curved into a small smile.

  Grinning smally, she nodded. “If I agree, we will need the Elders’ blessing. They may not think it wise to take you. This is not a simple visit.” Satchel fully packed, his mother tied the clasp shut with a firm tug. “Come.”

  Stepping outside their home, the cool evening air brushed against his skin. The spiral path cleared from the Moon Festival as villagers handled their daily tasks. Several children lingered along the path, each playing with a ribbon and comparing colors and patterns.

  The walk towards the Elders’ Tree felt heavy, filled with anticipation. Will they approve of me joining? Will they say it’s too dangerous? I’ve never met a Skifulv, Kobrrev, or Gr?nnage. His heart pounded as they approached the Sacred Circle.

  The tree towered over the space, easily dwarfing all the nearby trees. Its roots pulsed with a solemn energy, as if it could sense the future.

  Approaching, his stomach knotted as the bard shimmered faintly in the sunlight. The entrance opened for them as if acknowledging Maelia’s presence.

  Inside, the air grew cooler, hushed, as if the tree was listening. A faint bioluminescent glow lit the circular chamber where the Elders were gathered. Each sat upon carved roots that spiraled upward like thrones, their silvered hair in intricate braids. Weathered faces. A reminder of the wisdom they carried.

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  “InuShin, Maelira,” Elder Elaruim greeted, her voice like dry leaves brushing across stone. “To what do we owe this visit?”

  Maelira bowed her head respectfully before speaking. “Soon, I will depart for the Skifulv village, but my son has requested to accompany me. So we seek the blessings from the Elders.”

  A ripple of murmurs passed through the Elders. Some looked surprised, others concerned.

  Elder Draelos, the most stern among them, frowned. “The Skifulv are not simply neighbors, Maelira. They don’t easily accept…” he paused for a second. “...a meascach.”

  Meascach? What’s that mean?

  “And with the uncertain future, it is not safe to bring children into potential danger.”

  “I’m not a child,” InuShin said, unable to contain himself. His voice echoed slightly in the chamber, starting himself. “My mother is worried, and if she is worried, then I should be prepared for what may come. This is my home, too, and I don’t want to just quietly sit back and watch everyone struggle. I want to help protect my home, too.”

  Elder Draelos’ sharp gaze softened, but only slightly. “Bravery does not erase risk. We do not know what the Skifulv will say or do.”

  Before his mother could respond, a smaller voice piped up from the side of the chamber. “I want to go too.”

  Both InuShin and the others shifted their gaze. Syelira stood near the entrance, her zaffre eyes wide but resolute.

  Behind her, Elder Terenol stood, his expression unreadable.

  “Syelira…” Maelira began, but Syelira stepped forward.

  “If I’m going to be a diplomat like Maelira, then I should join and make myself known among the other races.”

  “You risk reopening old wounds,” Elder Oriamel said gently. “Are you certain?”

  “Reopen? They’ve never closed.” She thinned her lips, hands balled by her sides. “I’ve never stopped missing my parents. I’ve never forgotten what the war was like. Maybe this will help me.” She clutched the small bracelet on her wrist, a gift from her mother. “My parents would want to see me uphold the peace, just like them. Maybe it will help me feel better.”

  Elder Terenol took a seat with the others, yet he remained quiet. Her words weighed heavy in the room.

  The Elders turned their attention to one another, muttering under their breath that even InuShin’s sensitive hearing couldn’t pick up.

  Elder Lorander shifted her attention towards InuShin’s mother. Though hesitant, she spoke. “Maelira, do you ensure to keep these two safe?”

  “I will protect them with my life,” she nodded curtly.

  “Very well,” Elder Terenol. “InuShin and Syelira may accompany you.”

  InuShin’s heart quicked with excitement. I get to see what else is in this realm. I don’t know how long I’ll be here, but at least I can learn more in the meantime.

  “Not without additional adults. Zarien, Dravien, and Edrimar will accompany you as well.” Elder Oriamel added. “As a safety measure in case something happens while you are out.”

  Draelos continued, stern expression and eyes narrowed. “Make no mistake. You will not act as children, but as witnesses. What you see and hear is not to leave the council’s trust until we decide how to act. Is that understood?”

  “I understand.” InuShin bowed respectfully, maintaining his breathing.

  “Shin, Sye.” His mother said. “Prepare your things, I will meet you and the others at the entrance. Waste no time.” She bowed to the Elders once more and then exited the chambers.

  Following suit, InuShin and Syelira mirrored his mother.

  Once outside, InuShin let out a long held breath. “I didn’t think they’d say yes.

  “Neither did I,” she said, a slight glint in her eyes. “Guess that means it’s going to get a lot more interesting than we thought.”

  I wonder how far it is to the Skifulv village. He shook his head and braced himself. Doesn’t matter. We’ll make it there and we’ll learn more about what’s happening around us.

  “Shin! Quit lollygagging.” Syelira’s voice broke him from his thoughts. “We don’t wanna miss out on leaving the village.”

  She neared the exit of the spiral path, her air light with excitement and curiosity. Following suit, InuShin left the Sacred Circle.

  Both of them quickly returned home and collected their satchels, filling them with spare clothes, rations, and a few survival tools. Syelira grabbed her bow and arrows for hunting.

  Should I have a weapon too?

  As they neared the entrance to their village, Maelira stood with three other adults.

  To the left, with short spiky silver hair. Edrimar stood with a stern expression. A scar stretched from under his left eye and reached his lower right jaw. Slightly taller than the others, his shoulders were tense as his gaze observed their surroundings.

  Next to him, Zarien, the scouter who informed his mother about the possible war. His hair was tied into a single thick braid, woven with a golden ribbon. He was talking to InuShin’s mother.

  At the opposite end, Dravien waved towards InuShin and Syelira. He left his hair loose, draping over his shoulders. In his other hand, a familiar weapon.

  “Dravien, what are you doing here?” Syelira asked.

  “At the request of the Elders. And…” he extended the weapon in his hand. “It took me a while to figure it out, but I was able to fix the sword that you requested.”

  “It’s not mine.” She gestured to InuShin. “It’s his.”

  Dravien shifted his gaze and then extended the tantō to InuShin. “I don’t know where you got that metal from, but it was hard for me to understand. But I was able to mix it with the metals from here, so it will be stronger.”

  “Oh. Uh…thanks.” With a careful grip, InuShin accepted the tantō and ran his fingers across the familiar smooth saya. Its handle wrap felt like home. “How did you…?”

  “Syelira,” he answered. “She brought me the pieces and asked if I could repair it. And at first, I couldn’t connect with the metal. But I worked and worked and worked at it until I was able to repair it. If you ever need my assistance to sharpen it during our travels, don’t hesitate to ask.”

  Warmth filled his chest as he smiled. “Thank you, Dravien. Thank you, Syelira. This means a lot to me. Truly. It belonged to my Father. So now I can carry him with us on our travels.”

  He partially unsheathed the blade, noticing a change in its appearance. No longer a simple metallic shine. Instead. As the light reflected off it, a subtle hue within the polished silver shifted between deep blue, emerald green, and fiery crimson. “What is this?”

  “This is Edrium, a metal that helps enhance elemental connection. I had a little leftover so I infused it with the metal from your world.”

  Eying the blade up and down, he noticed the little signature near the handle. His father’s. A warm smile tugged at his lips, tears forming in his eyes. “Thank you.”

  Dravien rested a hand on InuShin’s shoulder, squeezing firmly. “You’re a S?lvcù. You’re family. We help each other out.”

  As soon as his hand left InuShin’s shoulder, Syelira tackled him with a tight hug and he wrapped one arm around her.

  “I just wanted you to have a piece of your Father with us.” Her grip tightened.

  “Thank you, Syelira,” he lightly ran his thumb across the small guard. Now I need to figure out a way to carry it with my S?lvcù clothes.