The dim light of dawn filtered through the iron bars as two guards approached the unmoving body sprawled across the stone floor. Lif lay on his side, barely breathing, a pool of blood having dried beneath him overnight.
One of the guards crouched beside him and slapped his face, half-heartedly.
"Hey. Wake up."
No response.
The other leaned closer, watching his chest rise and fall ever so slightly.
"He's alive… but barely. Bastard's been losing blood nonstop for two days. Why is he still alive?"
Suddenly, the first guard's eyes caught a faint glimmer. Nestled in the dried blood were fragments of blue, radiant crystals, glittering like stars.
"What the—" he whispered, reaching out.
The second guard knelt beside him, picking up a shard. "These are... gods, these are Mana Crystals. Real ones."
"They're raw too," the first muttered, wiping the blood off the surface. The glow only intensified. "Must be worth thousands."
"Did he have these in his pocket?" the second asked, checking Lif's bloodied cloak and inner pouches. "Nothing. Empty."
They looked down at the crystals again, then at each other, grinning.
"Well... thanks, freak," one said, giving Lif a sharp slap on the cheek. "Didn't think you'd be worth anything in the end."
The other guard laughed as they turned to leave, pockets now full of stolen treasure, their laughter echoing through the hall.
---
Meanwhile, back in Kathelyn, the skies were a pale grey, and the wind whispered through the stone walls and the small apartment they called home. Inside, Sela and Rael were sitting near the fireplace, tension hanging between them.
Rael broke the silence.
"Liora… don't you think Lif should've come back by now?"
Sela glanced up from her cup. "What do you mean?"
"It's been a week. Aetherwyn's only three, maybe four days away. He should've been back already."
Sela forced a smile. "Maybe he's on his way back. Maybe he took a different path."
Rael leaned forward, folding his hands. "What if… what if he stayed with Liora?"
Sela's fingers froze around her cup.
"What if he likes her?" Rael pressed. "They've been alone for days. A week of just the two of them."
Sela's voice was sharp this time, too sharp. "That's not possible. He hates elves, remember?"
Rael held up his hands. "Okay, okay. That's fair."
He stood up, grabbing his coin pouch. "I'm heading to the center. Going to get some food with the guild money."
As he left, the silence he left behind was quickly filled by Nadia's soft voice.
"You're so obviously into him, aren't you?"
Sela looked at her, startled. "What?"
Nadia leaned against the wooden frame of her bed, arms crossed. "Lif. You get all jumpy whenever someone mentions him and Liora. You're not just worried about him not coming back… you're afraid he won't come back to you."
Sela sighed, setting her cup down. "Is it really that obvious?"
Nadia gave her a gentle nod.
Sela dropped onto her bed, letting herself sink into the soft mattress. "I just... I don't know. We've known each other since forever. If I tell him how I feel and it ruins everything... I'd lose more than a crush. I'd lose my best friend."
Nadia smiled, sitting beside her. "How do you know he doesn't like you back?"
Sela shrugged. "Because it's Lif. That kid's more into fighting than girls. I honestly think he's never had a crush in his life."
"Maybe he's just good at hiding it."
"I know Lif too well."
"Then tell me, so I understand Lif as well," Nadia said, curiosity in her voice. "When did your friendship really start? Not just knowing each other—but when did you really become friends?"
---
The sun bathed the village in golden light. A much younger Sela and Lif ran through the fields, laughter echoing behind them.
They tore past the village gate, into the emerald thicket of the forest. The air was cool, fresh with spring.
"Lif, stop!" Sela said, tugging at his sleeve. "Look what I learned!"
She held up her hands, summoning a glowing flame in one palm and a chunk of stone in the other.
"Dual elemental?" Lif blinked, eyes wide. "That's so cool! You're lucky."
"You'll get yours soon," Sela grinned. "Maybe you'll be fire too."
"Maybe," Lif said, though a shadow crossed his face. "I hope so."
"I want to test how strong I am," Sela said suddenly, eyes gleaming. "Come on!"
She grabbed his hand and pulled him through a bush.
They spotted a Binho—a thick-skinned, grey beast the size of a small carriage—resting under a tree.
Sela charged, hurling a small flame at its back. It didn't even flinch.
She frowned, then tossed a good-sized rock at it. It struck its tail.
The Binho's eyes snapped open.
It charged.
Lif burst from the bushes, yelling her name. "Move!"
He shoved her aside just as the Binho smashed into a boulder, shattering it like glass.
Sela and Lif froze.
Sela tried to speak, but Lif grabbed her hand again—then started running.
He was fast—faster than any boy his age had the right to be. He dodged trees, ducked low branches, and leapt over roots like he was born in the forest.
The Binho roared behind them, catching up.
Sela tried to tell him to stop—to let her fight. "Lif, stop! I got us in this mess, let me fight!!" But he just pushed on, using a thick tree trunk to leap into the branches, bounding from tree to tree with her clutched tightly in his arms.
Eventually, they lost the beast.
Lif dropped down and set her gently against the ground, gasping for breath.
"You okay?"
Sela tried to stand, but her knee gave out. "Ah—"
"You're bleeding," Lif said, concern overtaking his face.
"I-It's nothing."
"You're so dumb sometimes," he muttered, lifting her into his arms again. "Trying to fight a Binho."
Sela chuckled, cheeks burning.
---
Sela lay on the bed, eyes distant. "Since then… I don't know. I just couldn't stop liking him. But I hid it well. Or at least, I thought I did."
Nadia smiled. "Well, now I know."
"Yeah," Sela nodded. "But at least no one else does."
Suddenly, the door creaked open. Rael leaned on the frame with a smirk. "You really thought no one else knew?"
Sela froze.
Rael stepped in. "You like Lif, huh? Girl, EVERYONE knows."
Sela's eyes widened. "W-What?"
Rael chuckled as he sat beside her. "You're always defending him. Always glowing when he's around. You act all cold and quiet, but the second he walks in, you're all sunshine."
Nadia tried—and failed—not to laugh.
Sela buried her face in her hands. "How?!"
Rael patted her shoulder. "It's okay, you don't have to be embarrassed about your feelings. Everyone thought it was cute how you see Lif. A Hollowborn, just like the rest of us... though I care more about him..."
Sela peeked through her fingers, cheeks flushed.
Rael smiled. "You don't have to pretend anymore. You're allowed to feel. To care. That's normal."
There was silence, and then Nadia grinned.
"I mean, Lif is kind of cute. I can't blame you."
Rael nodded. "Yeah, he's strong, kind, and those green eyes? If I were a girl, I'd be into him too."
Both girls stared at him.
"…What?" he asked.
They giggled together.
And for a moment, the shadows hanging over them—of Lif's absence, of fear, of uncertainty—lifted, just a little.