Ashren and Elara walked along the forest path, morning sun warming the air as they made their way toward Ardent Cross.

After some distance, Elara slowed and checked her wrist—then froze.

Her face drained.

“Ashren… my bracelet. It’s gone.”

Ashren blinked.
“Gone? What do you mean gone?”

“I— I must have left it in the mountain,” she whispered, panic rising.
“It’s my mother’s… it’s the only thing I have left of her…”

Ashren put a steady hand on her shoulder.

“We can’t go back there now, Elara. The Mountain Tribe would crush us if they caught us sneaking in.”

“But the bracelet— The magic— The tracking—”

“It warned us, yes,” Ashren said gently.
“But it can’t save us. Being cautious will save us.
And don’t worry—your bracelet isn’t lost forever.
It’s still in that mountain, right?
One day, we’ll go back and take it.”

Elara looked down, swallowing hard.
“…Okay. I trust you.”

They continued forward.

Soon, the trees thinned, and the landscape opened into a bustling settlement built on open earth—houses, shops, and tall wooden structures.

Ashren’s eyes widened.

“Whoa… everything’s built on the surface. No underground, no caves. How do they survive the monsters?”

Elara answered softly,
“They use a barrier artifact. It surrounds Ardent Cross at night.
And there are adventurers and kingdom knights who guard the perimeter.”

Ashren let out a low whistle.
“Lucky people.”

At the entrance, two guards blocked their way.

“State your identity.”

Elara slipped off a golden ring from her finger and quietly handed it over.
The guard examined it, nodded, and stepped aside.

“You may enter.”

Ashren leaned close and whispered,
“That was basically a bribe.”

Elara shot back,
“That was basically survival.”

Inside, Ardent Cross was alive—merchants shouting, carts rumbling, spices filling the air, travelers from multiple regions all mixing together.

Ashren’s mouth hung open.
“This place is huge…”

Elara pressed a hand to her stomach.
“I’m hungry.”

Ashren nodded quickly.
“Me too. My legs are trying to shut down.”

They found a small eatery on the roadside and sat. Ashren ate like a starved wolf—three bowls, bread, meat stew, everything in reach.

Elara took only a little… but watched Ashren with judging eyes.

The bill arrived.

Ashren’s hands shook as he slowly pushed it toward Elara.

“…Princess. Your majesty. My queen. Please.”

She glared.
“Ashren. Pay. Your. Bill.”

“I don’t have money.”

She slammed her hands on the table.
“YOU DUMBO! You don’t have money but you ate everything on the MENU?”

Ashren raised his hands defensively.
“I didn’t plan an adventure, okay?! You’re the one prepared for travel!”

“We’ll go BROKE at this rate!” she growled.
“We still need to pay for the inn!”

Ashren whispered, sulking,
“I thought being a princess meant free food…”

Elara flicked his forehead.
“Idiot.”

They paid—barely—and walked back outside.

A local fruit seller waved at them.
“Didn’t see you two around before. New to Ardent?”

Elara smiled politely.
“We’re traveling traders.”

“Ohh, rough times for traders lately,” the man sighed.
“Taxes have gone up. Bribes everywhere. And our local goods? Sold cheap, but the kingdom takes most of it anyway.”

Ashren’s expression darkened.
“Sounds unfair.”

“Unfair? Boy, it’s robbery in daylight.”

They thanked him and stepped away.

But they barely walked a few steps when Elara stiffened.

Two royal guards were walking directly toward them.

Their armor bore the crest of Enthoria.

Ashren whispered,
“Elara… why are they coming straight at us?”

Elara’s blood ran cold.

The guards stopped right in front of them.

“YOU two,” one said.

The guard lifted his visor—

“We need to talk.”

To be continued…

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