Meanwhile — Far From the Western Night Hunters' Main Settlement

Far from the ravines where the Night Hunters' temporary encampment had once stood, a throne room gleamed beneath cold, polished light.

The King of Enthoria sat unmoving upon his throne, his fingers resting against the armrest carved with ancient sigils.

His expression was calm.

Too calm.

A knight knelt several steps below him. Dust and travel wear marked his armor, evidence of a long journey.

“My king,” the knight said quietly.

The king's eyes shifted slightly.

“Speak.”

“We have confirmed it.”

Silence.

The king waited.

“One of the Night Hunters' main settlements has been located.”

The knight lowered his head.

“Deep ravine territory. Fortified. Hidden.”

He hesitated.

“Active.”

For several seconds, the king said nothing.

Then—

he smiled.

“…Finally.”

He rose from his throne.

“Prepare an execution force.”

The knight bowed deeper.

“Yes, my king.”

“Not a parade.”

The king stepped down from the raised platform.

“Not a crusade.”

His voice remained even.

“I want their leadership alive, if possible.”

The knight looked up slightly.

“And the people?”

The king's expression did not change.

“Contain them.”

The knight hesitated.

“There will be resistance. They are difficult to eradicate.”

The king waved a hand dismissively.

“They always are.”

He walked toward the tall windows overlooking the capital.

“That is why this ends now.”

He stopped before the glass.

“I want the power they guard intact.”

The knight's expression tightened.

“The ward-bearers?”

“Yes.”

The king's gaze remained fixed upon the city beyond the windows.

“Their power has survived for generations.”

He paused.

“And I want it.”

The knight swallowed.

“Yes, my king.”

The king's voice hardened.

“Do not announce this operation.”

He turned slightly.

“No banners.”

“No proclamations.”

“No public orders.”

The knight remained silent.

“If the world learns they were exterminated…”

The king's eyes narrowed.

“It will ask questions.”

The knight lowered his gaze.

“And if civilians are present?”

The king did not turn back.

For a moment, silence filled the throne room.

Then—

“…There are no civilians among Night Hunters.”

The knight's gaze fell.

“At once, my king.”

He rose and departed.

The massive doors closed behind him.

The king remained alone.

His calm expression slowly disappeared.

What remained was hunger.

“Power that survives outside the law…”

His eyes narrowed.

“…eventually becomes a threat to the law itself.”

At the Western Night Hunters' Main Settlement

Elsewhere, within the hidden settlement, Elara sat alone in her room.

Her gaze remained fixed on nothing in particular, but her thoughts kept returning to Lady Serapha.

Why had she followed Ravenn to the temporary settlement?

She had been sick.

She had been weak.

Yet she had gone anyway.

To make sure Elara was safe.

Even when she herself might not have made it back.

Elara lowered her eyes.

A word escaped her lips before she could stop it.

“Mother…”

Silence answered her.

Then she heard voices outside.

“She’s back.”

A child's voice.

“The princess is back.”

Another child immediately whispered.

“Shhh. She'll hear you. Don't speak so loudly.”

A boy's voice followed.

“Do you think she'll stay with us?”

The voices faded.

Elara remained still.

Then a memory surfaced.

A distant one.

One from the first days after she had been brought to the Night Hunters' settlement.

Years ago, a small room smelled of warm food.

Lady Serapha stood beside a table, stirring a pot.

Across the room, a little girl sat quietly on the floor.

Elara.

She had barely spoken since arriving.

Serapha filled a wooden bowl and carried it over.

“Here.”

She crouched beside the girl.

“Eat this. You must be hungry.”

Elara shook her head.

Serapha smiled gently.

“I know what you're thinking.”

Elara looked at her but said nothing.

Serapha placed the bowl beside her.

“No one here will ever hurt you. I promise.”

Her eyes fell on the bracelet around Elara's wrist.

“Who gave you that?”

Elara touched it carefully.

“My mother.”

Serapha's expression softened.

“Then you should protect it.”

She smiled.

“And treasure it.”

Elara nodded.

The door opened.

A slightly older boy stepped inside, his clothes damp with sweat. He carried a broken wooden practice sword in one hand and a small bundle of sweets in the other.

He stopped when he saw Elara.

He looked at his mother.

“Who's she?”

Serapha glanced at him.

“She is a princess.”

The boy's eyes widened.

“A princess?”

He stepped forward.

“From a kingdom?”

Elara lowered her gaze.

The boy's expression hardened.

“Mother… why did you bring her here?”

He threw the broken wooden sword aside.

“I hate outsiders.”

Serapha didn't become angry.

“Ravenn.”

“But they're human.”

His voice sharpened.

“Did you forget what they did to Father?”

Serapha crouched in front of him.

“No.”

She looked into his eyes.

“I haven't forgotten.”

Ravenn's expression remained hard.

“But not everyone is bad.”

He frowned.

“There are good people in this world too.”

Serapha glanced toward Elara.

“Look at her.”

Ravenn followed her gaze.

“She is a princess.”

Serapha's voice softened.

“She lost her parents.”

She looked back at Ravenn.

“She lost everyone.”

Something in his expression changed.

Serapha placed a hand on his shoulder.

“You have me.”

Then she looked at Elara.

“She has nothing.”

Ravenn stared at the little girl.

Slowly, he crouched beside her.

“So…”

He looked at his mother.

“She is like us?”

Serapha smiled faintly.

“Yes, Ravenn.”

Then she shook her head.

“Not exactly.”

Ravenn frowned.

“She was born in a palace. She is a princess by birth.”

Serapha looked toward Elara.

“She is meant to rule and protect others.”

Ravenn thought about that.

“Protect…”

His eyes lifted.

“Like Father did?”

Serapha nodded.

“Just like your father protected us.”

Ravenn looked down at the bowl of stew.

Then back at Elara.

“Is that for her?”

“Yes,” Serapha said.

Ravenn frowned.

“You never make it for me. No matter how many times I ask.”

Serapha laughed softly.

“Because you've already eaten.”

She glanced at Elara, her expression softening.

“She hasn't eaten anything since she arrived.”

Ravenn looked at the bowl.

“We eat whatever we have.”

Serapha smiled.

“She isn't used to our food yet.”

Elara looked at the bowl.

Then at Ravenn.

“If you want it…”

She pushed the bowl slightly toward him.

“You can have it.”

Ravenn stared at her.

Then shook his head.

“No.”

He pointed toward the bowl.

“Mother made it for you.”

He looked back at Elara.

“So you should eat it.”

Then, after a moment, his voice softened.

“And don't be afraid.”

Elara looked at him.

“You'll be treated like a princess here.”

He stood.

“From now on, this is your home.”

Elara nodded quietly.

Ravenn noticed the sadness still in her eyes.

“If anyone doesn't call you princess…”

He lifted his chin proudly.

“I'll deal with them.”

A pause.

“The Night Hunters will protect you.”

He picked up his broken wooden sword and stood as straight as he could.

“One day, I'll become the leader of the Night Hunters.”

Serapha smiled.

“And what will you do when you become leader?”

Ravenn raised the wooden sword.

“Protect everyone.”

Serapha sighed.

“Oh, enough.”

She tapped him lightly on the head, then ruffled his hair.

“Go wash yourself.”

Ravenn frowned.

“Mother, I'm not a child.”

Serapha leaned closer.

“You smell like a rotten fish.”

Ravenn froze.

He cautiously lifted his arm and smelled his own shirt.

His expression changed.

“…Oh.”

A small smile appeared on Elara's face.

Ravenn noticed immediately.

“Oh?”

He pointed at her.

“You smiled.”

Elara looked away.

Ravenn grinned.

“Now you're smiling.”

He hurried toward the door, then stopped and looked back.

“I'll be back!”

His eyes settled on Elara.

“And Princess?”

She looked at him.

“I want to hear everything.”

“Everything?”

“What your palace looked like.”

Then he disappeared through the doorway.

Serapha watched him leave with a smile.

Then she turned back toward Elara.

“Don't mind his harsh words from earlier.”

Elara shook her head.

“Yes, ma'am.”

Serapha raised an eyebrow.

“No.”

Elara blinked.

“You shouldn't call me that.”

“Why?”

Serapha smiled.

“A princess shouldn't call everyone ma'am.”

She straightened proudly.

“You should carry yourself with dignity.”

Her expression softened.

“And this is your home now.”

Elara nodded.

She hesitated.

“Then…”

She looked up at Serapha.

“What should I call you?”

Serapha crouched beside her again.

“You can call me Serapha.”

She paused.

“Or…”

Her smile softened.

“Whatever feels right.”

Elara stared at her for a long moment.

Then, very quietly—

“Mother?”

Serapha froze.

Her eyes filled with tears.

One tear slipped down her cheek.

Then another.

She lowered herself to the floor in front of Elara.

She didn't speak.

She simply looked at the little girl.

Elara slowly stood.

Then stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Serapha.

Serapha's arms closed around her.

And for the first time since arriving at the Night Hunters' settlement, Elara felt like she had a home.

The memory faded.

Elara was back in her room.

The children's voices outside were gone.

Silence had returned.

She lowered her gaze.

A single tear slipped down her cheek.

It fell silently to the floor.

Elara didn't wipe it away.

For a moment, she was that little girl again.

Sitting on the floor.

Hearing someone tell her—

This is your home now.