INICIAR SESIÓNELARA I stayed where I was while observing everything my eyes landed on. The training yard was alive with so much movements, none of it made me flinch anymore.A few days ago, the sound would have pulled my heart into my throat.Today, I watched not with fear but with something that surprised me.It was envy.The men in the yard moved with confidence, they trusted their own bodies, they knew how to stand, fall and how to protect themselves.I wondered what that felt like. “I've been looking for you."Cassian's voice came from behind me and I turned.“I told you that I was going to be back soon,” He said and I shrugged. “Well, you already found me already.” I said with a small smile. He scoffed while I laughed lightly. He walked over and followed my gaze toward the training yard."They've been at it since sunrise."I nodded. "I can see why."We stood in silence for a while and then I quietly said,"I want to learn."He smiled. "I thought you might to. Don't worry, I'll ask the tu
ELARA povThe hallway remained quiet after the archivist's words, no one spoke.I looked from the old man to Cassian, waiting for someone to explain.The archivist lowered his head. "My apologies, Your Majesty, the record is incomplete."He held an old bundle of papers against his chest. "We've found a name but before I say anything, I need to verify the remaining documents."Cassian studied him for a moment before nodding. "How long?""A day or two or perhaps less."Cassian glanced at me and then back at the archivist."Do what you need to do because I want the whole truth and not half of it.""Yes, Your Majesty."The old man bowed once more before leaving and the others quietly excused themselves as well.Soon, only Cassian and I remained and then he walked over."I know you're curious."I gave a small smile. "Very.""So am I."He rested a hand gently on my shoulder. “We'll speak about it when we know everything. I don't want guesses, I want answers."I nodded. "So do I,”The quest
ELARAI spent the rest of the day in the room after leaving the garden. Cassian had urgent things to do so after he left, I went back to my room. I spent the rest of the night reading the rest of my mother's journal while imagining scenarios in my head. It gave me this different kind of joy and satisfaction, I could read them repeatedly all day. I slept off while admiring one of the journals that was filled with my mother's drawing and by the time I opened my eyes, it was already morning. I stared at the ceiling for a long moment before turning my head toward the bedside table.The journal was still there, I had fallen asleep with my hand resting on it.For years, I had hidden everything that mattered to me like letters, small gifts and hope.I always tucked them away before someone could take them or laugh at them.This morning, I didn't reach to hide the journal.Instead, I picked it up carefully and ran my fingers across the worn leather."My little Lyra," I whispered.The wor
ELARA My hands trembled as I opened the journal. I noticed some of the pages had yellowed around the edges.I took a slow breath before turning to the first page.I wasn't sure what I expected but I expected something important like stories about this pack or records of battles.Instead, it was a completely different thing. She wrote things like, “Lyra smiled today.She smiled at absolutely nothing, then laughed when I laughed back.”I blinked and then turned to the next page.“She loves sunshine.The moment the morning light reaches her cradle, she starts kicking her little feet until someone picks her up.”I didn't stop reading and turned to another page.“She refuses to sleep unless someone hums to her.Your father insists he can't sing and she doesn't seem to mind.”My vision blurred as I read further, I was about to cry. I thought the journal would contain royal history or other significant things but it was just about a mother writing about her little girl.I didn't stop rea
ELARAI looked at the sealed letter in Cassian's hand and then at Cassian. "Why does he want to see you?"My voice came out quieter than I intended and Cassian looked at me."I don't know."My fingers curled together. "Is he..."I stopped because the words I was about to say suddenly felt childish.Cassian waited patiently till I was able to put the words together and ask what I wanted to ask. "Is he coming to take me back?"The question sounded even smaller once it was spoken aloud."Or..."I paused and swallowed."...is he going to say I abandoned the pack or accuse me of something?"The room felt colder and the silence afterwards was really deafening. I hated that part of me still expected trouble whenever Ronan's name appeared.Cassian folded the letter without opening it and then he walked toward me.He stopped close enough that I could speak without raising my voice"You don't have to worry about this."His words were steady as he spoke, "As long as you're under my protectio
ELARACassian told me that there was something we needed to do this morning after I woke up. He didn't tell me where we were going, he just asked me to prepare and get dressed up. I should have felt nervous but instead, it made me curious.A maid had helped me dress that morning in a simple cream gown. I didn't need to look so serious with my dressing. She'd brushed my hair, smiled softly, and wished me a pleasant day before leaving me alone to finish getting ready.Cassian was waiting outside my room by the time I was done getting ready. "Ready?" he asked and I nodded."I think so.""That's enough." He said and then smiled and led the way.The room he brought me to wasn't what I'd expected.It wasn't a throne room nor was it filled with nobles. Instead, it looked more like a large meeting hall.A long wooden table stretched through the middle and several people were already waiting.I noticed Rhys standing near one of the windows.The Royal Beta sat quietly beside an elderly m







