Kael and Arto moved swiftly through the palace corridors, the weight of their pasts pressing on them like a heavy cloak. The moonlit night provided cover as they slipped past guards and servants, their footsteps nearly silent against the stone floors. Kael's expression remained stern, his eyes sharp as he led Arto toward their escape.

"Over here," Kael muttered under his breath, gesturing to a narrow passage that led them to the palace's outer walls. The cool night air hit them as they emerged into the shadows of the kingdom, the faint sounds of the bustling city just beyond the palace grounds.

Arto was still reeling from everything—the confrontation with Kael, the revelation of Ondina, and the sudden realization that the world he knew was far more complex than he had imagined. But there was no time to dwell. They had to keep moving.

The two of them hurried to the edge of the kingdom, where the land met the sea. The dark waters stretched out before them, calm but eerie under the moonlight. Kael came to a stop at the shoreline, scanning the horizon. His face remained stoic, but there was an unmistakable tension in his movements.

Arto watched him, confused. "What are we doing here?" he asked, trying to keep up with Kael's pace of thought. "We're at the ocean. Where could we possibly—?"

But Kael didn't answer. Instead, he stepped forward and called out, his voice strong and steady despite the uncertainty that hung in the air.

"Hey! You still there? I need your help!" His voice echoed over the water, carried by the wind.

Arto's confusion deepened as he glanced between Kael and the dark ocean. "What are you doing?" he demanded, still trying to make sense of what was happening.

Kael turned to face him, his expression unreadable. "We're not alone."

Before Arto could ask more, the water began to stir. Ripples spread across the surface, growing in intensity as something large moved beneath the waves. Arto's breath caught in his throat as he watched in disbelief. Out of the depths, a figure emerged, her form illuminated by the pale light of the moon. Her long hair flowed like dark silk, and her iridescent scales shimmered as she broke the surface, her powerful tail slicing through the water with grace.

A mermaid.

Kailani glided toward the shore, her gaze locked on Kael. "You've returned," she said, her voice melodic yet edged with caution. Her eyes flicked to Arto, a look of recognition and surprise passing over her features. "And you've brought him?"

Arto stood frozen, unable to process what he was seeing. For centuries, the merfolk were nothing more than legends, stories whispered in the dark about a time long past. Yet here she was—alive, real, and undeniably powerful.

"You...you know her?" Arto stammered, his mind racing. "Mermaids—they're supposed to be extinct. Gone. How...?"

Kael's gaze softened slightly as he looked at Kailani, but his tone remained firm. "She saved me. Now, I need her help again."

Kailani's eyes remained on Arto, her curiosity evident. "The prince of Ardyn," she said softly, her voice filled with both wonder and bitterness. "I never thought I'd see the day."

Arto's heart pounded in his chest. "This—this can't be real. They—"

"Silence," Kailani cut him off, her tone cold.

Kael stepped forward, glancing between the two of them. "We don't have time for this. We need to find our friend, her name is Ondina."

At the mention of Ondina, Kailani's expression changed and her heartbeat quickened, her eyes narrowing with concern. "Ondina? You know her?"

Kael nodded, his voice urgent. "You have the same necklace as her.."

Kailani's breath hitched as she glanced down at the shimmering necklace resting against her chest, identical to the one Ondina had been wearing when she'd last seen her. Her fingers brushed the charm gently, memories flooding back. She had given Ondina that necklace as a symbol of their bond—and as a way to stay connected, no matter where they were.

"This necklace is actually a signalling charm," Kailani said quietly, her voice laced with worry. "I gave it to her before she came to the kingdom. If she's in danger...I can use it to track her."

Kael's expression hardened, his urgency growing. "Then we need to act fast."

Arto, still struggling to reconcile what was happening, stepped forward. "You mean you can find her? Right now?"

Kailani nodded, her gaze focused as she tapped the charm three times. A soft glow emanated from the necklace, pulsing gently with light.

The water surrounding them rippled as Kailani concentrated, her eyes closing as she searched for the familiar connection with her best friend. Moments passed, tension building as the glow from the necklace began to flicker. Then, suddenly, her eyes snapped open.

"She's quite far," Kailani breathed, her eyes narrowed with concentration. "Somewhere on land, in what looks like an estate of some kind. There's a tall tower... with red banners and..." Her voice trailed off as she described more details.

Arto's face paled slightly, recognition dawning in his eyes. "Red banners... That's Tormund's Hold," he muttered, his jaw clenching. "It's an town at the edge of the northern woods, near the town of Brannon. It's a week's journey from here."

Kael's expression shifted from confusion to shock. "What on Earth is she doing there?" he asked, disbelief colouring his voice.

Kailani's face darkened with worry. "If she's there, it's not by choice."

Arto nodded, suspicion gripping him. "Tormund's Hold is more than just a town. It's isolated, forgotten by most. That place is notorious. No one's been there in years."

Kael cursed under his breath, pacing in frustration. "Something's definitely wrong."

Kael's urgency intensified, his pacing growing more frantic. "We can't waste any more time." He shot a determined glance at Arto, his jaw set with resolve. "We need to move. Now."

Arto nodded in agreement, the gravity of the situation sinking in. "Agreed. If she's there, we have to assume the worst."

Kael turned to Kailani, his tone firm but grateful. "Thank you for everything. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have known where to even begin."

Kailani's eyes softened, her expression a mix of worry and determination. "Don't thank me yet. I'll follow from the sea, keeping close. If anything happens, you won't be alone. I'll be there."

Kael gave her a nod of appreciation. "Good. We're going to need all the help we can get."

Kailani dove back into the ocean, her sleek form disappearing beneath the waves. Kael watched her for a moment, the tension in his shoulders easing ever so slightly. But as soon as she was out of sight, the weight of everything crashed back down on him.

He turned to face Arto, his expression hardening again. Without a word, he spun on his heel and began walking toward the path leading out of the kingdom, his steps quick and determined. The silence between them was thick with unspoken tension, and Arto could feel the palpable grudge Kael still harboured.

Arto jogged slightly to catch up but hesitated before speaking, knowing Kael wasn't exactly in a forgiving mood. "Kael, about everything..."

"I don't want to hear it," Kael snapped without breaking stride, his voice cold and unforgiving. "We're doing this for Ondina. That's it."

The journey to Tormund's Hold was long and fraught with tension. The winding forest paths and rugged terrain seemed to mirror the strained silence between Kael and Arto, a silence that neither of them was willing to break.

Kael walked ahead, his movements sharp and purposeful, barely glancing back to see if Arto was keeping up. His grudge hung in the air like a storm cloud, darkening every moment they shared. Arto followed, his mind heavy with regret, the weight of their shattered friendship pressing down on him with each step.

On the second night, as they made camp in a clearing deep within the woods, Arto watched Kael from across the fire. The flames flickered between them, casting long shadows that danced like spectres. He wanted to say something, to break through the wall Kael had built around himself, but every attempt at conversation had been met with cold indifference or curt replies.

As Kael sat sharpening his sword, his expression unreadable, Arto finally mustered the courage to speak. "Kael...I know you don't want to hear it, but I never wanted things to end up like this. I never knew what was happening—"

Kael's eyes flickered with something unreadable, but he didn't look up. "You've said enough, Arto. I'm not interested in your excuses."

"I'm not making excuses," Arto replied, his voice quieter but firm. "I just want you to understand—"

"Understand what?" Kael snapped, finally meeting Arto's gaze. His eyes were cold, but there was a flicker of something deeper beneath the surface—hurt. "That you stood by while my family was slaughtered? That you—" His voice broke for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. "You should've stopped it. You were in a position to stop it, Arto, and you didn't."

Arto sighed, lowering his gaze to the fire. "You're right," he whispered. "I should've done more."

The silence that followed was heavy, but something had shifted. Kael didn't respond, but he also didn't lash out again. Instead, he went back to sharpening his sword, the rhythmic scrape of metal on stone filling the air.

The next day, as they continued their trek, the tension between them remained, but Kael's actions betrayed the bitterness he tried so hard to cling to. 

Arto was lagging behind, fatigue setting in after days of trekking. His steps were slower, and despite his best efforts, he stumbled on a loose rock hidden beneath the misty ground. He landed hard on his side, wincing in pain.

Kael, a few paces ahead, stopped but didn't turn around immediately. His hand instinctively gripped the hilt of his sword as if he had to remind himself why they were there, why he still felt that burning resentment for Arto. But the sound of Arto groaning as he pushed himself up, the slight limp he developed, was enough to stir something in Kael.

Without a word, Kael turned back. He knelt beside Arto, grabbing his arm roughly but helping him up to his feet with a grunt. "Can't even keep your balance?" he muttered, shaking his head.

Arto winced, rubbing his sore ankle. "I'm fine, Kael. I can keep going."

Kael rolled his eyes, clearly irritated, but he didn't move on. Instead, he knelt again, reaching into his pack. "You've been walking wrong all morning. You're dragging your right foot," he grumbled. He pulled out a small roll of bandages and tossed them at Arto's feet. "Wrap your ankle before you slow us down any further."

Arto blinked, surprised, but he knelt and began wrapping the bandages as Kael instructed. "Thanks," Arto said softly, the tension between them thick, but the unspoken concern was there.

Kael scoffed, turning his back to him. "We can't afford you hobbling into town. They'll hear you coming a mile away," he added, his voice gruff but his actions betraying the front he was putting up.

Once Arto finished bandaging his ankle, Kael looked over his shoulder, not quite meeting Arto's gaze but giving a quick nod of approval. "That should hold," he muttered before starting to walk again. But this time, he didn't charge ahead as he usually did. He slowed his pace, staying just close enough to keep an eye on Arto without it being obvious.

As they neared the halfway point on their journey, the small town of Fernfield came into view, nestled between two hills and known for its lively market square. The streets were lined with colorful stalls, bustling with merchants selling food, supplies, and a range of other goods. It was a rare sight of civilization after days of trekking through the wilderness.

Kael led the way into town, his expression unreadable as he surveyed the crowd. They had both been running low on provisions, and they needed to restock if they had any hope of reaching Tormund's Hold within the next few days. But there was a problem—they were running out of money.

"We need to get supplies," Kael said, his voice clipped. "Food, bandages, something to fix your ankle if it gets worse." His eyes flicked to Arto's still-bandaged ankle. "But we're out of coin."

Arto grimaced, checking his own pouch to confirm what he already knew. They'd used most of their money on basic supplies back in the last town, and their journey had taken longer than anticipated. "Maybe we can find work here. I'm sure there's something we can—"

Kael cut him off. "Work? We don't have time to waste on work," he snapped, his frustration simmering just beneath the surface. His eyes darted toward a group of local gamblers near one of the taverns, already tossing dice and exchanging coin. "We need to be smart about this."

Arto's brow furrowed. "Gambling? That's your plan?"

Kael didn't respond right away, scanning the crowd as if calculating their options. "I've done worse for less," he muttered, before turning to Arto. "Stay here. I'll handle this."

Arto hesitated. "Wait. If you think I'm going to just stand—"

Kael shot him a sharp glare. "You're not exactly the type to blend in, prince," he said, the word "prince" dripping with bitterness. "Let me do what I need to do."

Though the words stung, Arto couldn't deny the truth in them. Kael had spent years away from the palace, living among pirates and thieves. If anyone could navigate a crowd like this, it was him. But still, the thought of leaving Kael to take on this risk while he did nothing didn't sit well.

But Arto's eyes lit up as he spotted a sign, which read: "Skilled Archer Needed – Generous Reward". The promise of a hefty amount of coin was written in bold letters beneath it. He turned to Kael, his excitement barely contained.

"Wait Kael, look at this!" Arto said, pointing toward the sign.

Kael's gaze followed Arto's finger to the posted notice. "That's a decent sum of coin," he acknowledged. "We could use the extra cash."

Kael approached one of the barmaids, a young woman with a flirtatious glint in her eye. As she wiped down a table, she glanced up at him with a playful smile. "Can I help you, handsome?"

Kael raised an eyebrow but kept his tone professional. "We're interested in the sign about the archery job. Can you tell us more about it?"

The barmaid's smile widened as she leaned in slightly. "Oh, you're interested? Well, the sign was put up by Eli and Enzo. They're the ones in the corner," she said, nodding toward the two rough-looking men sitting at a dimly lit table.

Arto, watching the interaction, felt a twinge of discomfort as the barmaid's gaze shifted to him. She gave him an appreciative once-over. "And who might you be?" she asked, her tone suggestive.

Arto felt his cheeks flush slightly, his discomfort evident. "Uhm..." he replied awkwardly, trying to shift the focus back to Kael.

Kael, sensing Arto's unease, stepped in to redirect the conversation. "Thank you for the information. We'll take it from here."

As Kael turned to lead the way to Eli and Enzo, the barmaid lingered for a moment, her gaze lingering on Arto. With a playful glint in her eye, she gave him a wink. Arto's face turned a deeper shade of pink, his discomfort now tinged with embarrassment. He fumbled for words, his usual composure slipping.

"Uh, thanks," he mumbled, avoiding eye contact as he quickly followed Kael, trying to regain his composure.

Kael, noticing Arto's reddened face and flustered demeanour, couldn't help but smirk slightly. "You alright back there?" he asked, his tone teasing but with an edge of genuine concern.

Arto nodded quickly, not trusting himself to speak coherently. "Yep, yep! I'm uh...fine."

Kael chuckled softly, shaking his head.