Kodalia is breathtaking. Beautiful fire surrounds us, and Ameline grabs my hand, which snaps me out of my trance. The rest of the group seems lost in wonder too- even Roland can't keep his mouth closed. Kenric and Kiara bring us into the town center, and several bystanders look at us with friendly smiles and waves. They look like delightful people, with clean and pressed clothes, full color in their faces, the smell of roasted meat in the air, music in my ears, and even a few children playing and running around. And not one Fiendish eye in sight.

"Do my eyes deceive me?" I hear an old raspy voice say. "So the rumors are true."

A man with a scraggly gray beard stops me and smiles at me. "I know that mark. It's been so long." And then the old man kneels before me. "Our lord has returned."

Soon, more and more begin to arrive, piling out of their huts and calling out to more villagers about me. Even the children stare at me like I am a ghost. Some are pushing through the crowd to get a better glimpse at me. Some follow the old man with the scraggly beard and kneel before me, though most just stare in awe. And to think I believed only my comrades were the last bit of Cinedime's former glory.

"Now, now, everyone," Kiara shouts. "Let's not overwhelm him. Back to work!"

As the crowd begins to disperse, Kenric starts to point out different parts of the village. "There's the schoolhouse for the little ones. Down that way is where Asgabah makes the clothes. Casbar's hut is over there, and he makes the weapons. Over there is Haybar's butchering lodge, and just past the waterfall there is the crop garden. Down the west tunnel, there is the crystal deposit, and down the east tunnel leads to the bathhouse. Then down through the north tunnel is the mess hall."

"I'd like us all to celebrate by sunset here in the center," Kiara says. "Then we'll have ourselves a feast for the ages!"

"Make y'selves at home!" Kenric shouts before he runs off. "I gotta get me a drink before I shrivel up!"

"If you'll excuse me," Charlotte says. "The bath beckons me."

As Charlotte walks away towards the east tunnel, Duncan wanders toward the blacksmith, scrutinizing his sword. Roland stays behind, leaning against the back of the ship from the dock. And Ameline is suddenly approached by a little blonde girl, who smiles at her and takes her hand.

"You wanna come play with us? We're playing Battle Mages! You can be the warrior princess!" she says.

I give her a nod. She laughs and runs along as the kids start playing around. The children's parents are nearby, cleaning their homes or tending to their businesses. Nobody is barking out advertisements, so they must not accept any money. No animals are around, so they must not eat much meat.

The last one I see is Alistar, who looks mindless as he looks around, trying to find something to occupy his time. He notices the clothing hut and starts to walk that way, but suddenly, Kiara stops him and embraces him. He looks unaffected.

"You're a brave boy," she tells him. "This is nothing like Pirema, but I hope you'll find comfort here."

Then she lets the boy go, and he gives me a sad look before turning on his heel. I couldn't imagine his grief now, but I believe he will heal in his own time.

"So! How do you like our town?" Kiara asks me, bringing me out of my trance.

"It's nice. It's very welcoming and organized. I wouldn't have expected that from a cave."

"That's all thanks to my dear father. He discovered this cave many years ago and brought his platoon to modify it into a fortress, but after the horrendous strike on Asreal, they decided to stay here to avoid the Shadowhearts. It's been protecting us ever since."

"Don't you ever wish you could live out there again?"

"Why should we?" Kiara says. "This place is as good as the rest of Cinedime. We have much less to worry about in these walls." She stops at the giant bowl of fire that still roars proudly, and she sits at its base. "We've had plenty of civilians come and go. Most of them who had left are dead now, but some survive."

"Was the thane of Pirema one of them?" I ask.

"Yes," Kiara says. "Torvald was one of our first refugees, but that was over fifty years ago. But we still keep in contact through letters after all this time."

"So he's a friend of yours?"

"Of course. His son was a part of us not too long ago, but he soon departed on his own journey. I've had no word if he's still alive, but I wished him the best."

I can't think about him now. All that man brings me is memories of Shadowhearts around every corner. So to ease my mind, Kiara and I watch the children play momentarily. One of the bigger kids is waving his arms like a monster while the smaller ones run from him. Ameline is climbing up on the boy's back, but he doesn't seem to mind.

She looks happy. For once, she's smiling and laughing.

For an hour or two, I sit and talk with Kiara. She's an excellent conversationalist- she's probably extroverted from her days in the military. Kiara was born in a far-off village near the southwestern edge of Cinedime called Coshabah, where the weather was always hot, and the water was always scarce. Kiara barely knew her father, who died when she was just learning to walk, and her mother became unwell as she grew older. The days dragged on as Kiara worked in the sun-drenched fields as a ranch hand. But she became enthralled by a man named Modares who visited her village to deliver medicine, and one day she met him on the streets while looking to swipe some Dali from an unsolicited pocket. She was caught and was to be sentenced, but Modares took pity upon her and decided to defend her rights. Then he formally adopted her and took her to his homeland- Asreal. She was absent at her mother's funeral but did not bat an eye when she told me that.

Then, when she came of age, she begged Modares to teach her the art of swordplay. Although it was frowned upon for a woman to clutch the hilt of a royal sword, he trained her rigorously anyway until she was confident enough to display her skills to the generals. But they were not impressed and deemed her unfit to join the Borealis, as was her dream, despite her training under a revered veteran. But then, the Wells went cold. The Borealis fell soon after, easily toppled by darkness without their powerful Vim. Modares saw an opportunity for his daughter and her comrades to escape the war here in Kodalia. He lived the rest of his days here, watching as people grew old, had children, and created memories in this cave. He was even there when they were nearly finished building the White Lion, but he sadly passed before he could sail his ship.

"That begs the question," I ask. "Elon Westfall mentioned the Borealis was headquartered in Mosleum. Why would he say that?"

"That filthy place?" she says with a chuckle. "That old warthog was a snarky son of a bitch right to his death. I'll miss him for years to come."

"So it was a lie-"

"Please, Triton," she says while standing up. "Don't think about all that for now. The Shadowhearts, the Borealis, Mosleum- none of that should matter. You deserve a nice long rest after everything. You should go and have a drink at the mess hall. Bastion makes a fine ale, but my mead tastes better!"

Walking down the tunnel, I notice how the walls are carved even further to make small rooms. A curtain hangs over the pathways as a door, but some are wide open, revealing personal belongings and cots to sleep on. There are even smaller tunnels with little stairs that must lead to even more rooms higher in the walls. It makes me think about how much workforce it took to carve all this stone and how long it took.

I reach the end of the tunnel, leading to a large pair of stone doors. Pushing them open, the sounds of music and clinking mugs instantly hit my ears, as does the smell of alcohol. The mess hall is a rounded building with a dome-shaped roof. A warm glow of several orange torches around the room perfectly matches the clay walls. Bastion, the man steering the ship earlier, stands behind the long bar with several large kegs at his back. There are plenty of tables, upwards of a dozen, but those that aren't seated don't seem to mind standing. A trio of musicians plays a lively tune, with a beautiful brunette woman singing the lyrics. It's such a fast-paced tune that it has led people to dance around with their partners.

Duncan and Charlotte are sitting nearby, laughing with each other and enjoying their drinks.

"Triton!" Duncan suddenly shouts. "C'mere and have a seat!"

I sit down and notice a wicker basket full of tiny red round objects in the center of the table. And a lit candle.

"Try one of these! They say they're called Blounges, and they grow on the cave walls," Charlotte says while handing me the basket.

Popping one of them in my mouth, I think about gagging for a moment. But after a bite, it tastes somewhat earthy, like a mushroom but a tad sweeter. It almost reminds me of a radish.

"Anything for you?" a man wearing an apron says, just appearing at my side.

"I'll just have an ale, I suppose."

"There's grain, ginger, pine, rosemary, coriander, evergreen, cher-"

"An ale. Please."

"Isn't this place wonderful?" Duncan says while lounging in his chair. "To think this whole time, we could've been looking around in caves for a new home! Ha! It's like a fantasy come true!"

"And the best part is there's no way the Shadowhearts would find anyone in here," Charlotte says while sipping her drink.

"Yeah. You're right," I say as I'm brought my drink. "These people have nothing to worry about, but they're only a portion of Cinedime. The rest are still out there in the mess."

"'Makes you wonder how this place isn't very populated," Duncan says. "Do people like living under the Shadowhearts' thumb? Like them in Pirema? They all looked miserable."

I take a moment to think, listening to the band play their next tune.

"Maybe it's better this way," Charlotte says. "Not everyone can be trusted to keep it a secret."

"Then I, for one, feel privileged that we were welcome here," Duncan says. "Especially after a night like the last." He leans closer to me. "We made it out of that hellhole with the skin on our backs! I think that deserves a toast!"

He raises his mug high, and as soon as he mentions a toast, several overlookers decide to join in. The music even stops. I'm faced with a wave of lifted drinks and waiting eyes, but I feel content.

"To Kodalia," I shout.

"To Captain Armitage and the White Lion," Charlotte says.

"To SURVIVING!" Duncan practically screams.

"Benkaryae!" Bastion says from behind the bar, raising one of his kegs of ale like it's weightless to him.

Everyone shouts BENKARYAE! with him and clinks their mugs together. That was a christening word meant for toasts and tributes alike. We spoke it during mass, after duels, before we feasted, and at times like these when we were among friends.

My ale tastes pleasant, but I prefer Kiara's mead.

The band starts playing again. This tune is jolly and upbeat. Duncan gets to his feet and takes Charlotte's hand, who blushes with pleasure.

"It's been a while since we've danced," Charlotte says.

"Well, let's not waste any more time!"

The two giggle with each other and trot closer to the band, joining the other dancing couples. They kick their feet up, swing each other by the arms, and laugh so hard that their faces turn red. Duncan spins her around several times, causing her beret to nearly fall off her head.

Meanwhile, as I sit alone, I notice a woman with red hair staring at me from the bar with an expectant smile. Then another woman at a different table gives me the same look. And another woman. And two others sitting next to each other. They're all waiting for me, it seems. I was never much of a lover, but as the prince, I received the same stare from several women- I never reciprocated.

But all these lovely eyes on me are enough to make my face feel warm. They must notice since some start to giggle as I chug the rest of my ale.

Then, amidst all the noise, I'm startled when a loud slam comes from my table. Looking up, I see Roland towering over me with a scowl. The noise catches some people's attention, but the music continues. Duncan picks Charlotte up from a bow.

"You people are wasting time," Roland says. "And we have very little time left. So stop horsing around and focus on Mosleum."

"Roland, we just got here," Duncan says. There's a bit of a slur in his voice now. "Relax, mate. Get yourself a drink."

"I'm not thirsty," Roland replies.

"We'll discuss Mosleum, I promise you. But for right now, I'm enjoying my ale," I tell him.

That same man in the apron brings me a fresh mug of drink, but before I can take it, Roland grabs it first. Then, he tosses the cup at the wall, making it shatter. If he hadn't caught the whole room's attention before, he has now.

"Roland!" Charlotte shouts, glancing at the mess.

"You listen to me," he says, pointing at my chest. "I trusted you with Lady Westfall's life, and instead of preparing for battle, you're here frolicking like a child! Is a mug of ale more valuable than Cinedime?"

"What do you mean?"

Roland then stops for a moment, and he blinks a few times. But then he shakes his head and goes for the door. "Come. We should discuss this somewhere more private."

But I don't follow him- I can't move from this spot in front of my chair. Instead, I keep thinking about Bridgette and her lifeless Fiendish eyes when she killed her father. I keep replaying the murder repeatedly in my mind and the image of her blood-spattered face.

"I'm sorry," I say. "But I think you need to forget about Mosleum."

"What?" Roland says with his eyes widening.

"You were there. You saw what happened. Even if we save Bridgette, there's no guarantee she will be the person you knew before. Saving her would be a worthless effort."

"Are you saying her life is worthless?" Roland says while gritting his teeth.

And before I can reply, he's on top of me, dragging me down to the floor and crashing through the table. He punches me several times, and I put my arms up to block him, but he uses his knee to break my guard. He keeps repeating the words 'Bastard' and 'Traitor.' Two men are able to pull him off me, but they don't hold him long. He's already back to attacking me in a blind rage. I don't think he can control himself.

Suddenly, a different fist puts him down to the floor before he lands another punch. Duncan stands before me, panting and shaking his head. Then, before Roland can get up, Duncan draws a sword he must have gotten from the blacksmith- a curved blade with a leather hilt and matching leather sheath on his back.

I don't even mind the pain in my jaw. I can tell those fists were fueled by passion and frustration. But to outright attack me? What gave him the impression that I wanted a fight? Maybe I could've been more sympathetic.

"You shouldn't have done that," Duncan says.

"Oi," Bastion says from his bar. "Get this trash outta my tavern."

With a light kick from Duncan, Roland understands that he's been beaten and gets to his feet. But he doesn't lose his scowl.

"You're no better than he is," he tells Duncan, glancing at me.

As he turns, he looks around the room to see dozens of glaring eyes at him. Roland slowly heads for the door, not making a sound. It's so chilling here that I nearly yell when I feel a pat on my shoulder. Charlotte leans into my ear.

"He's crying."

It takes only a minute's jog before we catch up to Roland, who has nearly reached the end of the tunnel leading to the center. He has his head bowed. He does not look back at us when he hears our footsteps, but he does stop walking. We all catch our breath a moment before he finally speaks.

"I'm sorry. Truly, I am," Roland says. He wipes a tear from his slender cheek when he turns to me. "I should explain myself further. It won't excuse my actions, but I hope it'll help you understand. I was told to keep this confidential, but there's no point any longer. It must be said."

He takes a deep breath. "Lady Westfall is the Starborn. And they know."

He made it sound so important, but that title has never crossed my mind. If it's such a meaningful name, Starborn, surely my father would have enlightened me of them. But if I was ever taught, my memory is blank. However, Charlotte let out an audible gasp when she heard that.

"You don't know about the Starborn, Triton?" Charlotte asks.

"I... I can't say that I do."

"And you're the king," Roland says, shaking his head.

"What, is it something important? More important than the Flamekeeper?" Duncan asks.

"I would expect this from you, Duncan, but you, Triton?" Charlotte tells me. "You didn't attend mass often when you were a child, did you?"

"That explains a lot," Roland says. "I believe a personal story would be better understood."

"Several years ago, I joined a guild called the Hand of Repose. We are a specially trained group of Puritan warriors tasked with a mission to protect and serve in the name of the Mother. I was deployed to Theoton, where I was ordered to protect the young Lady Westfall at all times- she had guards around her at every moment, but I especially was never to leave her side. I even slept in her room. I've been trained never to question my mission, but the longer I stayed near her, the less I believed she was in danger. She was trained in battle, a member of the Clergy, and technological advancements were occurring daily in Theoton- enhanced weaponry, different Vim chants, even machinery. It seemed she had nothing to fear."

"Then came the night Lady Westfall became of age. I awoke to the sound of her screaming. She was pinned to her bed by a woman with a dark dagger. I saw it was none other than her mother, Almira. But she was different. She was normally beautiful and lively- she had a voice that could soothe a thunderstorm- children and mothers admired her for her bravery and charity. But at that moment, she was a foul Shadowheart. I could hardly bring myself to fight her, but it was my mission. I managed to subdue her, but Almira had escaped before the Duke and the rest of the Theoton Guard could witness the monster she truly was. And Lady Westfall herself was never the same."

"The Duke took me into his quarters privately, and he looked upon me in shame. Then he revealed a secret he had kept himself for years- Lady Westfall was not his real daughter. Many years prior, Elon had found a ravaged infant resting on a clear lake, and he brought the girl home with him and treated her himself. He and his wife were overjoyed and adopted the girl as their daughter, but one night, Elon received word from Herald Balatkar of the Clergy. He warned the Duke that he had received a vision about his new daughter- that when she would be of age, she would be in great danger from a powerful darkness that had targeted her since she was born. For within her contained a powerful Auryn, flowing with golden light that shined even brighter than Vim itself. This was the light of the true children of the Mother."

Bastion was courteous enough to clear his tavern for us to speak privately. So now, without the music, the clinking mugs, or the laughing, there is an uncomfortable chill in the air. Duncan looks like he has seen a ghost of how Roland described Bridgette's story. Charlotte has been staring at Roland with her eyes aglow. Alistar looks dumbfounded as well as he nervously plays with his braid. As for me, I've yet to open my mouth.

"Haunted by this revelation, Elon swore he would use his authority to protect his child, but he also swore he would never allow her to know this fragment of her identity. She would not become another tool in this war between light and dark," Roland continues. "But Almira must have known this too. She must have worked alongside the Empire for decades, playing the city for fools until the right moment to take the city and, perhaps, the kingdom itself."

He puts his head in his hands in shame. "And now she's one of them. I've failed my Lady and myself."

"But if the Shadowhearts plan to kill Bridgette, why haven't they already?" I ask.

"They plan to destroy not just her but the entire Starborn legacy. You see," Roland continues. "As long as the Starborn lives on, the Shadowhearts can never take over Cinedime entirely. But they've killed or taken every Starborn before Lady Westfall. She is the last in the bloodline. If her body is tainted with the bastard of a Shadowheart, the lineage will die."

I can feel everyone's eyes waiting for my answer, but all I can think about is the image of the dear moon going dark after all the ages she's been smiling upon us.

"What are we going to do, Triton?" Alistar says, breaking the silence.

But all I can think about is Cinedime being coated in one big shadow. Cities like Theoton, villages like Pirema, and wastelands like Salsbury. All this devastation happened because I wasn't there to stop it. The Starborn hunted like animals because I wasn't there to protect them.

I won't sit back this time. I've wielded my sword for my kingdom far too many times already. But what can I do?

"Triton?" Charlotte says as soon as I get up.

I have to talk to someone. Someone I believe will give me the answers I need, and I need to speak to them alone.

Kenric leads me to a flight of stone stairs in the eastern tunnel. I find a bedchamber as soon as I reach the top of the stairs. The bed looks soft and made from animal hide. There's a round table with papers, empty ale bottles, and a sewing kit. In the corner near the bed is a small chest with stacks of books on top. There is only one decoration on the wall- a map of the kingdom of Cinedime with different colored patches spread about the terrain. In the center of the room is a pedestal cradling a glass orb, in which a small fire fills the room with orange light. An open wall reveals a view of Kodalia, with a pair of curtains for privacy when needed.

Kiara sits in her oversized easy chair, smoking her pipe. And I stand before her, as confidently as possible, having just finished telling her what I know.

"I see."

"So?" I ask. "What do you suggest?"

"Well, I have one piece of advice," she says while crossing her legs. "Relax. Go back and have another drink."

"Are you kidding me?! We might only have days until the Shadowhearts curse the kingdom forever! We don't have time for-"

"You're not a very good listener," she says. "A nice bath can do wonders too!"

She goes to her window and looks out, smoking silently with her back turned to me.

"Isn't there anything we can do to help Bridgette? What about Cinedime?"

Kiara just takes another puff of smoke.

"Triton, look at that map on my wall," she tells me calmly.

When I go to the map, I scan the page. The map shows two entire continents, and I see plenty of recognizable village names. I find Pirema, Edolpha- it has a large black X over the land- I even find Salsbury tucked in one of the corners of the left continent. I see little designs of cities; one marked Theoton and one marked Mosleum, which hugs the south of the right continent.

"Where is Kodalia?" I ask.

"You won't find it there."

I'm starting to understand what she's trying to tell me. And it's starting to make me mad.

"Kodalia's entire purpose is to create a society away from the war," Kiara says. "Out there, everyone is either a Shadowheart or a slave. But here, we're people. We live here. And I want you to live here with us, where you can be the king you were born to be."

"You just... expect me to turn my back on Cinedime?"

"I did," she says.

"No. That's a lie," I say, pointing at her. "If you did, you wouldn't wear Asrealian armor. You wouldn't bear the mark of the Netherbane on your flag. You wouldn't use Vim."

"I've given you my advice," Kiara says. "If you refuse to accept it, then leave my room."

She shows me to the door. I'm starting to get under her skin, but she's trying not to show it. And to think I once smiled with her- she once fought proudly for whoever took the mantle before me. But now I see her for who she truly is.

"Fine. I'm going to Mosleum."

"And how are you planning on getting there?" she says, stopping me. "By taking my ship?"

I look out the window. The White Lion is in plain view from afar, waiting to sail again.

"The White Lion is a refugee ship, nothing more. And I'm her captain. So, therefore, it goes nowhere without me."

"Why are you being so difficult?" I mutter.

"Because I've spent my entire life watching people die, and dammit, I'd rather watch people live!" she practically yells at me. "If you agree, leave my sight, and we'll forget we had this discussion."

Then Kiara turns her back to me again. I'm so conflicted I can hardly breathe. I keep staring at the ship like I'm staring at a royal chariot armed to the teeth to march into battle. It's the only chance I might have.

"I'll fight you for it."

She nearly drops her pipe. "What?"

"We'll duel, just the two of us. And if I defeat you, we take the ship to Mosleum."

"Hmm," she hums. "And what if I win?"

"Then," I say, and I think for a moment. "Then I'll do what you want. I'll stay and... try to forget about it all."

Kiara blinks a few times. She doesn't look amused or delighted, neither angry nor upset.

"No. Now that I think about it, that'd be a terrible idea. You are not happy here like I want you to be," she says. "So I'll offer a new deal. If you win, you may have my ship, but if I beat you... then you will be banished from Kodalia."

She crosses her arms like I need to think about her offer longer than I am now. All I have been able to think about is leaving anyway.

"Fine."