It seemed both Thalian and Elias forgot about me and I did my best to avoid people, waiting to leave. It took two hours before there was a string of humans marched down in chains through the centre of the caravan. It must have been those who refused to give up their way of life and those too scared to die. The crowd went silent and watched them. Beside me, a girl and guy whispered, "Where are they going to go? They can't come with us, can they?"

"Aken. It's a prison now." The boy replied before hushing her to be quiet.

Aken was once a great nation, the first which fell to the Unchained. It was hard to imagine it as a giant prison. Only 10 soldiers walked with them at the front, 10 more at the back of the caravan once we started moving, 10 scattered throughout. Evidently, the rest of the army was continuing south to free the next town.

Travelling was both boring and lonely. After the first week of walking about 8 hours a day before setting up camp, most people found a way to be useful. People were making quick friends, finding their families. It was all a celebration which I wasn't apart of. I had found my way towards the front of the group, chatting with only the human guards. I got sideways, uncomfortable glances from the elves and mages and it hadn't gone unnoticed.

The 10th day, Elias found me again. "They're uncomfortable with you, why is that?" Elias dared to ask as he rushed up beside me after an elf hiss a cold comment under his breath.

"I'm unmarked," I stated, and it was the truth. "There are four elven nations and-"

"I know, Uncle Thalian has taught me my elven history." Elias said with a laugh and shrugged, "What does it matter that you're unmarked?"

Elias seemed to have no problem saying what came to his mind. He didn't seem to consider the possibility that he was being rude, but there was nothing to do and we were only a third of the way to Tria. "Most don't like not knowing where someone belongs. Plus, I don't think they like my hair."

"Your hair?" He laughed once again, shaking his head. "Want me to say something?"

I waved him off, "No, no, it's fine. I don't take it personally. Each of the four elven cultures has generalized appearances. Red hair, you're probably fire, dark brown is root, whi-"

"Got it, but that isn't always true. Uncle Thalian has white hair and he is Root."

I nodded, "Yes, but my hair doesn't fit in any of the categories. I'm an abnormality. A half-breed."

That made Elias go quiet for longer than I had ever heard him before, "Well, I like your hair." He smiled at me before glancing forward. "Be careful up here, our scouts have reported demon sightings ahead. It could be dangerous."

"Demons?" I nearly scoffed, shaking my head. Demons hadn't excited since the Alliance over 100 years ago. The humans ensured that the moments they arrived in this land. "I think your men let their imagination get the best of them."

Elias gave me a sideways glance and slowly shook my head. "That is, unfortunately, not the case. You won't find what really happened in most history books, but with the human's arrival 100 years ago was a Sorcerer. Her name was Kalliope and she controlled the demons. She made plans of the humans creating a war of the races and when everyone was weak, the demons would attack and the land would be their's." I frowned, listening intently as we walked through the overgrown man-made path through the woods. "When Kalliope was destroyed, the demons were released from her control and once again wandered these woods. Weaker and smaller in number, but getting stronger and more dangerous every day."

There wasn't much I felt like I could say to Elias as he glanced ahead. "They aren't bold enough to attack during the day... Hopefully." His words brought no comfort.

Glancing back to the young and old, innocents and untrained who walked behind us and became worried. "What happens if something does attack? They cannot protect themselves and you do not have enough to protect them." I hated to be the one to point out the obvious, but if the books I read about demons were anywhere close to accurate, we were as good as dead.

"Just hope we don't." Elias' remark made me sure that we both knew there was no way the majority of us would survive an attack. "Why don't you head back some, it is safer back there."

"Concerned about me, Elias?" I smirked slightly before glancing back. His cheeks grew red as he stuttered, quickly trying to back-track. "I'm better up here, more humans who are too clueless to our culture realize that I don't fit in." I hadn't realized how insulting my words could be until after they came tumbling out of my mouth. "I mean no disrespect, humans are wonderful, but the world spun for a long time before they came here. There is a lot they do not know, that those behind us do."

Elias nodded, keeping his eyes forward, hand on his blade. The more we travelled, the less armour the soldiers wore. Elias now only wore leather armour, his heavy plated armour was tossed onto a cart somewhere. "Well, maybe you can enlighten me as we walk? We have about three hours until dark?"

"I like your ignorance, why don't you tell me about how you have an elven Uncle instead?" We both laughed, the conversation was light and easy. Though there was a risk of demons and torturous shunning for those who practised the old way, we both managed to find a way to laugh, finding enjoyment in each other's company.