As we neared the border, the looming gates that had once been a symbol of safety now felt like an impenetrable wall. Kendrick's soldiers stood guard, their eyes sharp and unyielding. The path ahead seemed impossible, the soldiers' presence a silent declaration that Faria's borders were closed. I could feel Mathew's frustration beside me, the tension between us thick in the air. He didn't speak, but I knew what was on his mind.

I could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on me, too. These people—my people—had been through so much already. I couldn't let them be turned away here. I couldn't let them suffer again. But the soldiers weren't moving, their positions solid and unyielding.

Just then, a soft voice reached my ears—a whisper, so quiet I almost thought I imagined it. But when I turned, the old elven woman stood at the edge of the trees, hidden in the shadows, her presence like a whisper in the wind.

She was watching me intently, her ancient eyes gleaming with knowing. Without a word, she stepped forward, her hand rising to her lips as she muttered something in an ancient tongue. The words were unintelligible to me, but the moment they passed her lips, something shifted in the air.

I felt a sudden surge of power course through me—raw, untamed, and unfamiliar. The spell she had whispered had connected with me in ways I couldn't explain, as if it had unlocked something deep within me. My breath hitched as I suddenly knew. I knew what to do.

I raised my hand, and without thinking, I muttered the words that had appeared in my mind. The air around me seemed to vibrate with energy, swirling around my fingertips. I could feel the magic gathering, the world falling into a strange, focused stillness. It was as if the earth itself had paused in anticipation.

The soldiers—the ones who had once seemed so formidable, so impossible to bypass—began to slow. Their movements became sluggish, their eyes heavy. I felt the pull of the spell deepen, like a force tightening its grip on their consciousness.

I focused harder, my hand outstretched, and in the blink of an eye, the soldiers crumpled where they stood, one by one, falling into a deep, unshakable sleep.

I staggered back, a cold sweat breaking out on my skin. The magic had drained me more than I anticipated, leaving me light-headed and unsteady. But when I looked up, Mathew's expression was one of stunned disbelief. The soldiers, now completely unconscious, lay scattered at the border, unaware of the spell that had taken them down.

I turned to look at the elven woman, but she had already vanished into the shadows, as quietly as she had come. The only trace of her was the lingering feeling of her presence—and the power that still pulsed faintly in my veins.

"Adrian," Mathew whispered, his voice filled with emotion. "Did you... did you do that?"

I nodded, my hand still trembling at my side. "I don't know how," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. "But I knew what to do. It just... came to me."

Mathew's gaze softened, and he placed his hand gently on my shoulder. "That was... incredible," he said, his voice full of admiration, but his eyes dark with concern. "But we should move, quickly. In case this won't last long."

I nodded again, still trying to catch my breath as I glanced at the fallen soldiers. "Let's go," I said, my voice steadying. "We've got a home to get to."

With the path before us finally clear, we urged the group forward, slipping past the fallen soldiers and into Faria. The heavy weight of the spell still lingered in the back of my mind, but I pushed it aside. We had made it. We were safe—for now.

As we moved, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The magic, the power I had unknowingly tapped into, felt like both a blessing and a curse. I had been given the means to protect my people, but I had no idea what other dangers this power might bring. For now, though, there was only one thing on my mind—getting our people to safety.

The thick, tall forests surrounded us, their ancient trees reaching skyward as if to touch the heavens themselves. A sense of peace settled over me, unlike anything I had felt in so long. The heavy weight that had pressed on my shoulders for days, weeks even, began to lift as we moved deeper into the forest. The air here was different—cool, crisp, and filled with the scent of pine and earth. It felt familiar, like the embrace of something long forgotten but deeply remembered.

For the first time since we had left Faria, I felt at home.

I couldn't wait to return to the village, to see the familiar faces of the people who had once called me their king. Their safety, their hope—this was what had driven me to keep moving forward despite everything. We had made it this far. I just needed to see them again, to remind myself that everything wasn't lost.

There were no signs of battle here. No smoldering ruins, no soldiers lying in wait. Only the towering trees that stood like guardians, their branches thick and protective. The silence of the forest was comforting, wrapping around us like a protective cloak. It felt as though the land itself was watching over us, ensuring no harm would come to us here.

The path ahead felt natural, as though the forest was guiding us, each step more sure than the last. There was no fear, no hesitation—just the steady rhythm of hooves on the soft ground beneath us. I glanced at Mathew, his face set in concentration, but there was a softness in his eyes I hadn't seen for a long time. It was as if, for a moment, the world outside of this place didn't matter. Here, there was only the journey ahead.

And for once, I could breathe freely.

The sense of protection in was unlike anything I had experienced before. The trees seemed to lean in closer, their branches whispering in the wind, as though they, too, were part of the welcoming embrace. The silence was almost sacred, and I found myself caught between the peace it offered and the dread that still lingered in my chest.

The memories of Gera—of the destruction, of the soldiers and the lies—seemed far away now. The weight of it all hadn't vanished completely, but here, in the heart of Faria, it felt like I had left that world behind. There were no reminders of war, no shadow of the past. Only the soft rustle of leaves in the wind, the occasional bird call in the distance, and the steady beat of my heart as I rode forward, Mathew at my side.

I longed to see the village again, to feel the warmth of home, to see those familiar faces and know that they were safe. But there was also something else—a sense of responsibility weighing heavily on me, a duty I couldn't shake. I had not been gone for long, but so much had changed. I wasn't sure how they would react to my return, or how they would view the man I had become.

But in this moment, as the trees closed in around us, their shadows long and comforting, I pushed those thoughts aside. For now, I would focus on the present. I would enjoy the peace the forest had offered, knowing that it wouldn't last forever.

There was much to do once we reached the village. But for the first time in what felt like forever, I was ready for it.