Behind the demonic kingdom, in the middle of a forest that seemed to have grown without order or care, a cross rose stuck in the earth.
It was not particularly large, nor was it adorned with symbols or inscriptions, but its mere presence imposed a weight difficult to ignore.
The roots of the nearby trees surrounded it as if trying to claim it, while the undergrowth grew uncontrollably around it, almost completely hiding it from anyone who did not know exactly where to look.
Even so, the morning sun managed to filter through the branches, illuminating it with a soft light that contrasted with the silent sadness that seemed to envelop that place. It was a site forgotten by the world, but not for the one who stood in front of it.
Agnitus was on his knees in front of the cross, with his head slightly tilted and his eyes closed.
His hands rested on his legs, tense, as if even at that moment it was hard for him to stay calm.
He was not praying out loud, he was not pronouncing words that the wind could carry away. He did it in silence, as if that moment was too personal to share with anything more than his own thoughts.
However, that silence was not calm or comforting. It was a heavy silence, dense, one that felt like a burden on the chest, as if every second that passed in that place made time stretch, forcing him to remain there longer than his heart could bear.
There was pain in that silence.
A pain that did not disappear with time.
A pain that simply learned to stay.
Finally, his lips moved, breaking that stillness that seemed to have taken over the place.
—I'm sorry… brother…
His voice came out low, barely audible, but loaded with something that did not need volume to feel real.
—I still won't be able to go… not yet… so wait for me a little longer… just a little longer…
There was no response, as was to be expected. The wind blew gently between the trees, moving the leaves and making the wood of the cross creak, as if the forest itself was responding instead of the one he really wanted to hear.
Agnitus remained in that position for a few more seconds, as if it was hard for him to stand up, as if part of him wanted to stay there a little longer, even though he knew he couldn't.
Finally, he opened his eyes slowly, letting out a sigh that seemed to have been held for a long time.
Then he stood up with a firm movement, although his expression did not change. Without looking back, he turned around, turning his back on the cross that remained motionless in the middle of the forest, like a memory that would not disappear no matter how much he advanced.
The path back to the castle was familiar to him, but that day it felt different.
Perhaps it was because of what he had left behind, or perhaps because something in the air had changed without him being able to explain it.
As he advanced between the trees, the sunlight grew stronger, marking the beginning of a new day that did not seem to have any intention of stopping for anyone.
It was then that he saw it.
In the distance, near the entrance to the demonic kingdom, a group of figures began to become visible on the path that connected the forest with the main entrance.
At first they were only silhouettes, but little by little their shapes became clearer, more defined. There were six people.
Five women.
And one man.
Agnitus did not need much time to recognize them.
It was Kael and the others.
His step stopped for an instant, observing them from the distance. Something in his expression changed, even if only slightly. It was not surprise, nor was it confusion. It was… relief.
A calm, contained relief, as if a part of him had been waiting for that moment without realizing it.
Without wasting any more time, he began to walk in their direction, shortening the distance between them. However, when he got close enough, he realized something else.
He was not the only one who had noticed their arrival.
Aurum, Gorgos and Dormius were already at the entrance of the kingdom, waiting, as if they had known beforehand that they would return that day.
That made Agnitus frown slightly for an instant, realizing that he had been the only one who was not aware of their arrival.
When the group was finally close enough, the expressions became clear. Kael was smiling, as were Seraphyne, Magnus and Viridia. There were no signs of tension, nor of serious injuries, nor of evident worry.
It had gone well.
The mission had been a success.
Agnitus knew it in that same instant.
—And how did it go in the elven kingdom, Seraphyne?
Aurum's voice broke the moment with his relaxed tone, as if it were just any conversation.
However, his attention did not take long to shift, fixing on the two figures accompanying the group, observing them with a curiosity that quickly turned into something more.
He slowly approached Viridia, leaning slightly toward her to whisper in her ear with a smile that promised nothing good.
—Hey… Viridia… you hadn't told me you had two relatives… and such beautiful ones too… you should have warned me, so I would have brought flowers.
The blow was immediate.
Viridia's elbow hit Aurum hard in the stomach, knocking the air out of him and forcing him to bend forward while letting out a choked sound.
—You are too stupid, Aurum —she responded without hesitation—. And even if that were the case, I wouldn't introduce them to you either. They are the queen of the elves… and the one next to her is the captain of the elven knights.
Aurum, still recovering from the blow, raised his head slightly, as if that had not been enough to stop him.
—Ah… no wonder… —he murmured, before smiling again—. Then I should go visit that kingdom someday… maybe I'll have a little fun with the women…
He did not finish the sentence.
Viridia's kick was even stronger than the previous blow.
The impact sent him several meters backward, sending him directly into the trees, disappearing among them with a dry sound that made it clear it had not been exactly gentle.
Kael watched the scene completely confused, blinking a couple of times without fully understanding exactly what had just happened.
But before he could process it completely, a voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
—Kael… kaeel… are you listening to me?
The whisper arrived right next to his ear, accompanied by a playful tone that made him startle slightly.
—Ah!… sorry, Elirya… I was thinking about other things… can you repeat it?
She looked at him with a smile that mixed amusement and slight annoyance, puffing out her cheeks a little.
—I was asking you where we are going to stay —she replied—. Sometimes you should stop being in the clouds and pay attention.
Kael scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed, looking away for a moment before responding.
—Ehh… well… you can stay in the castle… there are many rooms available, so it won't be a problem…
He made a small pause, as if something else crossed his mind.
— (Where is Serenna…? I really need her help right now…)
Without thinking about it any further, the group began to advance toward the interior of the kingdom, leaving the entrance behind while the sun finished rising in the sky.
The atmosphere was different, calmer, but no less important.
A new day had begun.
And with it… everything that was still to come.