The Guild Hall. Morning.
Lira sat on the bench in the training yard, her bow across her knees, her eyes on the targets. She had been here since dawn, shooting, missing, shooting again. Her hands were steady. Her aim was true. But her mind was elsewhere.
The broken bow had been replaced—a spare from the guild's armory, good enough, not as good as her original. But the bow wasn't the source of her power. The quiver was. The mana stones still hummed at her hip, still full of energy, still ready to manifest arrows at her command. She had tested a dozen bows before finding one that felt right. The weight was different. The balance was off. But the arrows were still magic. They still split. They still found their marks.
The yard was empty. The recruits were elsewhere—training with Ren, running drills, learning to survive. She had asked to be alone. No one had argued.
She drew. An arrow appeared—solid, real, gleaming in the morning light. She released. The arrow split the target dead center.
She drew again. Another arrow appeared. Released. Another perfect shot.
She didn't feel satisfied.
---
Ken was in the infirmary.
Lira had visited him before dawn. His shoulder was bandaged, his head was wrapped, his eyes were closed. The healers said he would live. They said he was lucky. The lightning had missed his heart by inches.
Ken hadn't woken. He had been unconscious since the ambush, since Tina's blast had sent him flying into the tree. The healers were not worried. They said he needed rest. They said his body was healing.
Lira sat beside him for an hour. She didn't speak. She didn't hold his hand. She just sat there, watching his chest rise and fall.
Then she went to the yard.
---
Grog found her at midday.
He stood at the edge of the yard, his arms crossed, his face still. He had been in the basement, questioning the strangers again. He had been in the tower, talking to Mirena. He had been in the palace, meeting with Edward.
He looked tired.
"The boy woke up," he said. "Davin."
Lira didn't turn. "Is he talking?"
"Some. He's scared. He's young."
Lira drew. Arrow appeared. Released. Another perfect shot. "They all are."
Grog moved to stand beside her. "You don't trust them."
"I don't trust anyone."
"You trust me."
Lira lowered her bow. Looked at him. "You're different."
Grog was quiet for a moment. "They're not our enemies."
"They killed our people."
"They thought they were defending themselves."
Lira's jaw tightened. "Does that make it right?"
Grog shook his head. "No. But it makes it complicated."
---
Lira set down her bow. Walked to the bench. Sat.
Grog sat beside her.
"The artifact," he said. "It needs a few more days. Then they can leave."
"And if they don't want to leave?"
"Then we make them."
Lira looked at him. "You think they'll help us find Aldric."
Grog met her eyes. "I think they have information we need. About Vorlag. About the hunters. About how to survive."
Lira was quiet for a moment. "You're still looking for him."
"Always."
She shook her head. "He's gone, Grog. He stepped through the portal. He closed it behind him. He sacrificed himself to save us."
Grog's jaw tightened. "He's alive."
"You don't know that."
"I know." His voice was low, steady. "I'd feel it if he wasn't."
Lira stared at him. "That's not a reason."
"It's the only one I have."
---
They sat in silence.
The sun climbed higher. The yard grew warmer. Recruits began to filter in—Ren at the front, his voice sharp, his commands quick. Olive followed, her bow in her hand, her face focused. Others trailed behind.
Lira watched them. "They're getting better."
Grog nodded. "They are."
"They're still not ready."
"Nobody's ever ready."
Lira stood. Picked up her bow. An arrow appeared in her hand, summoned from the quiver. "I need to train."
Grog stood too. "I need to talk to Edward."
They walked to the gate together.
---
At the gate, Lira paused.
"Grog."
He looked at her.
"If Aldric is alive—if you find him—what then?"
Grog was quiet for a moment. "Then we bring him home."
Lira nodded slowly. "And if he's not?"
Grog met her eyes. "He is."
He walked out.
Lira watched him go.
Then she turned and walked back to the yard. Drew another arrow from the magic quiver. Aimed. Released.
The arrow split the target dead center.
There was work to do.