The Bond Forged in Flame (94)

Aeron tilted his head, his curiosity morphing into concern. " What exactly do you mean by 'a slight problem? "

Starfania glanced away, gathering her thoughts.

" I anticipate that accessing the location without attracting attention will pose a challenge, " she said cryptically. Without another word, she turned on her heel and began walking away, Atlas trailing behind Starfania, his claw softly clicking against the dirt. Aeron and Violet hurried to follow, exchanging puzzled glances. As they walked, Starfania came to a halt, causing Atlas to stop as well. Turning to face the siblings, she met Atlas's gaze as he sat down obediently. She drew in a deep breath and said, " The major problem is that it's located within the palace grounds–in a forgotten garden my family once cherished. "

The weight of her words hung in the air as Aeron and Violet stared at Starfania, their expression unease.

"What do you mean by 'forgotten'? How could a garden just be forgotten?" Aeron asked, struggling to piece together the implications. Starfania looked at him, her eyes glinting with a mix of nostalgia and sadness. "It's not just forgotten, Aeron. It's been hidden away, filled with memories of happier times."

Violet stepped closer, frowning. "But if it's hidden, how do we even get to it? The palace grounds are heavily guarded."

Starfania shrugged slightly, her shoulders tense with the weight of their predicament. "That's the challenge. There are pathways that lead through the gardens, but they're seldom used and not well marked. It won't be easy."

A heavy silence fell among them as Aeron absorbed her words.

"What if we got caught? What would happen then?" he asked, anxiety creeping into his voice. Starfania paused, contemplating.

"I don't know," she admitted. "But we have to try. The garden is important to me, and it could hold answers we desperately need."

Atlas shifted, sensing the unease among the group. Looking up at Starfania, he let out a low rumble that echoed their shared tension.

"We will find a way," Violet said, her resolve strengthening. "Together, we can figure this out."

Starfania met her gaze, a flicker of hope softening her features. "If we work as a team, maybe we can pull it off. But we have to be smart about it."

With a deep breath, she began to map out the best approach, her mind racing with strategies. The siblings leaned in, ready to listen, as the forgotten garden felt closer, yet more elusive, than ever.