Whispers beneath the soil

As they finished their inspection, the village bathed in the soft glow of twilight. Eira stretched, exhaustion settling into her bones. "Let's go home," she said, turning to Kael. "Tomorrow's going to be another long day, and I need rest."

Kael nodded but didn't hide his displeasure when Draco casually fell into step beside them. His jaw tightened, his gaze flicking toward him with thinly veiled disapproval.

Draco, as usual, seemed entirely unaffected. "I assume you don't expect me to sleep in the streets," he said, tone laced with amusement.

Eira sighed. "We all live in one room, and we cook outside. It's not much, but—"

"I'm not picky." Draco smirked.

Kael clenched his fists. "You're not staying permanently."

Draco shrugged. "We'll see."

Eira and Kael's home was simple—a small, single-room hut with wooden walls and a thatched roof. It was one of the sturdier homes in the village, but it was still modest. Inside, there was only enough space for two sleeping areas, a makeshift table, and a few wooden shelves.

Kael shot Eira a look that clearly said This was meant for us. Not him.

Draco walked in without hesitation, surveying the small space with mild curiosity. "Cozy," he mused, though it was obvious he wasn't used to such humble living.

Eira ignored the tension brewing between the two and stepped outside to start a fire. The village cooked their meals outdoors, using communal fire pits. She began preparing something simple—boiled root vegetables and dried meat.

Kael sat down beside her, arms crossed. "You trust him too much."

Eira glanced at Draco, who stood nearby, watching the fire with an unreadable expression. "I don't trust him," she admitted. "But I'd rather keep him close"

Kael exhaled sharply, looking unconvinced. "He's dangerous."

"So am I."

Kael turned to her, his expression softening for a brief moment. "That's different."

Eira didn't argue. She knew Kael was protective of her, but she also knew Draco was an unknown variable. Still, she had a feeling that their fates were tangled now, whether they liked it or not.

As they sat by the fire Kael took time to take a good look at his sister,something felt off today about her. He had millions of questions but felt like he wouldn't get answers,at least not now. Their relationship hadn't reached that level of trust yet.

He still had bitter feelings towards his sister but she was still...his sister.

------

Morning arrived with a crisp, salty breeze rolling in from the ocean. The villagers gathered at the village square, curiosity and uncertainty on their faces. The events of the previous day had sent ripples through their tight-knit community.

Now, they stood before the young elf who had changed everything.

Eira took a deep breath. She wasn't a natural orator, but this moment mattered. Stepping forward, she let her voice ring clear over the crowd.

"For too long, we have struggled. Our land has withered, our homes have fallen, and our spirits have dimmed. But no longer. We are not waiting for salvation—we are building it with our own hands. This land is ours, and together, we will make it thrive."

Eira continued, her gaze sharp and unwavering.

"From this day forth, we are no longer the villagers of Eldermere. We are the people of Eldora."

A spark ignited in the villagers' eyes.

Eira looked over the crowd once more, then raised her fist. "We are the people of Eldora, and we will rise again!"

A cheer erupted, voices calling the name Eldora with newfound pride.

She turned to Kael. "From today, I need a record of every single person here—their strongest powers, their skills, their strengths. We will use what we have to rebuild our home. Those with earth magic will be critical for restoring our land, and I need them found immediately."

Kael nodded, already stepping away to organize the process.

After the speech, Eira, Elandor, and Draco made their way westward, where the village's farms once flourished.

What they found was bleak.

The soil was cracked and dry, utterly lifeless. Once, this land had produced abundant crops, but with the island's core failing, the earth had turned barren. The few crops that had survived were weak and withering.

Eira knelt and pressed her palm against the soil, frowning. "The change in the core will help over time, but this soil is dead. It won't recover on its own."

Elandor sighed. "We have seeds, but planting them here would be useless. Even water won't be enough."

Draco stood a few feet away, arms crossed. "Hmph. You elves have let this place rot. You should have known the land would suffer when the core weakened."

Eira shot him a look. "And you're an expert in farming?"

Draco smirked. "No. But I know power, and your land is starved of it."

She ignored his smug tone, closing her eyes to focus. Her magic was still recovering, but if she could just channel it...

Taking a deep breath, she let her magic seep into the earth. Dark tendrils of energy spread beneath her fingers, searching, feeling. The soil was not just dead—it was drained. As if something had pulled its life force away.

Her eyes snapped open. This wasn't natural.

Elandor noticed her expression. "What is it?"

Eira stood. "This land wasn't just dying from neglect. Something was feeding on it."

Elandor stiffened. "Are you saying—?"

Draco scoffed. "Obviously. Do you really think this is normal? There's magic at play here—and it's not yours."

Eira's fingers clenched. If the land was being drained, then simply fixing the soil wouldn't be enough.

They needed to find the source.

Elandor's face was grim. "Are you saying that something… took the land's life?"

Draco let out a short laugh, folding his arms. "Isn't it obvious? This wasn't just decay. Something fed on this place, and it's still lurking nearby."

Eira narrowed her eyes. "If that's true, then fixing the soil won't be enough. We need to figure out what's doing this—and stop it."

Elandor exhaled, rubbing his temple. "This island was once protected by an ancient enchantment. It kept the land fertile, the waters rich, and even the beasts at bay. But when the core weakened, that protection faded. We assumed the land simply withered… but if something took advantage of our weakness…"

Eira stood. "Then we need to find out what it is."

Draco snorted. "And what, exactly, do you plan to do when you find it? You're still weakened."