Uncertain

The conversation between King Darion Vale and Lord Aleric had been a tense one, filled with the weight of loss and the pressure of what was to come. King Darion, looking worn but resolute, finally gave his order. "Give me five of your men from House Velaire. We depart for the capital tomorrow."

Lord Aleric nodded solemnly. "As you wish, Your Majesty."

Darion turned his gaze toward the distant gardens of the Red Palace. "Where is the General?" he asked. "I need to speak with him before we leave."

The servants informed him that General Kaelor Vryn was in the palace garden, sitting alone. On his way there, Darion also checked in with Medic Nerith Caen, who was quietly tending to her duties. To his surprise, Drenn Halvar, the King's Guard Commander, was also sitting with her, a rare moment of peace between the two.

Darion gave a soft smile, muttering to himself, "What a coincidence," before stepping outside. But when he arrived in the garden, Kaelor was nowhere to be seen. He turned to a nearby maid. "Where is the General?"

The maid looked up at him and replied quietly, "He just went into the city, Your Majesty. He left not long ago."

Darion stood still for a moment, his mind drifting. He waited for the General's return, but as the hours passed, the sun began to dip below the horizon. The General had been gone for far longer than expected.

Finally, as night fell, Kaelor returned, looking a bit disheveled. He was handed a message from one of the maids, informing him that the King was waiting for him in the hall.

Darion, his patience thinning, raised an eyebrow. "Where were you?" he asked sharply.

Kaelor shrugged, an almost careless look on his face. "I went to the city bar. The palace only serves rich wine, and it didn't suit my tastes. I needed to clear my head, lose myself in the crowd. I didn't want to overthink."

Darion gave him a long, intense look, but didn't press further. "Well, we leave tomorrow afternoon to avoid the morning cold. Lord Aleric is providing five of his men to accompany us on our journey."

Lord Aleric entered the hall just as Darion finished speaking, carrying a large platter of food and drink. "Our King survived this disaster! This calls for a celebration!" Aleric boomed, pouring drinks and offering a hearty meal.

The King's response was somber. "There's nothing to celebrate. We lost five thousand men."

Kaelor, ever the optimist, offered a thin smile. "Look on the bright side, boss!. We're alive. That's worth something," he said, though his words felt hollow.

The night passed with feasting and drinking, but Darion found little solace in the merriment. He couldn't shake the nagging feeling in his gut.

The night of celebration had passed in a blur, leaving only a lingering tension in the air. King Darion Vale awoke to the soft light of dawn creeping through his chambers. The familiar warmth of the royal bed was a comfort, but the unease from the previous night never fully left his mind. He quickly dressed, the weight of impending decisions hanging over him like a cloud.

His first priority was to check on his most trusted companion, the one who had been at his side through it all—the General, Kaelor Vryn. But when Darion entered the General's quarters, he found the room eerily quiet. The bed was empty, the sheets cold to the touch, a clear sign that Kaelor had been gone for some time.

Darion's heart skipped a beat. Kaelor's absence wasn't something to be taken lightly. Where was he? He had been fine the night before, but now something felt wrong. The King's instincts, honed from years of leadership, told him something was amiss. He couldn't ignore the nagging sense of worry building inside him.

He moved quickly, heading for the palace stables, his mind racing. The stable worker's confirmation came like a slap: "The General left with a horse, boss. He didn't say where."

The King's pulse quickened. Kaelor, the ever-steadfast warrior, had left without explanation. Where could he have gone? Darion turned back toward his chambers, a deep worry settling in his gut. This wasn't like the General. Something was off.

Meanwhile, Kaelor was far from the palace, riding alone towards the same place that had nearly claimed their lives. He had to know, had to understand. The place where they had found the temple—the place where they had discovered the mysterious monument, the baby, and the chilling events that followed.

Kaelor pushed his horse harder, his mind clouded with questions. Was it an illusion? Could it have all been nothing more than some twisted trick of the mind? When he arrived at the spot, his stomach dropped. There was nothing. The temple, the eerie presence—it was all gone. Vanished.

He wasn't lost. He had ridden to the exact location, marked by the grave of the warrior they had lost. But now, all that remained was the same forest, the same trees, and the same grave. Nothing else. The temple had disappeared, leaving only questions.

Panic began to rise in Kaelor's chest. The world around him felt unstable, shifting beneath his feet. He had to get back to the King. He had to tell him what he had seen. He turned his horse around, riding as fast as he could, his heart pounding in his chest.

By the time he arrived at the Red Palace, the evening sun had dipped low, casting long shadows over the grand hallways. He rushed through the corridors, urgency driving his every step. When he reached the King's chambers, he barely paused before throwing open the door.

Inside, Darion was already preparing for departure, his armor being fastened by a servant. The King looked up, meeting Kaelor's gaze with a mixture of curiosity and concern.

"Again, Kaelor," Darion said, his voice steady but laced with a hint of frustration. "Where were you?"

Kaelor stood in the doorway, breathless, the words tumbling out of him before he could gather his thoughts. "I need to tell you something, boss," he said, his voice hoarse with urgency. "I went back to the place where we found the temple. And there's nothing. No temple. It's gone. The only thing left is the grave."

Darion's brow furrowed, confusion clouding his features. "Are you sure? Or were you just lost?"

"No, boss," Kaelor replied, his voice firm. "I was at the right place. The grave is there. But the temple—it's gone."

The silence that followed was thick with disbelief. Both men stood frozen, the weight of Kaelor's words settling between them like a cold fog.

Then, as if by some unspoken signal, both their eyes shifted toward the baby, lying peacefully on the King's bed. A strange chill passed through the room, and for a brief moment, time seemed to slow.

Kaelor swallowed hard, his mind grasping at something beyond the realm of possibility. "Was it all just an illusion? Was that baby... just a leaf? Did we—did we adopt a leaf, boss?"

The King stared at him, momentarily stunned by Kaelor's theory. A bitter laugh almost escaped his lips, but he held it in. "No," Darion said, his voice quiet but resolute. "If it was an illusion, it would have faded by now. To create such an illusion would require a harmonic Orin master, and I've never seen one in my life."

Kaelor nodded slowly, still trying to make sense of it all. His mind raced, but there were no answers, only more questions.

At that moment, the door swung open and Lord Aleric entered, carrying a light air of joviality. "Your Majesty," he said, bowing slightly, "your ride is ready. It's time to depart."

Darion, though still troubled, gave a sharp nod. "Very well," he said, pushing his concerns aside for the moment. "Let's go."

The three of them—King Darion, General Kaelor, and Lord Aleric—headed down the stairs, preparing to leave the palace. The medic, Nerith Caen, had also decided to accompany them to the capital. With the baby in her arms, she was ready to see this through, no matter how strange the journey had become.

As they made their way to the carriage, Darion couldn't shake the feeling that the journey ahead would hold even more mysteries. But for now, they would leave. The road to the capital had already begun.