A father's silence

The sting of defeat lingered long after Damien had dismissed her. Elara's body ached, her pride bruised, and her mind buzzing with unanswered questions. She needed to find her father, Garrick.

But finding him wouldn't be easy. He was a blacksmith, moving from town to town, never staying in one place for long. She hadn't seen him in months, not since she'd decided to join the Fortress and forge her own path.

. The day she left home to join the knights, his face had been unreadable. He hadn't tried to stop her, hadn't told her she was making a mistake—he had just let her go. And she hadn't looked back.

After a quick, perfunctory meal in the mess hall, Elara sought out Lilian. She found her tending to the horses in the stables, her brow furrowed in concentration.

"Hey, Lil," Elara said, trying to sound casual. "Got a minute?"

Lilian looked up, her expression softening when she saw Elara. "Sure, Eli. What's up?"

Elara hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. She couldn't tell Lilian the truth about her past, but she needed her help. "I... I need to find someone," she said, choosing her words carefully. "Someone from my past."

Lilian's eyes narrowed slightly, sensing the weight behind Elara's words. "Who?"

"My father," Elara replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I haven't seen him in months, and I don't know where he is."

Lilian's expression softened with sympathy. "Oh, Eli, I'm sorry. Of course, I'll help you. What do you need me to do?"

"I need you to ask around," Elara said. "See if anyone's heard of a blacksmith named Garrick. He travels a lot, so he might have passed through here recently."

Lilian nodded, her determination evident. "I'll ask everyone I can. But, Eli... why now? Why are you suddenly looking for him after all this time?"

Elara bit her lip, struggling to find an answer that wouldn't expose her secret. "It's... complicated," she said finally. "There are things I need to know, things only he can tell me."

Lilian studied her for a moment, her gaze searching. "Alright," she said, "I won't pry. But promise me you'll be careful."

Elara forced a smile. "Always."

With Lilian's promise of help, Elara felt a flicker of hope. But she knew she couldn't rely solely on Lilian's efforts. She needed to do something more proactive.

That evening, after lights out, Elara slipped out of her cot and made her way towards the training grounds. She knew it was a risk, but she needed to clear her head, to hone her skills, to prepare herself for whatever lay ahead.

As she stepped onto the training grounds, she saw a figure emerge from the shadows.

It was Keshav.

He stood silently, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

"Can't sleep?" Elara asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

Keshav didn't respond, his gaze fixed on her with unnerving intensity. "You're looking for someone," he said finally, his voice low and even. "Who?"

Elara's heart skipped a beat. She should have known she couldn't keep anything from him.

"It's not important," she said, trying to deflect.

Keshav took a step closer, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Everything you do is important, Elijah. Especially now."

Elara bit her lip, struggling to find an answer that wouldn't expose her secret. "It's just my father," she said finally. "I haven't seen him in months, and I wanted to find him."

Keshav studied her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, to Elara's surprise, he nodded slowly. "I understand," he said. "Family is important."

Elara felt a flicker of relief, but it was quickly replaced by unease. Keshav's understanding felt too easy, too convenient.

"If you need help finding him," Keshav continued, "I can ask around. I have contacts in many of the nearby towns."

Elara's mind raced. Should she trust him? Could she afford not to?

"Thank you, Keshav," she said finally. "I appreciate that."

"Just be careful, Elijah," Keshav said, his gaze hardening slightly. "Some paths are best left untrodden."

With that, he turned and disappeared back into the shadows, leaving Elara alone with her thoughts.

She didn't trust Keshav. But she knew she couldn't dismiss his offer. She needed all the help she could get.

And as she began her solitary training, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being drawn deeper and deeper into a web of deceit and danger.