The Old Tales

My mind was overflowing with questions. I couldn't believe what I had just witnessed. How could Killan have entered the doorway of Mors? I had clearly seen the Fen close behind me as it transported me here. There's no way he could have followed me through!

And who was the woman in the cloak?

But seeking answers to my questions wasn't the priority right now. Everything would unfold in due time. I needed to be patient, even though it was the most challenging thing to do in the current situation. I believed that the truth would reveal itself when the time was right. I had to wait.

I didn't waste any time once I landed a few meters behind Kenru. The look on his face when he saw me was a mixture of surprise and relief. "Kenru! There are two more of them! It's four against the two of us!"

His narrow eyes widened. He hadn't anticipated this turn of events. Tigrani was on her knees, clearly injured and exhausted. Kenru seemed taken aback by the sight of her.

Kenru didn't speak. He quickly approached me and grabbed my right arm. He pulled me along as we ran toward the dense forest on the left side of Senta. I had to move swiftly to keep up with his pace.

"I did not expect you to be this fast," he commented, holding my hand firmly.

Thanks to the gauntlet, I was swift enough to match his speed. I chose not to respond. The secret of the gauntlet's speed was best kept within the company of a select few elves.

We passed several trees, and I noticed the environment growing darker as we ventured deeper into the thicket. The layers of foliage above were preventing any sunlight from reaching the forest floor.

We spent several minutes running, zigzagging through the forest before Kenru finally released my hand. We came to a mossy area where fallen trees created a verdant mound. The fresh scent of moss and evergreens filled my nose, enchanting my senses. The place was well-hidden.

"We can't call for recall! They will surely pinpoint our location when we attempt to recall. That means we can't return to the healing base yet."

"Then we should find a place to hide," I whispered, aware that we were outnumbered.

"Follow me," he instructed, crouching down and parting the thick carpet of moss. As the moss strands fell away, they revealed a hidden tunnel beneath the mound of trees. He entered first.

I followed suit, parting the thick mass of long moss to slip into the concealed passageway. We traveled a few meters before emerging into a bricked chamber that felt detached from the world of Mors. Two large boulders formed the chamber's ceiling, draped in moss and leaves that served as a natural roof. The small gaps between the tree branches above allowed slivers of sunlight to filter through.

Kenru leaned against a tree trunk with a grunt, his eyes closing tightly as if he was enduring great pain. I hesitated, uncertain if I should approach the gruff man. He seemed lost in his thoughts, appearing weary and worn from his battle with Tigrani.

The man grunted again, this time more deeply and forcefully. He pressed his back harder against the tree trunk, his body tense with evident discomfort.

"Are you hurt?" I asked gently, my concern overriding my hesitations.

He didn't answer, his face contorting in pain. Strands of his hair fell forward, concealing his elven features. He was perspiring, a clear indication of the agony he was experiencing.

"We need to return to the base. You're seriously injured."

"I can bear the pain. W—we can't recall just yet. We can't take that risk." He grunted again, clenching his teeth as if to endure a particularly intense wave of pain.

"Are you sure?"

"I'd die faster from your annoying pestering." He retorted gruffly, averting his gaze.

My lips pursed at his response. He was on the brink of death, yet he still had the energy to be grumpy. He was a unique one, that's for sure!

Kneeling before him, I watched how he battled the pain, his eyes clenched shut.

"Just sit beside me."

My eyes widened. What did he mean by that?

He met my gaze, his eyes shining with a glint of mischief. "Don't get the wrong idea. It's not going to be some romantic scene you're imagining. I want you to sit beside me, listen to the crickets, and press on my wrist if I pass out."

I felt my cheeks flush at his words. Apparently, he could read my thoughts and was quick to address the scenes that had crossed my mind. I wasn't sure how red my face had turned, but I was pretty sure he noticed. Feeling slightly embarrassed, I moved closer to him and sat down to his left.

"If the crickets start singing the winter solstice, it means we're both safe. If I pass out, Idrish, you know the drill. Press my wrist, for me."

"Okay."

"I'm sorry for the wrong forecast. They weren't noobs. Most of them are expert warriors and killers of Springgan. The kingdoms knew I was spying, so they made me believe they're sending noobs into this arena. I always thought I was the best spy of Springgan." He winces in pain. "Even though I'm good, I'm still outmatched."

I remained silent, letting his words mix with the thoughts swirling around in my head, especially the questions about why Killan was here.

Kenru's voice persisted. Perhaps it was influenced by the hallucinations brought about by his exhausted and pained state. "You know what, you seem like a very skilled elf. I wonder if you're just pretending to be a commoner, a lowly ranked elven, but the truth is, your ability speaks differently."

His words caught my attention. There seemed to be a deeper meaning to what he was saying. I decided to probe further. "What do you mean? Or what do you think I am?"

He leaned against me, our bodies briefly touching, and his masculine scent enveloped me. He sighed deeply before continuing, "I am thinking you're an heir to one of the gauntlets. You know, old tales or buried tales of the four queens of Springgan. Those tales might reveal who you are."

"Old tales?"

He pressed even closer, his presence oddly comforting. "I might be the king's bastard, but I know the stories of the royals. There were four queens of Springgan who once ruled the ten regions. Winter, Vernal, Summer, and Autumn were equally powerful sisters, each with an ability according to the season's will."

I was captivated by his story. A shiver ran down my spine. I had heard many stories from my father, but this one was new to me. Perhaps it truly was an old and hidden tale. But I was convinced that it was connected to the invisible gauntlet on my hand.

"What happened to the queens?"

"There was a secret organization, a conspiracy by councils from various regions, to eliminate the four of them. No story can confirm if they survived the War of Four—the war against the ruling queens. That was centuries ago. All records and any evidence of their existence were either destroyed or concealed; only a few fragments remain."

"Y—you saw the gauntlet in my hands?" I asked for confirmation. I didn't fully trust him yet, but since he was discussing my identity and the potential history of the gauntlet, it was safe to assume he knew that I possessed one of the four pairs.

"I did." He grunted again, then cleared his throat. "No elf, high rank or low, can harness the immense power of the gauntlet without the blood of the queens."

I was taken aback. My breath caught. I needed to ask him one more crucial question. "Are you suggesting I'm not the blood of my mother and father?"

"You're not a commoner. That's for sure." He groaned, leaning against my shoulder. He weakly continued, "I feel so weak, Idrish. Take me to the base when the crickets start singing the song of the winter solstice."

I closed my eyes, recalling the scenes of when I first saw the queen of House Calore. The signs were all there, pointing to the fact that the gauntlet was intentionally given to me. The queen's last words, Kenru's tale of the old stories—everything was fitting together.

I felt overwhelmed, not knowing which thought to prioritize. My mind was on the brink of explosion. I had entered this arena with a single goal: to survive, return to the Seventh, claim my victory, and secure my freedom. All I wanted was to reunite with Cali and Poras!

B—but why did it seem that the longer I stayed in Mors, the more signs emerged that my destiny was leading me in a different direction? A direction I hadn't dreamt of, one that would take me away from my siblings.

What had I gotten myself into?