Now that the others were gone, Allein sat across from the Foxkin Chief, her crimson eyes calm but focused.
"There are a few things I need to ask of you," she said plainly.
The Chief was no fool. He'd already sensed that the Dragonkin siblings hadn't come to this village by chance. His daughter had told him of the strange Human boy, Peter, now calling himself Fayde, and the unusual magic she'd witnessed when she first encountered him in the forest. She'd spoken of his Void power, his strange mannerisms, and her growing suspicion that he wasn't of this world.
She had asked her father if there was any lore, any ancient magic that might return a foreign soul to his home. But there was nothing. Even with all his knowledge as a former Khan, even with the oldest tales passed through generations, he knew of no such magic. The stories were ancient, too vague, too muddled with time to offer anything useful.
He let out a quiet chuckle and stroked his beard. "What would you ask of me, Princess?"
Allein didn't appreciate the lightness in his tone, but she let it slide. "Fayde is of great importance to me. He must be convinced to travel to the old Imperial Capital on the Plains of Sorrow. His destiny lies there, and I need your help to see it done."
The Chief's expression darkened slightly, not from suspicion, but from the weight of her words. "And why is this Human so important?"
"I'll say only this," Allein replied. "Fayde has the power to unite our people. Everything I do is for that purpose, just as my father did before me. Fayde will bring truth to a world built on lies… and he will shatter it."
The Chief's brows rose slightly. She hadn't named him, but he knew exactly which father she meant. How she had survived, how she had stayed hidden for so long, it was a mystery. And yet, there was truth in her grief. He could see it in the way her voice softened, in the way her eyes shifted ever so slightly toward the firelight.
"I suppose that's all you're willing to say?"
"I'm sorry. Please trust me." Her gaze dropped, and for a moment, the regal poise slipped. "These past few weeks have not been easy. My last memory of my father was him saying goodbye. Then I awoke to a world I no longer understood. I don't expect you to understand my pain. I only ask that you believe my purpose is pure."
He studied her carefully. She hid it well, but the grief and loneliness ran deep. She had borne more than most, and though he couldn't fully understand her burden, he respected it.
"You have my support," the Chief said at last. "But I have my own concern… my daughter. She may not fully realize it herself, but I believe she's become quite attached to this Fayde."
Allein paused at that, her hand resting under her chin in quiet thought.
The Chief continued, "You should know the Beastkin clans on the Plains of Sorrow will never allow a Human to enter the old capital. Not unless he enters as a Khan. By tradition, only those who compete—and win—during the Grand Council may do so."
Allein's eyes narrowed slightly. "Then what do you suggest?"
"He'll need to become Khan of Khans," the Chief replied. "And for that… he'll need my daughter."
The words tasted bitter to him. He never wanted to involve Reia in these ancient traditions. He had hoped she could live freely, without being tied to the weight of tribal politics. But with the reemergence of the Dragonkin, the world was already beginning to shift. Pretending otherwise would be cowardice.
"Explain," Allein said coolly, though her displeasure was plain.
"Even though the Beastkin are honorbound to support you by the old pact, it's been generations since the pact was made. Most believe the Dragonkin are gone. Even if you reveal yourselves now, two alone won't be enough to unify the clans. Many Khans will see you as pawns to be used for their own gain. And with just you and your brother, you won't be able to compete in the Grand Council games."
He let the silence hang for a moment, then added, "You'll need the strength of an entire tribe behind you. That means Reia must challenge the current Khan, my brother. But as you already know, by tradition, only men can become Khan."
Allein's lips tightened. She knew exactly where this was going.
"You're saying… Reia and Fayde will have to become engaged."
The Chief nodded solemnly. "That's right. Once she's made Khan, they'll need to be bonded. It won't be just tradition, it will be expectation. But you know as well as I do, Khans are expected to take multiple wives."
"Tch…" Allein looked away, her jaw clenched. "I know. I just hate being second."
The Chief laughed, full and deep. "You're not the first to say it."
"Fine," she said after a moment, composing herself. "I suppose there's no other way. Are you certain they can be brought together?"
The Chief looked into the fire and smiled faintly. "I think she'll come around."
_______________________________________
It took Fayde a moment to open his eyes and remember where he was. A rough shake had jolted him awake, and when his senses returned, he found Reia crouched beside him.
She leaned back once she saw he was alert. "The scouts returned earlier than expected. My father wants to meet."
"Right…" he muttered, sitting up. "Morning."
"Did you sleep well?" she asked as she stood.
"My back doesn't agree with the ground, but the furs helped." He rubbed his eyes and gave a small sigh. "At least no dream invasions last night."
Reia smirked faintly. "Come to the fire when you're ready. There's breakfast. My father's waiting."
She left him to dress. He quickly shook off the sleep, not bothering with armor, and made his way toward the central fire pit where a bowl of steaming soup had already been set aside.
Foxkin villagers were already up and moving, tending to the day's first chores. Around the fire sat Reia, her father, Allein, and Nes. Fayde took his place without a word and started eating. The soup was bone-based, filled with root vegetables and strips of meat, simple, hearty, and hot. He wasn't hungry, but he forced it down anyway.
The Chief waited until they'd finished before he spoke.
"Our scouts have tracked the main body of the monster army," he began. "They're moving through the forest, headed toward Enrain. Based on their current course, they'll pass east of us, but some of their raiding parties have split off. One group may be circling near our territory."
Fayde set down his bowl. "How many in the main force?"
"Somewhere between a thousand and two thousand," the Chief replied. "Mostly Kobolds, led by Lizardmen. Too many for us to face directly."
"And the breakaway groups?"
"Two detachments. A hundred total, maybe slightly more. Scouts and raiders, most likely. They're the more immediate threat."
Fayde looked at Reia, then back to the Chief. "We'll need to hit them first. If they stumble onto the village, it won't matter where the main army is going."
The Chief nodded. "Agreed."
Allein spoke up, still sipping her tea. "My brother and I will assist."
Nes just grunted, offering no elaboration.
Reia's father smiled. "Then we'll strike. But we'll need to do it right. We can't afford a head on fight. Our warriors are skilled but few. We'll need terrain, surprise, and magic on our side."
Fayde looked up. "What if we draw the raiders into a trap?"
The Chief raised a brow. "What kind of trap?"
"Use bait," Fayde said. "Something to lure the monsters out into the open, just like last night. Then the warriors can strike from above. Hit hard, hit fast, and disappear before the enemy can respond."
"The trees give us an advantage," Reia added, catching on. "Our warriors move well through the canopy, and our spells are difficult to track from above. We can surround them before they realize what's happening."
"It could work," the Chief said. "But who's the bait?"
There was a pause.
Fayde raised his hand. "That'll be me."
Reia's expression darkened. "Absolutely not."
"It has to be me," he said, calmly but firmly. "I'm the only one here who can't climb trees, leap through the forest, or throw magic from above. And I've got the Void Flames to defend myself if needed."
Reia wasn't convinced. "That doesn't mean you should risk your life alone."
"You won't be alone," Allein said, standing. "My brother and I will go with him. We'll cover the approach and make sure he doesn't die doing something heroic and stupid."
Fayde gave her a sideways glance. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."
"I'm serious," she replied, crossing her arms. "And don't bother arguing. You'll need us."
Nes finally spoke, voice low. "We'll keep the monsters busy until your ambush is ready. Just give the signal."
Reia looked from Allein to Fayde, frustration in her eyes, but she relented with a small nod.
The Chief leaned forward. "Then it's decided. We split into two units. Fayde, Allein, and Nes will draw out the enemy. The rest of us will wait along the eastern ridge near the ravine trail. Once the enemy's committed to the chase, we strike from above."
"We'll need a signal," Reia added.
Fayde nodded. "Once we've got their attention, I'll send up a Void Flame flare."
"Then we move," the Chief said, his voice like steel. "Tonight."
__________________________________________________
"Reia, wait. I want to speak with you alone for a moment," her father said, stopping her just as she was about to follow the others out of the hut.
She turned to face him, surprised by the serious look on his face. "Yes, Father?"
He stepped closer, his voice lower now. "Please be careful. You are my eldest daughter… my heir. If anything were to happen to you—"
She blinked, caught off guard by the worry in his voice. "You don't need to worry. These monsters won't pose much of a threat. Our warriors can handle them."
He shook his head slowly and placed a hand on her shoulder. "That's not what concerns me. Lately, you seem distracted. And I'm worried that in the heat of battle, that distraction could cost you."
"I'm fine," Reia replied, frowning. "I don't know what you mean."
Her father studied her for a moment, then asked plainly, "What does Fayde mean to you?"
Reia froze.
"Fayde is…" She faltered. What was he to her? A companion? A friend? He teased her constantly, sometimes in ways that made her heart skip, but she never knew when he was being serious. They weren't even the same species. She was Beastkin, and he was Human.
"Is this really something we need to talk about right now?" she asked, trying to deflect.
"You know," her father continued, a wistful smile playing on his lips, "ever since you were little, I've never seen you spend so much time with any male, besides me."
"Father, I don't have time for this—" she began, turning to leave.
He gently caught her arm, his voice quieter now. "Just be honest with yourself. I don't want to see you get hurt because you're afraid to face your own feelings."
She looked down, uncertain how to respond.
"I'm talking about Fayde," he said. "I've seen the way you look at him. And the way he looks at you."
Reia felt heat rise to her face. "Fayde and I are companions, that's all. I… I don't even know if he sees me that way. I told you, we aren't the same kind…"
Her father smiled sadly. "That's true. But the divide between Humans and Beastkin isn't as wide as it once was. And Fayde isn't like the others. He came from another world. He doesn't carry the same hatred that so many others do. That makes him… different."
His words rang uncomfortably true. Deep down, she had noticed that about Fayde, his kindness, his openness. He treated her like an equal. Like a person.
"I'm not sure what I feel," she admitted. "It's… complicated."
"I know," her father said, nodding. "But I also know this, when I see the two of you, it reminds me of how I once looked at your mother. When we were young… before she was taken from us."
That made her chest tighten. She pulled away gently. "I have to go."
Outside, Fayde was waiting near the path, hands in his pockets, looking relaxed.
"Everything okay?" he asked, tilting his head.
Reia paused. Her father's words still echoed in her mind. For a moment, she wasn't sure how to respond.
"…Yes," she said finally, voice quieter than usual. "Let's go."