Kena trailed behind Hope as they moved through the fields. The sun was sinking fast, and the light was fading.
Her boots felt heavy, dragging through the dirt and grass. The fight with the soldiers earlier had worn her out.
Her arms ached, her legs hurt, and her head wouldn't stop spinning with thoughts she couldn't catch.
Ahead of them, the golden city sat like a bright spot in the distance. It shimmered under the last bit of daylight, but it still looked so far away.
Above them, the sky was turning from purple to black. Stars started to peek out, twinkling in a way that felt strange and unfamiliar to her.
She stopped walking and put her hands on her knees. "We need to rest," she said, her voice rough. "I can't keep going like this."
Hope turned around. His mask caught the shadows, making him look like a dark shape against the dim light.
"Not here," he said simply. "It's not safe out in the open."
Kena let out a groan, long and loud. "Then where? I'm done. My legs are screaming at me."
He lifted his arm and pointed toward a hill not too far off. "There's a cave up there. We can hide inside it."
Kena gave a small nod. She didn't have the energy to argue with him. They started toward the hill, and every step made her legs burn more.
The climb wasn't steep, but it felt like climbing a mountain to her tired body. When they reached the top, she saw the cave—a big, dark opening in the rock.
It looked wide enough for them to walk right in. Hope went first, pulling his sword from its sheath.
"Stay close to me," he said over his shoulder.
"Like I'd wander off in the dark," Kena muttered under her breath. She stepped in after him.
The air inside the cave was cool and wet. Her boots made soft echoes as they hit the stone floor.
She took a few more steps, then froze. Her mouth fell open, and her eyes went wide. The walls of the cave were covered in crystals.
They sparkled in soft colors—blue, green, purple—lighting up the space like little stars stuck to the rock.
The glow was gentle but strong, pushing back the darkness.
"Wow," she said, reaching out to touch one. It felt cold and smooth under her fingers. "What are these things?"
"Magic crystals," Hope said, his voice calm. "They grow here naturally. Don't break any of them."
Kena pulled her hand back fast. "Why not? What happens if I do?"
"They hold power," he said. "Breaking them can cause things to happen—bad things."
Kena frowned at him but stepped away from the wall. She didn't want to mess with anything she didn't understand.
She found a spot on the floor and sat down, pressing her back against the cool stone.
The light from the crystals bounced off Hope's mask, making it shine faintly. She watched him for a moment.
"You know a lot about this place," she said, her voice quiet.
"I've been here a while," he replied.
He sat down across from her, resting his sword across his lap.
"How long is a while?" Kena asked, tilting her head.
"Long enough," he said. He kept his eyes on the floor, not looking at her.
Kena huffed, annoyed. "You're so annoying sometimes. Why won't you just tell me stuff?"
Hope's head lifted, and his eyes met hers through the mask. "It's safer this way," he said.
"For who?" she snapped, crossing her arms. "Me or you?"
"Both of us," he said. He leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes.
Kena glared at him, her lips pressed tight. She wanted to push him more, but her body was too tired to keep fighting.
She reached into her pocket and pulled out the photo of Justice Veldric. The crystals' light fell across it, making his face glow.
It almost looked like he was moving, like he was alive in her hands.
"I hope you're worth all this trouble," she whispered to the picture.
She set the photo down on the stone beside her. Her fingers brushed a crystal again, just out of curiosity.
This time, it made a sound—a low, deep hum that she could feel in her chest. Her vision went blurry all of a sudden.
The cave around her disappeared, and something else took its place. She saw a tall man with dark hair standing in a room made of gold.
It was Justice Veldric. His face was cold, and his eyes were sharp, like they could cut through anything.
He turned his head, and it felt like he was looking right at her. Kena gasped, loud and sharp.
The vision broke apart, and the cave came back. She jerked her hand away from the crystal, her heart pounding hard.
"What was that?" she said, her voice echoing off the walls.
Hope's eyes snapped open. "What happened?" he asked, sitting up straighter.
"I saw him," Kena said, pointing at the photo on the ground. "In my head. It was like a dream, but it felt so real."
Hope stood up and walked over to her. "The crystals show things," he said. "Sometimes the past, sometimes the present, sometimes even the future."
"The future?" Kena asked, her eyes wide. "Was that the future I saw?"
"Maybe," Hope said. "Or it could be right now. He's in the Golden City."
Kena swallowed hard. Her throat felt tight. "He looked mean. Like he already hated me."
Hope sat down next to her, close but not touching. "He's not an easy man," he said. "But you're strong enough to handle him."
Kena let out a short laugh. "Yeah, right. I'm just a girl who got stuck with a curse."
"You fought a wolf," Hope said. "And you took on those soldiers. You're not weak."
Kena looked at him, surprised by his words. His voice was softer than usual, and his eyes didn't waver.
She didn't know how to answer that. "Thanks," she mumbled, turning her head away to hide her face.
They sat there in silence for a while. The crystals kept glowing, filling the cave with their soft light.
Kena's eyes started to feel heavy, and she let her head rest against the wall.
The hum from the crystals was steady now, like a lullaby. It pulled her down into sleep before she could stop it.
In her dream, she saw Justice again. His cold face stared at her from that golden room.
But then Hope was there too. His mask was gone, but she couldn't make out his face—it was just a blur.
He reached out toward her, his hand open. She jolted awake, her heart racing again.
The cave was quiet, and Hope was still asleep across from her, his chest rising and falling slowly.
Kena reached out and touched the crystal one more time, hoping for something else.
But nothing happened—no hum, no vision. She sighed and let her hand fall.
Her eyes closed again, and the glow of the cave faded into darkness as she drifted back to sleep.
The next time she opened her eyes, the cave was the same. The crystals still sparkled, and Hope was still there, sitting like a statue.
She rubbed her face with her hands, trying to shake off the dream. It had felt so real, but now it was slipping away, like water through her fingers.
She looked at the photo of Justice again. His face didn't move this time, but she could still feel those sharp eyes on her.
"You awake?" Hope's voice cut through the quiet.
"Yeah," Kena said, her voice scratchy. "Just thinking."
"About what?" he asked.
"Everything," she said. "The fight. The city. Him." She nodded at the photo.
Hope stayed quiet for a short while. Then he got to his feet and stretched his arms wide.
"We need to leave soon," he said. "The more time we spend here, the riskier it becomes."
Kena let out a groan again, but deep down, she knew he was correct.
She forced herself to stand, her body feeling sore and stiff from sitting on the cold, hard floor.
The tiny crystals sparkled and glowed a bit brighter as she stood up, as if they were quietly saying goodbye to her.
She gently picked up the old photo and carefully tucked it back into her pocket.
"Are you ready?" Hope asked, his sharp sword already held tightly in his hand.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Kena replied softly.
She turned and took one final look at the beautiful, glowing cave, its light dancing on the walls.
Then, she followed Hope out into the cold, dark fields beyond.
Far ahead, the golden city stood waiting, shining faintly in the distance. Kena wasn't sure what she would find when she got there.
But for now, she just kept walking, taking one slow, tired step at a time.