Page 20 of Starlit Bargains

“Because you should know that not all in Mistwood would see you driven out. Some of us have waited generations for the dreams to clarify, for the star to wake.” She finished wrapping his purchase and handed it over. “But the Keepers are powerful, and their fear runs deep. If you wish to continue your... explorations... you would be wise to do so with more discretion.”

“Is that your way of telling me to be less reckless?” Kai asked, a smile tugging at his lips despite the gravity of the conversation.

“It's my way of suggesting that if you truly wish to understand what's happening between you and the fallen one, you might want to avoid alienating the entire village before you have the chance to discover the truth.” Her expression was kind but unmistakably serious. “Some journeys require patience as well as courage.”

As Kai walked away from the stall, her words echoed in his mind. Patience had never been his strong suit—he preferred direct action, immediate answers, consequences be damned. But something about this situation, about Eliar, made him pause.

“She's right, you know,” Briar said softly from his shoulder. “If you're too reckless, you might lose the chance to get closeto Eliar before discovering what's really happening between you two.”

Kai glanced at the small sprite, surprised by her uncharacteristically thoughtful tone. “Since when are you the voice of caution?”

“Since shadow monsters started trying to eat us,” she replied tartly. “I'm all for adventure, but I draw the line at being consumed by interdimensional void creatures.”

Kai laughed, some of the tension easing from his shoulders. “Fair enough. So what do you suggest? Head back to Thornhaven like a good little messenger?”

“For now,” Briar nodded. “Regroup. Think. Maybe research fallen stars and cosmic guardians in that massive library Silas is so proud of.”

It was a sensible suggestion, which was precisely why part of Kai rebelled against it. But another part—the part that had felt the electric connection with Eliar, that had glimpsed something ancient and powerful stirring beneath the surface—recognized the wisdom in strategic retreat.

“Fine,” he conceded. “But I'm coming back. With or without Silas's blessing.”

“I never doubted it for a moment,” Briar sighed, settling more comfortably on his shoulder. “Just try not to get us killed in the process, would you? I've grown rather attached to existence.”

Kai smiled, but his eyes drifted toward the eastern edge of the village, where the forest path led to the ancient temple. Something tugged at him, an unfinished thread he couldn't leave dangling. The thought of returning to Thornhaven with so many questions unanswered felt wrong, like leaving a story half-read.

“We should get going,” Briar prompted when he'd been standing still too long. “The sun will set soon, and I'd rather notbe on the road after dark. Not with those shadow things lurking about.”

“You're right,” Kai agreed, turning toward the northern road that would lead them back to Thornhaven. But with each step away from Mistwood, the pull grew stronger—that magnetic tug he'd felt toward Eliar, toward the temple, toward answers.

They'd barely reached the village boundary when Kai stopped.

“Oh no,” Briar groaned, recognizing his expression. “I know that look.”

“One more stop,” Kai said, already turning back. “Something I need to see.”

“The temple?” Briar guessed. “Where the shadow monster nearly ate us? That temple?”

“I'll be quick,” Kai promised. “I just... need to go back. Once more.”

“Eliar won't be there,” Briar argued. “He's not the type to linger when there are angry villagers hunting for him.”

“This isn't about finding Eliar,” Kai replied, though the slight heat in his cheeks suggested that wasn't entirely true. “It's about understanding what happened last night. What's happening to me.”

Briar stared at him for a long moment before sighing dramatically. “Fine. But when we die horrible deaths, I'm going to haunt you in whatever afterlife we end up in.”

Kai grinned. “Noted.”

They skirted the village, using the cover of the forest to avoid being seen. The day was waning, lengthening shadows making it easier for Kai to move undetected. The path to the temple was easier to find than he expected—whether from memory or because the magic of the place called to him, Kai wasn't sure.

The forest grew denser around them, ancient trees towering overhead, their branches creating a cathedral-like canopy thatfiltered the fading sunlight into dappled patterns. Kai moved quietly, alert for any signs of the shadow creature from the night before, but the forest felt peaceful, almost expectant, as if it too were waiting for something to be discovered.

“I don't like this,” Briar whispered from his shoulder. “It's too quiet. Even the birds have stopped singing.”

She was right. The usual forest sounds had dimmed to near silence, creating an unnatural stillness that made the hair on the back of Kai's neck stand up. But still, he pressed on, pulled forward by something he couldn't explain.

The temple clearing appeared suddenly before them, the ruined columns pale in the twilight. Without Eliar standing at its center, the place looked smaller somehow, more forgotten. The mosaic floor no longer glowed with celestial light, but lay dormant, the intricate patterns barely visible beneath a thin layer of forest debris.

“See? Nothing here,” Briar said, relief evident in her voice. “Can we go now?”

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