Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
For several long seconds, Havenfall stood frozen beneath the weight of the Elder's words.
The Candidate has returned.
The sentence echoed through the city.
Through the academy.
Through Kael's soul.
Thousands of eyes stared at him.
"...I hate this."
Kael muttered.
Finn immediately nodded.
"Reasonable reaction."
"You aren't helping."
"I'm coping."
"Badly."
"Correct."
Master Arlen pinched the bridge of his nose.
The old instructor looked as though he had aged ten years in the last minute.
Across the valley, the silver-robed Elder continued watching.
Patient.
Waiting.
As though she understood exactly how overwhelmed Kael felt.
Then something unexpected happened.
She bowed.
The Elder of Rootwatch bowed toward Havenfall.
Toward the surface.
Toward him.
Behind her...
Thousands of people followed.
An entire civilization lowering their heads in respect.
The sight sent chills through Kael.
Because whatever they thought he was...
They clearly took it very seriously.
The silence finally broke.
The city erupted.
Questions exploded from every direction.
"What does Candidate mean?"
"Who are those people?"
"How is there a city under the forest?"
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"Have they been there the whole time?"
"THE MAPS WERE RIGHT!"
Finn shouted.
Nobody listened.
His expression became deeply offended.
"I would like everyone to know that I was right."
Still nobody listened.
"This is deeply unfair."
Kael laughed despite himself.
Then another voice echoed across the valley.
The Elder again.
"Master Arlen."
The old instructor stiffened.
The fact she knew his name did not seem encouraging.
"We request parley."
Her voice carried effortlessly.
"No weapons."
"No hostility."
"Only truth."
Arlen remained silent for several moments.
Then—
He bowed.
The entire city gasped.
The most respected instructor in Havenfall.
The man who commanded knights and nobles alike.
Bowing.
"Rootwatch is welcome."
Arlen said.
Relief visibly crossed the Elder's face.
For the first time...
She looked tired.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
Like someone who had carried a burden for far too long.
Then the image vanished.
The silver lights faded.
The distant city remained.
But the Elder was gone.
The bells did not ring again.
Only silence remained.
And questions.
Far too many questions.
Later that evening...
Havenfall gathered in the central square.
Nobody wanted to go home.
Nobody wanted to be alone with their thoughts.
The city had learned something impossible.
The Black Forest was not wilderness.
It was a veil.
And beneath it existed an entire world.
Finn stood atop a barrel.
Again.
Nobody knew where he kept finding barrels.
"Citizens of Havenfall!"
People ignored him.
He looked disappointed.
"I have prepared a speech."
A tomato struck the barrel.
Finn climbed down.
"An uncultured audience."
Kael laughed.
For a few moments...
Things almost felt normal.
Almost.
Then the pendant grew warm.
Kael froze.
Not hot.
Not painful.
Warm.
Gentle.
Like someone resting a hand against his chest.
A memory surfaced.
A silver tree without roots.
Countless glowing Threads.
A woman smiling.
A hooded man beside her.
"They're all different."
"They should be."
The memory vanished instantly.
Kael staggered.
"Kael?"
Finn caught his shoulder.
"You alright?"
"...Yeah."
Another lie.
The visions were becoming stronger.
More frequent.
And somehow...
More familiar.
That frightened him more than monsters.
Because part of him no longer felt like he was remembering.
It felt like he was being remembered.
That night...
The academy sealed its gates.
Additional guards were placed along the walls.
Messengers rode toward neighbouring cities.
And for the first time in generations...
The Kingdom formally acknowledged Rootwatch.
Everything was changing.
Kael sat alone atop the ruined watchtower hill.
The same place he always came when he needed to think.
The stray dog sat beside him.
The city lights glowed below.
Far beyond them...
The newly awakened city beneath the forest shone like a constellation trapped beneath roots.
Beautiful.
Impossible.
Ancient.
"You knew, didn't you?"
Kael asked the dog.
The dog wagged its tail.
"That's not an answer."
Another wag.
"You're remarkably unhelpful."
The dog sneezed.
Kael smiled.
For a while they simply watched the distant lights.
Then—
A figure appeared beside him.
No footsteps.
No warning.
One moment he was alone.
The next he wasn't.
Kael jumped to his feet.
The dog didn't react.
Which somehow made it worse.
Standing a few meters away was a young woman.
Perhaps seventeen.
Perhaps eighteen.
Long silver hair.
Green eyes.
Travel-stained clothing unlike anything worn in Havenfall.
A bow rested across her back.
And surrounding her...
Kael saw Threads.
Hundreds of silver-green Threads twisting around her like wind through leaves.
She froze.
Her eyes widened.
Because she had noticed him seeing them.
For several seconds neither spoke.
Then the girl sighed.
"Well."
She folded her arms.
"This is awkward."
Kael blinked.
"What is?"
"The part where I was supposed to secretly observe you."
Silence.
"...What?"
The girl pointed toward herself.
"Scout."
Then pointed toward him.
"Candidate."
Another pause.
"Apparently."
Kael groaned.
The girl laughed.
A bright, genuine laugh.
"My name is Sera."
She offered her hand.
"I've been sent by Elder Mira."
Kael stared.
"Elder Mira?"
"The Elder who spoke today."
Sera nodded.
"She would like to meet you."
The warmth immediately vanished from Kael's face.
Of course she did.
Because apparently every ancient secret in the world had decided he was important.
Sera smiled knowingly.
"Trust me."
Her gaze shifted toward the glowing city beneath the forest.
"You're going to want answers."
Kael looked toward the impossible lights beneath the Black Forest.
Toward Rootwatch.
Toward the hidden civilization waiting below.
Then back at Sera.
Finally—
He nodded.
Because for the first time since Ashvale burned...
He had a path forward.
And beneath the roots of the world...
That path was waiting for him.