Valencia walked quietly behind Aaron, the Captain of the Serene Healers, as they made their way through the lush expanse of the Luminous Forest. The dense canopy overhead filtered the sunlight into delicate beams, casting shifting patterns across the forest floor. The air was thick with humidity, clinging to their skin and slowing their steps. Rays of light managed to pierce through the foliage, one of them catching the emblem embroidered on Valencia’s robe—a radiant sunburst, the crest of House Apollo. Like Martin Apollo, she was a direct descendant of one of the Five Royal Houses of Elysion.

  After nearly two days of trekking through the forest’s depths, Valencia paused, pressing a hand to her chest and struggling to draw a steady breath. The weight of the air and the constant dampness had begun to take a toll.

  Aaron stopped and turned, concern etched on his face. “Are you alright?” he asked, noticing how pale she’d become.

  Valencia nodded weakly and lowered herself onto the thick, protruding roots of an ancient tree. Her vibrant green eyes briefly met his. Aaron stepped closer, and as he lifted his hand, his ring—Star Wreath—began to glow. The light shimmered softly, pulsing like a green star. The air around them shifted, growing lighter, and Valencia’s labored breathing slowly steadied.

  “Thank you,” she whispered after a moment, managing a small smile. "As expected from the best of the Sanctuary," she added warmly. "You were always at the top of our class back then.”

  Aaron flushed and scratched the back of his head. “You speak too highly of me. You’re one of the best yourself.”

  He hesitated before adding, “I admire you, Valencia. When I first saw you at the Sanctuary of Arcane Healers, I was genuinely surprised. Someone from House Apollo—renowned as the sword of the kingdom—choosing the path of healing? It was unexpected. With your family's influence, you could’ve easily joined your cousin at the Academy of Equilibrium or secured a position in the Order as soon as we graduated. But you didn’t let the weight of your lineage define you. You walked a different path—one of quiet strength and selfless purpose—choosing to serve not from the frontlines, but from the sidelines where you’re needed most. That takes courage few recognize, and even fewer possess.”

  Valencia looked down at the crest on her chest—the proud sunburst symbol of House Apollo, known across Elysion as defenders of the realm, revered for their mastery in strategy and combat. She tucked a strand of golden hair behind her ear, and a faint glimmer from her own ring caught Aaron’s attention. “I just never had it in me,” she said softly. “I wasn’t made for the battlefield. Lucky for house Apollo, my younger cousin Martin stepped up to continue the family’s legacy.”

  She offered a small smile. Aaron looked thoughtful.

  “It’s a shame,” he said. “I’ve heard your ring—Sun Jewel—was incredibly powerful in battle. They say Lord Vincent Apollo, your father, could command entire forests with it.”

  Valencia glanced down at the ring on her hand—the same one her father once wore. Sun Jewel. “He did,” she said, her voice tinged with nostalgia. “But when the ring passed to me… it changed. I can only access a small fragment of its power. No sweeping vegetation control. Instead, it amplified my herbal healing—almost like it became an entirely different ring.”

  “That’s actually not uncommon,” Aaron replied. “Especially with heirloom Rings. They adapt to the affinity of their new bearer. Still, it’d be handy if yours could part this forest and show us the way to Elarin.” He chuckled. “We’re rather lost.”

  They shared a quiet laugh, but the levity faded as their thoughts returned to their mission. Elarin—an isolated village hidden deep within the Luminous Forest—had recently sent a distress message to the Order. Though they had survived the last titan attack, something more insidious followed. A plague had swept through the remaining villagers, striking fast and without mercy.

  The Order had summoned Aaron to attend a captain's meeting—urgent matters demanded his presence following the siege of the capital, the fall of Titan’s Keep, and the disturbing incident in Vibrara. But with the Order's healing resources stretched thin, Aaron couldn’t spare another healer to accompany him to Elarin. Fortunately, Valencia—once his closest friend during their days at the Sanctuary—was not bound by the Order’s missions. And he knew, without a doubt, that she would never turn her back when lives were at stake.

  Valencia stood up, determination in her gaze. “Let’s keep going. I’m fine now. If that illness is as serious as the letter described, we need to move quickly.”

  Aaron nodded solemnly, and together they resumed their journey, disappearing deeper into the heart of the forest where shadow and sunlight danced among ancient trees.

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  ——

  The path twisted and turned like a labyrinth, and the forest seemed almost alive with an unnatural presence. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth, moss, and something else—something more pungent and unsettling that made Aaron's nose wrinkle.

  "You smell that?" Aaron asked, covering his nose with a handkerchief. "That's not a normal forest scent.”

  Valencia slowed down, covering her nose as well. “It’s death. We’re close.”

  They followed the pungent trail until the forest opened into a clearing. Before them lay the village of Elarin. Once a peaceful settlement, home to no more than fifty villagers, the village now reeked of despair. Signs of destruction from a recent titan attack were everywhere—shattered homes, scorched earth, and the remnants of defenses hastily torn apart. Yet, an even darker presence lingered.

  Cries of agony filled the air. The remaining villagers were gathered in a small hut at the village center. As Aaron and Valencia approached, an old man limped toward them, his face grim and worn.

  “Are you from the capital?” he asked, voice raspy.

  Aaron stepped forward, his expression calm. “Yes, sir. We heard your plea and came as soon as we could.”

  The old man’s shoulders sagged. “They only sent two of you? We’re doomed.”

  Valencia stepped beside him, gently taking his hand. Her emerald eyes held unwavering determination. “Let us help. Show us the emergency.”

  The man led them into the central hut. Inside, the stench of rot and fear thickened. Dozens of villagers lay or sat in a circle, many writhing in pain. Around them, talismans and wreaths had been placed in a desperate attempt to ward off the plague.

  Aaron and Valencia paused, eyes scanning the grim scene. The infected were pale, weak, and covered in crimson rashes.

  “Please help us!” a woman cried, frantically scratching at the red blisters on her arms. She trembled violently, her breath ragged and shallow. “Save us!”

  She tried to walk toward them but collapsed. Valencia rushed forward, but Aaron grabbed her arm, pulling her back.

  “Don’t rush,” he warned. He opened his satchel and retrieved two glass tubes filled with crystal-clear liquid. Handing one to Valencia, he said, “This will create a barrier at the cellular level—just enough to temporary shield us from the infection.”

  Valencia nodded and drank it in one gulp. Then she dashed to the woman’s side, kneeling beside her. Aaron joined her, pulling out a small instrument to check the woman’s pulse. His face turned pale.

  “Scarlet Blight,” he whispered. Looking around, he saw others bearing the same marks. “This is worse than I thought.”

  He stood up and activated his Keeper Ring, Star Wreath. Green starlight emerged from the gemstone, forming a glowing wreath above the infected. The air grew lighter as the aura dulled their pain, buying precious time.

  They assessed the severity of the Blight. The skin around the woman’s rash had already begun to blacken.

  Valencia looked up at Aaron. “This is the first time I’ve seen Scarlet Blight in person. We only studied it briefly at the Sanctuary. Is there a cure?”

  Aaron took out his notebook and flipped through its pages, stopping at a sketch of a softly glowing fungus. “There is. The Luminous Mushroom. But judging from the blight’s severity, they have less than a day. And the rest of the villagers—those not yet showing symptoms—are probably already infected. It spreads fast.”

  Valencia turned to the woman resting in her arms, now peaceful under the ring’s aura. “Where can we find this mushroom?”

  Aaron knelt beside her. “It’s here, somewhere in the Luminous Forest. The Sanctuary taught us its properties, but its exact location was never mentioned—only that it thrives in places where moonlight touches the roots of ancient trees.”

  “Impossible! You can’t find it yourself!” Aaron barked. “The forest is vast, and we don’t know what kind of threats are hiding in there. We were lucky just to find Elarin without getting ambushed by titans. And you—Valencia—you don’t have any offensive magic to defend yourself.”

  Valencia met his eyes, unwavering. “Then let me remind you what I do have. Look around, Aaron—the villagers’ suffering is dulled only because of your ring. If you undo it, they’ll return to that agony. They need you more than ever, and you know it.”

  Aaron took a sharp breath, frustrated. "I can’t just let you go out there alone. What if something happens? What if you get lost, or worse—like earlier—gasping for breath in that choking humidity, with no one to help you?”

  Valencia stepped forward, voice firm but calm. “And what if we lose our only chance to save them because you tried to do everything yourself?”

  She clenched her hand tightly around the crest of House Apollo pinned to her chest. “I may not wield a sword like the rest of my kin, but I’m still one of them. Under the name of my house, I swear—I will find the Luminous Mushroom and return with the cure. I won’t let these people die, not while I still draw breath.”

  Aaron’s jaw tensed, his gaze locked with hers. But in her eyes, he saw that same determination he’d admired since their days at the Sanctuary.

  He let out a slow breath, miled softly, then closed his eyes and deepened his connection to the ring. The stars above pulsed brighter, and the oppressive air lifted further. “Alright. But be careful, Valencia. The forest doesn’t take kindly to the unprepared.”

  Aaron reached into his satchel and pulled out a handful of small talismans, each etched with protective runes. “Take these with you,” he said, placing them gently in Valencia’s hand. “They’re simple, but they might come in handy later.” His voice softened. “Please be safe, Valencia. I’ll do everything I can to slow the blight’s spread until you return.”

  Without a second’s hesitation, Valencia turned and sprinted into the forest, her resolve burning bright. Time was short, but she carried the village’s only hope in her heart—the will to find the Luminous Mushroom and bring salvation back to Elarin.

  Unbeknownst to them, from the far edge of the forest, a pair of sharp emerald eyes observed their every move—silent, unblinking, and full of intent.