Chapter 7: Chapter 7, The Green Lake

Opening line

Bravery without purpose is a path ruin.

🌤️ Dunira's Balcony, Early Morning

Dunira sat quietly on her balcony.

The morning sun brushed her hair in soft golden threads.

In her hand was a dolphin-shaped clip — she stared at it, lost in thought. Sadness clung to her.

Myna sat curled on her lap, watching her.

Dunira (faint smile, looking at her):

“Oh Myna... I’m fine.”

She glanced back at the horizon.

Dunira (quietly):

“Mother used to say the dreams of Lunareth’s descendants always carry deep meanings.

But I’ve ignored them all my life.

Now… they scare me, now my dream feels so real like am actually there.

I don’t know what’s happening anymore.

And Lira… who knows what condition she’s in…”

A tear slid down Dunira’s cheek — slow, silent, without expression.

She didn’t cry out loud. But the sadness was heavy.

Myna reached up with her tiny hand, gently wiping away Dunira’s tear.

Myna:

“Don’t worry. We’ll find her.”

Dunira (looking down):

“We?”

Myna (firm):

“What do you think? That you’ll just sit here and cry forever?

You weren’t like this before. You used to question everything. You were brave. You didn’t just sit back.”

Dunira (weakly):

“But this time… it’s bigger. And I…”

Myna (interrupts):

“These dreams. The Veilpond visions. Why are you the only one seeing them?

And why now — just when strange things happening in Auralis?

This has to be connected to you somehow.”

Dunira (slowly):

“You think I should go after Lira…?”

Unknown voice (from behind):

“Not alone. I’m coming with you.”

Kaelric climbed over the balcony railing, slightly out of breath, brushing back his wind-swept hair.

Kaelric (grinning):

“Hey Dream Girl. Why go alone when I’m right here?”

Dunira (shocked):

“What?! What are you doing here?! Are you insane? Get down from there!”

She rushed toward him, but Myna stepped between them.

Myna:

“I called him.

The three of us are going to find Lira.

Me — the smartest miniature in Auralis.

Kaelric — one of the strongest Igniseth in valathir.

And you…” (she paused, thinking)

“You’re good too.”

Kaelric (laughing):

“You should’ve seen how she slammed Moron down. It was epic!”

Myna (eyes wide):

“Really?!”

Kaelric:

“Yep. Ask her —”

Dunira (cutting in):

“Ugh, both of you shut up.”

She turned to Kaelric.

Dunira:

“What will you do when your father finds out you’re here?”

Kaelric (shrugging):

“Don’t worry about that.”

Dunira (firm):

“If we’re really going, I’ll go alone. Just me and Myna. You’re not coming.”

Kaelric’s smile faded. He stepped closer to her, face-to-face.

Kaelric (softly):

“Do you really not trust me?

I’m not doing this just for you.

Lira’s my friend too.

She’s not just your cousin. She’s a student of Valethir.”

(Beat)

Kaelric (gently):

“Please. For Lira.”

Dunira:

“If anything goes wrong… it’s not my responsibility.”

Kaelric (smirking):

“Done.”

---

🌫️ Scene at — Veilpond

Kaelric (looking around):

“Wow… it’s been so long since I last travel through Veilpond.”

Dunira stood still, gazing into the pond.

Her reflection stared back at her — nothing unusual. No vision. No glow.

Myna slipped her tiny fingers into Dunira’s left hand.

Kaelric gently held her right.

A sudden shiver ran down Kaelric’s spine. Her hand felt soft and familiar.

He smiled faintly and looked ahead, at the pond’s shifting mist.

Together, the three of them stepped into the Veilpond.

And reappeared in ..🌲— Lunareth Outskirts, Mistbank Forest

Kaelric (quietly):

“This is where Lira disappeared.”

Crestbore Division had sealed off the area with rune-marked tape.

The trio carefully crossed the boundary.

The ground was wet with light water. Mist hung between thick trees.

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They called out — softly at first, then louder:

All three (calling):

“Lira… Lira!”

As they ventured deeper, the fog grew denser.

Trees clustered tighter together. The water rose past their ankles.

Myna (pointing):

“I’ll check the right side. Meet me back here.”

She darted off.

Kaelric conjured a small flame in his hand, illuminating the path.

He guided Dunira through the left.

He watched her carefully — her face wasn’t frightened, but focused.

She was scanning the ground, the branches, every detail — searching for a clue.

The fire’s soft orange glow fell on her, making her look like a piece of the sun.

Kaelric swallowed hard. To him, she looked like the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

Kaelric (soft):

“I’m sorry.”

Dunira (not looking):

“Leave it.”

Kaelric:

“I shouldn’t have said what I did.

I didn’t mean it.

I just didn’t want you facing things alone.

I didn’t want you to get hurt.

I care about y—”

Dunira (suddenly):

“I knew it.”

Kaelric (startled):

“Knew what…?”

Dunira was staring ahead.

A shimmering green lake lay in the heart of the forest.

Its edges were laced with strange black webs, almost like fog.

She stepped closer and touched them.

They felt cold. Misty. Not quite solid.

Kaelric:

“What is that?”

Dunira (barely breathing):

“I don’t know.

But I’ve seen this place before.

It’s the one from my dream.”

She pointed to the center of the lake.

Dunira:

“I saw students here… Lira was with them.

And there was a dark figure. Shadowy. With red eyes.

This is it, Kaelric. This is the place.”

Kaelric:

“Okay. Okay. So… what do we do now?”

Dunira’s gaze drifted beyond him. Something shimmered at the base of an ancient tree nearby — barely visible in the grass. A pendant…

She stepped closer, crouched, and gently lifted it from the roots. It was delicate, silver, old. On its back, a single initial was etched:

V

She turned, eyes wide, holding it out to Kaelric.

Dunira:

“Look at this. It was hidden under the tree.”

Kaelric leaned in, squinting.

Kaelric:

“V...? Wait— I’ve seen Vespara wear a pendant like this. The exact shape.”

He looked at Dunira, tension rising in his tone.

“Do you think… this belongs to her?”

Suddenly, a whisper brushed Dunira’s ear.

> “Dunira…”

She turned — but before she could react, they heard horns blaring in the distance.

The Crestbore Division was approaching.

Kaelric:

“Run!”

They fled.

---

Meanwhile..

Crestbore Officer:

“Commander! We’ve got movement in the woods!”

Commander Sirevan:

“Search the entire forest. Now.”

__

SCENE SHIFTED

(dunira and kaelric finding a way out)

Just as they turned to run, a beam of strange light broke through the mist.

Dunira (pointing):

“Kaelric… that tree. It’s not like the others.”

They stopped.

In front of them stood a tall, glowing tree, its bark shimmering like crystal.

Pulsing, humming softly. Alive. Magical.

Kaelric (whispering):

“It’s… beautiful.

It might be like the Veilpond — a portal.”

Dunira (nodding):

“Maybe we can use it. We can escape through there before they reach us.”

But just as she stepped closer, her hand outstretched—

She stopped.

Dunira (hesitant):

“No… we can’t.”

Kaelric:

“What? Why not?”

Dunira:

“We don’t know where it leads.

And Myna… we don’t know where she is.

We can’t leave her behind.”

Kaelric (softly):

“Right.”

They backed away from the tree and veered in a different direction.

Kaelric and Dunira ran hard, breath sharp, boots sloshing through thick mud and water.

The mist twisted around them, distorting shapes and sounds.

Kaelric (panting):

“They’re close. I can hear them—”

A beam of silver-blue light swept behind them — a Crestbore search rune, scanning the forest.

Dunira (whispers):

“They’ve activated rune-lights. We need to hide.”

They turned toward a ridge to duck behind — but three cloaked officers were already there, silver-trimmed uniforms gleaming faintly in the mist.

Crestbore Officer:

“Don’t move!”

Dunira froze. Kaelric stepped protectively in front of her.

Another squad flanked them from behind, rune-rods drawn and glowing.

Kaelric (low):

“We’re surrounded…”

Crestbore Leader:

“By order of Crestbore Division, you're trespassing in a restricted zone. Identify yourselves.”

Dunira (quietly):

“We were… looking for someone.”

The runes glowed, confirming the truth.

Without another word, floating shackles — etched with soft sigils — clasped around their wrists. Kaelric sighed. Dunira didn’t resist.

Kaelric (softly):

“We’ll explain everything. Don’t worry.”

In a flash of rune-light, they vanished from the forest...

...and reappeared in the cold chamber of the Crestbore watchtower, soaked and silent.

Their clothes dripped. Their boots left trails.

The Crestbore officers surrounded them, voices sharp as they demanded their names.

After confirming their identities, the officers activated communication crystals and called their parents.

Within minutes, the tense waiting began — until finally,

Kaelric’s father, Karlos, arrived first.

Karlos (furious):

“What were you doing there?!”

He raised his cane to strike Kaelric, but—

Dunira (stepping forward):

“It wasn’t him.

I took him with me.”

Karlos (cold):

“You promised you wouldn’t see him again. And now this?”

Kaelric:

“What?! You said that to her?!”

Karlos:

“Silence! You don’t know what she is. Her blood is cursed. Stay away from her, Kael.”

Kaelric (calm but firm):

“Enough, Father.

She’s normal. Just like us.”

Dunira (soft but strong):

“No. I’m not normal.

But I’m rare, Mr. Karlos.

I survived.

And I proved that even mixed clans can belong in Auralis.”

Commander Sirevan watched her with interest.

Commander Sirevan:

“This isn’t your home, Mr. Karlos.

Stop shouting.”

He turned to the teens.

Sirevan:

“Tell me honestly — what were you doing there?”

Dunira:

“Lira is my cousin.

We went to search for her.”

Sirevan: (took a pause)

“You look brave…

“But bravery without purpose is a path to ruin.”

Dunira looked at Sirevan.

Those words struck her — not as a threat, but as a lesson.

Dunira’s parents arrived.

Navalyn (rushing in):

“Dunira! Are you alright?”

Dunira (softly):

“I’m fine, Mother.”

Thalen (to the officers):

“Thank you. You found them just in time… who knows what could’ve happened.”

Commander Sirevan stood silently, his arms folded.

Sirevan:

“Keep a close watch on your children.”

He looked from Thalen to Navalyn.

Sirevan:

“And you’re related to Lira?”

Thalen:

“Yes. My wife is her aunt. She belongs to lunareth !

Sirevan glanced at Dunira, unreadable.

Then he said,

“Don’t let something like this happen again.”

And with that, he turned and walked away.

A lady officer approached navalyn

Valarie (softly):

“Your daughter is… rare.

Keep her protected.

Children born of mixed clans rarely survive.

But somehow… she did.”

Karlos (muttering):

“There’s no guarantee the next generation will.

We’re leaving.”

He walked away.

Kaelric (smiling):

“Hello, Mr. Thalen, Mrs. Navalyn.”

Navalyn (laughing):

“You’ve become even more handsome, Kaelric.”

Thalen:

“It’s been a long time…

But tell me — how did you two even manage to sneak out?

Dunira was in her room all day.”

Kaelric looked down, blushing.

Kaelric:

“Uhh… Father’s waiting.

I’ll go now.

Bye, Uncle. Bye, Dunira.”

He left quickly.

Thalen (to Dunira):

“So? Are you going to tell me how you got out?”

Dunira didn’t reply. She walked away.

Navalyn covered her smile with her hand.

Navalyn:

“Forgot your own days, did you?”

Thalen (confused):

“Huh? Wait—

He climbed the balcony?!”

---

📡 Scene changes— Sirevan's Chamber

Commander Sirevan sat at his desk, staring out the window.

He activated a communication crystal and spoke softly.

Sirevan:

“Any update?”

Unknown Voice (replying):

“She’s beginning to acknowledge her power.

She’s not fully aware yet…

But I can feel it rising.”

Sirevan:

“Understood.”

The crystal dimmed.

Sirevan turned back to the window, watching Dunira’s family disappear into the distance.

> Something had begun.

And it wouldn’t stop now.

Will be continued!!! 🚨