The village of the Shia’Lan elves was now nothing more than ruins, barely recognizable under the plants that had grown out of the ashes; even the few crumbling stone fireplaces that remained were covered with moss. Only the white marble shrine was left standing strong.

“They lived in real houses,” Julia said. “Why not trees like your people?”

“They had no rangers among them,” Cael answered. “They were mostly mages, actually. They used and researched magic before humans, and they created many spells and enchantments.”

“Like the orb.”

“Yes, that is one. Most were lost in the fire, though. Like the rest of the elves, the Shia’Lan did not like humans, so they did not share their magical knowledge with the Mages Guild or the Arcane University―though they were visited plenty of times by AMER, even once by the head of the Mages Council.”

“AMER?” Julia repeated.

“The Arcane Magic Exploration and Recovery team. They are with the university,” he explained. “And the Mages Council is the law when it comes to all things pertaining to mages and arcane magic. But, being outsiders, those groups meant nothing to the Shia’Lan. They, like other outsiders, had only a treaty that kept them on 'friendly' terms with the humans.”

“You know,” Julia said then, looking thoughtful, “I don’t think there’s any way this world could be some game turned real. There’s just… too much in it.”

Falcon chuckled at Cael’s expression. “You haven’t played many games,” he told her. “But yeah, I don’t think it is anymore, either.”

“A game?” Cael asked.

“Don’t worry about it,” Falcon told him. “It doesn’t matter now, anyway. We still have to do this.”

“Yes,” Julia agreed without hesitation. “But I wonder…”

He knew what she was thinking, and his stomach knotted at even the thought of going back to Earth. He didn’t want to think about giving up Kelstone yet. “The fairy in Rosewall said you’ll be able to go home when Kieran is defeated,” he told her quietly.

“Oh, right. But you―”

“Jules…” He held in a sigh. “Let’s worry about it later, okay?”

She nodded. “Okay.” They continued walking. “You know, it’s a seriously tiny world, then, if it’s not a game.”

“The map you carry is not a world map,” Cael said.

“But it says 'World Map' on it,” Falcon argued.

“It is also the year 1283. Or is it 4819?” Cael asked rhetorically. “Perhaps it is neither.”

Falcon stopped and turned to look at the ranger. “Are you saying that humans don’t know the size of the world, but the elves do?”

Cael shrugged slightly. “The elves have stories of distant lands, but all―elves and humans alike―who have journeyed to seek them have never returned.”

“Why haven’t I heard of this before?” Falcon wondered.

“People gave up trying, for the most part, a very long time ago. This is the world as they know it, and they seem satisfied with that.”

“Are you?”

“Someday I will make the journey and see for myself,” Cael said matter-of-factly. “When I am ready, many years from now.”

“You’re not scared of what you’ll find, or that you won’t come back?” Julia asked.

“No,” Cael answered easily.

Falcon and Julia both nodded, then fell silent as Cael led them toward the shrine, to the catacombs below, where he said the orb piece would be.

They walked through the cold mist that hung around the white marble tower, and through a doorway where a wooden door used to be. Inside was a large, empty circular room, filled with same the eerie fog that surrounded it. The place was barren except for cobwebs and some blackened debris on the floor. An eight-foot-long wall stood on its own near the back, with a life-size statue of the elven goddess, Ona’Ess, standing before it.

“Cael,” Julia said, looking at the marble statue. “If Daegon created the elves, then why do they worship this goddess?”

“Elves worship no one,” he answered. “They only honor. Besides, Ona’Ess was just an elf before Nathora gave her immortality.”

She nodded. “Oh right, forgot about that.” Just then, she noticed her cat trying to sneak into the shrine after them. “Jade, go. No. Don’t argue with me, just go.”

The cat turned in a huff and stalked off, apparently not happy with missing the action.

Julia shook her head, but smiled, too.

Behind the statue wall were stairs spiraling down into the ground and leading to a stone door. Carved into the door were small designs that linked together to make a diamond shape, a symbol which the goddess’ statue wore as a necklace.

There was no handle, but Cael simply laid a hand on the door and there was a soft sound, like air escaping through a small hole. He pushed, and the door opened easily. More stairs led down through a dark, narrow passage. “Do not cast your light spell,” he told Julia.

“Why not?” she whispered.

“Conserve when you can,” he replied, then whispered an elven word, and the place was suddenly illuminated.

She glanced around looking for a glowing orb or torches on the walls, but there were none. The light was coming from fist-sized blue crystals that protruded from the walls. “How’d you do that?”

“They are light crystals, one of the enchanted items created by the Shia’Lan,” Cael explained. “You activate one, and the light travels to the rest of the crystals throughout the place. Unfortunately, these are the only ones in existence; no one has found a way to duplicate them yet. Of course, no one has been able to come here to study them.”

“You’ve been here before,” Julia realized.

“Yes. I was here a couple of days before the attack.”

“I’m sorry,” she told him. “You had friends here, didn’t you?”

He nodded solemnly. “Yes.”

He descended the stairs, and they followed. They walked down almost a hundred steps before entering a hallway with ornately carved arches supporting the vaulted ceiling. They continued forward until they reached an arched doorway that led into a huge octagonal room.

A large pillar stood in the center, attached to each of the eight walls by great marble arches near the ceiling. Four walls had doorways, while the rest were recessed with a two-story statue of a different elf in each. Everything was made of the same white marble―the walls, the floor, and even the benches around the central pillar.

“Important ancestors,” Cael said, nodding to the statues.

“Why is all of this underground?” Julia asked. “It’s beautiful. I could just imagine stained-glass windows and shafts of colored light.” She smiled at the pretty picture in her head.

Cael started to say something, but as they stepped into the room, they could hear the sounds of distant cries, screams, pleas, and sobs, all swept up in a soft, howling wind.

Julia’s step faltered, causing Falcon to bump into her. She gasped and covered her mouth as she turned to him with wide, horror-stricken eyes. He put his left arm around her, giving her a half hug, while he unsheathed his sword and held it ready in his right hand.

Ghosts―ten translucent gray elves―came out of the walls and floated toward them. The crying got louder.

“We have come to help you,” Cael told the spirits.

The air rippled, like heat waves condensed in an invisible sphere, and hit seconds later, slamming him back into the wall. Another hit the marble beside him, making a loud boom on impact, the sound reverberating in the vast room.

Cael stepped forward. “They may not listen to reason,” he said to Julia and Falcon in a whisper, then tried speaking to the spirits again. “Mithna, Shadyn, you both know me. I am Cael’Kashlan.” Another spell barely missed him. Cael took out what looked like a single sword at first glance, but when he pulled it apart, it was actually two katanas. He handed one to Falcon. “Only magic can touch them.”

Falcon understood that the swords were magically imbued. “Thanks.” He returned his own weapon to its sheath.

Cael tried communicating again. “We do not wish you harm. We wish to put you at peace.” An energy ball hit him again, and he was knocked to the ground.

Two ghosts were now close enough to touch them if they could. Falcon held the sword up. “Stop!” he demanded. “Listen to us.” The impact of the spirit’s power was like being hit with a shield. It was invisible, yet solid, like thick glass slamming into his chest. He flew back against the wall with a grunt.

“We have no choice but to fight,” Cael said, and his blade slashed through the closest one. It screamed at him―a high-pitched, otherworldly sound.

They quickly became surrounded. Julia took a step forward, but before she could do anything, she was hit from behind. She fell to her knees and slid a few feet across the smooth marble floor.

Falcon started attacking alongside Cael. He was hit two more times, but the second attack didn’t let up; it pushed him up against the wall and held him there. Seconds later, Cael was beside him, trapped in his own invisible prison. Neither of them could move.

“Jules!” Falcon called.

She was just kneeling on the ground. At the sound of his voice, she turned toward him, and he could see that she had what looked like a charred human, or elven, leg bone in front of her, hugging it to her chest. Tears filled her eyes as the ghosts headed for her.

“Jules, fight,” he told her.

She just held his gaze. She had that determined look in her eyes―she had no intention of fighting. “I want to help you,” she said to the ghosts. “Please. Let me help you.” A burst of energy hit her, and she fell sideways. She got back to her knees. “I won’t fight you,” she told them.

They hit her again.

“Jules, please,” Falcon pleaded.

She ignored him as she got up, only to be knocked down again. Each time she moved farther across the floor, until she was thrown into one of the stone benches. The bone was still clutched in her hands, her knuckles now white with her tight grip. She got back to her knees, her jaw clenched in pain, but her eyes were set in fierce determination.

She had a will of iron when she was set on something. It was her greatest strength, but right then, Falcon thought, it was her greatest weakness and it was going to get her killed. He knew she wouldn’t listen, but still he called to her, begging her to fight back, while he struggled in vain against his invisible cage.

As she continued to cry, her tears fell from her chin onto the blackened bone in her hands. “Please,” she said again, her head bowed now. “Please… tell me how to help you.”

The ghosts stopped. “You weep for us and not yourself?” came their faraway voices, all as one. “Are you not afraid?”

“I am,” she answered honestly, not raising her head to look at them. “But helping you is more important than my fear.”

Everything went quiet and still.

After a long, tense moment, they spoke again. “You will help us.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“Gather our bones,” they instructed. “Lay them to rest on the third level. Do this before you take anything, or death shall befall you.”

“I will,” she promised.

“But be warned,” they continued. “Even after you help us, there are obstacles to block your way, and a guardian to protect what you seek.”

“I understand.”

They turned and began to float away.

“Wait! Can you please release them?” she asked, motioning to her companions. “I won’t be able to help you alone.”

They hesitated for a moment; then both Falcon and Cael fell suddenly to the floor.

“Thank you,” she murmured again.

They disappeared into the walls, and the chilling sounds of despair faded.

Falcon got up, gave Cael back his sword, and went to Julia. He pulled her to her feet and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly in relief. Only Julia would rather die than cause further suffering to people who were already dead. He leaned back enough to look at her. “You’re seriously crazy,” he told her, shaking his head, but then smiled tenderly. “And seriously amazing.”

“I just don’t want them to hurt anymore,” she told him.

“It’s your unyielding compassion that’s amazing.”

“You didn’t think so with the troll,” she said, a little smile breaking through the tears.

He laughed, but nodded. “Maybe I need to trust you more.”

She dried her cheeks. “Glad you see that I’m always right,” she teased.

“Hah!” he said. “I’ll remember that when you say we shouldn’t kill an evil guard, or a wolf that wants to rip out our throats.”

Cael clapped a hand on each of their shoulders. “Gather bones while you talk,” he told them. “And well done,” he added to Julia.

Falcon hugged her close for a moment longer and kissed her before he let go, and started collecting the charred remains. He got the feeling Cael was used to being in charge. “Ever been part of the guard or something?” he wondered.

“Humans would not let an elf be part of their guard.”

“You’re only half… so have you?”

Cael smiled as he bent to pick up another bone. “I have not been an actual guard, but yes. Though I am part elf, many of the guard know my reputation. I have helped on various occasions, usually with some monster or other. That is why they once saw fit to give me temporary command of a small group of fighters―but only for the purpose of defeating a dragon.”

“An actual dragon?” Falcon asked.

“There are dragons here?” Julia asked from across the room.

Cael nodded. “There were. They are said to be extinct now.”

“You…?” Falcon began.

“I would never,” Cael said in an offended tone. “Their extinction was due in large part to poachers. Hunters killed them for their blood. Dragon blood holds a great deal of magic, and can be used for powerful enchantments and potions,” he explained. “The dragon that I helped kill, however, had become a menace to Halimi, slowly eating up the population. Unfortunately, there were people behind it; they had stolen an egg and raised it, trained it to do their bidding… but that is a long story, and it was over twenty years ago.”

Falcon nodded. “Is that the only time you were in command?”

“Of the guard? Yes.”

“You certainly seem to be used to being the boss,” Julia commented.

“It is my nature,” Cael replied simply.

Falcon studied him for a moment. There seemed to be a slight sadness in his eyes when he said it. “Do you like being in charge?”

“It is my nature,” Cael repeated. “It is something I cannot change, though I tried for a while.”

“Why would you want to change that?” Julia asked.

Cael glanced at her and then Falcon. Both had stopped and were just looking at him. “Can you not listen and pick up bones at the same time?”

Falcon rolled his eyes as they resumed their task. “Okay… so, why?”

Cael sighed. “I was young. I made a wrong decision, and people died. At the time I had thought I was right, but in the end… it cost the lives of my brother and the woman I loved.” Julia gasped, but he continued focusing on picking up bones, not looking at either of them. “Her father thought I had done it on purpose, that I had murdered them both. He tried to have me arrested. I had not wished them dead, but the fault was mine nonetheless.”

“How could he think it was on purpose?” Julia asked sadly.

“I had been gone for a short while just before that,” he told them. “I was helping the guard with a goblin camp nearby. When I got back, it was to find Olivia with Vaeryl, my brother. He had gone to her home, looking for me.”

“She wasn’t in your… village, then? Was she human, or from different elves?” Julia asked.

“She was human and lived in Chendal, near my father,” he answered. “And no, Vaeryl and I did not share the same father; he was full elf. Anyway, it was the first time he and Olivia had met, and they were quite taken with each other.” He shook his head a little at the memory. “But I did not hate my brother or her. People fall in love, what is more natural than that? And it was rahnam, which is not something you can fight.”

“Rahnam?” Falcon asked.

“It is a connection. Woodlanders tend to know their mate very quickly,” he explained. “I loved Olivia, very much, but it was not meant to be.”

“Like soul mates?” Julia asked. “You believe that there’s just one person for everyone?”

“Yes. Though, as I found out, you can be mistaken. Olivia and Vaeryl said that it is immediate and undeniable. You just know.” He shrugged. “I am not sure that I believe it anymore.”

Falcon met Julia’s gaze for a moment. They shared a meaningful look, both knowing that they had found that one person they would spend the rest of their lives with―even if it had taken them two years to figure it out.

“How long ago was that?” Julia asked.

“Almost forty years,” Cael told her.

“And you still haven’t found that person yet?” she mumbled.

“You do not need to feel sorry for me,” he told her lightly. “I am content with my life.”

“Do you date, then?” she asked. “Sorry, I’m being nosy…”

He smiled. “To be curious is your nature, and I do not mind. No, if I meet my rahnam, I will know. Therefore, I do not date, at least not in the way you mean it.”

“Then in what way?”

Falcon chuckled. “He only dates in the sense of getting sex, not finding love.”

Cael gave a casual nod of agreement.

“Oh,” she said, then looked at Falcon.

Falcon smiled knowingly at her. “The past doesn’t matter, Jules. I have you now.”

“We have collected all of the bones,” Cael pointed out, attempting to change the subject for Falcon’s sake.

It didn’t work. “I’m just surprised, is all,” Julia said as she went to Falcon and took their pack from him. She pulled out a blanket and started laying it on the floor. “I just didn’t think you were like that.”

“I didn’t even say anything,” Falcon told her, barely containing a sigh.

“You said enough,” she replied quietly.

He shot Cael a half-teasing glare.

Cael just chuckled.

Falcon turned back to Julia. “As I said, it doesn’t matter now. And what are you doing?”

“Not enough room in our pack,” she said simply, placing all the bones she had been carrying in the middle of the blanket. She glanced up at them expectantly until they added the ones they were holding to the pile. She tied the corners together and, when it was too awkward to carry, started dragging it behind her. It slid effortlessly across the smooth floor.