CHAPTER 331: A... BUSY MORNING

Dawn came like a whisper.

The first light of the sun filtered through the dense forest canopy, painting the ground with hues of gold and green. The distant songs of birds echoed through the trees, soft, almost hesitant—as if nature itself were still testing the safety of this new morning.

The campfire was now just a circle of smoldering ashes. The cool dawn air carried the scent of burnt wood and wet earth.

Kael was the first to awaken.

His eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the filtered light. For a brief moment, he remained still, only feeling the weight of the silence around him. The wind touched his face, and the sound of rustling leaves seemed to blend with his breathing.

When he tried to stand, he noticed something curious—the pain, the fatigue, the cuts from the day before... everything was gone.

He moved his shoulder, flexed his arm, rolled his neck. No stiffness. No discomfort.

Her skin, which hours before had been covered in bruises and wounds, was now clean, only a few thin, old scars remaining.

A faint smile curved her lips.

"Hmph... looks like your body has decided to cooperate."

The husky voice broke the silence, and Irelia, who was sitting on a nearby rock, turned to face him. The warrior was already awake—as always. The first rays of sunlight illuminated her silver hair, and her spear was propped up beside her, ready for use.

"Finally awake," she said bluntly. "Slept like the dead."

Kael stretched, letting out a small crack in his back. "I slept well, actually. I think it was the first decent sleep I’ve had in days."

"You passed out," Irelia corrected, arching an eyebrow. "That’s not ’sleeping well.’"

Kael just gave a lazy smile, looking away at the rest of the group.

Sylphie was still lying near the dying fire, hugging her staff like a pillow. Her green hair spread across the floor like silk threads mingling with leaves. A small ray of sunlight reflected off her pale skin, and for a moment, Kael considered letting her sleep a little longer.

Amélia, on the other hand, lay on her side, her grimoire open on her chest. She snored softly—a rare occurrence, and completely at odds with the elegant image she tried to maintain.

The princess—the young woman who had been the source of all the commotion—slept beside Sylphie, wrapped in a makeshift blanket. Her face was now peaceful, as if the previous night had temporarily erased the fear she carried.

Kael observed the scene for a moment. The three women who accompanied him, and the fugitive who had become the center of a conflict between kingdoms.

And he, in the middle of it all, unsure of how he had become the link that held them together.

"You’re thinking too much this morning." Irelia stood up, breaking the silence of his thoughts.

Kael chuckled. "Always so perceptive."

She crossed her arms. "You talk in your sleep."

He looked at her, surprised. "I do?"

Irelia nodded seriously. "A lot."

"What did I say?"

She looked away. A faint blush colored her cheeks, and it didn’t go unnoticed.

Kael raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Irelia...?"

"Stupid things," she replied dryly, picking up her spear and walking toward the trees. "That’s all."

Kael chuckled softly. "Of course, stupid things."

But the slight tremor in her voice said otherwise.

He stood up, stretching. Energy flowed through his veins with unusual ease. Even the mana around them seemed to react to his presence—vibrating, subtle, as if recognizing him.

Kael closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. He felt the pulse of the forest, the echo of the spirits sleeping among the roots. There was a strange harmony there, as if the place had accepted the group—at least for now.

Sylphie stirred, stretching slowly. Her green eyes fluttered open, sleepy, and it took her a few seconds to get her bearings.

"Um... Kael...?" she murmured, still groggy.

He turned to her, smiling. "Good morning, my elf queen."

She blinked, confused, and then realized what he had said.

"Kael!" Sylphie sat up quickly, her face flushing. "Stop it!"

Amélia, waking at the noise, lifted her head. "What did he do now?"

"Nothing," Sylphie replied, huffing. "Just being insufferable at dawn."

Kael raised his hands in surrender, but the stubborn smile remained. "I’m just acknowledging the title bestowed upon me."

Amélia ran a hand over her face in exasperation. "Are you still going on about this ’king of the elves’?"

"And related to the human emperor," Kael added, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Don’t forget that part."

Amélia narrowed her eyes at him. "Kael, if you keep saying that out loud, they’ll start to believe it."

"That’s the idea," he replied casually.

Irelia returned at that moment, carrying a canteen of water. "What’s going on here?"

Sylphie sighed, crossing her arms. "He’s delirious again."

Irelia arched an eyebrow and looked at Kael, who merely shrugged. "Me? I’m just accepting the fate you’ve dealt me."

The three exchanged exasperated glances, and for a brief moment, the air filled with a lightness they hadn’t felt in a long time.

Even with everything they’d been through—the ambushes, the deaths, the desperate escapes—in that brief moment, they laughed.

Amélia shook her head. "One day he’ll say something so absurd the world will believe it."

"When that day comes," Sylphie said, smirking, "I hope we’re far enough along to not be blamed."

Kael just laughed, taking the canteen from Irelia’s hands.

"Far or not, you’re already trapped by my reputation."

"Trapped?" Irelia repeated, narrowing her eyes. "Want to try and rephrase that?"

Kael took a sip of water and replied with the most insolent smile he could muster:

"I don’t see the need."

Irelia sighed, but a small smile escaped the corner of her lips. "You’re impossible."

"And you still follow me," he replied, shrugging. "Then I guess it works."

Sylphie snorted. "That’s stubbornness, not loyalty."

"That’s what all allies of great heroes say at the beginning of their journey."

"You call yourself a hero now?" Amelia asked in disbelief.

Kael turned to her, his eyes shining in the golden light of dawn. "For now, just a man trying to survive. The rest will come later."

There was something different about that sentence.

The joke was there, but there was also a weight behind it. A weariness. An echo of the night before.

Sylphie watched him silently for a moment, then murmured,

"You don’t have to carry everything alone."

Kael looked at her and smiled slightly. "I know. But someone has to pretend to hold on, or the rest will fall apart."

The words hung in the air for a few seconds.

Even Amelia, who would normally retort, fell silent.

The sound of the forest growing, the rustling of the wind, and the slowly rising sun filled the space between them.

Kael looked around, then stood up straight.

"Okay. Time to move on."

Sylphie, still a little drowsy, adjusted her cloak. "Shall we go to Azalith?"

Sylphie blinked slowly, adjusting her cloak over her shoulders, still looking drowsy. "Shall we go to Azalith?" she asked, her voice slurred.

Kael nodded, looking around. "It’s the only way left."

But before he could take the first step, something caught his attention. The princess was still fast asleep, curled up under the makeshift blanket. Her golden-blond hair was messy, a strand stuck to her cheek, and her face was peaceful, completely oblivious to the fact that the world seemed intent on killing them.

Amélia crossed her arms, watching her. "She’s still sleeping..."

Sylphie crouched beside the princess, tilting her head. "I... I think we should leave her a little longer. She was crying all night..." she commented gently.

"And she passed out soon after," Irelia added without much emotion. "Maybe it’s best not to wake her abruptly."

Kael looked from one to the other, frowning. "Are you planning to wait until she wakes up on her own?"

"Yes," the three replied almost in unison.

Kael let out a long sigh, running a hand through his hair. "Of course, of course... we’ll all stay here until the royals decide it’s time to open their eyes. Excellent plan."

"Kael..." Sylphie began, her tone warning.

But he was already moving.

With silent steps, he approached the princess, who was breathing softly, her lips parted. For a second, he stood there, simply watching.

"If I do this, they’ll kill me later," he thought.

A small, wry smile formed on his lips. "But it will be worth it."

He slowly lowered himself, leaning toward her face. The three elves watched him with alert expressions.

"Kael..." Amelia whispered, clutching the grimoire to her chest. "Don’t you dare..."

Sylphie’s eyes widened, her voice coming out in an almost pleading whisper. "Kael, please, don’t..."

Irelia simply crossed her arms, already anticipating the worst. "He’ll do it. I know he will."

And then Kael broke into a huge smile—the kind that precedes a catastrophe—and leaned in even closer, until he was just inches from the princess’s delicate ear.

He took a deep breath.

And he shouted:

"WAKE UP!"

The sound echoed through the forest like the roar of a beast. Birds took flight in despair, leaves fell from the trees, and the three elves practically jumped in place.

The princess screamed, rolling to the side in pure panic.

"WHAT?! WHAT HAPPENED?!" she exclaimed, clutching the blanket as if it were a shield.

Kael took a step back, feigning composure. "Oh, great. You’re alive."

The silence that followed was almost palpable.

Sylphie stared at him with an expression of pure shock, her face flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and anger.

Amélia’s mouth hung open, trying to process what had just happened.

And Irelia... well, Irelia just put her hand to her face and muttered something that sounded very much like a prayer for patience.

"Kael..." Sylphie began, her voice trembling, trying not to scream. "Why did you do THAT?!"

He shrugged, completely calm. "She needed to wake up."

"Wake up?!" Amelia almost stumbled over her own words. "You scared the girl half to death!"

The princess was still blinking, her heart clearly racing. "What... what was that?! Why did you scream in my ear?!"

Kael crouched beside her, resting an arm on his knee. "Because no one here had the courage to wake your highness. So I did the favor."

"Favor?!" she replied indignantly, her face flushing with anger and embarrassment. "That was an ATTACK!"

Kael arched an eyebrow. "If I wanted to attack you, princess, you wouldn’t be screaming right now."

Irelia let out a sound that might have been a cross between a laugh and an exasperated sigh. "You have no limits, do you?"

Kael looked at her and replied seriously, "Yes, I do. It’s flexible."

Sylphie sighed deeply, massaging her temples. "You’re going to make us hated before we even reach Azalith."

Kael stood and stretched his arms. "At least she’s awake. Mission accomplished."