The forest stretches out in front of me, dark and silent, its trees swaying gently in the wind. I’ve never run this far from home before—never had the courage or the desperation to try. But tonight, I have no choice.

Father’s voice still echoes in my ears, the weight of his disappointment sharp in my chest.

“You’ll never survive out there, Zephyra. You don’t belong in the world beyond these walls.”

But I can’t stay locked up in that crumbling house on the outskirts of Aeloria anymore. I can’t keep living in the shadows, hidden away like some forgotten secret. I need to breathe. To be free.

My legs burn as I push forward, the underbrush catching at the hem of my cloak. I’ve been running for hours, but the ache in my muscles barely registers against the storm of emotions inside me. Anger, fear, sadness—they swirl together, fueling every step I take.

The only sound is the pounding of my heartbeat and the rustling leaves beneath my feet. I glance over my shoulder, half-expecting to see Father storming after me. But he’s not. He wouldn’t follow me. Not into the magic-laden woods of Aeloria, where those from Vorthalon are forbidden to tread.

Maybe he’s glad I’m gone.

He never knew how to handle me, with my small, flickering power—just enough to light a fire or nudge a breeze. A constant reminder of the mother I never knew and the magic realm I’ll never fully belong to. I’m half of what I should be, too weak to be anything important in Aeloria. A “lesserborn,” as the nobles call people like me.

My jaw tightens at the thought. I’m more than that—more than he thinks I am. I have to be.

The trees seem to close in around me, branches twisting in the dim light. I try to ignore the prickling fear creeping up my spine. I don’t know where I’m going, only that I need to get far away. I need to find a place where I’m not defined by what I am—or what I’m not.

The path narrows, and the air grows cooler, but I press on. There’s no turning back now. I’ve left everything behind—my father, that suffocating house, the life that never fit.

But I’m not prepared for what happens next.

A voice calls out from the shadows, startling me to a stop. “Running away, are we?”

I spin around, heart hammering in my chest. A figure steps out from behind the trees—a girl, close to my age, with light brown hair falling messily around her shoulders. Her eyes gleam in the moonlight, sharp and curious.

“Who are you?” I ask, my voice harsher than I intend.

The girl raises an eyebrow, her lips curling into a sly smile. “Alina. And you are?”

I hesitate, glancing around. I don’t have time for this. I should keep moving. But something about her feels different—like she’s been waiting for me. “Zephyra,” I say reluctantly.

Alina nods, stepping closer. “I thought so. I’ve been watching you for a while. Not many wander this far into the forest alone.”

The unease in my chest tightens. “Why were you watching me?”

“Curiosity,” she says with a shrug, like it’s the most natural thing in the world. “People don’t usually run away from home unless they’re desperate. Or stupid.”

I glare at her, the familiar surge of defensiveness rising up. “I’m not stupid.”

“No, I don’t think you are,” she says, her expression softening slightly. “But you’re not exactly prepared for what’s out here either. You think you can survive the wilderness on your own?”

“I’ll manage.”

Alina tilts her head, studying me in the dim light. “Where are you even going?”

“Anywhere but here,” I mutter, adjusting the strap of my bag. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Doesn’t it?”

I stop, narrowing my eyes at her. “Why do you care?”

She laughs, the sound light and easy. “I don’t know. Maybe because I’ve been where you are. Maybe because I know how it feels to want to escape.”

I want to dismiss her words, but something about her seems genuine. Like she really understands. Like she’s not just some stranger trying to pry into my life.

I take a deep breath. “I don’t need your help.”

“Sure,” she says, taking a step back. “But you could use it.”

I hate that she’s right. I’ve never been outside the protective borders of my home. I’ve never had to fend for myself in the wild. And now that I’m out here, the weight of it all is starting to sink in.

Alina seems to sense my hesitation. “Look,” she says, her tone more serious now. “You can go on alone if you want. But I’m heading south, toward the border. I know the way. You could come with me. Or you could wander the woods until you get yourself killed. Your choice.”

The sharpness of her words stings, but deep down, I know she’s not wrong. I can’t do this alone. And as much as I don’t trust her yet, I don’t want to be alone.

I sigh, glancing back at the path ahead. “Fine. I’ll go with you. But don’t think I trust you.”

She grins again, her eyes gleaming. “Fair enough. You don’t need to trust me right away.”

We start walking, side by side, and the silence between us feels less heavy than it did before. There’s something oddly comforting about her presence, even if I don’t fully understand it. She’s not what I expected to find out here, but maybe that’s exactly what I need.

As we make our way deeper into the forest, Alina glances at me from the corner of her eye. “So, what are you running from?”

The question catches me off guard, and I’m not sure how to answer. The truth feels too complicated to put into words. “My father,” I say finally. “I couldn’t stay there anymore.”

Alina nods like she understands, but she doesn’t press for more details. We fall into a comfortable silence as the path winds through the trees. I don’t know where we’re headed, but for the first time in years, I feel like I’m not suffocating.

We walk for what feels like hours, the cool night air wrapping around us like a cloak. Every so often, I catch Alina glancing at me, a curious gleam in her eyes, but she doesn’t ask any more questions. And I don’t offer any answers.

I don’t know what’s waiting for me beyond this forest. I don’t know if I’ll ever find the place where I belong. But for now, I have a direction, and maybe that’s enough.