Book of The Lightborn: Rise

Our Way Home

Three suns later

"Has Kilon recovered?" Avaanel asked Eharel. She used two starstag antlers to the sides of her leg, to support her weight the missing foot couldn't.

"Hard to say," Eharel responded, his eyes looking doubtful to the ground. "Him using all those lights so recklessly during the first attack, may have injured him in places we don't know of," his voice trembling with bits of worry.

"It doesn't matter," Menoel interrupted their conversation, leading their attention towards his tall body. "Once we're surrounded by those mountains, we can rest for more than a sun," his eyes looking forward, as they now passed a portion of a mountain to the right of them, and to the left, another portion of a mountain started.

The Lightborn have travelled for nineteen suns since they left the Link into the Warm Lands, or twenty-seven days, since the last sun was a normal day. They left the Northern region of Erta, the day-night cycle started to work in half of a day, instead of whole days, thus the last sun being a normal day.

Since they started to travel the Warm Lands, until they reached the Lands Between Mountains, twelve suns or days have passed. With two days to rest, one after crossing the Closed Passage, and one after the second rootworm attack, the Lighborn have travelled for thirty-one days before they reached-

"Our home, it's here," Menoel bluntly stated. Eharel looked at him with disdain, as if Menoel's words offended him somehow, or were oblivious to some fact that should be known.

"Our home, you say..." Avaanel repeated, squinting her eyes at the top of the mountains and admiring their beauty. Those peaks weren't covered by thick layers of snow, or ceaselessly attacked by ruthless winds, she could see. Instead, they were covered by green, tall trees, plants, and almost certainly, wildlife. The breeze coming from ahead of them was chilly. A powerful scent of fauna and life infiltrated deep into their lungs, as they started to make their way into the passage.

"What should we call this one?" Eharel asked Menoel, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. Menoel didn't seem to notice it at first.

"This passage you mean brother?" Menoel asked back, trying to see if Eharel sought to annoy him.

"Well, everything. Since this is clearly our new home, we should come up with names really fast right?" Eharel continued, his sarcasm now stepping on his brother's nerves, as Menoel clenched his left fist, parallel to Eharel.

"You're doubting this place? Now that we're here, you dare doubt Kilon and our siblings' sacrifices?!" Menoel inquired of Eharel, his eyes starting to emit an aggressive glow.

"I'm not doubting Kilon," Eharel snapped at Menoel, aiming his gaze into Menoel's eyes. "I'm questioning your ability to judge our circumstances, dear brother," Eharel continued, a frown, followed by a smirk as he said these things, appeared on his face.

"How about, the Passage Gates," Avaanel suggested amidst their dispute. "Maybe not that though, doesn't sound proper enough," she continued, like she was oblivious to her brothers' concerns.

"Either way Eharel," Menoel wanted to finish. "Me and Kilon already discussed what to do once we get there," Menoel smirked back at Eharel.

"Then tell us too, about these plans you and Kilon talked about," Eharel maintained his sarcasm, while also wanting to know more about it.

"I will, once we arrive. There is no point in explaining it here, given that we need something to practice with," Menoel teased his brother, switching his gaze back upon the road, his eyes calm in their glow.

Eharel wanted to know what Menoel was talking about, but knew that it was a bit late to persuade Menoel, given the way he talked towards Menoel. Avaanel, on the other hand, simply couldn't contain her excitement. There were so many things showing up just as they were entering the valley.