𝐻𝐸𝐼𝑅𝑆 𝑂𝐹 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝑇𝐻𝑅𝑂𝑁𝐸

𝐶𝐻𝐴𝑃𝑇𝐸𝑅 𝟖

-LYSANDER-

We were outside now. Finnian was cheering for his victory at being the first to find Elowen.

"I told you all I'd be the first to find her!" Finnian exclaimed, his voice filled with triumph. "Guess I'm the champion of the labyrinth!"

Elowen laughed, shaking her head in amusement. "Alright, alright, you win this time, Finnian. But don't get too used to it!"

Thalasia joined in, her tone playful. "I think we should give him a trophy or something. Maybe a crown made of leaves?"

I chuckled at their banter, feeling a sense of normalcy return after the labyrinth. "You did well, Finnian. But next time, we'll make it more challenging for you."

"What do you want now that you won?" Elowen asked him, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Finnian pretended to ponder for a moment, a playful grin spreading across his face. "Hmm, let me think," he said, drawing out the suspense. "How about... an extra slice of that delicious birthday cake? And," he added, raising a finger for emphasis, "the honor of the first dance with the birthday girl herself."

Elowen laughed, giving him a mock curtsy. "Your wish is my command, oh great labyrinth champion."

Thalasia clapped her hands, joining in the fun. "Well, it looks like tonight is your lucky night, Finnian."

I couldn't help but smile at the scene, feeling a sense of camaraderie and joy. "Just make sure to save some cake for the rest of us," I teased.

I noticed that Seraphina wasn't with us. A pang of worry hit me as I scanned the area, searching for any sign of her. Was she lost? The thought of her still wandering in the labyrinth sent a chill down my spine.

I guess no one noticed that she wasn't there for the moment as they were laughing with each other. Their laughter and banter filled the air, masking the absence of one of our own.

Then I heard footsteps coming from the maze, and it wasn't just Seraphina's. There were also the distinct, heavier steps of a man. Both of them emerged from the labyrinth, and I immediately noticed that Seraphina looked paler than usual.

Beside her was a faerie I had never seen before, with medium-long silver hair that shimmered in the moonlight. His presence was commanding, yet there was a certain gentleness in the way he supported Seraphina, ensuring she was steady on her feet.

"Seraphina, are you alright?" I asked, hurrying over to her side. My concern was evident in my voice.

She nodded weakly, her eyes reflecting the recent ordeal. "I'm fine, Lysander. This is Kael. He helped me."

The silver-haired faerie, Kael, gave a slight nod in acknowledgment. "She encountered a shadow wraith in the labyrinth," he explained, his voice calm and reassuring. "I managed to dispel it before it could do any serious harm."

A mixture of relief and gratitude washed over me. "Thank you, Kael. We owe you for this."

Kael smiled modestly. "Just glad I could help."

As we guided Seraphina back to the group, the festive sounds of the party seemed to envelop us once more, providing a stark contrast to the eerie silence of the labyrinth. The others finally noticed our return and hurried over, their expressions shifting from confusion to concern as they took in Seraphina's pale appearance and the presence of the unfamiliar faerie.

Elowen was the first to speak. "Seraphina, what happened? And who is this?"

"This is Kael," I introduced, my voice steadying. "He saved Seraphina from a shadow wraith in the labyrinth."