Arellene

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The king sat on his throne, looking over at his daughter as she was sharpening her sword. "Arhades is going on a mission later.. I think it would be good if you joined him."
He spoke in a deep but gentle voice. His words always had a calm yet commanding undertone to them.

Arellene asked. "Where to"

"You're going into the neighboring Fae kingdom. A small village has been destroyed.. we can only assume the reason by Fae," the king answered.

"Alright, Father," Arellene answered firmly

"Get ready. You're leaving today," he said sternly, clearly not wanting any reluctance from Arellene.

Arhades stood in the courtyard, his sword already strapped to his side. He wore a leather armor with dark metal plates. He eyed Arellene as she appeared, a small smirk on his lips. "Ready to go?"

Arellene nod

He nodded in reply, his attention shifting to the two dark horses being prepared by some knights. "The Fae Kingdom is fairly far. We'll need to ride through the night," Arhades spoke firmly.

"Come now," he said as the two dark steeds were pulled over to them. They were the two best horses of the stables. Arhades took the reigns of his own and mounted it, easily taking a seat on top of the black steed.

Arellene followed suit, skillfully getting onto her horse and taking the reigns into her grip, her other hand resting on the pommel of her sword. Her gaze was sharp and focused, ready to face whatever laid ahead.

In the midst of the silence Arellene called Arhades. "Brother"

Arhades turned his horse to face his sister, locking eyes with her. "Do you have any questions, sister?" He asked, his voice gentle but serious.

"I'm happy to always be by your side, every time there's a mission," Arellene with a proud smile.

His expression remained stoic, but behind his facade he was surprised. Despite their sibling relationship, Arhades often remained distant and cold toward Arellene. However, hearing her words, he felt a slight wave of vulnerability that he quickly shook off. "I'm glad to have you, sis." he responded calmly.

"Let's go," he said after a brief pause. With a nod and a subtle touch of his heels against the horse's flank, Arhades urged his steed into a trot, Arellene closely following behind.

The two rode in relative silence on their journey, the only sound being the gentle clopping of the horses' hooves on the ground and occasional rustling of trees in the wind. The night was particularly dark, with only a few faint stars shining in the sky.

As if sensing their riders' quiet determination, the horses moved swiftly in the dark, their dark coats making them seem almost one with the night. The journey was long, and the terrain rough, but the siblings remained unwavering.

Hours turned into a blur as the duo continued on their journey, barely resting or stopping. Arhades and Arellene seemed unaffected by fatigue, the cool night air and determination to reach their destination propelling them forward

Finally, the faint glow of dawn peeked over the horizon, casting a soft light on the landscape. Arhades and Arellene could see the outline of the Fae Kingdom's tall trees against the growing daylight.

The siblings reined in their horses, pausing for a moment to survey the area. The border they were approaching had a small river and then a thick growth of trees. It was obvious someone had blocked the area off with enchanted weeds.

"Tch, they use magic," said Arellene irritably.

Arhades scoffed lightly, his expression displaying annoyance rather than fear or concern. "Fae are cunning. We'll find a way through their magic barrier." He spoke confidentially.

"annoying, they always take refuge under magic, cowards," Arellene continued to mumble.

"Agreed." Arhades muttered in reply, his gaze sweeping the area. "We'll need to find a river crossing. Somewhere less protected by magic."

The two remained still for a moment, listening to the sounds of the river, trying to discern the best place to cross. Finally, Arhades spoke up, voice low but firm. "There, downstream." He pointed, gesturing to a narrower area of the river where the water seemed calmer.

Slowly, the two siblings led their horses through the underbrush, keeping a close eye on the landscape, and finally reached the narrow area of the river. It was calmer here, and the water looked shallower than on the other side of the enchanted weeds.

Without a moment's hesitation, Arhades kicked his heels into his horse's side, urging the steed forward into the water. Arellene immediately followed suit, leading her own horse into the river, the water splashing around their steeds' hooves.

The water was slightly deeper than it appeared, coming up to the horses' bellies, the current rushing gently around their legs. Arhades and Arellene pressed on swiftly, the horses wading through the river with measured movements.

Every so often, a small wave would hit the horses, splashing water droplets onto Arhades and Arellene, yet neither of them seemed to care. Their eyes were on the other side of the river and their mission ahead.

After a short while, the horses finally emerged from the river, soaked and dripping, onto the bank on the other side. Arhades and Arellene patted the sides of their horses, their gazes now directed into the dense forest of the Fae Kingdom.

"We're on their turf now," Arhades muttered. "Stay on guard. Let's find that village and see what happened."

With a subtle flick of their heels and a shift of reins, the horses moved forward. Their movements were calculated and cautious, as if they could sense the danger lurking beneath the shadows of the Fae-infested forest.

The thick forest of the Fae Kingdom was an ominous place. Dark shadows casted from the tall trees, the sounds of crickets and nocturnal creatures fill the air, and the scent of magic wafted through the forest, creating an eerie atmosphere.

Arhades scanned the surroundings, his eyes narrowed as he watched and listened for any unusual movements or sounds. Arellene also remained alert, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword, ready to draw it at a moment's notice.

⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺