the books of hidden worlds

chapter eleven: Rowan

     
         Two days had passed since we entered the town of Elyndor. The air here felt heavy with history, and as we walked through its winding streets, it was as if every gaze held a whisper of recognition, a secret untold. The townspeople, their eyes lingering on us, seemed to know something—something they weren’t yet saying aloud.

   “Aren’t you the children of Lucian and Ivy?” a woman’s voice broke through the murmurs, her expression filled with both awe and suspicion. “Yes, I remember now. You’ve been here before, haven’t you?”

“Alden, don’t even think about causing trouble here,” Elias warned, his voice firm, cutting through the tension that hung between us like a thin thread.

“He’s right, Alden. not in this place,” Kevin added quietly, his usual calm laced with caution.

“It’s too dangerous, and you know why. years ago, your parents were respected here, but your father… he was accused.

     They said he stole the Darkness Book to destroy Elyndor. But it wasn’t him. Someone had taken his form, impersonated him, all to ruin his life,” Dorian explained, his voice grave with the weight of old wounds and buried truths.

“We need to move quickly,” Kevin said, trying to break the growing silence. “We need new clothes, food, and something to drink. We can’t afford to linger.”

“I know a place,” Peter chimed in, glancing sideways at Rowan with a mischievous grin.

“Don’t even start, Pete,” Rowan muttered, shaking his head, though a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

Peter just laughed, the sound light in contrast to the heavy atmosphere that had settled around us.

“So where’s this place?” Alden asked, draping an arm over Peter’s shoulder in a gesture of easy camaraderie, as if they had known each other for years.

As we walked further into the town, the buildings around us felt ancient, worn by time yet standing tall, each one holding its own story.

And then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a poster—its edges frayed, but the name bold enough to stop me in my tracks.

Missing: Prince Kaelion Dravon.

“Prince Kaelion Dravon?” I said, my voice low, more to myself than to anyone else.

“Ah, Prince Kaelion,” Cassian said softly, stepping closer. “He was meant to take the throne last year, but he vanished. He left the palace, and no one’s seen him since. Now, only his sister remains.”

“He had a sister?” I asked, surprised by the revelation.

Cassian nodded. “Yes, a younger sister. She’s been ruling in his absence.”

Before I could ask more, Peter stopped in front of a modest shop, its worn wooden door creaking open as he pushed it gently.

“We’re here,” he said, stepping inside.

“Hello, Miss Potts,” Peter greeted the shopkeeper, who stood behind the counter.

“Peter!” she exclaimed warmly, though her eyes scanned the group behind him. “You’ve brought quite the crowd with you today. What brings you all here?”

“We’re looking for some new clothes,” Peter said, gesturing to his own worn attire with a playful smile. “I think it’s clear we’re in need.”

Miss Potts chuckled softly and pointed them toward the back of the shop. “Help yourselves. I’ll take care of the rest.”

As we moved to find clothes, Orion’s voice broke the quiet hum of the shop. “Is there a library nearby?”