Morning Preparations

Mariza adjusted her purple contact lenses one more time before stepping out of her small cottage. The morning sun painted the village streets golden, and merchants were already setting up their stalls in the central square.

"Another peaceful day," she whispered, touching the black dye that covered her natural turquoise streaks. Three months had passed since she'd arrived here, and no one suspected her true identity.

Mrs. Chen waved from her bakery window. "Good morning, dear! Fresh bread today!"

Mariza smiled and waved back, but her hand instinctively moved to where her sword would normally hang. Instead, she carried only a simple walking stick—another part of her disguise.

As she walked toward the fountain, a familiar ache settled in her chest. Last night's dream had been particularly vivid: Shadow, Ember, and El calling her name as dark figures dragged them away. She clenched her fists.

"I'll find you," she murmured. "All three of you."

The village children ran past, laughing and playing tag. Their carefree joy reminded her of what she was fighting to protect.

The Messenger

Mariza walked past the village fountain when a sparrow landed on the stone edge, chirping frantically. Its tiny wings fluttered as it hopped closer to her.

"What's wrong, little one?" she whispered.

The sparrow tilted its head and flew toward the forest path. It stopped, looked back at her, then flew forward again.

Mrs. Chen appeared beside her, flour dusting her apron. "That bird's been acting strange all morning. It keeps flying to the forest and coming back."

Mariza's heart skipped. Could this be a sign? She followed the sparrow down the winding path between tall pine trees. The bird led her to a small clearing where something glinted in the dirt.

A piece of black metal. Her breath caught—it looked exactly like fragments from Shadow's armor.

"Shadow," she breathed, picking up the shard. Three months of waiting, and finally a clue.

The sparrow chirped once more and flew deeper into the forest.

Mariza clutched the metal piece. Her friends were out there somewhere. The peaceful village life she'd built was about to change forever.