Two days later, morning at the docks of Sharmarli, the Holy City…

  We made it! The grand spires of the Palace of Lights shimmer on the distant horizon, brighter than ever – radiant, even against the bright morning sun and snow-speckled skies.

  That’s where we’re headed! Tucked deep within the heart of the Holy City… it’s the place to be! People say you can live there for a year and never eat the same meal twice. Whether that’s true or not… I suppose only one person knows for certain – the Oracle herself, Lady Nhaka Mezalune. And guess what? She’s exactly who we’re here to meet!

  But first… we gotta get out of here. The docks are packed to high hell and back, bustling with people and ships coming and going. Not just now, either. This place is always alive – even past midnight. It’s said the Holy City never sleeps… and looking around, I can see why.

  Still, it’s all good. Anna and I have a system, see? We’re holding hands! So long as I don’t let go, the crashing waves of people around us have no power over me. With her hand in mine, I’m the eye of the storm, the centre of the universe… and we got this!

  We weave our way through the sea of bodies, scanning our surroundings as we pass bustling seaside cafés and stalls bursting with trinkets and spices. Our steps are confident, and our path is clear despite the hustle and bustle all around us. Until…

  “Woah!”

  I suddenly stop, eyes wide with shock as I spot a familiar Elf girl with brown hair and teal eyes standing near the dock’s entrance. Barely spotted her, because there’s a small crowd around her buzzing loudly with excitement – screams and squeals of joy, all on her.

  “Is that… who I think it is?”

  Anna blinks at me, confused. “Huh?”

  “Over there!” I point at the crowd, my heart skipping at the sight of her – alive, breathing, happy, and swarmed by eager fans. “That’s Eris Aintree amid all those people, right!?”

  “Oh my! It really is her!” Anna exclaims, her eyes wide with disbelief before her hands flutter nervously towards her cheeks. “By Rinnah! I…”

  “Let’s head over and say hello.” I offer, flashing a smile. “Looks like a proper fan meet we oughta be a part of! C’mon!”

  “But I…”

  “Something wrong?”

  “I’m just, umm…”

  “Starstruck, eh?” I whisper teasingly into Anna’s ear, and her cheeks blaze the brightest shade of red I’ve ever seen. “Relax. It’s fine! Retake my hand, won’t ya? We’ll get through this together. And if she bites… I’ll bite back twice as hard!”

  “That’s not very reassuring…” Anna pouts, though the smile tugging at her lips is impossible to miss. “I don’t want anyone biting anyone!”

  “I’m just saying I’ve got your back, silly.”

  “I suppose that’s one way to express such a sentiment…”

  “Indeed,” I say, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Shall we?”

  Hand in hand, we ease into the crowd gathered around Eris. Up close, she’s dressed head to toe in the holy regalia of the Sacred Shield – the Oracle’s personal army that protects the Holy City and the surrounding lands. It’s a striking ensemble, blending white and black cloth with silver plate armour. Thigh-high greaves glint in the sunlight, the polished silver meeting the edge of her black stockings snug around her thighs.

  It’s a far cry from how I remember her in the previous timeline. The Demon Cult had done a number on her back then – forced her into black and purple robes soaked in blood and ritual oils when they twisted her into the Demon’s Voice. Her eyes had been wide and wild as she spoke for the Demon Lord with trembling lips and no will of her own.

  But here and now? She’s radiant – smiling, safe, and sound. No chains, no madness. Just Eris Aintree the Bard… happily signing autographs and chatting with fans.

  And yet… something feels off. If that’s Eris, why is she in a Sacred Shield uniform? She’s a Bard, not a soldier. Then I see them – figures scattered throughout the crowd, dressed as ordinary citizens, blending seamlessly into the scenery… and the two bodyguards in Studio attire. Their sharp, watchful eyes leave no doubt – they’re Sacred Shield. The Oracle must have sent them to watch over her… but why?

  Before I can make any sense of this, Eris spots us through the crowd. Her eyes light up, and she waves eagerly, beckoning us to the front.

  Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

  “Ah! Lady Arisa Ishii, I presume?” Eris calls out cheerfully while juggling fan requests. “ You match the description Lady Nhaka gave me!”

  “Yup! That’s me!” I answer with a grin, thumb pointing back at myself. “Did Lady Mezalune send you to pick us up?”

  Eris nods enthusiastically. “She did! She foresaw your arrival – right down to the hour! Ah! And this noble Paladin with you must be Lady Anna Silverlight! ”

  “Umm…” Anna blushes, hand pressed to her cheek. “Yes!”

  Without warning, Eris closes in and clasps Anna’s hands, shaking them excitedly. The dagger-sharp points of her elvish ears twitch like mad, practically vibrating with enthusiasm.

  “Miss Aintree! I…”

  “I’m so happy to have the chance to meet you in person, Lady Anna!” Eris gushes, teal eyes sparkling. “I’ve heard so much about you from my Manager and Lady Iris!”

  Anna freezes, shoulders tight with shock, unable to process the sheer enthusiasm radiating off her idol. “You know my Mom, Miss Aintree!? Oh my! Umm…”

  “Of course! Lady Iris speaks of you often – she told my Manager, Mister Roland, that you love my songs with all your heart and soul! That you’re my number one fan in the world!”

  “I am, Miss Aintree!” Anna blurts, practically glowing. “I’ve listened to every single one!”

  “Please, just ‘Eris’! Or ‘Miss Eris’, if you must!” Eris insists, her tone bright and bubbly, almost bouncing with energy. “Ah, but really – I prefer ‘Eris’. Formality gives me hives! I know Mister Roland hates it when I say that… but I’ve never been one to stand on ceremony!”

  She shrugs dramatically. A handful of her fans in the crowd swoon audibly, sighing like lovesick fools. And I think I heard more than one profess their undying love for her cuteness.

  “Hey, you and me both,” I say, flashing her a wink, and she grins back. “Call me Arisa, then!”

  “Arisa, it is! And you, Lady Anna? May I?”

  “Okay… Eris!” Anna exclaims enthusiastically, the brightness of her smile radiating so much energy it could power a city. “It’s an honour to meet you!”

  Eris claps happily. “Ah! No, the honour’s mine, Anna! It really, really is! What a day… to meet my biggest fan who loves me so!”

  “Me too, Eris! Me too!”

  Their excitement is infectious, and I can’t help but smile. But wait! On her neck – are those… bruises? And faint scars along her forehead? I didn’t notice till now, and it’s really… unsettling.

  “Ooh! Ooh! Anna!” Eris adds with a sly wink. “If you’ve listened to all my songs… which one’s your favourite!?”

  Anna cups her chin, thinking hard. “Umm… if I had to choose… I’d say – Moonlight Shadows!”

  “Ah! I like that one, too!” Eris exclaims, clapping her hands together in delight. “It was so much fun working on the lyrics with Mister Roland. And I…”

  Before she can finish her sentence, a fan alongside Anna and I at the front of the crowd jumps in eagerly. “Can you sing Moonlight Shadow for us, Eris? It’s my favourite song, too!”

  Another fan chimes in eagerly, nodding vigorously. “Yeah! I also love that song! Pretty please, Eris? I own all your records, but I’ve yet to hear you live…”

  “Me too! Please indulge us, Eris! We love you!”

  “Eris! Eris! Eris!”

  Their excitement spreads like wildfire. Soon, the rest of the crowd joins in, chanting Eris’ name to plead for a live performance.

  “Ah! Umm… I…”

  “Eris! Eris! Eris!”

  Her smile falters as their chants grow louder and louder. She glances around, suddenly fidgety, hands gripping her elbows protectively. The once-playful sparkle in her eyes dims as the pressure mounts. “I don’t think I can…”

  “Huh? Why not?”

  “Umm… I just… don’t want to. I can’t! I…”

  “This is so disappointing…”

  “Yeah, what a shame! To think I used to like her songs so much. Not so much these days…”

  “Say, isn’t she retired? Her studio made that announcement, remember?”

  “Yes, they did. But wait – why’s she here now?”

  “And why won’t she sing Moonlight Shadow for us, her beloved fans? It’s such a simple song… yet so beautiful when she sings it…”

  “Anna, Arisa…”

  Eris is trembling now – not just nervous, but utterly terrified. Petrified. Her eyes are wide, like a deer caught in headlights, as the crowd’s excitement shifts into restless insistence. A few fans at the front push forward, eager to persuade her, their voices growing more desperate – but before they can get too close, her bodyguards swiftly step in.

  But there are too many fans… and too few bodyguards, Sacred Shield or not. If the crowd surges, they’ll be overwhelmed in seconds. Yep, this ain’t looking too good…

  “We need to get out of here, Arisa…” Anna whispers urgently, gripping my arm. “Lead the way out of the docks. I’ll keep Eris safe.”

  “On it.”

  I raise Elizabeth high, voice ringing loud and clear to the crowd while Anna takes Eris’ hand. “Alright, show’s over. Clear a path, please!”

  “Hey!”

  One particularly outspoken fan blocks my way, his entire body practically trembling with righteous indignation. “Stop! What do you think you’re doing to Eris?”

  “We’re friends of hers, and she’s not feeling well,” I answer as politely as I can manage amid the growing tension crackling in the air. “Step aside.”

  “We’re all friends of hers as well! You can’t take her away from us!”

  “Yeah! You can’t!”

  “Yes, we can. You’re all making her very uncomfortable,” I answer curtly, my patience thinning fast. “Give us some space, please. We’re leaving.”

  “No way! We haven’t seen or heard from her in ages…” the defiant fan demands, his voice rising with each word as he rallies the others around him. A chorus of agreement follows, the crowd swelling with restless energy. “We want to know what happened to her – she owes us an explanation! And she…”

  “SHE DOESN’T OWE YOU SHIT!” I interject, yelling at the top of my lungs as the angelic wings of Elizabeth glow with searing shades of white and blue scorch the air around me. “Let me be crystal fucking clear – I said ‘please’ when I, in fact, meant ‘NOW’! So, get the fuck outta my way! LAST WARNING, IDIOTS!”

  “Aaah!”

  The fans scramble back in a panicked rush, tripping over each other in their desperation to get themselves away from my righteous fire. Even the Sacred Shield undercover agents, who have finally closed in to secure Eris, pause for a heartbeat, their usual composure shaken by the raw power radiating from my staff.

  “Alright,” I say as I lower Elizabeth, meeting Eris’ fearful gaze with a steady nod. “Let’s get you outta here.”

  Kyshies