-Laelia-
The children were more serious than I had ever seen them before, and when I asked for their help, they didn’t hesitate. They were also fascinated by Rathilion—none of them had ever seen an elf before, and he was surprisingly good with them, even letting a few of them touch his ears. It made me smile, even in such a serious situation.
Once we set off toward the palace, the kids proved to be even smarter than I had thought. They had dressed me in dark, worn clothes that resembled their own, complete with a hood to cover my face. One of the girls had braided my hair and then twisted it into a bun at the nape of my neck, leaving a few white strands to frame my face. It was both beautiful and practical, keeping my hair out of the way.
The children led us through dark alleys and path
