Elowen gently excused herself, cradling a small offering of herbs and blossoms as she moved towards the statues of Ariel and Bathin. Raelyn watched her kneel quietly, head bowed.

When Raelyn turned back, her eyes caught Corix staring at the statues ahead, his gaze distant and unfocused. It was as if a veil had been lifted, revealing a man raw with memories and scars he'd kept hidden beneath a mask of coldness. She felt her chest tighten, her fingers clenching slightly with a sudden wave of empathy.

Raelyn had wondered about his past. What made him the way he was, but every attempt at finding out anything was met with a harsh refusal. But Corix had been different recently, perhaps tonight would be different. Still, her heart fluttered nervously as she struggled to summon the courage to speak. Could she even dare ask? What if he closed himself off again?

As if sensing her eyes on him, Corix slowly turned toward her. "Is something wrong, Raelyn?"

She opened her mouth, then hesitated, her voice momentarily lost. "No," she whispered, shaking her head softly. "It's nothing."

His brows knitted together slightly. "If something is troubling you, you can tell me."

Raelyn looked away briefly, glancing toward the distant silhouettes of the dancers. "I've been meaning to say... I've really come to enjoy our lessons," she began, her voice just above a whisper. "It's just—" She paused, drawing in a breath. Her fingers fidgeted with the edge of her tunic, twisting the fabric. "There's something I've wondered about for a long time."

She bit her lip, the words hesitating at the edge of her mouth. Part of her wanted to let it go, to avoid disrupting the progress they had made. "Back at Ardesco..." Her voice lowered again. "You always seemed angry. At most people, but especially me. Ever since I can remember, I felt like you hated me. And I never knew why."

She glanced up at him, searching his face, but as soon as their eyes met he looked away. That was precisely the reason why she had to know. "I just... I'd like to know," she said gently. "Why you hated me."

Corix went quiet, his expression dropped. Slowly, he drew a deep breath and released it as a weary sigh, running a hand over the baldness on his head. "I wasn't always like that, you know," he began softly, a note of vulnerability in his tone that Raelyn had never heard before. "If you'd known me then, you wouldn't be able to recognize me."

A gentle, distant smile curved his lips. "I was happy once. Truly happy. It seems impossible now, but I was." He shook his head slowly, almost disbelieving his own words. "I had a wife. Sonea. We met teaching at Ardesco. She was brilliant, beautiful. The kindest person I've ever known." His eyes softened with the recollection, gazing somewhere far beyond the Starlight Conclave. "We fell in love quickly, and it didn't take long before we married."

Raelyn watched silently, hardly daring to breathe, afraid even the slightest movement might disrupt his openness. It was hard to imagine Corix happy, married with a wife. But the fact that he wasn't now didn't bode well.

"Sonea and I..." Corix exhaled through his nose, then tried again. "We both wanted a family."

His gaze drifted to the distance, unfocused, as if the memory unfolded somewhere beyond the trees. The lines around his mouth deepened. "When she told me she was expecting..." A faint, almost surprised smile passed across his face. "I was overjoyed. Giddy, even. I couldn't stop talking about it. I could have screamed it from the rooftops. But then..." His voice caught, the air thinning between syllables. His throat moved as he swallowed hard, and he lowered his gaze to his hands, now clasped tightly in his lap. "The day came," he said, slower now. "It should have been the happiest of our lives."

Raelyn could see the tears forming behind his eyes and fear gripped at her heart for where the story would go.

"But it wasn't. It... shattered us." He tried to go on, but his mouth stayed open for a moment without sound. Raelyn could see the pain lining every angle of his face.

"Our daughter..." He pressed his lips together, then forced the words out, softer than before. "She never took a breath. Her heart never beat."

Raelyn's breath caught sharply. Instinctively, she reached out, her hand gently resting on his knee. "Corix, I'm so sorry," she murmured softly, her voice thick with genuine grief. "I had no idea."

Corix glanced down at her hand briefly, acknowledging the gesture without pulling away. Tears glistened faintly in his eyes, yet did not fall. Silence stretched between them, filled only by the elders' melodic voices as their song transitioned, its tones deeper, mournful yet beautiful. After a long pause, Corix cleared his throat, taking a steadying breath.

"We tried to move forward, but losing our child broke something deep within us both." His gaze was distant again. "Sonea buried herself in her work, dedicating herself entirely to teaching and traveling across Unevia in search of others gifted with magic. Perhaps... perhaps she couldn't bear to be home, to face the emptiness between us. Perhaps my grief only reminded her of what we'd lost." His shoulders dropped slightly. "I'll never truly know."

Raelyn's heart twisted painfully in her chest. She wanted desperately to comfort him, yet she sensed he needed to release these long-held sorrows more than he needed her words.

Corix lifted his gaze back to the statues, his voice lower now, filled with regret. "She was traveling in Bromaric when the demons attacked. I departed in search for her as soon as news reached Ardesco... but the demons gained ground too quickly. The roads turned treacherous overnight. Whole regions went dark. The land..." He shook his head, jaw tightening. "The land became impossible to cross."

"For months, I waited." His hands were still, resting in his lap. "Every day, I believed she'd walk through the door. That I'd turn and see her, tired from the journey." He sighed. "But she never came." His voice cracked slightly, barely audible. "I can only assume she was lost in the assault. Knowing her, she probably gave her life protecting others. That was who she was."

A single tear finally escaped, tracing a slow path down his cheek. He wiped it quickly, a brief, almost embarrassed gesture. Raelyn felt her own eyes sting with tears, understanding fully now the darkness he carried, the sorrow that had carved itself deeply into his heart.

Her voice was a gentle whisper. "Corix, I can't even imagine what you've gone through."

He shook his head softly, a faint tremble in his shoulders. "Losing them destroyed me. My grief became anger. Anger at the gods, anger at myself. It robbed me of my balance, my connection to magic. My medial withered... and it was the gods I blamed for taking everything from me."

Raelyn sat motionless, her heart aching as she absorbed every painful word. All the bitterness, all the anger he'd shown at Ardesco and beyond suddenly made sense.

Corix finally turned fully toward her, meeting her gaze openly, tears brimming in his eyes. "Sonea was kind. So kind that every time she looked at me, I felt it in my bones. And every time I look at you, Raelyn, I see that same kindness. It reminds me of everything I've lost." He lowered his gaze again, head bowing with shame. "That's why I simply couldn't look at you. So I lashed out at you, pushed you away. It was easier to hold you at a distance than to confront the pain."

Raelyn's throat tightened painfully. Suddenly, everything about Corix's harshness, his inability to meet her gaze, became heartbreakingly clear. The anger had never been truly meant for her. It had been his shield against his loss.

His shoulders dropped, his head bowed further. "I'm sorry, Raelyn. For everything. Forgive me."

Raelyn didn't hesitate. Her voice was tender, unwavering. "Of course I forgive you," she whispered earnestly. "You're not just my mentor, Corix. You're my friend. I care about you."

Corix looked up slowly, meeting her gaze once more. For a brief moment, beneath the pain and sorrow, Raelyn saw the kindness he had spoken of reflected back at her. The weight between them lifted slightly, replaced by quiet understanding and relief.

He smiled faintly, the first genuine smile she had ever seen from him. "There's that kindness again."

Elowen returned quietly, her footsteps nearly silent against the polished platform. She paused when she noticed Corix and Raelyn sitting close together, a faint crease forming between her brows. Her eyes flicked gently from one face to the other, sensing the delicate shift in atmosphere.

"I'm not interrupting, am I?" she asked softly, her voice tinged with gentle caution.

Corix straightened immediately, smoothing his expression and quickly regaining his composure. "No," he said with a slight shake of his head. "You're not."

Raelyn glanced around, suddenly realizing the elders' song had ceased. The platform was no longer filled with the resonant hum of their voices but instead was alive with gentle murmurs and the quiet shuffle of elves rearranging themselves. Carefully, she adjusted her position, her dull, nearly extinguished moonstone resting quietly in front of her.

Elowen sank gracefully to her knees, placing her own softly glowing moonstone before her. "It's almost time," she said gently. "Get ready for the ritual. Have your moonstones ready."

Raelyn straightened slightly, looking from her stone back to Elowen with a quiet, questioning look. "What exactly do I have to do?"

Elowen smiled softly. "Place them before you and kneel," she instructed. Raelyn and Corix followed suit, kneeling down in front of their moonstones.

"These moonstones illuminate our homes and paths in Caelluma during the dark of night," Elowen explained softly, "Each full moon, they must be recharged with Sariel's light to remain luminous throughout the lunation. During this recharging, we perform a ritual called Sariel's Embrace."

"What exactly does that entail?" Raelyn asked, tilting her head.

Before Elowen could reply, a familiar rustling caught their attention. Rakz trotted toward them from the shadows, though trotted perhaps wasn't the right word. He was nearly staggering under the weight of countless flowers, tiny woven charms, and little polished trinkets that had been tied carefully to his limbs, head and tail. With a resigned huff, he collapsed dramatically next to Raelyn, blinking up at her with a look dignity despite his ridiculous adornments.

Raelyn suppressed a laugh, gently brushing her fingers along his flower-crowned head before turning back to Elowen.

Elowen chuckled quietly before regaining her reverence. "During Sariel's Embrace, we turn inward, allowing ourselves to truly acknowledge our pain, our losses, and our deepest fears. We gather these feelings and lay them before Sariel, asking her to take our darkness and transform it into light. In this way, even our hardships become a guiding beacon for those around us."

Corix shifted slightly, his shoulders relaxing as he released a long breath. His eyes caught Raelyn's, filled with understanding and a newly forged bond of shared vulnerability. "That sounds like a good ritual," he murmured gently, sincerity resonating in his quiet tone.

Raelyn returned his gaze, smiling gently. "Yes, it does."

Elowen placed a gentle finger to her lips, indicating quiet. Around them, the elves settled into place, a reverent stillness enveloping the Starlight Conclave. Silence held firm for a heartbeat, and then the elders began a new song. It was quieter than before, long, high tones filling the air with a peaceful, resonant harmony.

Raelyn closed her eyes, placing her hands carefully to hover on either side of the moonstone. The melody filled her, washing over her in gentle waves, coaxing her to confront what she had long hidden away. Images rose within her mind, moments of loneliness, feeling of abandonment by her parents, eyes filled with distrust simply because of the color of her hair. Memories of Ardesco, burning and the uncertain fate of Keardath and the others left behind.

She allowed herself to feel it all. The uncertainty about her place in the world, her doubts about her abilities, her fears about the burden that rested so heavily upon her shoulders. The fear of losing Hovan, or Corix, or Rakz. Her friends who had somehow become her family. It hurt to acknowledge these feelings, to confront the shadows that had always lingered on the edges of her heart.

Yet even as pain surged through her, something else came too. Relief. A strange, comforting clarity in simply acknowledging these truths rather than burying them deep inside. As the song rose and fell, gentle sobs echoed softly from somewhere among the elves, evidence that Raelyn was not alone in her release.

Slowly, warmth began to build in her chest. When she opened her eyes again, she saw her moonstone pulsing with newfound brilliance, steadily glowing brighter with each breath she took. The brighter it shone, the lighter her heart became, until she felt as if a heavy cloak she'd worn for far too long had slipped gently from her shoulders.

Around her, other moonstones brightened similarly, casting the entire conclave in silvery, radiant moonlight. The platform shone brilliantly, bathed in Sariel's embrace.

The final notes of the elders' song faded softly into the night air. Elowen opened her eyes and glanced at Raelyn and Corix, a gentle curiosity in her gaze. "How do you both feel?"

Corix let out a slow, steady breath, his shoulders visibly lighter than they had been only moments before. "Better," he admitted quietly, offering Raelyn a small, grateful nod.

Raelyn returned his gaze, feeling a newfound sense of peace settle gently into her bones. "Yes," she echoed softly. "Much better."

The ritual drew slowly to a close. The moonstones, now radiant and warm, cast pools of silvery light across the platform. A few elves began to collect the stones with reverent hands, placing them carefully in woven baskets, while others rose gracefully, their gentle whispers gradually transforming into joyful laughter. The atmosphere was lighter now.

Instruments emerged. A soft thrum of strings, the whisper of flutes, the rhythmic heartbeat of drums. Soon, the air filled with music, playful and bright, spilling over the edges of the platform and blending seamlessly with the night. Elves joined hands, stepping lightly in graceful circles around the statues of their gods, their laughter echoing softly beneath the starlit canopy.

Raelyn rose to her feet, the lingering weight lifted from her shoulders, replaced by a quiet warmth. Beside her, Corix also stood, his eyes softening at the sight of the dancing elves. He chuckled lightly, shaking his head. Raelyn couldn't help but smile at the unfamiliar sight of her stern mentor relaxed and genuinely at ease.

She turned to him, her voice gentle but sincere. "Thank you, Corix. For trusting me enough to share your story."

Corix met her gaze, quiet gratitude briefly passing through his eyes before he looked away, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Don't tell Hovan," he murmured, a playful glint appearing in his eyes. "He'll never let me live it down."

Raelyn laughed softly, nodding in mock seriousness. "Your secret's safe," she whispered warmly.

The music rose, vibrant and full, pulling more elves to their feet. Raelyn watched them dance, their movements fluid and joyous, illuminated by Sariel's radiant glow. For a moment, she allowed herself simply to be, absorbing the peace and hopefulness around her.

A warm hand suddenly grasped hers, and she looked down to see Elowen smiling brightly, eyes gleaming with delight. "Come on," Elowen urged gently, already guiding her toward the circle of dancers.

Raelyn hesitated briefly, glancing back at Corix. She reached out toward him, smiling softly in invitation. "Dance with us?"

Corix chuckled, shaking his head gently. "No, you go," he said warmly, the lines around his eyes softening. "Enjoy this."

With a grateful nod, Raelyn allowed herself to be pulled into the gathering, laughter bubbling from her lips as she joined the graceful swirl of elven dancers. The music swept her up, her feet soon matching the rhythm of the others. Faces blurred around her, smiling, welcoming. For a moment, all the weight of her doubts, fears, and losses dissolved. In that instant, there was only the moonlight, the music, and the pure joy that bloomed within her heart.