Once the last of the players disappeared through the portal, the clearing finally fell silent.
No one lingered behind.
Just as Ren had intended.
He looked down at the jewel in his hand—the one meant to summon Princess Elena—and crushed it without hesitation.
The gem shattered with a sharp crack, releasing a pulse of pale light into the air.
A few seconds later, Princess Elena appeared.
She had changed out of the elegant gown from earlier and was now dressed for the hunt.
Light armor fitted her form cleanly, practical without sacrificing the regal sharpness that seemed impossible for her to turn off. Her gear was unmistakably elven in design—sleek lines, silver detailing, layered leather and metal that looked both graceful and deadly. A bow rested across her back, and a dagger hung at her waist, while the expression on her face carried the kind of bright anticipation one usually saw in children about to be let loose in a festival.
