"I found the messenger, the mountain pass, and about six different ways to get myself killed," Kaelen replied, his voice raspy but warm. "But you said 'Dndm.' You don't say that unless the world is ending."
It was a code, a shorthand they’d used since they were children stealing apples from the orchard. Dndm. "Don’t never doubt me." It was grammatically a mess, a relic of their youth, but it was their anchor. Dndm I Love You Much
She squeezed his hand back, the flicker of hope returning to her eyes. "I never did. I just needed to hear you say it one more time." "I found the messenger, the mountain pass, and
Elara let out a shaky breath, a small, sad smile breaking through her exhaustion. "The world isn't ending, Kael. Just my part in it. They’re coming for the seal. I couldn't keep it safe alone." "Don’t never doubt me
Outside, the storm raged on, but inside the corner of a drafty tavern, two old friends began to map out a way to save the light.
The rain wasn’t just falling in the city of Oakhaven; it was grieving. Beneath the flickering glow of a single arcane streetlamp, Kaelen stood outside the heavy oak doors of the "Silver Tankard" tavern. In his hand, he clutched a crumpled piece of parchment, the ink slightly bled from the damp air.
On it were five words that had haunted his journey across three kingdoms: “Dndm I Love You Much.”