The carriage fell into a deep silence. A heavy and hopeless atmosphere surrounded the children, their faces reflecting fear and worry after what they had just witnessed.
Suddenly, a girl's cry broke the silence.
"Wahh, Blair, I don't want to die," sobbed the little pale blonde girl, clinging tightly to the older girl with hair black as night and tanned skin. Both wore white dresses adorned with fine embroidery.
"It's okay, Guinevere. Everything will be fine. Just stay by my side. You have great magical aptitude, there's nothing to worry about," Blair replied, hugging and comforting her.
"Sniff, sniff... thank you, sister," said Guinevere before falling asleep.
"Damn those dark mages, they sure know how to make an entrance and strike fear," commented Aiden with a concerned expression.
"Yeah, that spider really leaves a mark," added Eric, still shaken by what he had just seen.
Eric had never imagined encountering a creature like the one he had just witnessed. The spider was something out of a nightmare. While his mind spun around Aiden's words and the little he knew about Blair, one crucial question persisted. What was the grade the spider had mentioned? He figured it must be something significant, given the mocking tone in which it had spoken.
"It's not like I know any god in this world, and it's unlikely they'd pay attention or help ants like me," Eric thought.
"This world, apparently, is not kind to people, not even children. It's not something they should have to face, yet here they are," he reflected, lamenting the fate of the children and his own. But there was no time for that now. He needed to know what awaited him.
"What does that grade the spider mentioned mean?" Eric asked, turning his gaze to Blair, knowing from her behavior that she probably knew something.
"It's the magical aptitude inspection. Mages use it to measure the body's capacity and resonance with magic. That's what my family told me. The greater your talent, the further you can go down the path of magic. Incredible powers, from natural disasters to eternity, are possible, although the latter is just a legend," Blair explained calmly.
"You're well informed, it seems," commented Aiden to Blair.
"Of course. Most of those who traveled in the caravan to the Dawn Tower came from distinguished families, either knights or mages. They would do whatever was necessary to ensure their descendants could enter that tower, even if they had no talent. At least forging connections inside would help," Blair replied with confidence, and then silence reigned again.
"So we can only wait until we reach our destination," said Eric a few minutes later, nervous, since he didn't know or remember anything about this body. Now that he thought about it, he didn't even understand why he could comprehend the language of this world, but it seemed to be there as if instinctive.
"Unfortunately, yes," Blair replied with a sigh, internally mourning the tragedy that had occurred the day before.
The Day Before
That night, a dark mass of clouds covered the sky like a mantle hiding the stars. On the ground, wide plains stretched toward the horizon, a view that would have been impressive during the day, when the sunlight illuminated the golden grass and the nearby trees looked as if they had come out of a painting. However, in the darkness of night, only their shadowy silhouettes could be seen.
Near a small stream, its waters gently running over the stones, there was a campsite where a few carriages were lined up. The horses were tied to the wheels, and some knights patrolled nearby to protect the camp from possible creatures that might lurk in the dark.
There were a few campfires lighting the area, with children and adults, whether family or servants, sitting on sheep pelts and sharing travel stories or advice for the future. At one fire, slightly farther away, Blair and Guinevere were eating and talking happily, sharing a plate of roasted meat and cooked vegetables, laughing together as if there were no danger in the world.
After a while, Guinevere fell asleep near the fire, and Blair covered her with a blanket so she could rest. She stayed awake, enjoying the night while the fire crackled and popped, and the scent of smoke and wild herbs filled the night air.
Slow footsteps could be heard until a deep voice interrupted the stillness.
"Young lady, we are only three days away from the port. From now on, only you and the little miss will continue. I wish you the best of luck. I regret not being able to accompany you and serve by your side for the rest of the journey," said an elderly knight, approaching with a slight but cordial bow.
His armor showed signs of wear, not from neglect, but from years of proud service. Despite the evident fatigue in his wrinkled face, he kept his back straight and carried himself with elegance. His silver-gray hair was neatly tied back under a helmet hanging from his belt. He wore a long, dark, heavy cloak over his shoulders that fluttered slightly in the night breeze.
Blair stood and walked toward the knight.
"Don't worry, Osric. You have already done more than enough for my whole family. And although it is not something nobility usually says, you are almost like a father to me. I thank you for taking care of my sister and me all these years," said Blair, looking at him with unusual warmth in her eyes.
"I was only doing my duty, my lady," replied Osric as he knelt beside her.
"I am glad to see how both of you have grown, but I regret that this old man cannot endure more years to see you return home," he said with a tired voice.
Then Osric removed a small necklace from around his neck, one that was barely visible beneath the edge of his cloak. It was a thin leather braid, darkened by time but still strong. In the center hung an oval bronze medallion, simple and without flashy decorations, except for a worn engraving: a barely visible lily flower.
"But even if I am not near you, that does not mean I will not be there to protect you," he said softly, as he looked at the necklace with a touch of nostalgia.
"My mother gave this to me when I left home. She told me it would protect me, and it did. This necklace kept me safe for many years, and now it will protect you," he said, placing it gently into Blair's hands.
"Thank you, Osric. I will treasure it forever," replied Blair, clutching the medallion tightly in her hands, her eyes shining with tears.
The knight looked at her in silence for a few seconds, a mix of pride and sadness on his face, while the night breeze softly moved the edge of his cloak. The fire was slowly dying, casting irregular flickers on their faces.
Sensing the air turning colder and the distant rumble of thunder breaking the calm, Osric slightly bowed and said in his usual calm tone:
"My lady, it is time to rest. Allow me to carry the little miss to the carriage. It seems it will rain tonight."
Blair nodded silently, gently caressing her sleeping sister's hair. Osric picked her up carefully, as if holding something fragile and precious, and walked with Blair to one of the nearby carriages.
The interior was modest, with thick blankets, two small pillows, and a pair of magical lanterns emitting a warm, soft light. Osric laid Guinevere down in a corner and made sure she was well covered with a blanket.
Blair entered afterward and sat next to her sister, still holding the necklace in her hands. She stared for a few seconds at the engraved lily flower, barely visible.
Osric stayed for a moment at the carriage door, standing like an eternal guardian.
"Rest well, my lady. I will stand guard until dawn," he said firmly.
Blair gave him a final glance and a faint smile.
"Thank you, Osric. You rest too, though I know you will not."
The knight nodded with a slight curve of his lips and gently closed the carriage door.
The rain soon began to fall, light at first, like a whisper on the wooden roof. Blair lay down beside Guinevere, wrapping an arm around her. Stroking her hair, she slowly closed her eyes until the whisper of the rain and the warmth of the necklace in her hands lulled her into a peaceful sleep.