The two approached the carriage at an unhurried pace, the faint creak of wood breaking the stillness. One of them reached from inside and pushed the door open.
He was a young man in his twenties, tall, with a solid, slightly broad build that gave him a steady presence. Dark eyes, sharp and attentive, were framed by thick brows that deepened the intensity of his gaze, long, wavy black hair fell to his shoulders, shifting lightly with each movement.
A faint mark along one knuckle hinted at old, minor injuries rather than carelessness.
The moment he saw Morel, a small, restrained smile touched his lips.
"Welcome, Mr. Morel."
The voice was clear, carrying an easy, natural politeness.
As he spoke, his attention moved between them, first settling on Morel with familiarity, then shifting to Stella. The gaze lingered on her a little longer, not unkind, but measuring, as if noting something unexpected.
"Good to see you, Jack," Morel replied warmly.
" Is everything ready ?"
Jack gave a slight nod, confidence evident in both posture and tone. "Of course. Everyone is here."
He then turned toward the carriage, raising his voice just enough to carry,
"Hey, everyone, Mr. Morel is here, along with our new companion."
Inside, there was a subtle stir, fabric rustling, faint movement, the quiet signs of people rising from their seats.
Stella watched in silence, her gaze briefly passing over the dim interior before returning to the group.
The carriage itself was slightly larger than usual, built to accommodate four passengers inside, with the driver seated at the front, five in total before Stella's arrival. Even so, the space remained close enough to make the length of the journey easy to imagine.
Morel stepped forward, greeting them with a faint, composed smile.
"Welcome, everyone."
The rest of the group stepped down from the carriage one after another.
Two young women descended first.
The first carried herself with quiet composure, slender, with neatly kept dark hair and a calm, observant gaze that seemed to take in more than she showed. A faint, controlled smile rested on her lips.
The second followed with less restrainther, with light brown hair slightly tousled , her expression more open and quick to shift, curiosity, surprise, and mild annoyance passing across her face without effort.
Behind them came a young man, likely the youngest of the group. He moved with a certain hesitation, shoulders slightly drawn in, as though unused to drawing attention, yet his eyes remained alert beneath a fringe of unkempt hair.
One of the girls offered a gentle yet carefully measured smile. "Welcome, Mr. Anthony."
Her gaze shifted to Stella, studying her while maintaining that same controlled expression.
The other two acknowledged the greeting with small nods, brief but polite.
"Let me introduce your new companion for this mission," Morel said.
"This is Miss Alina White."
The second young woman reacted with visible surprise, "Oh, there's a sixth member now? Why didn't anyone tell me?!"
A soft sigh came from the other girl, "They must have told you. You just forgot, as usual, Aemilia."
A quick turn, a hint of offense in the motion.
"I don't forget, Lavinia!"
"Hahaha, what did you say, Aemilia?"
Laughter came from the front of the carriage.
Stella turned slightly to get a clearer look.
The driver stepped down more fully into view, a young man in his twenties, with a relaxed posture and a broad, easy grin. His hair was shorter and less kept than the others, and there was a casual looseness to his movements, as if he treated everything with a touch less seriousness than required.
"At this rate, we're going to fail the mission. Look at this, Aemilia doesn't even remember our names. This is Evelyn, not Lavinia, girl, hahaha."
Jack's voice cut in, firmer this time.
"Thomas, that's enough. Did you fix the front wheel properly yesterday? We still have days of travel ahead. I don't want any delays."
"Of course, Mr. Jack. Don't worry, everything's fine," Thomas replied confidently, though the trace of amusement still lingered in his tone.
From her place, Stella remained silent, simply observing.
Morel spoke again, though this time his tone carried a noticeable edge of seriousness, the earlier warmth giving way to something more official.
"Now that you've been introduced to Miss Alina, you should continue on your way. Jack, you are responsible for organizing the team and assigning tasks, as we agreed. Act according to the situation. I will join you after some time, this has been decided by Mr. Loran."
Jack inclined his head in a respectful nod, posture straightening slightly as he accepted the responsibility.
"Understood, sir. I will keep you informed of any developments. There are also individuals assigned to handle correspondence, they are reliable."
Morel acknowledged this with a small nod before turning toward Stella, his expression softening just a fraction.
"Miss Alina, I wish you success, and a safe journey. As you've heard, Jack is in command. If any issue arises, or if you need anything, he is responsible."
"I will keep everything in mind," Stella replied, her voice calm and composed, revealing little beyond quiet confidence.
A brief pause followed, as if marking the end of formalities.
"Then let's proceed," Morel said. "All of you, return to the carriage."
With that, he stepped back.
After Morel's departure, the group moved without further delay. One by one, they climbed into the carriage, the wood creaking softly beneath their weight. Moments later, Thomas urged the horses forward, and the carriage rolled into motion once more, its wheels tracing the road as it set out toward the West.