The black carriage with silver trim rolled steadily over the stone road, drawn by a once-brown horse now turned zombie. Its body moved calmly, showing no signs of fatigue. The steel wheels creaked softly, breaking the silence of the winter forest.
Inside the cabin, the atmosphere was different. The velvet curtains remained tightly drawn, and the two figures resting on the cushioned seats had yet to fully wake. Alicia slept with her head tilted slightly to the side, her silver hair a tangled mess over the small pillow, lips parted faintly with steady breaths. Stacia was tidier, her body curled under a thick wool blanket up to her chin, her pale face peaceful after a long night.
Sylvia gazed at them for a moment. Sitting opposite, her chin resting on her hand, she finally exhaled a short sigh.
"You two sleep so deeply… as if the outside world doesn't exist," she murmured quietly, her voice nearly lost in the rhythm of the wheels.
