The carriage rolled steadily over the dirt path, the rhythmic clatter of hooves against the ground blending with the distant hum of the wind. Unlike their previous journey, where they had taken a direct route through the mountainous terrain, this time, Nico had opted for an alternate path. It wasn't hard to guess why. The aftermath of Velren's battle against the wyvern had left that area in ruins—landslides had scarred the mountainside, massive chunks of rock had fallen, and the once-clear road had been rendered nearly impassable. Retracing their steps would have been nothing short of a headache.
Velren sat beside Nico at the front of the carriage, with the newly acquired wakizashi resting across his lap. His fingers traced the intricate details of the scabbard, and his mind was clearly lost in thought. He had been doing this for far too long—he knew it, but he couldn't help himself.
From the corner of his eye, Nico glanced at him before exhaling in exasperation.
