The horse-drawn carriage moved slowly under the cold but peaceful night sky. Wooden wheels rolled softly over the rocky path, creating a steady rhythm that was almost soothing. They had traveled far beyond Leymora's city limits, though the city lights still shimmered in the distance—dancing beneath the starry sky as if unwilling to fade even as the night deepened.
Ravyn gazed out from the back of the carriage, her eyes sparkling with awe. "So beautiful…" she murmured to herself. "Such a lovely city… too bad so many painful things happened there."
Alice and Fael were already asleep on the right side of the carriage. Their breathing was steady and quiet, showing how exhausted they were after the day's events. Zeo sat beside Ravyn, silently watching the stars above. Up front, the two newly acquired slaves, Miza and Guillard, took turns driving the carriage.
"You look really happy tonight," Zeo said suddenly, breaking the silence. His gaze remained forward, but there was warmth in his voice that caught Ravyn's attention.
"Hehe," Ravyn let out a small giggle. "I've never been on an adventure like this before, Master Zeo. Leaving the city… riding in a carriage… with all of you… it feels like a dream."
"But you seem like someone who's used to riding carriages."
"Really? Maybe I just adapt quickly. Hehe."
Zeo gave her a small smile. But that smile quickly faded as the carriage came to an abrupt stop.
One of the horses neighed, and the sound of reins being pulled tight echoed in the night.
"What is it?" Zeo asked, standing up.
"M-Master," said the elf at the reins. "There's someone blocking the road…"
Zeo leapt down from the carriage and moved to the front.
A cloaked figure stood in the middle of the road, hood drawn low over their face.
"Wait—wait—it's me," the figure said, lowering the hood.
Erik.
Zeo narrowed his eyes. "Erik? What are you doing here?"
"I… I just wanted to come along and see Alice safely home," Erik answered hesitantly, though his eyes revealed unwavering resolve. "I mean no harm. I just… I just want to make sure she gets back safely. We've been through a lot together."
Zeo didn't respond immediately. He glanced back toward the carriage, wondering if Alice would be okay with this.
At that moment, Alice stirred awake. Her eyes were still hazy with sleep, narrowing slightly as she noticed the conversation outside.
"What's going on?" she asked, sitting up.
When she saw Erik, her expression shifted—surprise, tinged with discomfort.
"Erik? You're here?" she whispered softly.
"I just wanted to come along… if you don't mind," Erik replied gently.
Alice was silent for a moment. Memories from the past stirred within her. They had been close once… or something like that. Slowly, she nodded. "Alright. As long as you don't cause any trouble for anyone."
Erik exhaled in relief.
But Zeo's eyes remained cold. "You can ride with us—but you'll have to pay. One gold coin."
"What?" Erik looked shocked. "Just to hitch a ride? That's too—"
"Then walk," Zeo cut him off bluntly.
Erik clenched his jaw. Then, reluctantly, he pulled out a single gold coin from his pouch. "Fine. For Alice…"
Zeo took the coin without expression. "Get in."
And just like that, the carriage moved on, cutting through the darkness once more. Now with one unexpected passenger added to the group. The silence returned, broken only by the sound of hooves and wheels—while each of them drifted into their own thoughts.
---
Alice, now fully awake, simply sat quietly. Erik was next to her.
"How are you feeling?" Erik asked gently.
Alice glanced at him briefly and gave a curt reply. "I'm fine."
Her voice was cold, almost emotionless. Erik noticed the change, but didn't push. He just nodded and said,
"You must still be tired. You should try to rest."
Erik didn't say more, and Alice pulled her blanket up again. But her eyes remained open, staring blankly at the canopy above. Sleep wouldn't come back.
Outside, the lights of Leymora had fully vanished. They had been traveling for more than two hours, leaving the main road behind and entering more remote terrain.
Up ahead, a wide, gently flowing river stretched across the path—marking the entrance to the forest they would soon have to pass through.
Zeo raised a hand. "We're stopping here. Too risky to cross the forest at night."
Quickly, the group got to work. Tents were pitched, supplies sorted, horses and carriage secured. A campfire was lit. That night, they shared a meal together. Even Erik joined them.
However, the two new slaves—the young elf and the lean dwarf—remained seated apart, aware of their role.
"We're slaves… It wouldn't be proper to join in," Miza said softly when Alice invited them.
Fael happened to overhear and turned with a smile. "Your master now is different. Around here, no one looks down on you for being a slave. I'm one too."
He pulled down his collar to show the slave seal on his neck. "But I'm allowed to sit and eat with them."
Miza—his face filled with uncertainty—hesitated, then stood and slowly stepped closer. But Guillard only let out a grunt and kept his back turned.
"Let him be," Zeo said from across the fire. "Just make sure he eats."
Ravyn nodded, taking a portion of food and walking toward Guillard with light steps. She placed it beside him. "If you're hungry, go ahead and eat. No one's going to force you."
Guillard gave a brief sideways glance, saying nothing. But a few minutes later, the aroma of grilled meat and hot stew got the better of him. With that typical dwarven stubbornness—tsundere, grumpy, hard-headed—he grabbed the food with a scowl, turning his body away as if he didn't care.
Yet just as he glanced around to make sure no one was watching…
Shfft.
A figure in a dark brown cloak suddenly appeared right in front of him. Guillard's eyes widened. He jumped back instinctively.
Clatter!
His bowl spilled, stew splashing across the ground. The air in the camp instantly turned tense.
Without warning, Zeo moved. In a flash, he shot toward the cloaked figure. His strike tore through the night air.
The figure dodged swiftly—but the mask covering their face fell to the ground.
The mask hit the dirt.
And the face behind it…
---