The path Away from the battlefield was quite.
Not the peaceful kind of a quite-but the restrained kind, where the sound felt unwelcome.
Sambha walked between his mother and the clocked shadow, his small fingers clenched tightly in her hand. He didn't look back. He didn't need to. The presence behind him was still there, heavy and deniable, even without words.
limbo followed from a few steps behind.
Rin stayed close to Sambha's other side, eyes scanning the surroundings instinctively, while Gaja brought up the rear, posture loose but alert. Solders moved with them-not forming a cage that bind them, but a perimeter that guard them. Close enough to protect and far enough to avoid insult or awkwardness.
The sun began to set as they walked forward.
Gold bled into orange, then the crimson color stretched across the sky like a fading light. Shadow grew long, swallowing the edge of the path. By the time the first star began to appear, torches were already lit across the path and places-soft flames that didn't flicker wildly, as if even fire knew to behave here.
No one spoke.
Not because of any kind of ordered.
Because nothing needed to be said.
Throughout the Limbo calculated the probabilities everything was clear but something was still missing, everything since they left the village doesn't seem like just a coincidence.
The wolf battles-pendant, crying random child and battle of misunderstanding - The shadow, elder and top that authority of Sambha's mother who is she? what's the identity sambha?
Did he belong to some noble or high status family?
The shadow in dream hasn't appear or said anything since they came to the village.
They reached the house just as night fully ripens.
it wasn't large.
Not a palace.
nor like the fortress.
Stone and wood, old but well-kept. vines traced parts of the walls naturally, not overgrown, not trimmed. lantern glowed softly along the entrance, casting warm light that pushed the dark without aggression.
Sambha slowed when he saw it.
His grip tightened.
"we're home," his mother said gently.
The word home seemed to unlock something in him. His shoulder sagged, exhaustion finally catching up to the Adrenaline that had carried him so far.
She turned to a servant waiting nearby.
"Prepare room for them," she said calmly. "Food. clean clothes. whatever they need."
Limbo hesitated. "That won't be necessary. We can manage-"
she didn't interrupt him.
She simply repeated the order, quietly.
the servant bowed and moved at once.
Limbo understand silent command.
Rin noticed.
So this is how authority works here, she thought.
Not force. Not insistence.
just certainty.
they were lead inside.
the guest room was modest but comfortable compare to what they witness past days. Soft bedding, warm light water already prepared. Food was brought soon after. Simple, nourishing, and abundant.
Gaja barely spoke as he ate. While eating, hid head dipped forward. he didn't even make it to the bed before falling asleep, exhaustion finally claim him.
Limbo tried to stay awake.
He sat at the edge of the bed, back straight, spear within reach, eyes half-lidded but alert. his thoughts circled endlessly-the battlefield, the shadow's gaze, the women's voice, the way the world had seemed to pause when she spoke.
Rin noticed his stiffness.
"you won't be useful like that," she said quietly. "Rest."
Limbo opened his mouth to argue.
Then stopped.
His limbs felt heavy. His thoughts became sluggish. Whatever tension had been holding him upright was finally loosening.
Rin lay down last.
Even then, her eyes stayed open for several minutes, fixed on the ceiling.
Too generous, she thought.
Too calm.
But her body betrayed her concern.
sleep came anyway.
the system flickered.
Not with urgency and sharply.
[ Presence detected ]
[ Signal unresolved ]
Then nothing.
The room smelled faintly of clean cloth and someting sweet — herbs, maybe. The beds were warm.
Safe.
For the first time in a long while, no one dreamed of running.
Somewhere outside at the distance, whispers drifted through the night.
"...Did you hear that?"
"He's back."
"And the ones with the child?"
"They're still here."
"The elder allowed it."
"... strange..."
The guards fell silent when footsteps passed.
The moon climbed higher.
The morning came.
Sunlight spilled through the window, thin and bright, landing directly on Limbo's face.
He groaned and shifted.
And something landed 6his stomach.
Hard.
"Oof—!"
Limbo jolted upright, hand already moving to summons his spear.
Then,
"Brother!"
A familiar voice, bright and energetic.
Sambha stood on the bed, grinning widely.
"Wake up! You sleep too much!"
Limbo blinked, disoriented. For half a second, he didn't know where he was —or why his chest felt lighter than it had in days.
Except the pain caused by sambha.
Then the memory rushed back.
The battlefield.
The shadow.
The voice.
And reunion with mother.
Rin laughed softly from the side. "You're finally awake."
"Yeah thanks to someone." He said with straight face..
"You could've warned me," Limbo muttered.
Sambha giggled. "You looked funny."
Before Limbo could reapond, the door knocked. A soldier stood outside, posture formal and we'll build.
"You are summoned," he said. "To the council."
"Council?" Gaja repeated, rubbing his eyes.
"For what?"
"The king's order," the soldier replied. "I am not authorised to say more."
King.
The word settled heavily.
Limbo glanced at sambha.
The child's expression didn't change.
Neither fear nor excitement.
Just acceptance.
They were given the time to prepare. Fresh clothes. A light but healthy meal. Nothing extravagant — efficient, deliberate.
As they were guided through the village, Limbo noticed the stares.
Not hostile but curious and measured.
They soon reached the council hall soon after.
It wasn't crowded.
No shouting nobles. Not mass gathering.
Only the selected few people stood within the hall.
As they saw with highering the gazed.
In front of them,
The elder.
The king and the queen.
And others Limbo didn't recognise.
Then his gaz stopped.
A familiar figure stood among them.
Recognition struck.
Why is he here?
Sambha's mother was there.
The doors closed behind them.
And Limbo understood.
This was not a trial.
It was an a answer that was waiting to be spoken.
What will happen to them?
Will they be falsely charged with kidnapping?
Or harming the soldiers.
"What is waiting for them!"