The carriage rolled steadily along the stone road, wheels humming softly against the earth. As I stared out the window, I couldn't help but realize how vast this world truly was. Beyond the empire of Azarin, the landscape unfolded like a painting—golden sunlight reflecting on a winding river, meadows swaying with wildflowers, and bees drifting lazily in the air. Small rabbits darted across the grass, and birds glided freely beneath the pale blue sky.
For a moment, I forgot about quests, ranks, and battles—it was just peaceful.
Inside the carriage, everyone was lost in their own world.
Loiuse snored lightly beside me, his spear resting on his lap. Ian sat across, sharpening his blade with calm precision, the rhythmic scrape of metal breaking the silence. Astro, ever the quiet type, flipped through a worn newspaper, his brows slightly furrowed. Meanwhile, Megan, the red-haired mage, sat with her eyes closed—her breathing steady, but her mana still pulsing faintly in the air. Even in rest, she was alert.
The bright sky slowly dimmed, and the golden hue of sunset melted into violet. Before long, the world was swallowed by night.
The old man driving our carriage pulled on the reins.
"Whoa there," he muttered, as the horses neighed and slowed to a halt.
Loiuse stirred awake, rubbing his eyes. "We're here?"
I stepped out, feeling the chill of evening brush against my skin. In front of us stretched a massive forest—dense, dark, and ancient. The entrance was narrow, barely enough for one person to slip through.
"This forest… it's huge," I said quietly.
Loiuse nodded, slinging his spear over his shoulder. "Yeah. The carriage can't go in from here. We'll have to walk."
The old man glanced back at us, his face half-hidden under his hat.
"I'll return in four days," he said flatly. "I hope you're still alive by then."
Four days...
My heart tightened slightly. Tomorrow, Hyun Woo and the others would leave for the academy. I hadn't even said goodbye.
"Let's move," Loiuse called out. "We need to find a place to rest before it gets colder."
We stepped beneath the canopy, swallowed by shadows. The deeper we went, the quieter it became—no wind, no insects, not even the rustle of leaves. It was as if the forest itself was holding its breath.
Megan finally raised her hand, summoning a gentle orb of flame. The fire flickered, illuminating our faces and the twisting roots around us. She lit a few torches, their orange glow pushing back the dark.
After half an hour of trekking through the uneven ground, Astro crouched low and scanned the area with his scouting skill.
"Clear," he said softly.
We found a cave not far ahead—a hollow in the stone wall, wide enough for the five of us. The air inside was cold but dry.
"This'll do," Loiuse said.
We set up camp, the faint crackle of the fire echoing against the walls. For now, the forest was calm… too calm.