The narrow passage did not last forever.
But it felt like it did.
For a long stretch of time, the group moved in silence through the stone-veined corridor carved between roots and earth. The walls pressed close on either side, forcing them into a single-file formation. The air was cooler here less oppressive than the forest behind them but it carried a different kind of weight.
A transition.
Not safety.
Not yet.
Just movement from one unknown into another.
Riven walked near the front this time, Astra quite literally draped over his back like she owned the position. One arm loosely hung around his shoulder while the other rested lazily against his chest, her staff strapped behind her.
She sighed.
Loudly.
Then again.
Even louder.
Riven's eye twitched slightly.
"…You good?" he muttered.
Astra shifted her weight just enough to make him adjust his footing.
"No," she replied flatly. "I am not good. I am exhausted, my reserves are still recovering, and you"
She tapped the side of his head lightly.
"are walking too slow."
Riven blinked.
"…Too slow?"
"Yes."
"I'm literally carrying you."
"And doing a poor job of it," she replied without hesitation.
Behind them, Lyra tried and failed to suppress a small laugh.
Soren smirked slightly.
Even Roran let out a quiet breath that almost passed for amusement.
Riven exhaled slowly.
"…You want to walk?"
Astra tightened her hold just slightly.
"Absolutely not."
"…Right."
A brief pause.
Then
"Just walk faster."
Riven resisted the urge to respond.
Barely.
Ahead, Eryx continued moving without interruption, his posture unchanged, his pace steady. He hadn't slowed once since they entered the passage.
Which made Riven finally speak up.
"Hey… Eryx."
No response at first.
Then
"Mm."
Riven adjusted Astra slightly before continuing.
"Most of us are still recovering."
He glanced briefly behind him.
Roran was pushing through, but his steps still lacked their usual power.
Marlis leaned slightly into Lyra, her strength returning slower than the others.
Soren's eyes were alert but his body lagged behind.
Even Nyss, though composed, carried fatigue in the way her shoulders moved.
Riven looked forward again.
"…How exactly are we getting to the Third?"
A pause.
"From what I've heard…"
"…it's far."
Eryx didn't stop walking.
Didn't turn.
But his answer came calmly.
"Don't worry."
A small pause.
"I've already made arrangements."
Riven frowned slightly.
"…Arrangements?"
But before Eryx could elaborate
The passage ended.
Abruptly.
The group stepped out
And the world opened.
THE GRASSLANDS
It was like stepping into a different reality.
The dense forest was gone.
Completely.
No towering trees.
No shadows pressing from every angle.
Just open land.
Endless.
Stretching beyond what the eye could comfortably follow.
A massive expanse of green rolled outward in gentle waves, the grass swaying softly under a wide, unobstructed sky. Sunlight poured freely here, warm and unfiltered, touching everything it reached.
For the first time in what felt like forever
They could breathe.
Properly.
Roran stopped walking for a moment.
"…That's…"
"…new."
Soren scanned the horizon carefully.
"No cover."
Lyra tilted her head slightly, squinting into the distance.
"…Too open."
Nyss stepped forward beside Riven.
Her eyes traced the horizon slowly.
"…This is the border region, isn't it?"
Eryx nodded once.
"The outer grasslands."
A pause.
"Between the Fourth… and the Third."
Riven let out a quiet breath.
"…So we made it out."
"Not yet," Eryx corrected.
That optimism didn't last long.
THE FIGURE
Movement.
Far ahead.
Subtle but unmistakable.
A single figure stood in the distance.
Still.
Waiting.
Riven's body reacted instantly.
His posture shifted.
Weight lowered.
Hands ready.
Around him, the others followed suit almost immediately.
Roran stepped slightly forward despite his condition.
Soren's stance sharpened.
Lyra steadied Marlis behind her.
Nyss's aura flickered faintly.
Even Astra, still on Riven's back, lifted her head slightly.
Tension returned.
Like it had never left.
Riven narrowed his eyes.
"…We're not alone."
Eryx didn't even slow down.
"Relax."
That word didn't land.
Not yet.
Riven didn't drop his stance.
"…That doesn't look like something we should relax about."
Eryx finally stopped.
Turned slightly.
His expression calm.
Unbothered.
"He's here on my orders."
Silence.
The tension didn't disappear but it shifted.
Riven frowned.
"…What?"
Eryx exhaled softly.
Then began walking again straight toward the figure.
"I knew the journey to the Third would be too much for all of you."
A small pause.
"So…"
"…a few nights ago while we camped just outside the capital I sent my steed ahead."
Riven's brows furrowed.
"…You what?"
"To deliver a message," Eryx continued, "to the Third."
The group exchanged quick glances.
"That message," Eryx finished, "requested transport."
They were close enough now to see the figure clearly.
A man.
Standing beside a large, reinforced carriage.
Behind it
Four powerful horses.
Restless.
Strong.
Prepared.
Eryx stopped a few steps away.
Then gestured slightly.
"Everyone…"
"…meet Alaki Grynker."
ALAKI GRYNKER
The man stepped forward with a polite, measured smile.
He bowed slightly not deeply, but respectfully.
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance."
His voice was calm.
Professional.
"My name is Alaki Grynker."
He gestured behind him.
"And this"
"is your ride."
The carriage was large.
Far larger than expected.
Reinforced wood.
Metal-lined edges.
Built for durability not comfort.
But right now?
It looked like salvation.
Alaki continued.
"It can accommodate all of you."
He rested a hand lightly on the carriage frame.
"And these four will ensure we reach the capital swiftly."
One of the horses snorted lightly, pawing the ground.
Strong.
Trained.
Reliable.
For a moment
No one spoke.
Then
Relief.
Real relief.
Roran let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.
"…Finally."
Soren smirked slightly.
"Better than walking."
Lyra helped Marlis forward.
"We needed this."
Even Nyss allowed a small smile.
Just for a second.
Riven looked at the carriage.
Then at Eryx.
"…You really planned all this?"
Eryx shrugged lightly.
"I don't like leaving things to chance."
Astra tapped Riven's shoulder lightly.
"See?"
"…Competence."
Riven ignored her.
Eryx looked around briefly.
Then
"Alaki."
"…Where's my big boy?"
Alaki chuckled slightly.
"He wandered off a bit."
He pointed toward a cluster of low bushes nearby.
"Over there. Foraging."
Eryx exhaled softly.
Then raised two fingers to his mouth
And let out a sharp whistle.
It cut cleanly through the open air.
Echoing across the grasslands.
For a moment
Nothing.
Then
Movement.
Fast.
Powerful.
A blur of motion surged from behind the bushes
And burst into the open.
A massive steed.
Muscular.
Commanding.
Its coat shimmered under the sunlight, its presence alone enough to shift the air around it.
It galloped straight toward them.
Unrestrained.
Untamed
Except for one thing.
Loyalty.
It slowed just before reaching Eryx, circling once before stopping beside him.
Eryx smirked slightly.
"…Miss me?"
The steed huffed.
As if answering.
Eryx placed a hand on its neck.
Firm.
Familiar.
Then mounted in one smooth motion.
Effortless.
Natural.
From above, he looked down at the group.
"Alright."
A small pause.
"Everyone get in."
He gestured toward the carriage.
"We've got a long way to go."
DEPARTURE
The group didn't hesitate.
One by one, they climbed into the carriage.
Carefully.
Gratefully.
Roran helped Marlis inside.
Lyra followed.
Soren took position near the back.
Nyss paused briefly before stepping in
Glancing once at the open horizon.
Then at Riven.
Riven lingered for a second.
Looking back the way they came.
The forest.
The chaos.
The war they just escaped.
Then forward.
Toward the Third.
Toward something unknown.
"…Let's go," he muttered.
Astra slid off his back and climbed in ahead of him.
"Finally," she said.
"Progress."
Riven shook his head slightly and stepped inside.
The door shut.
Alaki took the reins.
Eryx adjusted his posture atop his steed.
Then
"Move out."
The horses surged forward.
The carriage followed.
Wheels rolling across open land.
Smooth.
Fast.
Steady.
And as the grasslands stretched endlessly ahead
For the first time since everything began
They weren't running blindly.
They were heading somewhere.
Together.