The following morning, the first light of dawn spilled through the trees, casting long shadows on the forest floor. Elnora stirred in the carriage, the rumble of wheels and the rhythmic clop of hooves blending into a lullaby that tugged at the edges of her dreams.

She rubbed her eyes and sat up, the weight of her decision settling in her chest. The world outside was drenched in mist, each breath of air crisp and cool. It felt like a fresh start, yet the uncertainty of what lay ahead loomed just as large as the trees surrounding them.

She’d left behind only a short note, tucked into the hands of a servant before she slipped away. In it, she’d written a simple excuse—a believable story to satisfy her parents. She claimed she was seeking a healer in a far-off village, one who knew ancient spells that might strengthen her failing magic.

It was the kind of journey they would expect from someone trying to prove their worth, to fix what was broken.

But her real path led far beyond that. She wasn’t looking for healing; she was looking for freedom. Lorthraine waited beyond the forest, a place untouched by the Valquinn name, where she could begin again—if she could make it that far.

“Are we close?” she asked, her voice still thick with sleep.

“Just past the ravine, miss. A few more minutes, and you’ll be well on your way,” the driver replied, his tone steady and nonchalant.

Elnora settled back in her seat as the carriage rumbled along the narrow road, the forest closing in around them. The trees loomed like sentinels, their gnarled branches clawing at the sky, weaving shadows through the low-hanging mist.

It was both enchanting and unnerving, a reminder of how small she felt in the vastness of the world beyond her family’s estate.

As the carriage jolted slightly over a rough patch, she glanced toward the driver, catching a glimpse of his broad shoulders silhouetted against the dim light filtering through the trees. He seemed unbothered by the surroundings, focused on the path ahead.

“Do you often drive this route?” Elnora ventured, trying to spark a conversation to distract her racing thoughts.

“More than I’d like,” he replied, his voice gravelly. “These woods are thick with stories, miss. Some good, some bad.”

Elnora’s curiosity piqued, she leaned forward slightly. “Stories? What do you mean?”

“People come and go, chasing their fortunes or running from their pasts. You’d be surprised how many secrets lie beneath the roots of these trees,” he said, his gaze still fixed on the road ahead.

“Secrets?” Elnora echoed, her mind racing with possibilities. “Like... what kind?”

“Lost treasures, hidden trails, even spirits of those who’ve wandered too far.” He chuckled lightly, though his tone remained serious. “Some say this forest has a will of its own. You need to tread carefully if you don’t want to get caught in its grasp.”

Elnora shivered at the thought but felt a thrill course through her. “Thank you. I’ll remember that.”

She shifted in her seat, palms damp inside her gloves. She could feel the magic humming beneath her skin, fragile and uncertain as always. Wind magic had been her only true ally, but even that had been weak, unpredictable. It was why she was here.

The road dipped sharply, and the driver cursed softly, pulling the reins to slow the horses. "Damn road. Steeper than I remember," he muttered. He glanced back at her, his eyes shadowed beneath the wide brim of his hat. "We’ll have to go slow through here. Ravine's deep. Dangerous."

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Elnora nodded but said nothing, her heart pounding harder. This was it. The moment she had planned, feared. She gripped the edge of the seat, feeling the cold air seep into her lungs. The river far below was a whisper, a distant murmur of water cutting through the rocks.

"Stop the carriage," Elnora said abruptly, the words tumbling out before she had time to think.

The driver jerked his head around, surprised. "What?"

"Stop the carriage!" Her voice cracked with urgency now, and the horses snorted in agitation as if they could feel her tension. The man hesitated, then muttered something under his breath as he tugged the reins, bringing the carriage to a creaking halt.

Elnora’s breath came in shallow gasps. Her fingers curled tightly into fists, trembling slightly as she tried to steel herself for what she was about to do. The driver turned halfway in his seat, frowning.

"You alright, miss?"

"I... just need a moment," she said, her eyes scanning the mist-laden trees that lined the road. Every second ticked in her ears, too loud, too fast. She couldn’t afford to wait any longer. "Could you—"

The horses shifted again, nervous. The driver cursed, standing in the seat and trying to calm them.

"Easy now—"

Now. It had to be now. Elnora’s fingers moved in the faintest gesture, a whisper of wind curling around them. Her voice was barely audible, but the magic heard her.

The air in the carriage shifted, a soft swirl that brushed against the wooden frame. The driver jerked back toward her, eyes wide.

“What—?”

The spell. It wasn’t enough. It was never enough. Elnora bit down on the inside of her cheek, hard, tasting copper as she pressed harder, whispering the words again with more force.

The wind rose, sharper this time, lifting beneath the carriage, making it rock on the narrow road. The driver’s eyes widened as the horses reared, spooked by the sudden change in the air. He struggled to keep them steady, fighting against the reins.

"Hey! What are you—?"

But before he could finish, the carriage tipped, the wheels catching on the loose edge of the road. The entire frame tilted dangerously, and Elnora flung herself sideways, bracing for the impact. The driver shouted, trying to grab the reins, but it was too late.

With a sickening lurch, the carriage slipped off the road.

Elnora tumbled out, hitting the rocky slope with a thud. She rolled, scraping against the sharp stones, the breath knocked from her lungs as the carriage plunged downward, crashing through the trees toward the ravine below. The horses screamed in panic, their cries lost in the chaos.

Gasping, Elnora crawled forward, her fingers digging into the cold, wet earth. She couldn’t stop to think about the pain in her side or the blood on her palms. She had to move. Now.

She scrambled to her feet and darted into the underbrush, her cloak catching on the low branches as she threw herself into the shadows of the trees. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her body trembling as she crouched low behind a cluster of thick ferns, her pulse thundering in her ears.

From her hiding place, she could just make out the driver stumbling to his feet, dazed. He staggered forward, looking over the edge of the ravine, where the remnants of the carriage were barely visible through the mist.

"Gods above..." He took a step closer to the edge, peering down.

Elnora pressed her hand to her mouth, fighting to keep her breath quiet, her heart racing. She watched as the driver lingered for a moment, as if waiting for something—some sign of life from the wreckage below. But there was nothing. Only the distant rush of the river, carrying the remains of her lie away.

After what felt like an eternity, the driver shook his head and stumbled back to the horses, the two that remained, wild-eyed and restless. He muttered to himself, dragging the beasts back onto the road. "Best get back… No one could’ve survived that."

Elnora waited, every muscle in her body tense, until the sound of the horses’ hooves and the driver’s curses faded into the distance. She was alone. Truly alone.

She exhaled, her breath shaking as she let herself collapse against the tree behind her, the cool bark grounding her in the moment. The wind still whispered through the trees, echoing her magic’s final breath.

It had worked.

Slowly, painfully, she rose to her feet, wincing as she touched her side. She’d survived. No one would come looking for her now. They all believed she had died in the ravine. Elnora Valquinn was dead.

She took one last look at the edge of the ravine, where the mist curled in tendrils over the broken wreckage far below. Then, without another glance, she turned and slipped deeper into the forest, swallowed by its shadows.

Something new had begun.