“There it is,” he said, tracing a line with his finger. “Elysian… and over here, the Empire Capital.” His finger moved westward across the map, finally landing on the capital. “It’s over three thousand kilometers away.”

Sky turned to face her, absorbing her resolve. Eve leaned closer, studying the map intently. “It’s a long shot, I know. But it’s our only chance,” she murmured, the weight of the distance settling in her stomach. Doubt crept into Sky’s mind. “But will they believe us? Your father didn’t believe me.”

Eve met his gaze, searching for reassurance. “But you’re not your father,” he continued, a smile creeping onto his face, igniting a spark of warmth within her.

“If we go together, maybe they will,” she said, her voice quickening as a new idea took hold. “Maybe we can find someone who can help you with your condition.” She glanced at the gemstone. “And understand what that is.”

Sky shook his head. “I can’t even begin to fathom how we’re going to make that trip.” But a glance at Eve strengthened his resolve. This thought sparked a glimmer of hope within him. “Well, I suppose the first thing we should do is get our bearings.”

Eve chuckled softly, a surprising gesture that lifted the weight of the moment. She quickly covered her mouth, embarrassed. “What’s so funny?” Sky asked, intrigued.

“I suppose it’s true what they say—by the time we doctors graduate, everything we learn will be outdated. Especially now. For the first time in my life… I feel like I know nothing.” A moment of silence hung between them, filled with unspoken thoughts.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think things would turn out this way,” she admitted, hugging her arms and letting the warmth of the flickering fire envelop her. Slowly, she spoke more coherently.

Sky cracked a slight smile, grateful for this moment of levity amid the uncertainty. “No, we’re definitely not off to a good start.”

Eve stared at the fire, her eyes fixated on the dwindling flames, knowing it wouldn’t last much longer. “Do you have bandages?” Sky asked suddenly. Eve’s eyes propped up at the question, and she immediately inspected her bag, handing him a small roll of bandages. To her surprise, he didn’t use it on himself. Instead, he found a long, sturdy stick nearby and began wrapping one end with the bandages.

“Contrary to what many people think, fires don’t burn forever,” he said, focused on his task. His efforts culminated in a makeshift torch. As he brought it closer to the flame, the area around them illuminated more brightly. Eve’s eyes sparkled with excitement, and she opened her mouth in awe.

But as the torch flared to life, Sky realized something about the forest had changed. The usual chorus of night creatures had fallen silent; the crickets stopped chirping. An unsettling stillness enveloped them. The strange sounds he had heard earlier had come closer, enough to draw Eve’s attention. They quickly started packing their things, torches in hand, scanning their surroundings. The noises seemed to surround them, amplifying their fear, their hearts pounding painfully in their chests.

They huddled close to the fire, waiting for any shape to emerge from the darkness. Suddenly, the sounds of crushed leaves ceased, as if whatever lurked nearby had vanished—or was simply holding its breath. The moonlight revealed a figure standing just beyond the edge of darkness, puffing. Sky held the torch aloft, taking several cautious steps into the suffocating blackness of the forest. The sounds grew louder, echoing around him. He extended the torch at arm’s length, its flickering light barely penetrating the darkness. Suddenly, two glowing eyes appeared, reflecting the fire's glow.

A low growl rumbled from the shadows, and a massive dire wolf emerged, baring its teeth in a menacing grin, as if it had found its prey. It stood on all fours, nearly as tall as him, its face shrouded by the surrounding darkness except for those piercing eyes. The wolf growled, a deep, ferocious sound, while a smoky aura surrounded it, releasing a hint of black flame.

Eve clutched Sky’s hand tightly, her instincts urging her to run as she took a step back. Sky’s grip tightened. “Don’t move,” he commanded, feeling both of their hearts race. The wolf’s gaze transfixed them, knowing that any sudden movement could provoke it.

“Keep calm,” Sky urged, holding onto Eve. “Just keep staring right back at it.” His focus remained locked on the wolf in front of him, aware of the short sword strapped to his side. He hesitated to draw it, fearing that any display of aggression might incite the wolf’s anger. The wolf growled, shifting its weight, its head tilting as if trying to gauge the two intruders. Eve shuddered as the wolf took a deliberate step closer. Just as she was about to bolt, Sky maintained his grip, his resolve firm. The wolf’s unblinking stare drew her into a trance, knowing that showing even a hint of fear could spell disaster.

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“Why is it moving closer?” Eve asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“It’s alright. Just stay still. It’s only one wolf,” he replied, though doubt crept into his mind as another pair of glowing eyes emerged beside the first. Soon, over a dozen feral eyes stared back at them, causing their hearts to leap into their throats. Eve felt panic rise within her, almost on the verge of screaming. She wanted nothing more than to run, but Sky held her fast, knowing that their only chance of survival was to stand their ground. The growls of the wolves reverberated through the air, each beast inching closer.

Sky, sensing their encroachment, inched the flame closer to them. To his relief, the fire seemed to irritate the wolves. Sparks crackled from the aura surrounding them, causing the beasts to hesitate. He had seen this before—fear of the flame was keeping them at bay. The seconds stretched into an eternity as they maintained their gaze, locked in a silent standoff.

Then, slowly, the wolves relented. One by one, the glowing eyes turned away, fading into the darkness from which they had come, their exit marked by a low growl. They would return, but for now, they were retreating, perhaps to regroup or reassess their prey. Sky looked up at the moon, still shining brightly. He had hoped they could remain under the rock until morning, but with the wolves on their tails, that was no longer an option.

“Pack your things. Let’s get moving,” he said, his gaze fixed on the mountain they needed to reach.

Knowing that the wolves would be back soon, they left nothing to chance. They packed their belongings quickly, Sky holding the torch in one hand while securing his blade at his hip, with Eve following closely behind. Under the cover of darkness, they began their trek through the forest, turning back occasionally to catch glimpses of sharp heads with glowing eyes. The distant howls served as a whip to their backs, urging them to keep moving.

They pushed through thick underbrush until they finally emerged into open fields, where the humidity hung heavy in the air, accompanied by a light drizzle of rain. At any moment, the torch could go out; it was their only barrier against the beasts lurking in the shadows. What felt like hours passed as they hiked, their legs burning with fatigue and exhaustion until they reached the hilltop they had been aiming for.

Flashes of lightning illuminated the path ahead, revealing a clear dirt trail that led them upward. The ground was treacherous, obscured by fallen trees and crumbling rocks, and the damp earth had turned the uphill climb into a near-death trap. As they ascended, loose rocks tumbled down, narrowly grazing them. The rain washed away the moist dirt, causing them to slip and stumble, their heavy, damp clothing weighing them down.

Eventually, they reached the end of the path—the top of the peak. Sky consulted the map in his journal, aided by the brief flashes of lightning illuminating the surroundings. He aligned the orientation of the various forests and mountains on the parchment, finally pinpointing their location. From this height, he could still see the vague outline of the once beautiful city in the distance.

“I know where we are now! The capital is far, but we can start by heading west!” Sky proclaimed, a laugh of exhilaration escaping him. Eve joined in the celebration, her spirits lifted by his enthusiasm.

“Look over there!” she said, pointing toward something partially obscured by the trees. “I think we can make for shelter there!”

With another flash of lightning, they caught sight of a structure that resembled a pyramid, its ancient stones partially reclaimed by nature. It stood firm amidst the encroaching forest, an inviting refuge compared to the dangers lurking outside.

“Ever the observant doctor!” Sky urged, and they quickly made their way toward the structure, hoping for safety from the elements—and whatever else that might hunt them.

Before they could move, the heavy downpour extinguished the torch, plunging them into darkness. Thunder crashed nearby, and they hesitated, contemplating whether to seek shelter in the pyramid. At least now they knew where they were.

As they prepared to make their way down, a chilling sight stopped them in their tracks—a group of glowing eyes were making its way up toward them. Nearly surrounding them from all directions, the dire wolves slowly crept closer, their growls echoing ominously, eyes poised to kill. Sky instinctively shielded Eve, pulling her behind him as he scanned for a way out. He drew his broken blade, fumbling with it as he tried to activate it like the soldiers had, but it remained cold, wet steel in his hands. Resorting to pointing at the wolves, he stood his ground, a surprising calmness washing over him as they inched closer.