"You're really set on leaving today?" Zach asked, his voice skeptical. "Won’t leaving right after a high-profile murder make it look like you’re trying to avoid suspicion? I mean, even if you _aren't_ guilty of anything, it’s not exactly the cleanest look."

Melijuia raised an eyebrow, unbothered. "It would have been impossible for me to be involved in the murder of that boy. I can't be in two places at once."

"Maybe, but do you think that matters to people? Perception is everything," Zach pressed. "The public doesn’t care about facts. They care about gossip—and you leaving the same day is just adding fuel to the fire."

She waved a dismissive hand. "Let them talk. Anyway, the faster I can get you trained, the better. We’re not here to win a popularity contest."

"Sure, but the public might think otherwise," Zach countered. "I mean, don’t you care about your reputation at all? People _will_ start asking questions."

"I don’t have the time to waste on something like this." Her tone was sharp, cutting off further debate.

Zach blinked, momentarily taken aback by her bluntness. He wasn’t sure if she genuinely didn’t care about appearances or if her confidence in her status made her immune to these concerns. Either way, arguing with her seemed pointless.

"Fine," he relented, leaning back in his chair. "I just hope your mansion back home is as good as this one. You’ve kind of spoiled me here."

Her lips quirked into a faint smile. "We’ll see if it meets your standards. Though, judging by your ‘expert’ opinion on public perception, I expect your critique to be thorough."

Zach rolled his eyes. "Hey, I call it like I see it."

"And yet, you’re still coming along without complaint," she said, a hint of amusement creeping into her voice.

"Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I’m reserving judgment until I see how good the food is."

"Of course," Melijuia replied dryly. "Heaven forbid the mighty Zachary suffer subpar cuisine."

As the final preparations were made, Zach wandered through the estate, taking in the grandeur one last time.

He thought of Ivonah. He would’ve liked to tell her goodbye, to leave things on a proper note. But, he reasoned, it wasn’t like they’d never see each other again. He tucked the thought away as he stepped outside.

By the time Zach returned to the courtyard, the carriage was packed to the brim with Melijuia’s belongings and her knights’ gear. A handful of servants lingered nearby, finishing the final checks and ensuring everything was secure.

Zach turned to them, offering a genuine smile. "Thank you all for your help and hospitality these past few days. I don’t think I’ve ever stayed somewhere this nice."

A few murmured blessings and polite bows followed, but Zach’s gaze landed on one familiar face in particular—the woman who had told him the chilling story about the daughter who killed her parents. She was adjusting a strap on the carriage, her attention focused until he stepped closer.

"Hey," he began, feeling a twinge of guilt for not asking sooner. "I just realized—I never got your name."

She straightened, brushing her hands on her apron before meeting his gaze. "It’s Mera, sir."

"Mera," Zach repeated, committing it to memory. "Thanks for sharing that story the other day. I mean, it was horrifying, but... it stuck with me, and I think I learned something from it." He hesitated, then added, "Sorry I didn’t ask for your name earlier. That was rude of me."

Her expression softened, a faint smile touching her lips. "It’s no trouble, sir. You’ve been kind to us, and that’s more than we can ask for."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"Still," he said, "I wanted to say a special thank you to you. You’ve been... more helpful than you probably realize. I hope I get to see you again sometime, Mera."

Her cheeks colored slightly, and she dipped into a quick bow. "You’re too kind. Safe travels—and may the road ahead be smooth for you."

"Same to you," Zach said with a grin before stepping back toward the carriage.

Ivonah really acted like I wasn't charming as hell.

The goodbyes were swift after that. Melijuia, as usual, didn’t waste time on sentiment, directing her knights to their positions with a quick gesture. They loaded up without fuss, and before long, Zach found himself seated across from her in the carriage, the wheels lurching forward as they left the estate behind.

The road stretched endlessly. Zach let the rhythm of the carriage lull him into a half-daze until a question surfaced in his mind. "Why don’t you have an automobile? I saw one in the city. Seems like it’d be faster than this thing."

Lira, despite being half asleep had a confused expression. Doren was completely asleep, dosing off with his head on her shoulder.

Melijuia smirked faintly, as though she had been expecting the question. "My parents have one back at home," she admitted. "But fuel is absurdly expensive. Only the wealthiest keep them running regularly. Horses are more reliable, anyway."

Zach nodded, taking in her explanation. "Makes sense. I thought the vehicles alone was expensive..."

The hours crawled by, the steady clatter of hooves and creak of the carriage filling the silence. Eventually, the fields gave way to towering stone walls.

Mapil loomed before them, a city wrapped in gray, its entrance marked by a massive concrete gate that had to be cranked open for them to enter. Guards worked the mechanism with precision, while a gathering of townsfolk clustered near the gate.

As the carriage rolled in, Zach noticed the crowd wasn’t just here to gawk—they were expectant, their faces alight with hope as they sang cheerful songs.

But their eyes shifted toward the road behind the carriage, searching for something—or someone—that wasn’t there. Whispers of confusion rippled through the crowd when no second carriage appeared.

The carriage slowed, and Melijuia stepped out with practiced grace, her expression calm but commanding. The people immediately fell silent.

"My father has chosen to extend their journey," she announced, her voice carrying over the crowd with ease. "But he wanted me to tell you how much he miss the people of Mapil. These are challenging times, but his thoughts are always with you."

There were murmurs of disappointment, mixed with nods of understanding. Melijuia didn’t linger, climbing back into the carriage as it started moving again.

Zach watched her closely as she settled into her seat, the faintest crease in her brow betraying her thoughts. "You handled that pretty smoothly, though."

She didn’t answer right away, staring out the window instead. "Managing people’s expectations is part of my job," she said finally. "They’ll adjust."

The carriage rattled on, the countryside slipping past as the sun began to dip lower in the sky.

Zach leaned back, his curiosity bubbling to the surface again. "What’s the deal with the First City and the Third City anyway? You’ve hinted at it, but I still don’t really get the big picture."

Melijuia weighed how much to say. "The First City wants control—complete control. They want to unify all the cities, towns, and villages under one rule, like it was before the war. In theory, all the cities support the idea of unification—that’s why they’re cities and not separate nations—but only if they retain the power to govern themselves."

"And I'm guessing no amount of diplomacy could convince them otherwise," Zach said, crossing his arms.

She nodded. "Exactly. They don’t see themselves as just another city. They see themselves as the rightful rulers of a new nation. To them, the other cities are naive."

"And the Third City said ‘fuck that,’ I’m guessing?" Zach quipped, raising an eyebrow.

"Crude, but accurate. The Third City values its independence above all else. They’ve declared outright that they’ll never submit to the First City’s control. The First City can’t allow open defiance. It undermines their entire plan for unification."

Zach let out a low whistle. "Sounds like a mess. So, what’s stopping the First City from just steamrolling everyone? They’ve got to have the biggest army, right?"

Melijuia shook her head. "They do, but wars aren’t won by numbers alone. The Third City’s forces are smaller but highly trained, and they know their terrain. Plus, the First City’s ambitions have made them a lot of enemies. Even the cities and towns that don’t want to take sides are keeping them at arm’s length. It’s a balancing act, for now."

"For now?" Zach echoed. "You think that balance won’t last?"

"The question is how long we can hold the line before it tips."

"Damn."

After what felt like an eternity, the carriage finally arrived at its destination—a sprawling gated estate that loomed against the sky. Servants dressed in crisp red and white uniforms awaited them, bowing deeply as the carriage came to a halt.

Melijuia stepped out first, followed by Zach. The servants moved with well-practiced efficiency, unloading the luggage and guiding them inside.

Zach glanced at Melijuia, who waved him off with a flick of her wrist. "Please give him a room. He'll be training as a knight."