Do you know what it means to walk from the coastline to the capital? This would be something trivial for most—suicidal even.

The capital of Elveria, Rindale, is centered in the middle of the huge landmass. This means no matter what angle you enter the country from, you’ll cross the same area to get to the most important kingdom.

Kaiser carried Elara on his back, covering her with a blanket he had taken from his boat and the supplies he had taken with him. Tall trees lined the path to Braywick. Their awnings cast pieces of light on the ground. Kaiser’s boots crunched gravel. The silence was heavy, broken only by the occasional bird.

Elara was awake, her gaze flicking to the trees, through her eyes showed weariness. “How far is this town?” she asked, her tone light, full of drowsiness.

Kaiser glanced back. “Half a day if we don’t stop.” Elara nodded, her eyes drifting to the trees. A sparkle shone from the forest, like a silhouette. “You have been there before?” Elara asked; her speech was—albeit improper.

He thought about the question. “No, I would imagine it's just like any other low-ranked Elveria town. Taverns, people scraping by, and trouble somewhere—where is your home? This trip isn't for you, it's not hard to see.”

Elara hesitated, her fingers shifting their grip on the blanket and Kaiser. “A place with no name. Just houses and hills. Quieter than Braywick, I bet…” Her voice was soft. Soft as if she were speaking more to herself than him.

Kaiser’s jaw tightened. “Why leave? A nameless place would suit you better than where we’re headed.” He adjusted Elara's weight on his back; she wasn't hard to hold—but she seemed persistent in moving around while on his shoulders.

“Really now?” Elara gave a faint, humorless laugh. But something was layered in the laugh that made Kaiser turn his attention more on her, just slightly.

“Really now?” he started, repeating what she said like it confused him. “You didn't feel like you belonged in the place you came from? You said it was quiet.”

Elara looked up, then down at the ground. She saw a wandering Vixen running past them in the distance, its footing quiet as a ghost on glass. “...Quiet doesn’t mean safe. And safety is harder to find than quiet…”

“...Hm.” Kaiser nodded, digesting her words. He had seen her kind before—the ones who carried their scattered stories like broken glass, not easily pieced together.

Elara looked at the ground, still her view moving to the trees. Then she saw it—the sparkle she had noticed earlier appeared again, clearer this time—a glint low in the trees, catching the sunlight. It moved between the branches, like a shadow. Elara moved to tap Kaiser but he already sensed it, stopping abruptly.

The knight's eyes narrowed as he scanned the forest. “Stay quiet,” he lowered her gently to the ground. Elara swayed slightly, the blanket tightly held together by her tight grip. Kaiser steadied her, turning toward the source of what Elara had seen and what he sensed...

The air felt heavier now. Kaiser drew his sword, the gravel crunching under his boot. “Who’s there?” he called out, his voice steady but sharp, cutting through the stillness.

A figure emerged from the trees. They moved as if dissociated, turning from a glowing shadow into an elf? It was as if they had not meant to be heard, although they had been there for a while.

They stepped into the light. It was a woman who wore a robe with pointy ears, holding a staff in her hand. A scarf draped over her shoulder, nearly to the ground. Her skin was pale, her hair a shade of dirty blonde perhaps, and her eyes—an odd reflection of pink.

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“You're a knight. From Rimu I assume?”

She walked closer to Kaiser, stopping just short of her nose as he raised his sword. The woman jumped slightly, her eyes going inward, making her cross-eyed. She moved her hand up to correct her glasses, taking a step back.

“I suppose you are the knight from Rimu. The island full of… pirates, bandits, and—scavengers, was it?”

Kaiser looked at her, examining her form. Confused yet intrigued, he was cautious as he held Finisirae up at her.

“Who are you? And how do you know of my arrival, and who I am?”

Elara shifted on his back, causing him to move his shoulder slightly. The woman saw this, looking over his shoulder at Elara.

“Is the girl bare?—did you rape her?”

She shifted her staff slightly; it glowed faintly as though preparing a spell. Kaiser's eyes widened as he raised his sword in defense, but the glow faded quickly.

The woman’s stance relaxed. “Good. You didn't. That armor hasn't come off of you in months, it seems…”

Kaiser’s grip on the hilt of his sword loosened slightly, though his eyes never left the woman as he shifted Elara’s weight on his back. Finisirae hadn't made a noise this whole time. Why?

Elara’s gaze moved between Kaiser and the stranger—uneasy, curious, and far from at ease. The woman stepped forward cautiously, her staff’s red charms jingling faintly with the movement. She held up a hand in a gesture of peace, her expression softening.

“I mean no harm,” she said, her voice even but touched. “My name is Lynda. I’m a scout for Braywick. I have been watching you to ensure no harm comes to the village. We’ve had bad experiences—even with knights like yourself.”

Kaiser raised an eyebrow.

“A scout with a staff. That’s not typical for a village watch. Do you not have a guard? Anything of the sort?”

Lynda offered a small smile. “Braywick isn’t a typical village these days, knight. And neither are its visitors.” Her eyes briefly flicked to Elara, then back to him.

“We’ve had to adapt. Orc raids nearly leveled us a few months ago. Everyone—scouts, farmers, even the blacksmith—took on new roles to defend what’s left.”

Kaiser’s expression softened slightly at the mention of the orc raids. He’d seen such devastation before, the remnants of villages that were little more than ash and bones.

“You’re making sure I’m not here to finish the job,” he said, the edge of his voice cutting through the air like a blade. Lynda didn’t flinch, meeting his gaze head-on.

“You can’t blame us for being cautious—but I see now you’re not a threat.” She gestured to Elara. “Carrying someone like that… it doesn’t match the kind of man who came before you.”

Elara stirred, her voice soft but pointed. “You said that orcs almost took Braywick down with raids… Why hasn’t the kingdom done anything?”

Lynda looked, letting out a dry, bitter laugh. “The kingdom? They don't care about a village this far out. We’re on our own, girl. Always have been...” Her expression darkened, the memory of past failures evident in her tone. “But we’ve learned to take care of ourselves…”

Kaiser nodded, an unspoken understanding between him and Lynda. “You’re not wrong to be cautious…” he said. “But if I’d meant harm—you wouldn’t have stopped me.”

Lynda gave a smile, not one of humor. Likely of disregardance. “Fair enough, knight.” She shifted her staff, the glow returning. This time now the color of blue. “I can take you to Braywick faster, instantly. If you’re willing to trust me.”

Kaiser looked at her, making eye contact. He paused, obviously suspicious of the claim. “And how do you plan to do that?”

Lynda tilted her head, the faint smirk returning. “You’re carrying a young woman who looks ready to collapse, and I’ve got a spell that will get us there well before nightfall. It’s not much, but it’s better than moving through gravel and trees for the next few hours...”

Elara glanced at Kaiser, her tire visible. “You pick, Kaiser” she murmured, but her eyes pleading for reprise. He hesitated, weighing the risks. The idea of trusting a stranger from a town he’s never been was not atall appealing, but his other options were equally unfavorable. He thought on it for a while more; finally, he nodded, his decision made.

“Do it.”

Lynda stepped forward, planting her staff into the ground. “Hold on to each other,” she instructed, the air around them beginning to hum with energy. “And don’t let go until we’re there.” Kaiser adjusted his grip on Elara, his arms tightening around her. Lynda gave her hand to him. Kaiser took it, unappealing.

The glow from Lynda’s staff intensified, filling the clearing with light. The last thing he saw was her sharp, knowing smile before the world around them dissolved into a blur.