Zeteria, Twelfth Domain.

Asmor, capital of the Republic of the Twelve Domains.

Lara awoke with the first rays of the sun. Her night had been agitated, disturbed by many nightmares where she became the puppet of the Kaisers, or worse, was kidnapped by soldiers of the Empire of the Nine Worlds and delivered to Emperor Kaligula. She felt it was a sign for her to take a step back to make her decision. The girl dispelled her bad memories under a cold water jet.

Nothing like cold water to clarify ideas, she thought, wiping her face.

She put on a practical outfit, sweater, and pants, then went downstairs for breakfast. Her father was already there, waiting for her.

“Hello. Did you sleep well?”

“I slept all right,” she replied, kissing him on the cheek.

There were days when she blessed Elhain for not being born a Phemacian.

“What do you plan to do today?” He asked carefully.

“Clear my mind. I need to think without distractions. Don’t wait for me to eat; I will be back at night.”

Lask’s expression darkened.

“I don't like it. kiddo.”

“You were so insistent on me going out and enjoying the festivities,” she got angry.

“Lara…”

“I'm not in the mood.”

The girl crossed her arms. Nothing would make her change her mind now. Shouldn't he admit that she had grown up and become able to make her own decisions, even if they didn’t align with his?

Lask sighed. He would have liked to have his late wife by his side. He hated being alone in deciding on the education of their daughter. He reckoned he had to give her a chance.

“Very well. Do as you wish. Show me that I can trust you.”

The smile that lit up her face rewarded him more than a long speech.

“Thank you, Dad,” she said, coming to hug him.

OoOoOo

An hour later, she was in the small streets of Asmor, bypassing the large boulevards still congested. She was determined to lose her hidden winged bodyguards. She was going to make them swallow their arrogance, she decided with a smile.

She arrived at the covered market in the North district. There, she was sure to lose the man or men she thought secretly tailed her. She blended as best she could in the crowd, stoically supporting the many inevitable contacts, even abandoning the additional cape she had taken away from a stall.

She bought apples and three handfuls of dried fruit which she slipped into her bag. She also stocked up a few meat pies after devouring the first. The various spices’ smells were so tempting that she didn't know which way to turn. Ultimately, she couldn’t resist the temptation to purchase a good piece of cheese and a nice crispy loaf of bread. She already imagined herself tasting the melted cheese on large slices of bread, by the fire, under the stars.

Her bag considerably gained in weight, so she decided it was time for her to leave the market. She chose the most obvious exit, which was the most crowded as well. Drowned in the crowd, she would have a good chance of going unnoticed. She stopped in the first shop she ran into. It sold hats and all kinds of stylish wigs. Lara played the indecisive woman card and tried several options before leaving the shop with a girl she didn’t know. She wanted to cover her tracks as well as much as possible to throw off her potential bodyguards.

She risked a glance at the sky, but she would have been surprised to see a Phemacian she knew. Had they fallen for her tricks? She would only be sure of it once she left the city. She arrived at the north gate of Asmor after several minutes of walking and went to rent a horse at one of the many stables available to the residents.

Once inside the stable, she scanned the sky again through the window. No one in the sky… Perfect. She allowed a smile to appear on her face and adjusted her bag over her shoulder. This time, she was sure no one was following her.

She patiently waited her turn before asking the manager for a horse. She paid two days in advance, and the man guided her deeper into the stables. They stopped before one horse in particular.

“This is Daisie. She is gentle and easy to get along with. But she is a bit of a glutton, so do not hesitate to be firm when it comes to feeding her.”

“Thanks for the advice,” Lara replied.

She presented her open hand to the horse to build a mutual trust, before tapping her neck.

“I’ll take her,” she decided.

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“Perfect. Boy, come and prepare Daisie for the young lady.” He called a boy who was feeding a horse nearby. “My boy will take good care of preparing everything for you. Have a nice trip!”

Lara thanked him again and waited until the boy in question saddled and harnessed her mount. She longed to gallop on the open field and leave the city behind. The girl had planned everything, food in quantity, a light tent ... She felt some guilt for lying to her father, but after all, what did she risk on the edge of the capital? She was not afraid of sleeping under the stars; it wouldn’t be her first time doing so.

The boy finally gave her the horse. She impatiently grabbed the rein to mount it. Lara left the stables and savored the sun that warmed her face, before putting on her leather gloves and riding Rosie. Winter was coming to an end.

“Hello, Lara.”

She froze. Impossible, she thought.

The girl turned to discover Herald Aydan, impeccably strapped in his gray uniform. The reins of a white horse wrapped in his left hand. He greeted her, tilting slightly, right fist on the heart. His predominantly silver wings were dotted with brown and black feathers.

“What... how?” She stuttered.

“You’re predictable.”

“Did you follow me?” She questioned, incredulous.

He shook his head.

“I was waiting for you,” he replied.

She realized he was serious. Her anger rose. She clenched her fists. All her plans, for nothing!

“You seem upset,” he noted with his impassive voice.

“You wanna guess why? Where are your Mecens friends?”

“The Kaiser of Phemacia ordered me to watch over you while you make your decision.”

“I see,” she whispered between her clenched teeth.

And before he could answer, she kicked her horse, urging her forward in a sprint. He could try to catch up with her if he was so good.

She slowed down when she arrived at the edge of Tador Forest. There was no need to risk hurting her horse because she was angry. She switched to a light trot to allow Daisie to catch her breath. She risked a glance behind her shoulder. Aydan was nowhere in sight at the moment, but he wouldn't give up so easily. She decreased her speed further and took the opportunity to examine the landscape. The snow had already melted; the woods preserved heat more than the stones of the city. Without their foliage, it was quite incapable of differentiating the oaks from the beech trees which made up the bulk of the trees in the forest.

“Your behavior is childish.”

Lara couldn't help but shiver at the frozen sound of the voice behind her and pulled the reins towards her. She gritted her teeth to avoid answering.

“Getting your horse to a full gallop all of the sudden ... what were you thinking about?

“I was upset,” she grumbled. “How did you guess where I was going?”

“When you disappeared under the arches of the North market, it became obvious. You weren't going to waste precious time choosing another exit.”

Defeated, she ordered her horse to a trot while Aydan followed suit. So much for her wanting to be alone. She sighed while letting Daisie follow the path. The trail was well-maintained and regularly used. On the ground, the dead leaves of the previous autumn made the terrain in places. The manager of the stable had not lied to him, her horse was easy to lead.

They rode for several minutes in silence.

“Did you really plan to flee to the Door?” Aydan finally asked.

Ah, he finally gave in to his curiosity! She gloated in silence for a short time before realizing that he was frowning at her silence.

“No,” she replied.” I just want some peace of mind. I'm tired of everyone trying to convince me of the ideal choice for my life.”

“Everyone?”

“My dad,” she conceded. “And this Abbas.”

“Abbas? Did he talk to you?” Aydan was surprised. “It’s surprising on his part.”

“Oh, he's annoying like many Phemacians. You haven't told me what you've been doing for the past three years,” she said, changing the subject.

The young man instantly stiffened.

“Training,” he whispered evasively.

She felt he wasn’t comfortable with the topic. It was something sensitive for him. Lara decided to press on.

“And what exactly is training?”

Aydan held a sigh and struggled to remain impassive. How can he make her understand he didn't want to talk about it? His training was nothing comparable to the academic studies she had taken. As a Gofer, he had followed the Harbinger who was in charge of his training everywhere, including on the battlefield. The Doors, these buildings that made it possible to circulate from one planet to another, remained the main place of skirmishes against the imperial soldiers. Despite the peace that reigned in the Twelve Domains, the territories were large enough to allow the regrouping of bandits or worse, mercenaries who then offered their services to those who wanted to deal with others.

Did she imagine that he had never experienced combat? How to explain to her that his daily life was much more complex than what she imagined?

Well, if you say nothing, she will remain clueless… that’s for sure, Rha interrupted his thoughts.

What if she asks to meet you?

The choice is mine, you know that.

I wouldn't know where to start… what to tell her first.

Stay vague, then. She's just trying to make you talk.

Great! Aydan thought.

Words were far from his specialty. Rha's laughter echoed his sullen thoughts.

You could also benefit. His familiar added

I wonder which benefit…

“Aydan?”

“Yes?”

“You seemed elsewhere. Was it so painful… your training?

The Herald shrugged his shoulders.

“Not really. I was entitled to a few theoretical lessons between two battles.”

“Oh.”

Lara said no more. She was deep in her thoughts, and Aydan was delighted that the interrogation ended there. Despite the cold, many birds were chirping in the sky. The forest echoed with their songs. With the pale winter light and the rustling of the wind in the branches, the landscape was enchanting and soothing.