It was late afternoon when we left Iona for Draego village. The journey to the Draego was one of both anticipation and reverie. As General Cecile and Iris led the way, Daeva was in the middle while we were behind them accompanied by the secret guard that Layla had assigned us.
No one spoke throughout the whole journey and the silence was profound, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant call of a nightbird.
"It's too quiet "Emmet muttered, and I heard the light chuckle that came from Daeva ahead of us.
We moved with speed, and I was surprised that everyone kept up. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the forest transformed. The shadows deepened, and the air grew cooler, carrying with it the earthy scent of damp soil and decaying leaves. When we finally emerged from the forest and onto the edge of the Draego, the scene that greeted us was one of tranquil simplicity.
