The path ahead seemed endless, but for the first time since they had lost Alaric in the abyss, Kael and Lira felt supported. Gobinot walked ahead of them, tall and imposing, with a calm confidence that contrasted with the inner turmoil of the two young adventurers. His gentle tone and reassuring words seemed to ease the tension between them. Yet, they couldn't shake off the heaviness in their hearts.
The landscape passed slowly by—a mix of rolling hills and thick forests that gave the road an air of mystery. The light breeze provided a welcome coolness, but it wasn't enough to dispel the worry gnawing at Lira. She watched their guide closely but couldn't pinpoint what unsettled her about the man. Gobinot seemed so perfect, so sure of himself, as if he already knew what they were going to do before they did. She glanced at Kael, who walked silently beside her, lost in thought.
"We need to be careful," she whispered, breaking the silence. "We don't know anything about this man."
Kael, his tired eyes lifting to meet hers, nodded without saying a word. He had always trusted Lira's instincts to assess situations, but at that moment, he felt strangely comforted by Gobinot's presence. It was as if he were offering them a way out of the chaos they had been through. A guide, a helping hand—finally—after so many days of despair.
Gobinot, walking ahead, glanced back at them, his piercing eyes instantly catching their attention.
"You know, the road ahead is still long," he said softly. "We could stop in this small clearing to rest. Besides, I'd like to hear more about what happened to you at Ebony Mountain. Maybe I can help you understand a few things."
Kael hesitated for a moment, but before he could respond, Lira spoke up.
"We've already talked enough. These are memories we'd rather forget."
But Gobinot, unfazed, smiled softly. "I understand. But sometimes, talking about our wounds can help heal them."
Lira clenched her jaw, irritated by his easy answer, but before she could argue, Kael intervened.
"Maybe he's right, Lira," Kael said quietly. "He seems to understand what we've been through. Maybe talking to him will help us… find a solution." His voice trembled slightly, revealing how exhausted he truly was by everything that had happened.
Lira sighed, crossing her arms, but eventually relented. "Fine. But don't give away everything."
So, they stopped in the clearing, and Kael, ever the one to explain things, sat down with Gobinot while Lira stood off to the side, watching their guide with heightened vigilance. Gobinot took a small flask and sipped from it before offering it to Kael. "You've been through terrible things. I can see it in your eyes, Kael. But I think that by talking, we can begin to understand how it all happened."
Kael nodded, caught in a whirlwind of memories. The events at Ebony Mountain—the ruins, the shadow wolves, the ancient magic—all of it seemed so distant, yet so fresh in his mind. Without even realizing it, he began recounting everything. He spoke of the ruins, the dangers they had faced, the mysteries they had unraveled thanks to his knowledge of magic, and of course, Alaric, always at the forefront of their group, always protecting them.
As Kael spoke, Gobinot listened intently, nodding at regular intervals like a wise mentor listening to a pupil. He asked questions here and there, always relevant, digging a little deeper each time, but never in an intrusive way. He let Kael talk, as though he knew the young sorcerer needed to unburden himself.
Lira, meanwhile, kept her distance, watching the scene with suspicion. Every gesture of Gobinot, every glance, every calculated smile only increased her discomfort. Something was off. Why was this man, a stranger, so interested in them? And why did Kael seem so eager to trust him?
But before she could intervene, she saw Kael pull something from his pocket—his notebook. The one where he had written down everything they had discovered, all their adventures since the start of their quest. Every detail about Ebony Mountain, the mysterious ruins, even his personal reflections on the nature of the magic they had encountered.
"It's all in here," Kael said, handing the notebook to Gobinot without hesitation. "All our discoveries, everything we've learned about the ruins, the ancient magic... Alaric was always the one who pushed us forward, but this notebook... it's what kept track of everything."
Lira stepped forward, her heart tightening as she saw Kael handing over their precious source of information. "Kael, what are you doing?" she asked, her voice tense.
Kael turned to her, his tired eyes filled with confidence. "Gobinot can help us. He knows these lands; he's heard of these mysteries before. If anyone can understand what we've discovered, it's him."
Gobinot smiled warmly, gently taking the notebook as though it were an invaluable treasure. "Don't worry, Lira. I'll read it carefully and return it to you once I've found something that might be useful to you." His tone was soft, reassuring, almost paternal.
Lira wasn't convinced, but Kael seemed so certain, so desperate for answers, that she didn't have the heart to stop him. She crossed her arms and looked away, feeling the unease growing inside her.
Meanwhile, Gobinot quickly flipped through a few pages of the notebook. His eyes gleamed with interest as he skimmed over Kael's notes. He seemed fascinated by the details of the ruins, the descriptions of the magical traps, the creatures they had fought. But what caught his attention most was the mention of Alaric, specifically how he had changed since they had arrived at the mountain.
"You've lived through extraordinary things," Gobinot murmured, lifting his eyes from the notebook to look at Kael and Lira in turn. "You are adventurers of rare talent, and you have a keen insight that few possess. It's no wonder you've come this far. But... I believe this notebook contains elements far beyond what you can imagine."
Encouraged by his words, Kael nodded eagerly. "Now you understand why we need your help. These ruins hide secrets, powers we don't fully understand. And Alaric..." His voice faltered slightly at the mention of their lost friend. "Alaric deserves for us to continue this quest. For him."
Gobinot stared at Kael for a long moment, a subtle smile on his lips. "You're right. You deserve answers. And I will help you get them. But it will take time."
Lira, who had been watching in silence until then, clenched her fists. "Time? We've already lost Alaric. We don't have the luxury of waiting."
But Gobinot remained calm. "I understand, Lira. But patience is necessary. If we rush, we risk losing everything. I'm only asking that you trust me, as Kael does. Together, we will find the answers."
Gobinot's tone was so convincing, so reassuring, that even Lira felt her skepticism waver. Maybe, after all, he was right. Perhaps, in this complex world of magic and ancient secrets, they needed someone like him—someone who understood the invisible workings of these forces they didn't yet comprehend.
Kael, meanwhile, saw only one thing: the hope of understanding what they had uncovered in the ruins, the hope of finding Alaric, or at least, of honoring his memory by continuing what they had started.
Gobinot closed the notebook gently and slipped it into his satchel. A simple gesture, but one heavy with consequences.
"Very well," he said finally. "We will leave at dawn. Together, we'll discover the truth."
Kael nodded with a sincere smile, while Lira remained silent, her gaze lost in the growing darkness around them.