Over the next few days, Kairon and Elia traveled together, though their trust in one another was tenuous at best. Elia was an enigma—quick with her words but guarded about her past. Kairon suspected she wasn't telling him everything, but he wasn't sure he wanted to know the full truth.
At night, they would make camp in the forest, the fire crackling between them as they exchanged brief, often guarded conversations.
"So," Kairon began one night, breaking the silence. "Where are you headed?"
Elia glanced up from sharpening her blade. "Does it matter?"
Kairon frowned. "I guess not. But I'm curious."
Elia smirked. "Curiosity killed the cat."
Kairon shrugged. "And satisfaction brought it back."
She chuckled, surprising him. "Fair enough," she said, twirling the blade in her hand. "Let's just say I have unfinished business. And you?"
"I don't really know," Kairon admitted. "I'm trying to figure out what this power inside me is."
Elia's expression darkened. "Be careful with that," she said quietly. "Power can be dangerous. Especially when you don't know who's watching."
Chapter 9: Signs of Pursuit
As the days passed, Kairon began to notice subtle signs that they were not alone. Tracks in the dirt. The rustle of leaves when there was no wind. Elia, too, had grown more cautious, her eyes scanning their surroundings with increasing frequency.
"They're getting closer," she muttered one morning, crouching low to inspect a set of fresh footprints.
"Who's getting closer?" Kairon asked, though he had a sinking feeling he already knew.
Elia stood, her expression grim. "The ones looking for you. You're not the only one with enemies, Kairon."
Kairon felt a chill run down his spine. The stranger's warning had been true—there were forces at play that he still didn't fully understand. But one thing was clear: they were being hunted.