After the Battle
The carriage rolled forward, the sounds of its wheels now the only noise that filled the air. The once-violent clash had dissipated into the calm of the open road, but the tension within the group remained palpable. Ethan's mind was still racing, his thoughts swirling with the unknown figure in the woods and the unsettling feeling that something greater was unfolding.
As the carriage moved onward, the atmosphere inside grew quieter. Jensi sat beside Ethan, fidgeting uncomfortably, still processing the chaotic scene. He glanced at Ethan from time to time, his curiosity evident, but no longer daring to speak about the battle. Zepta, too, was lost in thought, his brow furrowed as he surveyed the road ahead.
The black-cloaked figure, having stepped back into the shadows after the skirmish, was as silent as ever. His dark presence lingered in the air, making Ethan uneasy. The way he moved during the fight—it was as though he were more than just a skilled warrior. He was a shadow in human form, his actions deliberate, and his presence unnerving.
"Who do you think they are?" Jensi finally whispered, his voice barely audible over the noise of the wheels.
Ethan's gaze remained fixed on the horizon. "Someone with a purpose," he muttered under his breath, his eyes scanning the passing landscape. "But we're not meant to know yet."
The journey continued, the landscape shifting as they traveled further from the familiar territories of Swan. Fields gave way to forests, and the roads grew narrower as they neared the larger path to Valenhold. The group fell into a rhythm, but the unease lingered, never fully leaving Ethan's mind.
That night, as the group set up camp, Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that the road ahead would only grow darker. He had already faced challenges beyond what he had anticipated, but the mysterious figure and the strange feeling that something—or someone—was still watching him gnawed at him.
He stood by the fire, Calyra resting at his side, her eyes as alert as his. It was then that Zepta approached him, his face etched with concern.
"You've been quiet," Zepta remarked, his voice low. "What's on your mind, Ethan?"
Ethan glanced at him, his gaze unwavering. "We're being watched. And I'm not sure by whom, but I know it's not over."
Zepta didn't respond immediately, his eyes narrowing as he looked around the camp. "You're not wrong," he muttered, then shifted his weight. "You're a curious one, Ethan. I don't know what kind of power you're hiding, but I know you've seen things we haven't. Just don't make the mistake of underestimating this world."
Ethan nodded, but his thoughts were elsewhere. The capital was within reach, but it felt more like a dangerous beginning than an end.