|Kairos| The weight of my thoughts pressed down on me as I navigated the winding path through the dense woodland. Each step felt heavier than the last, my boots sinking slightly into the damp earth. The air here was different—thick with the scent of pine and rich soil, carrying a quiet stillness that made the place feel almost sacred. Unlike the towering halls of my estate, where power and authority loomed over every stone, this place existed beyond the reach of time, untouched by the burdens of politics and war. Above me, the moon hung bright and full, its silver light filtering through the thick canopy of trees. Shadows stretched and twisted across the ground, flickering like silent sentinels in the night. The village soon came into view, hidden deep within the forest and protected