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1068 Words
The sun had already begun its slow descent when the group returned to the main road. The wind had grown quiet again, but Celestia couldn't shake the chill running through her spine. Whatever she had heard in the grove still echoed in her ears.
No one spoke for a while. Even Nash, who always found something to joke about, remained silent. The burned camp left a weight on everyone’s shoulders. It was a reminder that this land was not safe—that war, fear, and pain still lived here.
“Do you think someone is following us?” Adelaide asked quietly, her eyes scanning the trees.
“No,” Leon said. “I don’t smell anything nearby. The wind would’ve carried it to us,” he added.
“Still... I want to stay alert,” Kieran muttered. He moved closer to Celestia, keeping her in sight at all times.
They rode for another hour before they spotted a small creek beside the road. It was clear, running gently over smooth stones.
“Let’s stop here for water,” Leon said. “The horses need a break too,” he said.
The group dismounted. Adelaide and Esther collected water in flasks while Dan and Theodore stood guard nearby. Celestia knelt beside the stream and dipped her hands into the cool water. She stared at her reflection for a moment, unsure of what she felt. Sad? Angry? Afraid?
“You okay?” Kieran asked as he crouched beside her.
“I’m fine,” she said softly. “Just tired, I guess,” she said. He took her hand and kissed her knuckles.
“We’ll get through this,” he said. “We'll probably find some inn soon,” he joked to lighten the mood. Celestia chuckled.
“Don't worry too much, okay?” he added.
She nodded, but inside, she wasn’t so sure. The South was heavier than she imagined. Every corner seemed to hide a new danger.
They had just begun packing their things again when a voice called out from the road.
“Well, well… what do we have here?”
Everyone turned. Three men stood on the path. They weren’t dressed like villagers. Their clothes were black, marked with dark red symbols. Tattoos curled up their necks, peeking out from under their collars.
Leon stepped forward slowly.
“Azul's men,” he said. One of the men laughed.
“Now you know who we are,” he said. Esther narrowed her eyes.
“That's Hector,” she whispered.
“Correct,” the man grinned. “And we’ve been waiting for you. The marked one travels with you, doesn’t she?” he asked. Leon was taking aback by what he had said.
Kieran shifted in front of Celestia, growling low in his throat.
“You’ll never touch her,” he added.
“Touch her?” another man laughed. “We don’t need to. Not yet. We’re just here to deliver a message,” he added.
Leon didn’t move.
“What message?”
The tallest of the three stepped forward. His eyes were cold, almost colorless.
“Azul knows she’s coming. He’s waiting,” he said. “And he wants her to know... he’s not afraid of her. Not even if she has the whole North behind her,” she added.
“Why should we believe you?” Flint asked, stepping forward with his arms crossed.
“You don’t have to,” the man said. “You’ll see for yourself soon enough,” he added.
Suddenly, he raised his hand. A strange black mist formed around his fingers.
Kieran moved fast. In the blink of an eye, he transformed into his wolf form and lunged.
But the man didn’t fight back.
Instead, he let the mist cover him—and in a blink, all three of them vanished into thin air.
Celestia gasped. “What was that?”
“Shadow magic,” Adelaide answered, frowning. “It’s rare… and dangerous,” he added.
“They were just messing with us,” Theodore said. “Trying to scare us,” he added.
“It worked,” Esther muttered.
“Let’s keep moving,” Leon ordered. “We can’t let them delay us,” he added.
They got back on their horses and continued on. The road became harder now. The dirt was cracked and dry, and sharp rocks jutted out from the ground like broken teeth. Trees became scarce. The heat pushed down on them like a heavy blanket.
They didn’t stop until nightfall. Everyone was tense. No one wanted to be caught by surprise again. Dan and Flint took first watch, while the rest tried to sleep.
Celestia curled up beside Kieran, but sleep didn’t come easily.
“You think he’s really waiting for me?” she asked.
“Yes,” Kieran said softly. “But we’re not going to hand you over. We’ll protect you,” he added. Celestia swallowed hard.
“I just wish… I knew what to do. I have all this power, but I’m still scared.”
“You’re not supposed to know everything yet,” he said. “You’re still learning. That’s okay,” he added.
She looked up at him.
“Do you think I can beat him?” Kieran looked into her eyes and answered without pause.
“Yes.”
Celestia felt her chest tighten. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to be strong enough.
“Get some sleep,” he said. “We’ll ride early.”
As the night deepened, the winds picked up again, carrying strange scents and faraway howls. But nothing attacked. Nothing followed.
Morning came with a red sky. The South greeted them with more dust, more wind, and more silence. The group ate quickly and got ready to continue.
They had only traveled a few miles when Nash suddenly pointed ahead.
“Look!”
A large rock formation stood in the distance. Red and sharp like broken bones. The Red Hills.
“We’re close,” Leon said. “Just past that is our camp. We’ll be safe there for the night," he added.
Everyone felt relief—just a little.
Celestia looked at the hills and clenched her fists. She knew the next part of this journey would be harder. The enemy was close. The air itself felt charged with danger.
But she didn’t turn back.
She moved forward—toward the South.
Toward her fate.
- Writer
