Their mission is accomplished —Alea is safe now.
But their journey was far from finished.
With the winds gentle and the skies clear, the reinforced carriage began rolling once again, this time heading toward Frostvale City. The trip would take five full days through forests, snowy trails, and mountainous paths.
But unlike their first tense journey… this time, the atmosphere was different.
Warm. Playful. Almost like a traveling family.
Day 1
The first day was peaceful.
Lyra sat beside Alea, hugging her mother's arm tightly as she animatedly recounted her days at the academy. Her eyes sparkled as she told the story of how she first saw Noah during combat class.
"And then—boom! He knocked that smug noble out with a single move! You should've seen it, Mother!"
Alea chuckled softly. "So… that's when you fell for him?"
"M-Maybe…" Lyra muttered, her cheeks puffing slightly. "But also when he healed my wound with his mana. That was… the first time someone touched my hand and didn't look at me like I was boring."
Alea's smile faltered for a moment. She reached out and gently brushed Lyra's hair.
"I'm glad you met him."
Meanwhile, at the back of the carriage, Layla had her own mission.
"Aunty~!" she called sweetly. "Please tell us a funny story from Lyra's childhood!"
Lyra turned beet red. "Layla, no—!"
Alea smirked. "Well, there was a time she tried to ride a wild snow hare because she thought it was a magical beast."
"It was fluffy!" Lyra defended.
"She got dragged half a mile, screaming the whole way," Alea finished with a grin.
"Hahahaha"
The entire carriage burst into laughter.
Noah, sitting quietly in the corner, let out a chuckle.
"…I wish I'd seen that."
"You're not helping," Lyra muttered, slapping his arm lightly.
Day 2
The second morning began with a war.
A kitchen war.
"I made breakfast today," Scarlett declared, placing a steaming plate of golden omelette in front of Noah. "With cheese, herbs, and a bit of mana-infused butter."
"I made mine with love," Layla purred, setting her own plate beside it. "And a secret spice blend only I know."
Noah blinked.
Two plates.
Two intense stares.
Sweat rolled down his temple.
He took a bite of Scarlett's omelette. "Mmm… rich flavor… perfectly cooked…"
Then Layla's. "Oh… oh wow. This has a nice kick to it…"
The two girls leaned in.
"Well?" Scarlett asked.
"Which one wins?" Layla challenged.
Noah stared at both plates… then quietly took another bite from both.
"…I think I need a second taste to be sure."
"Coward," both girls said in unison.
Day 3
The midday sun filtered through the snowy branches as the group gathered around a foldable table for board games.
Alea was surprisingly ruthless in strategy games. Layla kept trying to cheat by distracting people with seductive gazes. Lyra's competitive side emerged for the first time, especially when Noah was winning.
Scarlett, calm and elegant as always, turned into a completely different person during games.
"Noah. You took my tile."
"It's part of the rules—"
"You. Took. My. Tile."
"…I'll put it back."
Laughter filled the carriage again.
Later that afternoon, while the girls rested, Noah noticed Alea sitting quietly by the window, rubbing her shoulder.
"You're still recovering, right?" he asked gently.
Alea raised a brow. "What are you planning, boy?"
He smiled. "Just a shoulder massage. Might help the tension."
"…Hmph. Alright."
He knelt behind her and began working her shoulder with slow, steady pressure. Alea let out a soft sigh.
"Surprisingly decent," she muttered.
"I did it a lot in my past life," Noah replied automatically.
She turned slightly. "Past life?"
"…I mean, past… months. Long months."
"Hm."
A moment passed.
"You're good with your hands," Alea teased with a smirk. "But don't think that'll get you my approval."
Noah grinned. "Wouldn't dream of it."
Day 4
That night, they set up camp outside the carriage to enjoy the stars.
Lyra brought out a blanket and sat beside Noah, laying her head on his shoulder. Scarlett was by the fire, humming an old lullaby. Layla danced barefoot in the snow for a minute before pulling Noah into a surprise snowball fight.
"I'll get you, Noah!" she laughed.
He dodged and rolled, only for Scarlett to join in, pelting him with perfect, pinpoint-accurate snowballs.
Lyra hesitated—then grinned, pulling Alea into the chaos.
"Mom, help!"
"Oh no, I'm not—"
Thwack!
A snowball to Alea's back.
She turned slowly toward Noah.
"…You're dead."
"Wait—ah!"
A storm of snowballs erupted. The battlefield echoed with laughter and shrieks.
Day 5
Their final day on the road.
The city of Frostvale could be seen far in the distance—gleaming white stone spires rising beyond the snowy trees.
Inside the carriage, things were calmer now.
Layla leaned on Noah's arm, half-asleep. Scarlett was writing something in her notebook. Lyra was painting a small magical rune on Alea's hand, showing off a trick she'd learned.
Noah sat quietly, watching it all.
Alea caught his gaze. For the first time, her eyes softened without any trace of suspicion.
She nodded once.
Maybe not approval yet… but trust? It was beginning.
That night, as they rolled into the city gates, Noah felt something strange stir inside him.
For the first time in a long while, he wasn't just fighting to survive.
He was living.
And for now… that was more than enough.
To Be Continued…