Several days had passed since they left the Raiden clan, and the dirt road stretched on endlessly before them, swallowed by the dense, heavy mist that clung to the earth like a suffocating blanket.
The air was damp, cool against their skin, and the world around them was painted in hues of gray. The distant rumble of thunder occasionally broke the silence, but the rain hadn't come yet. The quiet, eerie atmosphere felt as though it pressed in on them, each step taken through the fog only making the road seem longer.
Zay, Rin, and Jade trudged along the dirt path, their boots sinking slightly into the soft earth with each step. The mist curled around their feet and their legs, making the world feel both expansive and claustrophobic at once.
Their pace was steady, they hadn't spoken much over the past few hours, each of them lost in their own thoughts, the only sounds the occasional crack of a twig beneath their boots and the low, persistent hum of the fog-drenched wind.
Just as the path curved sharply around a bend, a faint sound broke the monotony—a creaking of wheels and the rhythmic clip-clop of hooves. A caravan emerged from the mist, its horses trotting slowly, the heavy cart trailing behind them.
The caravan's driver, a broad-shouldered man with a weathered, sun-browned face, leaned out from the cart as they approached, his rough but warm voice cutting through the stillness.
"Where you heading?" he called, squinting slightly against the mist.
Rin raised an eyebrow and exchanged a brief glance with Jade, his expression unreadable. Zay, following their gaze, tilted his head toward the driver, sizing him up for a moment before his attention returned to Rin.
"Where are you headed?" Rin asked, his voice casual, but with an unmistakable undertone of curiosity.
"Summit Kingdom," the driver replied with a wide grin, his eyes bright despite the gloom. "Heading there to trade some goods. I've heard it's a good time to visit—plenty of food to go around, if you're in need of a proper meal." His gaze swept over them, appraising, before settling back on Rin. "I'm just passing through, but I can give you a ride if you're heading in the same direction."
Rin's lips twitched into a small smirk as he glanced over at Zay and Jade. His eyes glinted with recognition, as though Summit Kingdom was a name that stirred something in him, a faraway memory. "Summit Kingdom, huh?" he mused, his voice laced with a note of familiarity.
"Good place. A lot of food. Been there once… about two years ago." He paused, the mist swirling around him as he looked down the road, lost in thought for a brief moment. "It was a decent stop. Worth the trip."
Jade glanced at Zay, her expression unreadable, but her eyes seemed distant, lost in her own musings. "Summit's a decent kingdom," she said, her voice carrying a neutral tone with a faint trace of indifference. "I've been there a few times."
Zay looked between them, noting their restrained responses. He didn't press further, but the mention of Summit Kingdom sparked curiosity in him.
The offer of a ride was tempting—after days of walking through the oppressive mist, a break from the constant trudging seemed like a welcome relief. He eyed the caravan again, the sight of the barrels and crates filling the back of the cart providing a certain comfort—a break from the wet, muddy road.
"Thanks for the offer," Zay said, his voice light as he took a few steps toward the cart.
The driver gave him a friendly nod, the smile on his face genuine and welcoming. "No problem. Climb in."
Without hesitation, Zay climbed into the back of the caravan after Jade, who had already made her way in. The space was cramped, the wooden crates and barrels pressing in on all sides, but there was just enough room for them to sit. Rin took the only available seat on one of the benches that ran along the side, stretching his long legs comfortably, his boots resting on the floor, the faint scent of dried herbs and salted meat clinging to the air. A faint draft from the open sides of the cart mixed with the smells of the caravan's contents.
Zay hesitated for a moment, eyeing the remaining space next to Jade. She had already settled into the corner, her posture relaxed but guarded, her gaze fixed on the mist outside. Zay climbed in behind her and sat next to her, careful not to make the proximity feel too awkward. He shifted slightly, his back against one of the crates, trying to get comfortable, but the sensation of being enclosed by barrels and crates still felt a little stifling.
The steady rhythm of the caravan's wheels turning over the road soon became soothing, the creak of the cart and the clop of hooves settling into a calming cadence. Zay closed his eyes for a moment, exhaling softly. His body ached from the travel, but the stillness of the cart provided a small comfort. The mist seemed to dull the outside world, leaving only the quiet inside the caravan, broken only by the occasional rumble of thunder in the distance.
As the cart moved on, Zay let out a small sigh, his gaze flicking over to Jade and then to Rin. The tension between them all had loosened slightly, but something about the journey still felt incomplete. There were too many things left unsaid—too many questions that lingered in the air. Zay couldn't help but wonder what it was that had brought them all together on this road.
After a few moments, Zay broke the silence. "So, why did you two even decide to follow me? You both had a house, Rin was a medic, Jade... I'm not sure what you were doing, but I'm curious. Why throw it all away and join some random 'outsider' like me?"
Rin was the first to respond, his voice calm but carrying a hint of resignation. "It was getting pretty bad," he said, pausing for a moment as if weighing his words. "The clan made us believe in loyalty, trust, and training together, all that stuff... but really, it was turning into a power-hungry barbarian camp. People didn't leave because what's the point? We were safe there, even if everything else was falling apart."
He glanced sideways at Jade, who seemed to be lost in her thoughts for a moment. Then she spoke up, her voice quieter but still carrying weight.
"For me, there were a few reasons," she said, her gaze turning to the mist that rolled past the caravan's back. She studied the swirling grayness for a moment before speaking again. "Rin's right about the clan, but that's only part of it. Another reason was... well, I was sold off into marriage with an asshole." She let out a soft sigh, her eyes briefly flicking to Zay. "Another big reason was the way they treated me. I was just a scout and part-time warrior. I couldn't even kill beasts unless someone told me it was okay." She paused again, her expression darkening slightly. "When I was younger, the clan felt different—close, strong. We trained together. But... maybe ten years ago? When Kyro took over as an elder, things went downhill fast."
Jade turned then, her back to Zay, her gaze focusing on the mist that stretched endlessly behind them, her posture almost as if she were trying to escape the weight of the past. After a moment, she turned back, meeting Zay's eyes. "Things just changed. It wasn't what it used to be. That's why I decided to leave with you both."
Zay gave a silent nod before falling quiet, his gaze drifting toward Rin—who returned the look with a single, thoughtful nod of his own. The three of them sat in the back of the caravan in wordless stillness, the rhythmic clop of hooves and the steady roll of wagon wheels blending into the soft hush of the mist-draped world around them. The sky loomed low and heavy, a churning sea of clouds swollen with storm.
Thunder murmured in the distance, growing closer with each rumble. A jagged flash of lightning split the sky, and moments later, rain began to fall—light at first, tapping against the wooden roof in a soft, rhythmic patter.
The driver's voice broke through the hush like a ripple in still water.
"So," he called back, his tone casual, "mind if I ask what brings you three to Summit?"
There was a pause, the only reply at first being the sound of rain thickening.
Then, Zay inhaled slowly and let out a breath before answering, "You know... we're just looking for work. Something new. Exploration's always been our thing. Didn't know where to go next, but thanks to you, we've got a direction now. Really—appreciate you stopping for a bunch of strangers."
The driver chuckled warmly, his voice muffled slightly by the downpour.
"No need to thank me. I'm just a trader, hauling goods and stories. If I can help someone along the way, why not?"
Zay gave a faint smirk, nodding to himself, but said nothing more. The silence crept back in—only now it was accompanied by the growing roar of the rain as it turned from a gentle patter into a curtain of water slamming against the canopy. The road vanished beneath puddles and mud as mist thickened like a living wall around them.
Jade shifted slightly, turning her body to face the back of the caravan. She gazed through the open flap, watching the rain drown the world behind them. The dirt road was slick and glistening, the fog curling like ghostly tendrils between the trees. Her sapphire eyes softened. She closed them and took a slow, deep breath—then exhaled, letting the scent of wet earth and storm fill her lungs. A faint smile curved her lips, as if she found peace in the storm's chaos.
Time passed. Nearly an hour slipped by in the hush of the rain and the lull of travel, until finally, her head tilted, gently resting against Zay's shoulder.
Zay blinked, glancing down at her. Her long azure hair brushed his arm as she slept, unaware. He sighed through his nose, then looked across to Rin.
"Does... this happen often?" he asked quietly.
Rin raised a brow, then turned to look. A soft chuckle escaped him.
"Not at all. Honestly, Jade hates most people. She's only close to a handful. Keeps to herself. She's... guarded. Relies on no one but herself." He paused. "That's probably the best way to put it."
"So, she's kind of like... withdrawn?" Zay asked, curious.
Rin shrugged. "You could say that. But I wouldn't box her in like that. She's complicated." Then, with a glance at Zay, he added, "But now I'm curious. Runnado... is that really your name?"
Zay smirked, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "We all have a secret or two, don't we?"
Rin leaned back against the wooden wall with a faint sigh. "That we do."
"But," Zay added after a pause, "I'll tell you."
Rin's eyes shifted toward him, interest piqued but patient.
"It's Zay," he said softly. "That's all."
"No family name? No clan? Nothing?"
Zay hesitated, swallowing once, his expression tightening.
"...Not anymore."
Rin's voice dropped slightly. "Bad blood with your folks?"
"I guess it's something like that," Zay said, eyes drifting to the floorboards.
"Something happened between me and my brother before I left. Before I ended up here."
"A fight?"
"Not exactly. I'll explain another day… when the skies are clearer."
Rin gave a small nod, sensing the edge in Zay's voice, and chose not to push further. He leaned his head back, closing his eyes and letting the sound of the rain drown the silence between them.
Zay stared forward, lost in thought, then slowly began to hum—a tune whose name had long escaped him, but the melody lingered still in some quiet part of his memory.