The morning come quiet. The birds didn't sing much. Just one or two calls in the trees, like they was testing the silence. Coker sat with his back still resting on the tree from last night. His eyes was open the whole time. Sleep didn't come. Not even for a minute. Sera was still sleeping beside him, breathing soft and slow like a child. Her silver hair covered her face a little, and she had a small smile on her lips. Like maybe she dream something nice.
But Coker, he didn't dream nothing. Not anymore.
His thoughts was loud. Too loud. That woman in the town, her voice keep repeating in his head — "The curse burns loud in your soul."
How did she know? He never told nobody. Not even Sera. She knows he's different, yes. She seen him break things without touching them. She seen his shadow burn even in moonlight. But she don't know what he really is. And maybe he's scared to tell her.
He looked up at the sky.
It was blue, but kind of empty. The clouds was soft, moving slow like they didn't want to be here. He wonder if people still remember how to just look at the sky. Everyone always looking down, busy, scared, hiding. But up there, the sky still open. Still watching.
"Why you staring like that?" Sera's voice come from beside him, sleepy.
He didn't turn. "I'm thinking."
"Thinking about what?"
He wait. Then he say, "Sky."
She yawn and sat up, brushing dirt off her coat. "Sky? You think too much, Coker. Sky don't care about us."
He look at her finally. "Maybe. Or maybe it care too much and that's the problem."
Sera chuckled. "You say weird things in the morning."
They got up and started walking again. The forest was thinner now. The trees wasn't so close, and the light was warmer. Coker could feel something changing. Not just in the world around, but inside him. Like the curse was getting stronger again. Like it was waiting.
They reached a small river. The water was cold and clean, running between rocks. Sera washed her face and drink from her hands. Coker only watched.
"You not thirsty?" she asked.
"I don't drink river water."
Sera laugh. "You act like you're made of gold."
"No," he said. "Fire."
Her smile fade. "You mean it, don't you?"
He didn't answer.
After a while, they crossed the river and walked into the next town. It was smaller, quiet, nothing like the festival place. Just normal people here. A man fixing a cart. A woman selling bread. Kids playing with sticks on the ground.
This place felt safer. But sometimes, safety is only a mask.
Coker and Sera found a small inn and sat outside it. They didn't have money, but the owner gave them bread anyway. She was kind. Old, with eyes that looked like they seen many storms and still stayed kind.
"You two travelers?" she asked while sweeping.
"Yes," Sera say quickly. "Going north."
Coker glance at her. North wasn't the plan. But he stay quiet.
The old woman nod. "Be careful. Roads are full of watchers now."
Sera look confused. "Watchers?"
"They don't walk like us. But they watch. They smell magic, they say. I seen them once. Tall. No mouth. Eyes like burned paper."
Coker froze for a second. Watchers. He heard stories too. People say they come when curses grow wild. He wonder… if they're already following him.
They thanked the old woman and left the town quickly.
Back on the road, Sera looked at him serious. "We need to go north. It's safer."
He shake his head. "No place is safe."
"But maybe we find someone there who knows how to break your curse."
Coker stop walking. His eyes dark. "You think I want to break it?"
Sera was shocked. "Don't you?"
He stare at her a moment, then keep walking.
Sera ran to catch up. "Coker… if you don't want to break it… then what do you want?"
He stop again. This time, slower. He turn to her.
"I just want it to stop choosing for me. I want to decide who I become."
The wind blow a little harder then. Trees move slightly. A single black feather fall from the sky and land between them.
Sera bend and pick it. "Bird?"
Coker shook his head. "Not a bird."
She stare at him. "Then what?"
Coker whisper, "A watcher's feather."