The faint glow of dawn painted the horizon in soft strokes of amber and crimson as Michi, Lior, Kael, Junia, and Tieu continued their slow trek along the worn cobblestone path that wound through the wilderness. The battles of Glacira still echoed in their memories—the screams, the sacrifices, the weight of choices made. Silence hung heavily between them, broken only by the rhythmic crunch of boots against stone and the occasional call of a distant bird.
Lior, walking just a step behind Michi, lowered his head. His voice came gently, heavy with guilt.
"Michi… I'm sorry. We didn't know your pain. Frostkeeper told us everything, and… it was for the good."
The others stopped briefly, watching Michi's expression as he kept his eyes on the rising sun. Kael, never one to hide his emotions, clenched his fists tightly at his sides and sighed.
"Oh, poor Michi," Kael muttered, his voice trembling with compassion. "I can feel your pain from my heart… how much you're missing your beloved. It hurts even me to think of it."
Before Kael could say more, Junia reached out and placed her hand on his arm, silencing him with a sharp glance.
"Shhh, Kael," she whispered firmly. "We must control our emotions for now. Don't make his burden heavier."
Tieu, who had been walking quietly beside Junia, nodded in agreement. "Junia is right," she said softly, her silver hair shimmering in the dawn light. "We must stay strong together. Losing control of ourselves will only make things worse."
Michi said nothing. His claymore shifted slightly against his back as he stopped walking for a moment, raising his eyes to the vast horizon. The orange-gold streaks of dawn stretched endlessly, and for a moment he let his breath steady against the morning air. His expression was calm, but behind it was a storm—a longing, a pain he carried alone. The silence of his heart seemed to echo louder than any words he could utter.
Then, suddenly, the locket around his neck began to tremble. Its surface glowed faintly with a pulsating light, vibrating with energy that startled even the still air around them. Michi instinctively lifted it to his hand, and the others quickly gathered closer.
A familiar voice emerged from the locket, faint at first, then sharpening with urgency.
"Good job, everyone," came the voice of Depri, distant yet filled with strained warmth. "Now, let me give you all the updates, as I don't have too much time…"
All eyes turned toward the glowing locket as Depri's words continued.
"The next place you're heading, Zephyrelle, is in a ruling crisis right now. Someone called Black Dagger is pulling the strings from the shadows, so you must stay safe. Tread carefully."
"Black Dagger…" Junia repeated under her breath, exchanging a worried look with Tieu.
The group nodded in unison, their determination steady despite the unease. Together they replied into the locket, "Okay."
Michi held it a little tighter, his brows furrowing with concern. "Depri… are you in tension? You sound restless."
A short pause followed before Depri's voice lowered, edged with unease.
"Yes… kind of. The situation is worse than I imagined. A southern nation has declared direct war on the living beings and their followers. They have forbidden anyone from having or gaining forehead marks, branding them as dangerous and unfit. The country does not want any followers of the Reverents within its borders."
The revelation sent a shock through the group. Kael's eyes widened, Junia's lips tightened, and Tieu's hand instinctively touched her own forehead mark as if to reassure herself it was still there.
Lior suddenly broke the silence, his voice sharper than usual. "Is it Cacheraine?" he asked, as though he already knew the answer.
A heavy pause followed, and then Depri confirmed it.
"Yes… it's Cacheraine. Its new ruler, Erika Valtoren, has taken power. She is capturing everyone who bears a forehead mark. And worse—she may execute some of them, as well as the past ruler. It's a brutal purge. I… I'm sorry. I can't speak much longer. The meetings are snatching my peace away."
Before anyone could respond, the light in the locket dimmed and the connection cut abruptly, leaving only silence in its place.
The group exchanged tense looks, but all eyes finally landed on Lior, whose reaction seemed heavier than the rest. His jaw tightened, his gaze drifting away from them as if staring into a memory he refused to relive.
"Lior…" Kael began cautiously.
But before anyone else could speak, Lior raised his hand, cutting them off. His voice was calm but carried an edge of restraint.
"Not now, guys. When the time comes, I will explain everything. But not now."
The others exchanged glances, sensing the weight in his tone, the secrets he was unwilling to share yet. Michi stepped forward, placing his hand gently on Lior's shoulder. His voice was steady, reassuring.
"Yes. We trust you."
Junia and Tieu both nodded in agreement, their eyes softening. Kael exhaled slowly, though his heart still brimmed with questions.
With that, the tension eased, and the group resumed walking. Their boots echoed again on the path as they pressed forward. The dawn stretched wider, illuminating their silhouettes against the horizon. Though they carried doubts, grief, and secrets, they also carried trust—a fragile but unbreakable bond.
Step by step, they walked together, not as wanderers burdened by fate, but as companions bound to destiny. Ahead of them lay Zephyrelle, a kingdom in crisis, its shadows cast by the unseen hand of Black Dagger. And somewhere far south, the fires of Cacheraine burned with the merciless will of Erika Valtoren.
But for now, there was only the road, the rising sun, and the quiet strength they shared as they walked forward toward destiny.