As they walked, leaves crunched softly beneath their feet, making faint echoes in the silence. Lyra's eyes lingered on Kael's back — but then, something on his neck caught her attention. A faint red mark.
She squinted, leaning slightly forward to see it more clearly. But Kael rubbed the spot, and it vanished like it was never there.
Lyra frowned. Maybe it was nothing… maybe people still had faint marks like that.
Still, something about it felt familiar — unsettlingly familiar.
She stretched her arms slowly. Her movements were heavy, tired. Dark circles clung beneath her crimson eyes like shadows that refused to fade.
Kairis glanced at her while walking.
"Isn't he weird?" she asked suddenly.
Lyra gave her a dull look. "You've said that ten times already."
Kairis scratched the back of her head, forcing a grin. "But he is! I don't get his intentions at all."
Lyra poked her forehead lightly.
"Why would anyone reveal their intentions to you, dummy?"
Kairis puffed her cheeks, smiling awkwardly. "Still… he gives me strange vibes."
Lyra sighed and looked ahead again, though that small thought — that faint red mark — kept tugging at her mind.
Kairis noticed her silence. "Hey, you okay? Did that idiot do something to you?"
Her hand slowly went to the hilt of her sword.
Lyra quickly caught her wrist, shaking her head with a tired smile.
"No. It's nothing. I was just lost in thoughts."
Kairis narrowed her eyes, studying her. Then she sighed. "Fine. I'll believe you. For now."
She muttered something under her breath, but Lyra didn't catch it.
Lyra let out a quiet exhale of relief. I don't want them fighting already. Maybe later, but not right now.
Her gaze drifted up to the gray sky.
"Kael?"
He turned slightly. "What?"
"How long has Eryndor been in ruins?"
Kael looked back at them both, half amused, half annoyed.
"Have you been sleeping for fifty years?"
Kairis immediately blurted, "He can't even give a proper answer!"
Lyra chuckled softly. Kael just turned his face away, pretending not to hear. What am I going to do with these two…
Hours passed as they walked through the cold wind until they reached the ridge bridge.
But in their way, a beast lay sleeping — a catlike creature with soft blue fur and a faint crown-shaped bone on its head.
Kael raised a hand, signaling them to stop. Then, without a word, he stepped carefully past it, quiet as shadow.
Kairis crouched a bit, staring at the creature. "Can I burn it?" she whispered, her golden eyes sparkling mischievously.
Lyra turned, completely stunned. "No."
Kairis pouted. Lyra motioned for her to move quietly from the side, avoiding the creature.
Kairis blinked innocently, as if pleading, but Lyra only crossed her arms in a firm no.
Reluctantly, Kairis sighed and followed behind.
When she caught up, she muttered, "Why can't I just burn them with my light?"
Lyra rubbed her forehead. "Because they'll take another form — maybe even stronger."
Kael smirked without looking back. "She's right. You'd just make it worse."
Kairis turned her head sharply, glaring. "No one asked you."
Kael's smirk dropped. He exhaled deeply. "Let's just go."
The wind grew colder. The narrow path was lined with old lanterns that no longer glowed, broken trees leaning like silent witnesses.
It was once a traveler's road — now half-eaten by time.
By nightfall, they reached a half-crumbled tower. Kael stopped near it, resting his hand on the cracked wall.
"We'll stay here tonight."
No one objected. Lyra walked in first, followed by Kairis.
Inside, broken walls and scattered stones filled the place, but it was enough to keep out the wind.
Kael stayed outside for a moment, arms folded.
"I'm going to find something to eat," he said quietly, before disappearing into the white snow.
Lyra and Kairis began clearing the ground, tossing rocks aside. When they finished, they gathered sticks and returned inside.
Kairis lit a small flame, the flickering glow painting their faces in soft gold.
For a while, silence filled the room — only the crackling of the fire spoke.
Then Kairis finally broke it.
"Lyra… do you really think the North holds answers?"
Lyra sat, hugging her knees, her gaze distant.
"The Quanix village is there," she said softly.
Kairis blinked. "That's the Aelora family's village, isn't it?"
Lyra nodded once. "Yeah."
Their conversation faded into quiet again.
Soon, footsteps echoed — Kael returned, holding a bundle of meat. Steam rose faintly from it.
He spread a piece of cloth on the ground and set the meat down, pulling out knives to cut it. The smell began to fill the room.
Lyra kept staring outside, her reflection faintly visible in the broken window.
Kairis watched the fire, lost in thought.
Then — a sharp screech tore through the quiet night.
Claws scraped against stone.
Lyra instantly stood and ran outside. A shadow moved above the tower — a massive birdlike creature, feathers dark as the sky, their tips glowing faint blue. Its eyes gleamed like molten stars.
Kairis and Kael rushed out, freezing for a split second at the sight.
Kairis unsheathed her sword. Kael readied his knives, but Lyra was already moving.
She lifted her hand — white and black tendrils came out from her hand , wrapping around the beast.
It screeched once, the sound echoing through the night, before dissolving into mist and vanishing completely.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Lyra lowered her hand slowly, her expression calm, almost empty.
Kael stared at her in disbelief.
Kairis stepped closer, voice trembling slightly. "Lyra… what did you just do?"
Lyra slowly turned to her as she smiled faintly "I just freed it.."