Later, when Azel was gone, Kael and Kairis slept on their mattress, buried under their blankets. But Lyra couldn't sleep. She kept turning from one side to the other, sometimes burying herself under the blanket, yet her thoughts kept haunting her. The feeling of being watched never let her guard down. Her mind kept bursting with thoughts—sometimes glimpses of her parents, their laughter echoing faintly.
Her friends—Illythra, Azel, Kairis, and everyone she once knew.
Was it really my fault? Is someone watching me, or is it just a trick of the mind?
She threw her blanket aside and sat up, rubbing her face. Slowly, she picked up her coat and stood, quietly putting it on. She grabbed her boots and wore them without making a sound. Then she opened the door carefully.
Outside, the air was cold. Snow drifted, turning everything white. Stone houses lay still and silent, faintly lit by the dim glow of lanterns. Lyra took a deep breath before closing the door behind her and stepping into the snow as flakes drifted across the air.
She lit a small white flame in her hand for light and kept walking until she reached the edge of the village. She couldn't see what lay ahead, but she could hear the soft whistling of the wind through the snow—and a memory returned.
She stood at the same edge once where Azel had stood, leaning against a stone wall, eyes full of emotion, smiling faintly as he watched the two girls.
Kairis had been running after Illythra, whose purple hair flowed like silk in the pale light, her golden eyes shimmering as she laughed.
"You can't catch me!" Illythra teased.
Kairis bent over, panting. "No—I can!"
Illythra smiled. "You can't. You're too slow," she said, walking backward playfully.
Then Lyra stepped forward. "I can!"
Before Illythra could react, Lyra flashed and caught her in an instant. Illythra turned, surprised, then laughed.
Now, standing again at the cold edge, Lyra looked over the white horizon. For a brief moment, she smiled. Then a voice came from behind.
Azel walked toward her slowly, dark circles under his eyes. It was clear he hadn't slept. Rubbing the back of his head, he asked softly, "You didn't sleep?"
Lyra startled but tried to hide it. The smile vanished as she turned slightly. "I could ask you the same," she said.
Azel smiled faintly. "Right. But if I may, Your Highness—can I ask a question?"
Lyra frowned. "I told you not to call me that. I don't like it." She turned her face away.
Azel's smile lingered. "You haven't changed much. But don't blame yourself. Maybe it was decided for everyone."
Lyra didn't look at him—her eyes stayed fixed on the empty horizon. "I don't blame myself anymore," she said softly.
But deep down, she felt everything—the guilt, the weight of her lost kingdom.
Azel turned to her. "Then go sleep. We need to leave tomorrow."
Lyra lowered her head. "Why are you acting like nothing changed?"
Azel fell silent for a moment, as if searching for words. Then he said, "Because I still see a chance—that things can be normal again. Even though we lost what we had, we can rebuild it."
Lyra looked at him. He didn't turn his gaze away—his eyes were steady and determined, full of belief.
Maybe he's right, she thought. We lost it once. But I can't lose it again.
She opened her palm. The white flame flickered gently. She stared at it for a while.
Yet… I can't ignore the feeling of being watched. I just can't.
Snow drifted quietly. Only the whistling wind remained.
***
Morning came with a pale light. Villagers stepped out of their houses, returning to their work. Children played; mothers cooked.
Lyra sat by the chimney, warming her hands over the fire. Then came a knock on the door. Kael stretched his arms, and Kairis lay still under her blanket. Lyra stood and opened the door.
A young boy stood outside, bundled in warm clothes, holding a tray with three bowls of soup. Without a word, he handed it to her and ran off into the snow.
Lyra stared after him, watching as he joined the other children playing near a wooden house. Then she closed the door quietly and placed the tray on the mattress in the middle of the room. The aroma of the soup filled the air.
Kael stirred, rubbing his eyes. When he noticed the soup, his eyes sparkled, and he sat up lazily beside Lyra, staring at the bowls. Lyra glanced at him and said, "You just woke up, and you're hungry already?"
Kael ignored her and started eating.
Lyra smiled faintly and picked up her own bowl. They ate quietly.
Later, Kael sat near the chimney, hands stretched toward the flames. Kairis slowly woke, stretching her arms and scratching her messy hair. Her golden eyes shimmered in the light of the fire.
She sat beside Lyra. "Did you sleep?" she asked softly.
Lyra hesitated, then nodded slightly.
Kairis sighed. "You need rest," she said, taking her bowl and eating in silence.
Lyra only smiled faintly at her.
When they finished, the three sat near the fire again. Lyra hugged her knees, pale light flickering across their faces. Kairis rested her head on Lyra's shoulder, arms folded. It was a quiet, peaceful moment—something they hadn't felt in days.
Kairis spoke softly, without lifting her head. "Where are we going?"
Before Lyra could answer, there was another knock at the door. Kairis sat up straight as Lyra stood and opened it.
Outside stood Azel, wrapped in a fur coat. Behind him were the village elders, holding small baskets filled with herbs and food.
"They wanted to help a little," Azel said, his breath turning to mist.
Behind Lyra, Kael and Kairis stood, watching cautiously. One of the elderly women stepped forward.
"We do not know what happened in the past," she said gently, "and though we couldn't help then, let us help now."
Lyra looked at her, wind brushing through her hair. She nodded slightly—not in disbelief, but in relief. The woman handed her a basket of herbs.
"Wherever you go," she said, "our prayers are with you."
Kael smiled, trying (and failing) to hide it. Kairis smiled faintly. Lyra bowed her head. "I'm… truly grateful for your help," she said.
Later, the four of them—Azel, Kael, Kairis, and Lyra—sat together by the fire. For a while, no one spoke. Only the crackling flames filled the silence.
Then Lyra spoke. "So… when are we leaving, Azel?"
Azel answered calmly, "If you're ready, we can go now."
Lyra stood. "Alright."
Kairis got up too, brushing off her hands. Kael groaned and muttered, "Why don't we rest a little longer?" lowering his head in disappointment.
Azel, standing by the wall, whispered almost to himself, "So the journey begins once more," and followed them outside.
The air was cold. Children played. Villagers worked. Near the gate, a few men stood with small bundles on their backs, waiting.
One of them asked, "Are you leaving?"
Lyra nodded.
He smiled. "Let us accompany you until the edge of the Quanix Valley. The elders ordered it."
Kael smirked but said nothing. Before Lyra could answer, Azel stepped forward. "Alright, let's go," he said, as if he already knew they would come.
Kairis shrugged and followed him. Lyra and Kael came after, and the men followed behind them.
The mountains stood still. Snow drifted. The fields were painted white. The cold bit at their skin, but they kept walking.
After an hour or more, they reached a wooden bridge. A sign read:
[Quanix Edge]
The men set down their bundles. Kael and Kairis crouched to inspect them. Kairis tilted her head, thinking.
"We can only go this far," one of the men said.
"May the gods make your path easy," another added before they turned back toward the village, waving farewell.
Kairis opened her satchel and peeked inside the bundles. There were dried meats, bowls, and a soup pot.
"They gave us everything we needed," she said smugly.
Lyra didn't look back—her eyes were fixed ahead. "Hurry. We need to move."
Azel stood beside her quietly.
Kael lifted the soup pot, inspecting it. "Why'd they give us this?" he asked.
Kairis gave him a blank look. "Maybe to cook you. You'd make an interesting meal."
Kael's face hardened. "I didn't come here to get cooked."
Kairis smirked, taking the pot from his hands. "Then don't ask stupid questions."
She packed everything back into her satchel and dusted off her hands.
"We're done," she said, standing beside Lyra. "Let's go."
Lyra nodded. "Then let's go."
She waved for Kael to follow as they crossed the bridge. Kael sighed, brushed the snow off his clothes, and trailed after them.
Lyra looked ahead. The field stretched endlessly, filled with lifeless trees that reached for the sky,no sign of living,just endless snow. Pale light touched their faces.
She smiled faintly and whispered, "The journey of mistakes begins now, I think." Her breath turned into mist and faded into the cold air.