"Let's go," he said, walking ahead without another word. His pace was steady and unhurried.
Lila followed quietly, the path ahead covered by darkness as the wind blew fiercely around them.
"Where are we going?" she asked hesitantly after a while, her voice low.
"I'll tell you on the way," he replied flatly. "Right now, we need to get a carriage for our journey."
"I suppose you know what that is," he added.
"I know!" Lila said quickly. "I just never got the chance to ride one."
"Oh." That was all he said.
Silence grew between them again. Lila's feet ached, and her cloak barely kept out the cold.
"How long till we get there?" she asked, staring at his back.
"Almost," he replied plainly.
After walking for what felt like decades, she finally saw it — an old, dusty carriage standing by a narrow road. Its wheels creaked faintly in the wind, and the lantern hanging beside it flickered weakly. The horses looked tired and pale.
"This is it," he said, glancing at her. "Our ride."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lila climbed into the carriage after him, brushing the dust from the seat before sitting down. The air inside smelled faintly of old wood and hay.
The coachman closed the door behind them and climbed up to his seat. "Hold on tight," he called out. "We're taking off!"
With a sharp crack of the reins, the horses began to move. The carriage moved forward, wheels rolling over the uneven road.
Lila glanced at the man sitting across from her. His expression was calm, unreadable, eyes mysterious.
"Are you going to tell me where we're going now?" she asked softly.
He looked at her for a while before answering."We're going to the Shattered Lands," he said. "But before that, we have to make a stop — Verin, the Land of Healers."
"For what?" Lila asked.
"You'll know when you get there," he replied.
"Then what shall I call you?" she asked.
"Davien." That was all he said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The road to the Land of Verin felt endless. Days blurred together — sunrises and sunsets,and surprisingly two weeks had passed.
Lila hardly spoke. She couldn't close her eyes either ,dreaming of that day — her father's death, her mother's fading voice, the people's cries, their screams. It was as if she were reliving it again and again.
Davien said little, watching her from a distance. He didn't offer words of comfort,he just stayed quietly.
That night, they sat beside the campfire Davien had built.
"You should eat," he said, handing her a bowl of soup.
"I'm not hungry," she replied.
"You haven't been hungry for three days," he said evenly. "Do you think behaving like this will solve anything?"
"I can't help it," Lila said softly. "I keep dreaming, and I don't know what to do. It's haunting me."
"It's because you don't want to forget," he said. "You still carry the past with you. You refuse to move forward."
"But how do I do that?" she whispered, silent tears falling. "My parents, my life, my people… they're all gone."
He looked at her directly face to face."You think you're the only one who's lost something?"
"No," she said, voice trembling. "It just happened too quickly. It's… overwhelming. I just can't forget. Not yet."
"Do you think fate warns you before it changes your life?" Davien asked quietly. Then, answering himself, "No. So move on."
"But don't you think fate is cruel?" she murmured.
He was silent for a moment. "Hmm," was all he said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next day came quickly. The carriage moved down the dirt path, the morning fog still visible. They sat in silence, each second growing more suffocating than the last.
After some time, Lila finally spoke.
"How long till we get there?"
"Almost," he replied, his gaze fixed on the window.
Evening came swiftly. They were nearly there when Davien tapped softly on the carriage wall, signaling the coachman to stop.
"Get down," he said to her.
"Why should I?" she replied.
He didn't answer—just stepped out of the carriage.
After a few moments, she followed him quietly, the wind brushing fiercely against her.
They stopped near a high cliff. Below lay a city filled with bright lights, alive and warm.
Lila stepped to the edge, her eyes widening. "Wow… so this is the Land of Healers—Verin," she whispered.
Davien didn't reply. His eyes stayed fixed on the road leading down the hill.
"We should keep moving," he said quietly.
They started toward the carriage waiting nearby. The air was colder now. Lila took a few steps forward, then stopped.
"Davien…" she said softly. "Has it always been hot here?"
He looked at her, puzzled. "What do you mean?"
She opened her mouth to speak, but the words never came. Her vision blurred, her knees shaking. Within seconds, she collapsed, her body trembling violently. Cold sweat coated her skin, yet her temperature burned—too hot, far too hot.
"Lila!" Davien caught her before she hit the ground. Her breathing was shallow, her face pale.
He lifted her easily, holding her close against his chest. Panic flashed through his usually calm eyes.
"No… not now," he muttered under his breath.
The coachman hurried over. "Sir, what's wrong?"
"We can't wait—take us straight to the inner city!" Davien ordered.
"But the gates—"
"I'll handle the gates!" Davien snapped.
Without wasting another second, he carried her to the carriage. Placing her gently on the seat, he brushed a strand of hair from her face.
"Just hold on," he whispered. "We're almost there."
The carriage jolted forward, wheels running down the dirt road toward Verin.
Reaching the city gate~~~~~~~
The guards at the gate shouted as the carriage approached, but Davien didn't stop.
"It's an emergency!" he said loudly. jumping down from the carriage.
"We cannot allow you to enter!" one of the guards said, stepping forward.
"And why not?" Davien shot back.
The guards raised their weapons, refusing to let him pass. Davien reached into his coat and pulled out a crest — ash-gray with a black moon carved upon it.
"What about this?" he asked.
The guards froze. A moment later, they stepped aside, letting him through. Davien passed the gate and entered the mainland.
"Halt! You are under arrest for impersonation!" a voice shouted. A man pressed a sword against daven's neck.
"What do you mean?" Davien asked, his eyes narrowing, and facing the man.
"That crest," the man said coldly. "Where did you get it?"
"Oh, this?" Davien replied calmly. "I received it from my master — on the day he died."
The man's expression shifted slightly, pretending to believe him. "Then I shall be your escort," he said.
"That won't be necessary. I know where I'm going." Davien turned away, lifting Lila gently from the carriage.
"What happened to her?" the man asked.
"None of your business," Davien said sharply, walking past him into the city.
"My lord," a man dressed in all black appeared beside the guard. "You called for me?"
"Follow them," the guard ordered.
"Yes, my lord."
Davien moved through the crowded streets, people's eyes on him. Lila's body grew colder in his arms, her veins darkening beneath her pale skin.
"Where was that old man's shop again…" he muttered under his breath.
He turned into a narrow alley, checking one door after another until he reached the last.
"This must be it."
The shop looked old, as if it hadn't been cleaned in centuries. Dust and cobwebs covered the corners. Davien stepped forward and kicked the door open.
"There's nothing for you here," a young boy said from behind the counter.
"Huh," Davien smirked. "Still using these old tricks, is he?"
"Who are you? What do you want?" the boy asked, standing up. I said they is nothing for you here go to another shop.
"Get me your old man," Davien said flatly.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Then tell him to get his ass out here. Now."
"Hey! Watch your mouth! Don't you dare talk to him like that!"
"So you do know him," Davien replied with a smirk.
"You—!" the boy stuttered, lost for words.
"Hohohohoho… look who came knocking at my door," a voice called from the back room.
"Master! This man is evil! He spoke rudely to me!" the boy complained.
"Hah, old habits never die," the old man said as he walked out. "I see you still haven't learned your manners, Davien."
"Master Shiho," Davien said, his tone softening. "I came to request something. Please — take a look at her." He stepped forward, holding Lila in his arms.
"Hmm… bring her inside," Master Shiho said without hesitation.
"Tell me what happened," he continued, gesturing for Davien to lay her on the bed.
"Before I do," Davien said quietly, glancing at the boy, "should he be here?"
"I'm Master's apprentice," the boy said quickly. "I must see how he heals his patients."
"Leave us," Master Shiho ordered. "Do not argue."
The boy hesitated, then left reluctantly.
"Now speak," Master Shiho said, turning back to Davien.
"Her village was attacked by a corrupted ancient beast," Davien explained. "But somehow, she survived."
"I see…" Shiho murmured. "I'll believe you for now. Because right now, I must attend to her." He took her hand, checking her pulse, we will talk later.
"What… what is this?" he muttered in shock. While checking her pulse "How could she still be alive? How can a normal human endure such pain?"
"What's wrong, Master Shiho?" Davien asked anxiously.
"Her insides are a mess. Some of her veins have already bursted open.Whatever she went through—it's a miracle she's still breathing. For now, I'll try my best to heal her with healing magic. I doubt any medicine could help."
He turned to Davien. "Get me a bowl of water and a towel."
"Yes, Master Shiho. Please… do everything you can to save her."
"Yes, yes. Now go," Shiho said."