The pair continued to walk, the early morning sun climbed higher, casting a warm glow over the tranquil wilderness. Birds chirped cheerily in the distance, a stark contrast to the tension that had filled their lives recently."By the way, Lyra, why didn't you just fly or help me fight them there?" Sam asked, his tone curious.Lyra shot him an exasperated look. "I'm trying to hide my power from them, but you instead screamed my name in front of their faces!" she scolded.Sam chuckled sheepishly. "Ah, sorry about that."Lyra sighed, shaking her head. "But I think now they have confirmed that you are that ‘wanted warlock’ and I’m Lyra Flammenherz. Next time, they won’t stop to ask us again.”"That’s true," Sam agreed, scratching his chin."So, I guess I don’t need to hold back either," Lyra said."I’m eager to get your help beating those church people," Sam said with a tone of amusement.“Unlike you, I get no delight in such things, Sam. I just want to help you.”“Really? Even though you

Sam and Lyra, despite their wariness, accepted Barnabas's offer. They spent more time with the caravan, observing and assisting the members. The initial suspicion began to wane as they saw firsthand the camaraderie and genuine concern Barnabas had for his people.One evening, Barnabas shared his story with Sam and Lyra around the campfire. "I know what it's like to be an orphan," he said, his eyes reflecting the flickering flames. "I was lucky enough to be taken in by kind souls who gave me a chance. Now, I try to do the same for others."Sam began to understood him better. Barnabas himself, a former orphan, had a personal stake in helping those in need. He revealed that half of his caravan consisted of orphans or impoverished individuals whom he had given a chance for a better future.Sam listened intently, still cautious but slowly finding a sense of trust in the merchant lord. "It's a noble cause, Barnabas. I’ll help this cause. But we have to stay vigilant. The church won't stop h

The air grew colder as the High Priest stepped forward, his robes flowing around him. His eyes glowed with malevolent energy, and an eerie smile spread across his face.Sam's grip tightened on his sword. "He's not alone."Behind the High Priest, more figures emerged from the darkness—armored paladins, their weapons gleaming in the dim light.Kaelyn's eyes narrowed as she melted into the shadows, attempting to sneak up on the High Priest. But as she moved, the Priest raised his hand, and a bright light illuminated the area around him, casting the shadows back. Kaelyn cursed under her breath, unable to approach."Nice try," the High Priest sneered. "But your tricks won't work here."The Paladins rushed forward, their swords clashing with Sam's.Lyra floated back, cradling the innocent girl they had just saved. "Be careful, Sam!" she called out, her voice filled with concern.Sam’s eyes focused on the paladins. "I'll protect you. Just stay back."The cave echoed with the sounds of battle

Sam knelt down, his eyes filled with concern as he reached out to the trembling girl. “It’s okay, it’s over now. We’re here to help.”The girl’s eyes were wild, darting between Sam, Lyra, and Kaelyn. Her body shook violently, her hands clenching and unclenching as if trying to grasp something intangible. “Stay away from me!” she screamed, her voice raw with fear and desperation.Lyra took a cautious step forward, her hands raised in a gesture of peace. “We’re going to save you. Please, just let us help.”The girl’s response was immediate and visceral. She recoiled, pressing herself against the cold stone floor, her eyes wide with terror. “No! Don’t come any closer!” she shouted, her voice breaking.Kaelyn, her heart aching for the child, tried a different approach. “We’ve been through a lot, just like you. We understand what it feels like to be scared. We won’t let anything else happen to you.”But the girl’s fear was too great. She continued to scream, her voice echoing through the ch

“This terrain change … is so weird,” Lyra murmured.“Its normal here.” Rafael popped a small hand from his round body and pointed to another division on the other side of the prairie. “See that? The beautiful prairie stops abruptly, and next to it is a burning land with flowing lava.”Sam, Lyra, and Kaelyn stared in awe at the contrasting landscapes. It was a surreal and dream-like experience, the beauty of the prairie clashing with the harshness of the burning land.“Let’s continue. They’re waiting for us,” Rafael said, floating ahead of them.“Who?” Sam asked, his suspicion growing.“You’ve used their services for so long, yet you don’t know who provides them?” Rafael said in disbelief.Sam looked confused. “What are you talking about?”Lyra and Kaelyn exchanged puzzled glances but followed Rafael. The prairie seemed safer and more welcoming than the mysterious wilderness they had just traversed.“I don’t get what you’re saying. What services? Who exactly are we going to meet?” Sam