In the tension-filled silence, Dignus raised his voice. "I seem to recognize the scent of someone familiar," he said in a hesitant tone, breaking the silence that surrounded them. His eyes stared intently at Taneaya.
He glanced at Taneaya with obvious curiosity, trying to catch a hint in the woman's reaction. However, before he could get an answer or even formulate words that would express his curiosity, Eran suddenly moved quickly and blocked Dignus.Dignus glanced at Eran who stood in Taneaya's way, and he could read the gesture. But even though he understood that there was something that needed to be explained, the atmosphere became increasingly tense.Eran, with a calm demeanor, tried to explain this complicated situation. "I'm sorry Dignus, this friend of mine was seriously injured while on this mission. Therefore, I ask for your understanding," he said in an apologetic tone, trying to ease the tension that felt so strong.Dignus lookTheir journey through the darkening forest became more tense with each passing second. Kain, Eran, and Taneaya rode on indiscriminately, spurring their horses towards freedom, struggling through the trees and bushes that looked eerie under the dim light of the setting sun.As they tried to cover the distance with the hunters pursuing them, Eran noticed that Taneaya was still trembling badly. He understood that Taneaya seemed to have gone through a lot of traumatic things, and it wouldn't just go away.Taneaya, who looked pale and frightened, grabbed tightly onto the rim of Eran's horse saddle. Her eyes still reflected tension and sought refuge on Eran's face. Eran tried to give her a gentle smile, despite the gravity of the situation. "You're alright, Taneaya. I'll take care of you."But they had no time to linger in the comfort of this slight hope. The sound of horse steps and the clicking of approaching boots from behind reminded them that Dignus a
"You're a lowly human who knows nothing! You know nothing of the affairs of the royal family!" Duke Dignus shouted in a booming voice, filling the air with anger and hatred. He didn't want to hear any excuses from Eran, the man who had stolen his sister, Taneaya. He only wanted to destroy him, wipe him off the face of the earth. With quick and ferocious movements, he reached for his two swords hanging at his waist. The swords looked thin and sharp, shining in the sunlight that illuminated the field where they stood.Eran swiftly drew his dagger, preparing to face Duke Dignus. He knew that Dignus looked very strong in terms of strength or skill, but he would not give up so easily. Eran would protect Taneaya with his life. The two of them stood next to each other, with Taneaya still seated behind Eran, crying and begging her brother to stop, but her voice was overwhelmed by her fear.In Eran's eyes, time seemed to be moving at a snail's pace, and this
Eran hugged Taneaya's unconscious body tightly, struggling to keep from being separated by the rushing river. Both of them were carried away by the current for quite some distance, with no control over their fate.Eran, with searching eyes, tried to look around, searching for signs that could be used as a guide in the increasingly precarious situation. That's when he saw something that could be a lifesaver: a sizable log was drifting near them.With all his strength, Eran grabbed the log and clamped onto it tightly. He then tried to lift Taneaya's body slightly so that he could hold her above the surging water.Eran tried to use the log as an aid to guide them to the riverbank. With great effort and determination, Eran tried to push the log and Taneaya's body away from the river that was still pounding them.The water continued to sway their bodies, and Eran felt the gravity of the task at hand. However, his determination to save Taneaya a
In the thick darkness of the night, Eran and Taneaya both hid in a cave hidden in the middle of a dense forest. Amidst the silence of the night, only a small campfire warmed the cave, shining a crimson red light on their faces that brought a sense of mystery to the surroundings.They sat together around the campfire, feeling the warmth provided by the flames while gazing at the fire with a gaze laden with complicated thoughts and feelings.After a simple dinner, they chose to remain silent, no words passed between them. Eran played with the fire with his fingers, keeping the flames burning, as if trying to keep the warmth and light in their hearts. While Taneaya, with her sparkling amber eyes, contemplated in silence, her gaze focused on the blazing points of fire.Taneaya tried hard to forget the shadow of Dignus and the traumatic events that happened in the past. Reuniting with her brother opened up old wounds she had been nursing, and just imagini
Kain, who had successfully crossed the border and was already halfway to Alku village, felt his heart wavering, debating whether to continue his journey or return to Eran and Taneaya's place. Stopping his horse for a moment, Kain let his doubts fill his mind."Damn! Why is everything so complicated like this?" Kain cursed in a frustrated tone, while holding his horse's reins to keep it from moving further. On horseback, Kain began the process of reassessing the situation."I know Eran has enough ability to deal with various situations, but I also can't ignore the fact that his body is still in a state of exhaustion after the mission in Hollowfield village. Moreover, the journey to here itself has been quite tiring," Kain muttered as he tapped his fingers on his head, trying to sort out the information he had. "And, not to forget about Duke Dignus who is an ever-lurking threat, this feeling is even worse."Realizing that his friends might be in danger
The bright morning embraced Eran and Taneaya gently as they continued their journey through the forest that was beginning to change color towards autumn.Warm sunlight began to creep through the canopy of lingering leaves, creating a play of light and shadow that played their danced on their path. Eran and Taneaya walked together, their hands united in a tight grip, as a sign of their solidarity and determination.Although the surrounding scenery was beautiful and serene, they did not forget that this journey was filled with challenges. They had to be careful to avoid the trail of royal soldiers who might still be lurking behind them. They continued to follow a winding route through the forest full of obstacles, sometimes encountering large rocks that blocked their way, but they never gave up.Suddenly, Eran took his attention away from the journey and looked back to see how Taneaya was doing. "Are you exhausted?" asked Eran with deep concern.<
Eran felt like he was in a whirlpool of questions with no definite answers as if his world was spinning in chaos. Then, he heard a familiar voice, an unforgettable voice from the past. "Finally, I found you," the voice said.Eran's body tried to rebel from the grip of the large arms binding him. He felt desperate, and the sun that was still blazing was blinding his eyes.However, the voice of the man who locked Eran up was heard trying to calm him, "Hey, you don't need to panic, we're not the enemy."Eran heard those words but remained in a state of alert, feeling annoyed and displeased with his helpless state. "Damn it!" he swore irritably."Eran, calm down! It's me, Gorstag!" exclaimed Gorstag in an annoyed tone. Eran, who continued to move violently, finally stopped when he realized who was speaking, and he began to let out a long sigh, trying to ease his anxiety.The lock on his neck was finally removed, and Eran carefully contemplated the situ
Prince Enid rode in a horse-drawn carriage, following a road that cut through a very shabby countryside. He quickly closed the window of the carriage, feeling the foul wind blowing in the middle of the countryside seep in, caressing his face unpleasantly. After a full day of listening to the sound of horses' hooves scraping, Enid was deeply disturbed by the silence that suddenly enveloped him.Their carriage passed through dense forests and stretches of countryside. There was a low hum from outside the carriage as the coachman talked to the farmers and merchants living in the Starastok countryside. However, Enid only wore a sour face, as if lost in his world. I don't know how long he had been silent, brooding, and contemplating since his departure from his hometown in Petrolina.Behind the horse-drawn carriage he was riding, several hussars were lined up neatly. They were part of the escort Enid had brought along to keep him safe during his journey. They gazed vigilantly, ready to act