The old woman was quiet for a moment.
It seemed she was let down by their choice.
Then she exhaled, slow and measured.
"Well, it seems you've made up your minds." The woman said, tapping her cane on the floor. "In that case...there's something you should know before you leave."
The woman's gaze drifted toward the window, to where the mist pressed against the glass.
"There's an edge beyond this forest...I call it 'The Line'".
Ren's eyes narrowed. "An edge?"
The woman nodded. "It looks like—how do I put it? It looks like an opaque white barrier."
Eva tilted her head. "You've seen it?"
"I've crossed it..."
Both of them went still.
The woman's hands tightened around her cane.
"Once, with...a group, though the memory of them is gone. I don't know where we went. Or even why we did...But there is one thing I remember very clear." Her voice lowered. "A voice. Angelic. Soothing. It had asked me for something. A part of myself. In return...for crossing..."
The woman's gaze lowered.
"I'm sorry I can't help much more. I wish I could, but that's all I remember."
"No worries..." Eva responded. "You've helped us more than enough."
Ren nodded his head, agreeing with Eva's statement. "You've done enough for us."
"Such sweet children..." The woman's lips creased into a smile. "I'm glad to hear that."
The old woman struggled to push herself up from the chair, the cane supporting her weight.
"I would like to see you off."
Ren and Eva exchanged a glance.
"We would like that," Eva replied with a gentle smile.
Ren rose from the table. Eva followed, brushing the folds of her dress.
Ren stepped forward, holding out his hand to the old woman.
"Here, let me help you."
She took his hand, his weight helping her balance.
Outside, Ren glanced over to the run-down stables.
"I'm going to check on the horse. Make sure it's ready to leave."
Eva responded with a small nod.
Inside the stables, Ren found the steed lying on its side over a patch of hay.
"Hey, pal..."
He crouched beside it, letting his hand fall along its ghostly form. It nuzzled against his touch, cold as the night.
"We're about to leave soon...And we'll have a long road ahead of us."
The steed whickered, resting its head over his shoulder. Ren chuckled at the steed's comfort in him. He leaned back, giving it one last long rub.
"Alright…it's time to get going."
At the edge of the village, a crowd had formed.
Ren guided the steed through the gathered villagers. Their pale, silent expressions pressed forward just enough to watch them pass, some raising hands in quiet gestures of farewell.
Up ahead, Eva and the old woman were standing together.
The old woman's gaze met Ren's, a glimmer of gratitude through the wrinkles of her skin. "Once again, I have to thank you, young man. For what you've done…for them, for all of us."
Ren glanced over to Eva, who was smiling, hands folded in front of her.
A little tug at the old woman's clothes caught their attention. A small girl peeked out from behind her, clutching something in her tiny hands. "Miss...miss...look what we made!"
The old woman turned, amused. "Ah, it seems the little ones have prepared a gift for you."
From behind her, the little girl stepped forward, holding a small bundle wrapped in worn-down cloth. She handed it to Eva. When she untied the cloth, it revealed a simple creation.
A crude, handmade piece of wood with little figures etched into it, stick figures with wide smiles. And two of them were taller than the others. The resemblance was clear to her.
The little girl looked up, her eyes bright with life, different from the other villagers there.
"Will...you ever come back to play with us?"
Eva bent down, patting the girl gently on the head.
"Of course we will...So just keep smiling like this, okay?"
The girl's grin widened, and she darted back toward the other children.
The old woman shook her head, a mixture of disbelief and admiration in her expression.
"I still can't believe…two children like yourselves were the ones to end it."
The old woman bowed her head. One by one, the other villagers followed her example, dipping their heads in silent farewell. The mist seemed to swirl around them, carrying the quiet respect of a people who had once known little hope.
"May you both find safety on your journey...And may you find what lies beyond The Line."
In that moment, the hope of the village was restored by his hand, the thoughts came to him.
'They're...thanking us? They're grateful...because I helped them?'
A warm smile tugged at his lips.
'I...was useful? I actually made a difference? Is this what it feels like to matter? To be someone's hope, even if just for a moment? Mom, does that make me...a superhero?'
He let the thought linger, a mix of jest and hope tangled together.
Glancing over at Eva, she held the little wooden gift close.
'This is the reason to move forward...'
The steed lowered itself, as both of them mounted on its back.
Ren gently nudged the steed forward. From the edge of the village, they set off. The world beyond The Line waited—veiled and unknown—each faint hoofprint carrying them closer.