The dark forest was still alive. Cold whispers slipped between the leaves, as though memories from the past still clung to the canopy of the trees. Zaber moved slowly, leveling each step with the soft earth, making no sound. His breathing was heavy yet rhythmic — his heart beat in the same rhythm, while his mind sharply tracked every single sound.
He knew how to hide himself; it was his vital instinct. Aurora was inside the city — she definitely could not sense him yet. The knights were searching for him, but they still hadn't found his true location. For Zaber, it was only a matter of time — and time was his greatest advantage. The longer Aurora remained unaware of him because of the yellow core, the more certain it became that she would eventually search for him. He didn't know exactly how, but he was convinced they were somehow connected.
