Everything was quiet. Way too quiet.The kind of silence that presses against your ears until your own breathing starts sounding too loud.
At this point, even Chandrel and Vyren had gone completely still. Their bodies were frozen, but their hearts were not. Vyren could feel his heartbeat climbing higher with every approaching footstep outside the hut. Each step sounded closer than the last, crushing dry leaves under heavy boots. There was nothing they could do about it. Running was not an option. Hiding was pointless.
Suddenly, Chandrel grabbed Vyren's hand and yanked it away from his mouth.
"Are you crazy?" Chandrel whispered sharply. "Do you really think covering my mouth will save us? This is not your world. Fear will not help here. We face it. Do you understand?"
Vyren swallowed hard, his throat dry.
Before he could respond, the footsteps shifted direction. They started moving away from the hut, slowly drifting to the other side of the forest.
Vyren carefully peeked through the gap near the door, barely daring to breathe. The uniforms caught his eye first. The fabric, the armor, the way they moved. Guards. Kingdom guards.
His chest tightened.
He froze immediately and forced himself to look away. He could not say anything. He was supposed to be blind in this world. He was not allowed to see.
What shocked him was that Chandrel already knew.
As the guards passed close by, Chandrel tilted his head slightly. The sound of metal boots against the ground, the rhythm of their movement, the weight in their steps. Chandrel did not need eyes to know who they were. He was a warrior. Sound and air told him everything.
"They are guards," Chandrel said quietly. "We cannot hide from them."
Vyren felt his stomach sink.
"I think they are looking for you," Chandrel continued. "The villagers saw you that day. From their point of view, you are a threat. Someone must have reported you. That is why they are searching this area."
Vyren's fingers clenched into the blanket.
"Listen carefully," Chandrel said. "Whatever happens next, you do exactly what I say. Agree with me. Do not argue. Do not answer too much. The less you speak, the better. I will handle the rest."
Vyren nodded instinctively, even though Chandrel could not see him.
"We have to leave the hut," Chandrel added. "There is no other way out. We will take this path. If the guards stop us, do not panic. Do not overreact. Just stay calm. Now get ready."
Vyren felt like his soul was leaving his body.
He clutched the blanket tighter around himself, as if it could hide him completely. At that moment, he did not feel like a grown man. He felt like a terrified child trapped inside an adult body.
His hands were shaking uncontrollably. His heart was beating so fast it felt painful, like it might burst out of his chest any second.
This was not a dream. Not anymore.
Vyren tried to steady himself, taking shallow breaths, forcing his thoughts to slow down.
"We have to go," Chandrel said. "We are already late."
Vyren stood up on weak legs and followed Chandrel out of the hut.
They had barely walked a short distance when it happened.
A rough hand grabbed Vyren's arm.
One of the guards had spotted them.
Before Vyren could react, the guard seized him like a prisoner. His grip was tight, unforgiving. Vyren gasped softly, panic exploding inside him.
Chandrel did not react.
Not because he did not care, but because he already knew what would happen if he did.
The guards dragged them through the forest and toward the fortress.
They were taken straight to General Vanya.
She was seated on a high-ranking chair inside the command hall, positioned above everyone else. Her presence filled the room before she even spoke. She was dressed in heavy armor, polished and sharp, looking powerful and completely in control.
Vyren could feel her eyes on him immediately.
The way she looked at him was predatory. Like he was prey being measured.
Vyren kept his gaze lowered, avoiding eye contact at all costs. If he looked directly at her, she might notice. She might realize he was not blind.
The tension in the room was unbearable.
It felt like if Vyren said even one wrong word, she would kill him on the spot.
General Vanya stood up and began circling Vyren slowly. Each step made his fear grow stronger. She wore metal gloves, a breastplate, greaves, and chainmail. Every movement caused her armor to collide, producing a harsh, threatening sound that echoed through the hall.
Vyren's entire body was rigid.
After a long moment, Vanya returned to her chair.
That was when the questioning began.
"Who are you," she asked coldly, "and why are you here?"
Vyren stayed silent.
Chandrel placed a firm hand on Vyren's shoulder.
"He is a doctor and a historian," Chandrel said. "He means no harm."
It was clear Chandrel was trying to protect him.
Vanya tilted her head slightly. "A doctor and a historian?" she repeated. Then she turned her attention to Chandrel. "And how exactly do you know him?"
Chandrel paused for a moment.
"He is my friend," he said finally. "He is a good man. He is not a threat to this kingdom."
Vanya's gaze sharpened.
"I trust you, Chandrel," she said. "But I do not trust him. I am allowing him to stay here only because of you. If he does anything suspicious, it will not end well for him. And you will be punished as well. You are responsible for bringing him here."
Vyren finally found his voice.
"If there is any punishment," he said shakily, "it should be mine alone. This is not Chandrel's fault. He does not even know me that well."
Vanya turned sharply to Chandrel.
"Did you hear that?" she asked. "He says you do not know him well. And yet you call him your friend. Are you lying to protect a stranger? Is that what you are doing?"
Her voice grew colder.
"I did not expect this from you," she continued. "You are one of our most trusted warriors. If you start lying, who are we supposed to trust?"
Chandrel took a deep breath.
"You misunderstand," he said calmly. "Why would I lie to you? It is true that I do not know him well. Our friendship is recent. But I know enough to trust him. He will not betray this kingdom."
He straightened.
"And I promise you this. If he does anything wrong, I will take full responsibility. You may punish me. Because then it would be my fault for breaking your trust."
The room fell silent.
After a moment, Vanya nodded.
"Very well," she said. "Since you insist, we will trust him."
Chandrel exhaled in relief and thanked her.
But it was not over.
Vanya stood again and leaned close to Vyren's ear.
"Do not think I do not know where you come from," she whispered. "I know you did not arrive here by accident. If you ever try to leave, I will sever your connection. You will be trapped here forever. So do not make foolish choices."
Vyren felt pure terror flood his body.
What was she talking about? How could she know?
He stood frozen, his mind screaming in panic.
This was supposed to be a dream.
So why did it feel like a prison?