The carriage rolled out of the capital , wheels rattling against the dirt road. Ellora sat quietly beside Raymond. The air between them felt heavy, neither speaking much, they were not so familiar with the stifling atmosphere.
Suddenly without warning, the carriage stopped. Horses cried out, and the knights shouted. From the trees, monsters rushed forward, their claws scraping the ground.
Raymond jumped out, sword in hand. The knights followed, steel clashing against snarling beasts of all kinds. The fight was rough, but they held their ground. When it was over, Ellora stepped forward. Her hands glowed with a soft blue light as she healed their wounds. Cuts closed, pain faded. The knight's were dazed for a while. Yet, as she worked, she quietly made a few of the monster bodies vanish, as if hiding something.
Raymond noticed. He watched her carefully—the way her black hair fell over her shoulders, the strange shine of her blue eyes, the calm grace of her figure. Something about her seemed unusual, but he kept his thoughts to himself.
The carriage moved again. As it jolted over a bump, Ellora lost her balance and leaned against Raymond. For a moment, their closeness lingered. Raymond's hand almost reached to steady her, but he hesitated. The warmth of the accident stayed with him longer than it should have.
By evening, they reached Seien, the river city known for its beauty. Lanterns floated on the water, glowing softly against the current. The streets were alive with music and laughter, but beneath it all, a strange chill seemed to hang in the air.
Ellora stood by the river, staring at the rippling surface. Raymond joined her, but before he could speak, the water stirred unnaturally, as if something hidden moved below.