Sovielia welcomed them with silence.
Snow covered everything—rooftops, banners, even the scars of war—as if the kingdom itself was trying to forget. Like every broken land they had passed through, Sovielia had fallen. Its king had been overthrown, replaced by a Rolecian soldier who ruled without ever showing his face. No speeches. No public appearances. Only whispers and fear.
Aid had been announced before their arrival.
The moment they crossed the gates, hurried footsteps echoed through the snow.
"Scarlet!"
A woman burst forward, her breath visible in the freezing air, silver hair spilling from beneath her hood. She pulled Scarlet into a fierce embrace, trembling as if afraid she might disappear.
Zain stiffened. "Skyla…?"
The kingdom's doctor.
Scarlet's older sister.
Shock rippled through the group. They had all believed Skyla dead—everyone except Ryo. He stood a step behind the others, eyes dulled, avoiding every gaze. Ever since Bakundar, looking someone in the eye had become unbearable.
They stayed at Skyla's home that night.
Warmth filled the house, but it could not chase away the weight that followed them. Ryo collapsed into sleep first, exhaustion dragging him under. The others remained awake as firelight flickered against the walls.
At last, Skyla spoke.
"After the war," she said quietly, hands clenched in her lap, "when I saw Eliza's death… I couldn't face Elizabeth. I couldn't tell her."
Her voice shook.
"So I ran. As far as I could. I told myself I came to Sovielia because I loved the snow." A hollow smile appeared. "But the truth is… I was afraid."
No one interrupted.
"My greatest regret," she whispered, "is that I couldn't save Eliza."
Leona leaned forward. "You did everything you could."
Abraham nodded. "Yeah. It's not like you killed her."
Benjamin added softly, "Even doctors can't cure death."
The room grew lighter—if only for a moment.
Aisha broke the silence. "Do you perhaps have some tea?"
Skyla stood. "Yes. I'll make some right now."
Before she could move, Zain spoke.
"Skyla," he said, voice heavy. "Elizabeth has died as well."
The words crushed the air.
Silence swallowed the room whole.
At that same moment, Ryo woke with a sharp gasp.
Bakundar flooded his mind—blood, screams, loss. His chest tightened as he struggled to breathe.
"I'm going outside," he muttered.
No one stopped him.
Ryo disappeared into the forest, snow crunching beneath his boots. The night was merciless. He followed the sound of running water until he reached a narrow river, dark and unmoving.
He knelt beside it.
His reflection stared back—cracked, trembling, unrecognizable.
Tears fell freely now.
"I'm useless!" he screamed, his voice ripping through the frozen trees.
"I couldn't protect Lurama… I couldn't protect Elizabeth…"
His hands shook as he pressed them into the snow.
From now on…
I will protect those who are dear to me.
His breathing steadied. His voice hardened.
"And I will kill that masked figure."
The river rippled in response.
This was not a promise.
It was a vow.