Soft yellow sunlight streamed in through the window, gently lighting up the room.
A thin ray fell across Raijin's face. His eyes snapped open, and he abruptly sat up.
"I'm late…"
His breathing was slightly heavy, his chest rising and falling quickly. But he didn't stop. It wasn't just about being late—it felt like he was about to miss something important.
He didn't even take time to freshen up. As soon as he put on his boots, he rushed toward the Guild.
---
"Kade, Ishan… did you pack everything?" Sofiya asked.
Ishan, holding a small wooden box in his hands, replied, "Yeah, everything's ready. We're just waiting for Raijin."
As he spoke, he placed the box beneath the seating area of the carriage, where several other boxes were already stored.
After a short wait, a familiar voice called out—
"I'm here. Sorry I'm late."
The voice was deep, but carried a strange warmth—like someone young who had lived far more than his years.
Everyone's attention instinctively shifted toward him.
A wide grin spread across Kade's face. "Look, Raijin's here."
He was still a little far, but close enough to be clearly seen and heard.
When Raijin noticed they were still finishing up small tasks, he slowed down from a run to a walk.
Sofiya was sitting on a bundle of hay, tightly tied with rope.
Her eyes were fixed on Raijin.
There was no usual sparkle in them—like she had grown tired of waiting. But it wasn't just impatience. She was observing him closely, as if trying to read him.
Raijin approached her slowly, glancing around.
This place was just behind the Guild.
A stable.
Horses were kept and raised here. Nearby, there was space for parking carriages.
Within moments, he reached them.
Kade stood leaning against a wooden post, arms crossed. Ishan was helping the coachman prepare the carriage.
Raijin took a deep breath and said, "Sorry, I got delayed. I went to the Guild first, but you weren't there. I had to find Emi, and she sent me here."
"No," Sofiya replied calmly, "You're right on time. If you had come earlier, things might've been easier—but it's fine. Everything's ready."
Raijin let out a breath of relief. "I thought I was late. I really am sorry."
Kade chuckled from the side. "It's fine. That much is allowed. Just tell me—you're not planning to stay here forever, right?"
Everyone laughed.
In this strange, tense atmosphere—where the mission weighed heavily on all of them—Kade's joke lightened things, even if just a little.
Ishan, having finished preparing the carriage with the coachman, gestured for everyone to get in.
One by one, they climbed aboard.
Two horses were harnessed in front, ready to pull the carriage. A green cloth covered the top, forming a canopy.
Before the carriage started moving, a brief silence settled over them.
No one spoke.
But everyone was thinking the same thing—
Will we really make it back alive?
---
Ishan moved toward the entrance and pulled down a wooden flap covered with cloth, sealing the carriage from all sides.
Only the front remained open where the coachman sat, giving a clear view of the road ahead.
Within moments, they reached the border of Eldhavn City.
Tall stone walls surrounded the city, with massive gates guarding every exit.
Their carriage was stopped at Gate Number 2.
A soldier approached.
He wore silver armor with blackened marks, as if it had seen many battles. In his hand was a spear—its tip silver, its shaft wooden.
He asked the coachman for his ID and glanced inside the carriage.
For a brief moment, his eyes lingered on Raijin.
As if trying to recognize something.
But then he looked away.
Normally, inspections were stricter when entering the city—but carriages were checked both ways.
After a thorough check, the heavy iron gate was opened.
The carriage rolled forward.
They had left Eldhavn City.
---
"I'm curious," Ishan said, "What kind of place is Mournvale?"
Raijin glanced at him briefly before answering.
"It's located near the mountains."
After Kade had mentioned earlier that there was no nearby graveyard, Raijin had gathered information from the Guild.
He knew only as much as the Guild did.
He was still lost in thought when Ishan spoke again—
"I'm actually pretty excited."
Raijin looked at him.
"You should lower your expectations. It's nothing like what you're imagining."
"What do you mean?" Ishan asked immediately.
"Because of its location near the mountains," Raijin said quietly, "the place is almost always covered in cold fog. There's barely any greenery."
He paused.
"If you think about it… it's almost like hell for people who hate the cold."
Kade immediately reacted, "You could've said that earlier! We would've brought warm clothes!"
Raijin shrugged. "Relax. It's not that cold. Just a bit chilly. You might need an extra layer over what you're wearing—but that depends on you."
Everyone nodded.
"If the fog clears," Raijin continued, "it might even look like a normal place."
Kade let out a long breath. "You really need to explain things properly. You almost gave me a heart attack."
---
"Sir, the horses are getting tired," the coachman said. "Should we stop for a while?"
Sofiya nodded. "Yes, find a good spot and stop."
After a short while, the carriage came to a halt.
"So soon?" Kade muttered.
They stepped out…
—and froze.
All around them was greenery.
Grass spread across the land. Scattered stones lay here and there. Trees stood at uneven distances, with a narrow path weaving through them.
Soft golden sunlight fell over everything, making the scene almost peaceful.
A warm, comforting feeling filled their hearts.
But something was off.
Despite the silence…
there were no birds.
No natural rustling of wind.
It felt alive— but not truly alive.
---
For Sofiya, Ishan, and Kade, such greenery wasn't unusual. They came from the Elf Continent, where landscapes like this were common.
But this…
felt different.
Something in the air was wrong.
---
Raijin's eyes fell on a stone in the distance.
It looked like part of an old statue.
He walked toward it.
And froze.
It was a statue of a girl.
She held two daggers in her hands, poised as if mid-attack. Despite the cracks running across the stone, the posture felt disturbingly alive.
Raijin stared at it.
His heart began to race.
For a moment—
blurred images flashed before his eyes.
Blood.
Broken ground.
And that same figure—
But before he could grasp anything—
it vanished.
"I've seen this before…" "Where…?"
He couldn't remember.
An uneasy feeling rose within him.
He looked at the statue again.
And this time—
it felt like the stone eyes…
were staring right back at him.
.
.
.
Thank You For Reading This Chaptar.
Author: Mohammed Zaid Saifi