Thursday arrived with clear skies and a cool breeze drifting across the training grounds.
Steel clashed against steel.
Nick and Darven continued their daily sword practice while Eyrx and Vaeryn sat nearby on the grass, looking completely uninterested.
CLANG!
Nick's wooden sword struck Darven's guard aside.
A moment later, Darven lost his footing and fell backward.
Nick lowered his sword.
"I win again."
Darven sighed.
"One day I'll beat you."
Nick smirked before turning toward Eyrx and Vaeryn.
The two of them looked as if their souls had left their bodies.
Nick raised an eyebrow.
"What happened to you two?"
"You didn't train today.
He pointed at Eyrx.
"That's strange enough."
Then pointed at Vaeryn.
"And you didn't make medicine."
"That's even stranger."
Eyrx threw himself dramatically onto the grass.
"I'm bored."
Vaeryn nodded immediately.
"Me too."
"We wake up."
"Train."
"Eat."
"Train."
"Sleep."
"Repeat."
She pointed toward the castle.
"I've seen staring at the same castle walls for weeks."
"We need mental recovery."
Nick calmly cleaned his sword.
"We rest on Sunday."
Eyrx instantly sat up.
"No."
"Today."
Nick didn't even look at him.
"No."
Eyrx ignored that answer completely.
"Let's go hunting."
"We'll have fun."
Vaeryn raised a hand.
"I support this idea."
Nick looked at Darven.
"You too?"
Darven shook his head.
"Not today."
"I'm actually in the mood for training."
Eyrx looked betrayed.
"You people enjoy suffering."
Darven laughed.
"If you wait until Sunday, I'll come."
"I don't want Sunday."
Nick folded his arms.
"Then go without us."
Eyrx pointed dramatically at both of them.
"When we're having fun, don't come crying because you missed it."
"Deal."
"Deal."
Vaeryn stood.
"Come on."
"Let's leave these training addicts behind."
The two immediately started walking away.
Eyrx stopped and turned around.
"Last chance."
Nick and Darven answered together.
"No."
Eyrx sighed dramatically.
"You'll regret this."
Nick tossed him a set of keys.
"Take the car."
"But don't crash it."
Eyrx looked offended.
"I'm not a child."
Nick and Darven exchanged a glance.
Neither of them looked convinced.
---
A few minutes later, Eyrx proudly sat behind the steering wheel.
Vaeryn stood beside the vehicle, staring at it.
Eyrx rolled down the window.
"What are you waiting for?"
Vaeryn pointed at the car.
"What is this thing?"
Eyrx blinked.
"...A car."
"I've never seen one before."
Silence.
Eyrx stared at her.
She stared back.
"You've never seen a car?"
"No.
"Then how do people travel?"
"Horses."
Eyrx slowly leaned back in his seat.
"Your realm really lives a thousand years in the past."
Vaeryn kicked the side of the car.
"It still looks strange."
"Get in."
Eventually she climbed inside.
Moments later, the vehicle disappeared down the road.
--
The forest surrounding the castle grew denser the farther they traveled.
Towering trees blocked much of the sunlight.
Cool air drifted through the open windows.
The deeper they went, the quieter the world became.
Eyrx glanced around.
"This place gives me creepy vibes."
Vaeryn looked outside happily
"It's beautiful."
"Creepy."
"Beautiful."
"Creepy."
"Beautiful."
A bird suddenly screeched somewhere in the distance.
Eyrx nearly jumped.
Vaeryn burst out laughing.
"It was a bird."
"Shut up."
"Forests are suspicious."
"Forests don't become suspicious."
"They absolutely do."
---
After another ten minutes of driving, Vaeryn suddenly pointed ahead.
"Look!"
A small lake shimmered between the trees.
Several fishermen sat along the shore.
The surrounding forest reflected across the water like a mirror.
Eyrx parked nearby.
Both stepped out.
The cold air immediately greeted them.
Leaves rustled overhead.
The lake looked peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Eyrx narrowed his eyes.
"I don't trust it."
Vaeryn looked at him.
"You don't trust a lake?"
"No."
A branch cracked somewhere.
Eyrx instantly turned.
Vaeryn shook her head.
"You watch too many horror stories."
They followed a narrow path toward the water.
Then a mischievous idea appeared in Vaeryn's mind.
A dangerous one.
She looked around dramatically.
Then suddenly screamed.
"EYRX!"
Eyrx nearly had a heart attack.
"What?!"
"I SAW A GHOST!"
Without even checking behind him, Eyrx turned and sprinted.
As fast as possible.
Vaeryn doubled over laughing.
"Eyrx!"
"WAIT!"
Too late.
His foot slipped off the path.
"AHHHHHH!"
ROLL.
ROLL.
ROLL.
ROLL.
SPLASH!
Straight into the lake.
Vaeryn's laughter instantly stopped.
"Oh."
A second later she noticed something worse
The current.
Eyrx wasn't floating in a calm section.
The water was carrying him toward a stronger stream connected to the river.
"Oh no."
She ran immediately.
"Eyrx!"
Eyrx surfaced.
"WATER!"
"YES!"
"I KNOW IT'S WATER!
Vaeryn grabbed his arm just before the current pulled him farther away.
With considerable effort she dragged him back onto shore.
Both collapsed onto the grass.
Eyrx pointed at her accusingly.
"You almost killed me."
Vaeryn immediately started laughing again.
"I'm sorry."
"No you're not."
"I'm a little sorry."
"You are smiling."
"Maybe."
"You always try to kill me."
---
Far away, two men watched from behind a group of trees.
They recognized Vaeryn instantly.
One swallowed nervously.
"Isn't that the girl?"
"The one who beat the boss?"
The second man's face turned pale.
"And the guy beside her."
Both remained silent for a moment.
Then the first man slowly took out his phone.
A photograph.
Click.
"We should tell the boss."
The second nodded.
"After today he'll know exactly where they are."
The two quietly disappeared back into the forest.
Neither Eyrx nor Vaeryn noticed.
---
A while later, Eyrx sat beside the lake with his clothes still damp.
He looked around.
"Wait."
"Where are the fishing rods?"
Vaeryn froze.
"..."
Eyrx slowly turned toward her.
"...You forgot them."
"Maybe."
"VAERYN."
"I'll get them."
Eyrx crossed his arms.
"I'm not going back through that forest."
"There are literally five people nearby."
"Exactly."
"Five potential witnesses if a ghost attacks."
Vaeryn laughed again.
"Stay here."
She followed the trail back toward the car.
The forest felt peaceful.
Birds chirped overhead.
A cold breeze drifted through the trees.
As she reached the vehicle and collected their bags, fishing rods, and supplies, she began whistling cheerfully.
Then suddenly—
Two figures stepped onto the path.
The same men from earlier.
Both froze.
Their faces immediately lost color.
They had expected to avoid her.
Not meet her alone.
Vaeryn simply looked at them.
"Excuse me."
"I need to pass."
The two instantly stepped aside.
"Of course."
"Please."
"Thank you."
Vaeryn walked away without another thought.
The moment she disappeared, both men released their breaths.
"She didn't recognize us."
"Thank every god that exists."
The other man glanced toward the lake.
"After today she will."
They hurried away.
Meanwhile, completely unaware of the growing trouble around them, Vaeryn returned to the lake.
Eyrx immediately reached out.
"Give me the rod."
She handed it over.
The two sat quietly beside the water.
Fishing.
Arguing.
And enjoying what they believed would be a peaceful day off.