Ronan and Marek had finally finished their meal, though “finished” felt like a lie considering how many times they had already convinced themselves to order more. Plates had come and gone, emptied within minutes each time, until even the chef had started looking at them like they were either extremely hungry travelers or people who had lost control of their lives entirely. Eventually, after what felt like an internal war between restraint and temptation, they ordered additional portions to take away with them, carefully packed so the experience could continue later in the day.The taste still lingered in their mouths even after they stopped eating.Neither of them had expected anything like it.In all their years of traveling, stealing, surviving, and occasionally eating in noble establishments when situations forced them to blend in, they had never encountered food that hit so perfectly in every possible way. It wasn’t just good. It wasn’t just impressive. It was the kind of meal tha

Marek and Ronan finally returned to the inn sometime after nightfall, both carrying several food packages beneath their arms as they pushed the heavy door open and stepped inside. The streets outside had already fallen into a deep silence, with most merchants having closed for the night while only a few scattered flame torches continued burning along the stone paths. Their light flickered weakly against the wind, casting uneven shadows that stretched across empty roads and shut windows. The moment they entered, Ronan immediately turned back and grabbed the thick chain used to secure the entrance, wrapping it firmly around the handles before pulling it tight to ensure no one would be getting in uninvited. Only after confirming it was secure did he finally turn away and walk deeper into the inn, where Kael and Selene were still seated near the reception desk.The interior of the inn was dim but warm, lit by several flame torches mounted along the walls that pushed back the darkness in s

The moment Tyler’s words dropped into the silence, the entire forest seemed to react in a way that made it feel less like a natural environment and more like a living entity responding to a command. The fog that had been drifting lazily moments ago suddenly thickened all at once, not gradually as one would expect, but in a violent surge that swallowed the space around them as if something deep within the mist had finally awakened. The temperature seemed to drop instantly, and even the torchlight flickered weaker than before, struggling to pierce through the dense white veil that now pressed in from every direction. For a brief moment, there was only silence again, an oppressive, suffocating silence that felt heavier than sound itself.From within the thick fog ahead, distorted shadows began to form, shifting unnaturally as though the mist itself was giving birth to them. At first, they were nothing more than vague silhouettes that refused to hold a fixed shape, stretching and twisting

The battlefield remained quiet for several long minutes after the final wolf had been defeated. Nobody rushed to celebrate, and nobody immediately lowered their guard. They scanned the forest with their eyes, and all they could see was the floating crystals.A short distance away, Louis slowly exhaled as he completed another sweep of the surrounding forest. His sharp eyes moved from tree to tree, carefully searching for any sign that another attack might be coming, but everything remained still. No movement emerged from the shadows. No growls echoed through the forest. No black eyes appeared among the trees. Eventually, after satisfying himself that the immediate danger had truly passed, he lowered his weapon and turned toward the rest of the group. Relief was visible on his face, though only slightly. Years of experience had taught him never to relax completely while traveling through dangerous territory. Still, considering everything that had happened, he felt they had earned at lea

The moment Vorden asked where Henry was, the atmosphere inside the carriage changed completely. Up until that point, everyone had been focused on the bear that had appeared out of nowhere and destroyed their carriage with a single attack. The horses were pulling the remaining carriage through the forest at full speed, the wheels rattling violently against roots and uneven terrain while branches occasionally scraped against the sides. Nobody had been paying much attention to who had boarded and who hadn't because everything had happened too quickly. The instructors had ordered them to leave immediately, and everyone had been more concerned with escaping than anything else. However, the moment Vorden noticed Henry's absence and voiced it aloud, a heavy silence settled over the group as each student instinctively began looking around the carriage, expecting to find him sitting somewhere nearby. Silver's eyes swept across the interior once again, slower this time, carefully checking ever