The old woman rested both hands on the top of her walking stick before looking quietly at Seraphine. The small house became so silent that even the firewood burning inside the stove sounded loud. Lily slept peacefully against Seraphine's shoulder, unaware that every pair of eyes inside the room had settled upon her small face."You asked if I can save your daughter," the old woman said gently. "Before I answer, you must answer something for me." She looked straight into Seraphine's eyes. "If only one life can be saved... who do you choose? Your daughter... or the man she calls Father?"Seraphine stared at her without speaking. The question felt like a knife pressed against her heart. She tightened her arms around Lily before shaking her head. "No mother should answer that." Her voice became unsteady. "I will never choose between them. Never.""You already have," the old woman replied quietly. "Every choice you make from today will pull you toward one life more than the other. You simp

Kane stood without moving, his fingers wrapped tightly around Lily's little wooden toy. The empty place inside his mind frightened him more than any battlefield ever had. He knew a memory was missing. He could feel its shape. But no matter how hard he searched, all he found was silence where laughter should have been. Mira watched his face with growing worry. "Kane," she said gently, "look at me." He slowly raised his eyes. "You're still here." She forced a small smile. "And I'm still here too. We don't let this road scare us before it even finishes showing its tricks." The unseen traveler spoke again before Kane could answer. "That isn't a trick." His voice echoed softly across the white emptiness. "It's the price." He paused for a moment. "I kept telling myself I would remember later. Later never came. One memory disappeared, then another. After a while, I stopped noticing what was missing." Kane looked ahead without seeing anyone. "Who are you?" he asked. "Tell me your name." Th

Kane stared at his mother's outstretched hand. His heart pounded so hard he could hear it. Everything inside him wanted to run to her. He had dreamed about seeing her again ever since the day she died. Now she stood only a few steps away, waiting for him with the same gentle smile."Don't do it!" Mira cried, tightening her grip on his arm. "The unseen voice warned you, your notifications warned you too. Whatever waits off that road isn't your mother." Kane did not answer. His eyes never left the woman standing beyond the stone path. For one painful moment, he wanted to believe nothing else mattered.His mother smiled sadly. "You always ran to me whenever you were afraid," she said softly. "Have you forgotten that too?" She lowered her hand a little. "Come home, Kane. You don't have to carry everyone anymore. You don't have to fight anymore. Just come home."Kane's feet felt heavy. His chest hurt. "Home..." he whispered. The word sounded strange now. He could remember their house. He c

They heard the sound of rushing water long before they saw the river itself. Seraphine quickened her pace with Lily resting against her shoulder while the giant warriors followed closely behind. Elias walked beside her, holding the old map tightly. "If the old woman was right," he said, "the Black River should be just ahead."A few moments later, the trees opened. Everyone stopped at once. Before them stretched a wide river with water as dark as ink. It flowed quietly, yet something about it felt wrong. The broken remains of a stone bridge lay scattered across the water. Huge pieces of rock had fallen into the river as if a giant hand had smashed them apart.Seraphine stared at the ruins. "No..." she whispered. "That bridge was our way across." Elias looked down at the map before letting out a tired sigh. "Then the map is older than the lands themselves." One of the giant warriors picked up a broken stone from the bridge. "This didn't fall from age," he said. "Something destroyed it.

The old ferryman walked slowly toward the edge of the dock without taking his eyes off Lily. The river behind him remained unusually still. The dark water no longer rolled against the wooden posts. It rested quietly, almost as though it were waiting. Even Elias noticed the strange silence and looked at the river with growing concern. "You said the river became quiet," Elias said carefully. "Why does that matter?" The ferryman looked down at the black water before answering. "Because this river never sleeps." His voice stayed calm. "It has carried kings, murderers, saints, and Keepers. Yet it has never welcomed any of them." The old ferryman kept his eyes on Lily for a long moment before slowly looking toward the quiet river. He frowned slightly, as though he had expected something different. "That has never happened before," he murmured. "This river welcomes no one." His voice remained calm. "Yet today... it is listening." Seraphine tightened her hold on Lily. "What do you mean?