The Church scout remained on his knees before Malachar, his hands tied behind his back and blood running from his forehead. Malachar stood before him, waiting patiently for the information he needed. "Where is the child?" Malachar asked again. The scout kept his head lowered and refused to answer. Malachar's golden eyes became colder. "You already know who I mean. Tell me where Lily is." The scout slowly lifted his head. Fear filled his eyes, but he still said nothing. Malachar watched him carefully, realizing that threats would not make this man speak. He needed another way. Malachar stepped closer and looked at the torn piece of cloth beside the scout. The black material carried a small silver symbol. Malachar recognized it immediately as the mark of the Church's northern hunters. "You were following someone," Malachar said quietly. The scout's expression changed for only a second, but Malachar noticed it. His eyes moved toward the eastern mountains before quickly looking away. M

The boat finally reached the other side of the Black River just before sunset. The moment Seraphine stepped onto the shore with Lily in her arms, she felt something change. The cold weight that had followed them across the river was gone, but a different feeling settled inside her heart. She could not explain it, yet she knew they had entered a place unlike anywhere they had ever seen. Elias climbed onto the shore behind her while the giant warriors helped secure the boat. The ferryman remained where he was, saying nothing. He simply watched them with tired eyes before slowly pushing the boat away from the bank. Within moments, the thick mist swallowed both him and the river until they completely disappeared from sight. Seraphine looked around carefully. Ancient stone pillars stood between tall white trees, their surfaces covered with faded carvings. Flowers of every color grew across the quiet valley, and the air carried a gentle scent that made her feel strangely calm. For the fi

Elias burst through the sanctuary gates with the giant warriors close behind him. Sweat covered every face, and their breathing was heavy after the long journey. The Moonroot Crystal glowed softly inside his cloak, while everyone waiting in the courtyard immediately rushed toward them with hope filling their hearts. Seraphine stood so quickly that the chair behind her fell onto the floor. Lily remained asleep in her arms as she hurried across the courtyard. The moment she reached Elias, her eyes searched his face before looking at the bundle wrapped carefully beneath his cloak without speaking. Elias slowly opened his cloak and revealed the Moonroot Crystal resting inside both hands. Silver light spread across the courtyard, making every carved stone around them shine softly beneath its gentle glow. "We found it," Elias said quietly. "We brought it back before moonrise." Relief washed over Seraphine's face so suddenly that tears filled her eyes. She wanted to thank him, but the wor

Malachar reached the Black River just before dawn when the sky was still dark and a thin mist floated across the water like a living shroud that refused to lift. He stopped at the edge of the river and stared across the wide expanse, searching for any sign of the mountains that should have been visible on the other side, yet the fog hid everything beyond a few meters. He knew Lily had crossed this river because the undead messenger had told him so before he continued his lonely journey through the mountains without rest. Now that he stood before the water, one clear problem blocked his path, and it was not something he could simply destroy with force. There was no bridge anywhere in sight, only the endless stretch of black water that moved slowly and carried a deep, sleeping power beneath its surface.Malachar looked carefully to the left and then to the right, searching for any alternative crossing or hidden path that might allow him to continue without delay. Nothing appeared on e

A child's footprints. Lily. Malachar crouched and touched one of the small marks with his fingers. The trail was not old. She had crossed the river recently. His eyes followed the footprints as they moved away from the water and disappeared between the trees. Malachar slowly stood. The ferryman remained inside the boat. "She crossed here." The old man nodded. Malachar stared at him. The ferryman slowly pushed the boat away from the shore. Malachar looked down at the riverbank again. "Who brought her across?"The ferryman paused. For a moment, the old man's face became serious. Malachar's eyes narrowed. "Who?"The ferryman said nothing. The boat continued moving away. Malachar stepped closer to the edge of the water. "Answer me." The ferryman looked at him one final time. "Follow the child."Then the mist swallowed the boat. Malachar stood alone on the riverbank. He looked around. His shadow was still gone. The loss felt strange, but he could not afford to worry about it now.Lily had