More than a month had passed since their encounter with the A-grade Corrupted beast.The journey had been relatively peaceful since then. They crossed several settlements, passed through stretches of farmland, and traveled along roads that grew busier as they moved farther from Wycliffe Barony.There had been a few encounters with ordinary wildlife, but nothing they couldn't handle. Whenever something approached their carriage, Arthur was usually the first to react, while Seren had become much more confident using her two Sigils.Their understanding had improved considerably.Arthur, in particular, had made remarkable progress. The advice Bram gave him during their journey had changed the way he approached Terran. Instead of simply raising walls or shaping large amounts of earth, he had started paying attention to the ground itself. He learned to manipulate its structure, anticipate how weight would shift, and use the terrain to his advantage. He still had plenty to learn, but his con

"...I take back what I said."Arthur's words lingered in the passage as the last of the spikes settled into the opposite wall.For a moment, none of them moved.Eiran slowly released Seren's arm, making sure she was unharmed before turning his attention toward the mechanism. Arthur, meanwhile, stared at the narrow openings from which the spikes had emerged."That was close," Seren murmured."Too close," Eiran agreed.Arthur brushed the dust from his clothes. "I was sitting down. How does a person even get attacked while resting?""Apparently, quite easily."Arthur gave him a displeased look, but Eiran was already examining the wall. The spikes had retracted after striking the opposite side, leaving only the narrow slits behind. He inspected the surrounding stone, searching for a trigger or some indication that the mechanism might activate again.Nothing stood out."Maybe it's broken now," Arthur suggested. "The ruin is ancient. Perhaps it only had enough power for one activation."Eir

Morning came quietly.The settlement was already stirring by the time Eiran and the others came downstairs. Merchants were preparing their carts, travelers were gathering their belongings, and the smell of freshly baked bread drifted through the inn. They had slept well, and after a proper breakfast, the three returned to their carriage to make their final preparations.Arthur checked the horse's harness while Eiran went over their supplies. They had enough food and water to last several days, along with medicine, rope, blankets, and the tools they might need for minor repairs. Their purchases had taken up some of the available space, but they had managed to arrange everything without overburdening the carriage.Seren climbed into the carriage with their little companion nestled against her. It had been unusually quiet that morning, though she assumed it was still adjusting to life on the road. She offered it a small piece of bread, which it accepted before curling up beside her."Eve