The forest grew darker the farther they walked, as if the trees themselves were leaning inward to listen. Pine's presence faded behind them like a lantern sinking into fog.
Volow led with steady steps, Suki pacing beside him. The girl—silent, alert—walked just behind, eyes scanning the shadows.
After a long stretch without speaking, Volow broke the quiet.
"…You never told me your real name."
The girl's breath hitched. "My name doesn't belong to me anymore."
Volow glanced back. "Huh? How can your name not belong to you?"
"In Solum," she murmured, stepping over a fallen branch, "children chosen as Shinimoon lose their names. The King takes them. Only he is allowed to say them. We… don't speak them again."
Volow slowed, turning slightly.
"So you want me to call you 'hey' for the rest of your life?" he said with a sideways smile.
Her eyes widened. "Wh—No, that's not—"
"Nah," Volow said, grinning softly. "I'll call you…Marga."
She blinked. "M…Marga?"
"Yep." He nodded firmly. "Feels like you. Strong. Sharp. And miles better than 'hey.'"
A very small smile tugged at her lips—tiny, but real.
It was the first real smile he'd ever seen her give.
"…Thank you," she whispered.
Volow shrugged playfully. "Anytime."
Suki meowed once as if she was happy for some reason.
They continued walking, the tension finally loosening.
"Your mother… she saved me."
After a moment, Marga spoke again, voice softer:
"I left Solum because someone broke the rules for me."
Volow's steps slowed. His heartbeat stumbled.
"Who?" he asked.
"Your mother," Marga said.
Everything in Volow's chest froze.
"Your mother was trying to escape Solum," Marga said quietly. "The King sent us after her. We tracked her through the tunnels… but on the surface, everything went wrong."
Volow's eyebrows tightened. "Wrong how?"
"A Nightmaw attacked me," she said, shivering at the memory. "Venom-clawed… fast… it lives in the mantle cracks. I did fight it, and i was winning."
She looked down at her hands, jaw tightening.
"But the moment its claw grazed me, the venom hit. My vision doubled, my balance vanished. Fighting blind against a Nightmaw is suicide."
Her breath steadied.
"I forced it back long enough to run… but by the time I reached the surface, I was already collapsing."
She paused.
"And that's when your mother found me."
Volow blinked. "My mother… saved you? Even though you were hunting her?"
Marga nodded slowly.
"She knew exactly why I was there. She knew I was supposed to bring her back in chains. But she still picked me up. She still carried me. She took me to her home and treated my wounds until the fever broke and..."
Volow interrupted, voice shaking:
"Wait—my mother? Was she a Shinimoon?"
Marga shook her head immediately.
"No. Shinimoons know each other. We are raised together. Share training. Share silence. I never saw your mother in my life until that night. I don't know what she was doing in Solum… or how she entered that place at all."
Volow stared at her, stunned.
His mother… in Solum?
Inside the King's fortress?
"What happened to Cardbill?" Volow asked, voice low.
Marga swallowed. "I don't know everything. But the King was searching for something. Something only she had. When soldiers arrived… the town was already burning."
The ring under the Veil-cover pulsed once—hot, angry.
Volow inhaled slowly to steady himself.
"Alright," he said, voice calmer, stronger. "Then we'll make the King talk. One day."
Marga looked at him—surprised at his courage, at his lack of fear.
"You're not afraid of Solum?" she whispered.
Volow gave a small, confident smile.
"I don't want to fight anyone. But if they come after us… I'm not running."
Suki was watching Volow, tail wagging.
The trees thinned.
Light appeared.
Ahead, a cluster of warm lanterns glowed behind tall wooden gates—the entrance to a settlement nestled between ancient stone pillars and mossy roots. Smoke curled from chimneys. Wind chimes rang softly in the breeze.
A wooden sign hung crookedly at the entrance:
ILLENWOOD – TRAVELERS WELCOME
"Whoa," Volow whispered. "Finally… people."
The path opened into a lively village built around a spiraling old tree whose roots worked like natural bridges between houses.
Children chased glowing beetles. Vendors shouted about fresh bread and shimmering lakefish. A woman in a shawl hammered metal charms that jingled softly.
Marga stopped at the entrance, eyes wide. "I've… never seen a place like this."
Volow grinned. "Well, rule number one: don't stab anyone."
She blinked. "I don't stab people."
"You tried to stab those scouts like they owed you money."
"That was different."
Volow chuckled lightly. "Relax. Stick with me."
Suki darted excitedly between their legs, tail swishing.
As they entered the town, people looked up—some curious, some cautious. Outsiders were rare here.
Volow leaned toward Marga. "You okay?"
She nodded faintly. "Just… new."
"Good," he said warmly. "Means life's starting for you."
For a moment, she looked almost shy.
They found a small inn built into the lower roots of the giant tree. Lantern light spilled onto the path, giving everything a warm, golden glow.
Volow placed a hand on the door handle—and paused.
"Marga," he said quietly.
"Yes?"
"You said my mother told you something… before you were separated."
Marga took a breath.
"She said… when you will find the ring, you will change the fate of Solum. And the fate of the world above it."
Volow didn't speak.
He just stood there, the lantern glow reflecting in his eyes.
Not scared.
Not overwhelmed.
Just ready.
"Okay...Let's see where life takes us" he murmured.
Marga nodded.
Suki meowed.
And together, they stepped inside Illenwood.