The carriage rolled steadily along the forest road.
Elara sat at the front, guiding the horses through the narrow path of the Eastern Forest. The trees were tall, ancient — their shadows stretching unnaturally long despite the rising sun.
At the back of the carriage, Kael sat quietly.
Lyra's head rested on his lap.
She was still unconscious.
He gently brushed his fingers through her hair, slow and absent-minded, as if soothing a restless child.
Then—
He felt it.
A presence.
No.
Multiple.
Trailing them.
Watching.
He did not react.
He did not tense.
He simply continued stroking Lyra's hair as though nothing had changed.
The presence grew closer.
Intent sharpened.
Murderous.
Lyra stirred faintly.
Her breathing shifted.
Kael immediately placed his palm against her back.
A thin pulse of invisible energy flowed from him into her.
Stabilizing.
Grounding.
She relaxed again.
At the front—
Elara stiffened.
"Did something happen?" she asked, glancing behind her even though she couldn't see anything.
The aether in the air had spiked violently.
Kael's voice remained calm.
"No. Nothing happened."
"…Okay."
But the horses suddenly halted.
They neighed nervously.
A group of men stepped onto the path, blocking the way.
Weapons drawn.
"So these are the ones Master Orin wanted dead," one of them scoffed.
Elara froze.
Her fingers tightened around the reins.
Before fear could fully bloom—
Time stopped.
Not slowed.
Stopped.
The wind froze mid-breath.
Leaves hung suspended in the air.
Elara remained frozen in place, eyes wide.
The assassins never understood what happened.
Their bodies fractured silently.
Like glass struck by invisible force.
Shattered.
Piece by piece.
Until nothing remained.
Not blood.
Not dust.
Not even memory in the air.
Erased.
Time resumed.
The leaves fell.
The wind exhaled.
Elara blinked.
She looked ahead.
The road was empty.
"Why did you stop?" she instinctively asked the horses before realizing how absurd that sounded.
She shook her head and lightly whipped the reins.
The carriage continued forward.
At the back, Kael's hand rested still against Lyra's back.
His eyes were half-lidded.
Watching From Afar
In the distance, concealed behind the trees, Orin stood frozen in disbelief.
"Just now… what happened?"
He had clearly seen his men step forward.
Then—
Nothing.
Gone.
No aura fluctuation he could detect.
No visible attack.
They had simply ceased to exist.
A cold sensation crept up his spine.
He was about to step forward—
When a voice entered his mind.
Smooth.
Amused.
Dangerous.
"Interesting."
Orin immediately bowed his head slightly, even though no one stood before him.
"Lord Vaelor…"
"It seems those girls possess control over time as well," the voice continued with a faint laugh.
"What do you mean— I… I apologize. I didn't foresee this."
A pause.
Then—
"I've changed the order."
Orin swallowed.
"Make sure they arrive safely."
"…Safely?"
A soft chuckle echoed inside his mind.
"And do try not to die."
The connection severed.
Orin exhaled shakily.
"Protect them…?"
He looked toward the distant carriage.
"I don't think I have the power to interfere with beings like that…"
Still—
"An order is an order."
He began trailing them — carefully.
Much more carefully.
Inside the carriage, Kael's eyes opened briefly.
The malicious intent was gone.
Completely.
"Plans changed?" he thought silently.
His gaze shifted to the forest canopy above.
"…Interesting."
He closed his eyes again.
Arrival — Daincrest Mansion
Hours later, the forest thinned.
The carriage rolled into the village center.
And there it stood.
The grand estate of the Daincrest family.
Daincrest Mansion rose like a monument among humble homes. Its ivory walls gleamed under sunlight. Tall iron gates guarded a courtyard large enough to house several common estates combined.
Its wealth alone surpassed the rest of the village entirely.
The carriage stopped.
Kael stepped down first.
Then gently lifted Lyra onto his back.
Elara joined him.
They approached the entrance.
The doors opened before they could knock.
An elegant maid greeted them with a graceful bow.
"Good afternoon. You must be my master's guests."
Her voice was soft but measured.
"Yes, we were told to meet—"
"Can we speak inside?" Kael interrupted calmly.
The maid's eyes shifted briefly to Lyra on his back.
Then to Elara.
"You didn't need to bring a maid of your own," she said lightly.
Kael's expression didn't change.
"She isn't a maid. And you never specified that we couldn't bring someone."
A small smile touched her lips.
Amused.
"Well played."
She stepped aside.
"Please. My master has been expecting you."
The doors closed behind them.
And somewhere deeper within the mansion—
Someone was already smiling.