Chapter 63 – The Traveler in Black
The people of Crosshaven looked up.
A dark path stretched across the sky like a crack between worlds.
It was different from Kai's road.
His path had glowed with warm golden light.
This one looked cold and silent.
A single figure walked along it.
Step by step.
Without rushing.
Without fear.
The cheerful streets of Crosshaven became quiet.
Shopkeepers paused their work.
Children stopped playing.
Musicians lowered their instruments.
Nobody panicked.
They simply watched.
Kai frowned.
"That's strange..."
Evetyl looked at him.
"You know who it is?"
Kai slowly shook his head.
"No."
"But I know that road."
"What is it?"
"It's a road that only appears when someone has nowhere else to go."
The figure continued walking until it reached the city gate.
It wore a long black coat covered in dust.
Its boots were worn out.
Its backpack looked old enough to fall apart.
Its face was hidden beneath a hood.
The old woman at the gate smiled kindly.
"Welcome to Crosshaven."
The traveler stopped.
For a few seconds, no one spoke.
Then a tired voice came from beneath the hood.
"Is there... somewhere I can rest?"
The old woman nodded immediately.
"Of course."
"Everyone is welcome here."
The traveler looked surprised.
"You aren't going to ask where I came from?"
She smiled.
"You'll tell us when you're ready."
The traveler lowered its head.
"...Thank you."
Kai walked closer.
"You've been traveling for a long time."
The traveler gave a small nod.
"Too long."
Kai held out his hand.
"I'm Kai."
After a moment of hesitation, the traveler shook it.
"...My name is Noah."
Evetyl noticed something unusual.
The moment Kai and Noah shook hands...
The black road behind Noah disappeared.
As if it had finally reached its destination.
Kai smiled.
"Looks like your journey brought you here."
Noah looked around the peaceful city.
"I've never seen a place like this."
Children laughed nearby.
Birds flew between the glowing trees.
People from different worlds talked together as if they had known each other forever.
Noah whispered,
"I didn't think places like this existed."
"They do," Kai replied.
"They're just hard to find."
The group introduced themselves one by one.
"I'm Evetyl."
"The Warden."
"The Eye."
"Cr-Hook."
"The First Thought."
"The Forgotten One."
"The former Outer King."
"The First Anomaly."
Noah blinked several times.
"...Those are the strangest names I've ever heard."
Cr-Hook laughed loudly.
"We get that a lot."
Even Noah smiled a little.
It was the first smile anyone had seen from him.
The old woman pointed toward a nearby inn.
"Go get some food."
"You look exhausted."
Noah looked embarrassed.
"I... don't have any money."
Kai wrapped an arm around his shoulder.
"Then you're eating with us."
"You don't owe anyone anything."
For a moment, Noah simply stared at him.
Then he quietly asked,
"Why are you being so kind to me?"
Kai thought for a second.
Then shrugged.
"Because someone was kind to me once."
They walked toward the inn together.
Inside, warm lights filled the room.
The smell of fresh bread and soup spread through the air.
People laughed over dinner.
Someone played a violin near the fireplace.
Noah stood frozen at the doorway.
His eyes slowly filled with tears.
Evetyl noticed.
"Are you okay?"
He nodded, quickly wiping his eyes.
"I just..."
His voice broke.
"I forgot what home felt like."
Nobody said anything.
There was nothing that needed to be said.
Kai quietly pulled out a chair.
"Then welcome home."
Noah sat down.
For the first time in years...
He wasn't alone.
Outside the inn, the white flower in Evetyl's pocket glowed gently.
Far beneath existence, the First Thing smiled.
Somewhere, it could feel what had just happened.
Another lonely soul...
Had found a place to belong.
And although no one in Crosshaven noticed...
Far beyond the stars...
A tiny new light appeared.
The First Thing looked at it curiously.
Then smiled.
Another dream had just been born.