The carriage began to slow down. The wheels creaked softly as they rolled over the castle's stone path.
The main gate was already open.
They had returned.
Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was calm.
Moonlight was fast asleep, lying across Elanor's lap, her mouth slightly open, drooling a little, her breathing heavy after her epic battle against the sandwiches.
Elanor gently stroked her hair, smiling.
Max… was not as calm. He stared out the window. Silent. His brow slightly furrowed.
'…I shouldn't have left her alone…'
The feeling wouldn't go away. That discomfort. That small knot in his chest.
And then he saw it.
A carriage. Different. Parked off to the side of the road, near the castle's secondary entrance. Dark. No insignia. No escort.
And in the front seat…
A large man. Hooded. Covered in a black cloak that hid almost his entire body.
Max narrowed his eyes.
'Mmh…'
He couldn't see his face. But something… didn't add up. His posture. His size.
'…an orc…?'
