The city walls slowly faded behind them.
Aria and Rowan walked side by side.
Ahead of them stretched a long road…
a road that led toward the distant mountains.
For the first time in a long while, there were no soldiers around them.
No spies hiding in the shadows.
Only the wind… and silence.
Rowan took a deep breath.
"I almost forgot what freedom smells like," he said.
Aria looked up at the sky.
The sunlight touched her face gently.
"It feels strange," she said.Rowan smiled.
"Strange in a good way?"
Aria thought for a moment.
"Strange… but peaceful."
They walked quietly for a while.
Suddenly Rowan stopped.
His eyes moved toward the forest.
A flock of black birds suddenly flew up into the sky.
All at once.
Too suddenly.
Rowan's expression changed."Aria," he said slowly,
"stay behind me."
Aria looked at him in confusion.
"What happened?"
Rowan didn't answer.
He was scanning the forest.
Years of fighting had taught him one thing—
when the world becomes too quiet, something is wrong.
Then suddenly—
a sound came from inside the forest.
The sound of horses.
Not one.Several.
A few seconds later, riders emerged from the shadows of the trees.
They wore black armor.
Their faces hidden.
They stopped in the middle of the road.
Blocking the path.
Rowan slowly placed his hand on the dagger at his belt.
One of the riders moved forward.
In his hand was a scroll.
The scroll carried the royal seal.Rowan's eyes narrowed.
"That's impossible…" he muttered.
The rider spoke in a cold voice.
"Princess Aria."
Aria froze.
"We have a message for you."
He raised the scroll slightly.
"The council requests your immediate return to the capital."
Rowan gave a short laugh.
"And if she refuses?" he asked.
The rider did not answer.
Instead, he slowly drew his sword.Behind him, the other riders did the same.
Steel flashed in the sunlight.
Aria looked at Rowan.
Rowan sighed.
"So much for a peaceful life."
He pulled out his dagger.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"Looks like the war followed us."