Morning came slowly, spilling pale light across the forest as the carriage continued its steady journey. Dew clung to the leaves, shimmering like tiny crystals. Birds sang softly in the distance, their voices echoing through the trees.
Inside the carriage, the atmosphere had shifted.
The silence was no longer heavy — it was familiar.
Comfortable.
Eiden sat in the same place as before, cloak wrapped around him, eyes half‑lidded. But today, he wasn't staring out the window. He was listening.
To the wheels.
To the wind.
To the faint hum of mana in the air.
To the people around him.
Vaelus was the first to break the morning quiet.
"Okay," he said loudly, "I have a question."
"No," Eiden said immediately.
"You didn't even hear it!"
"I don't need to."
Vaelus groaned. "Fine. I'll ask someone else. Iris—"
"No," Iris said.
"Damn it!"
Selyndra chuckled softly. "You walked into that one."
Dyuke rubbed his temples. "Can we please have one peaceful morning?"
"No," Vaelus said proudly.
Eiden sighed. "Vaelus."
Vaelus froze. "Yes?"
"Sit properly."
Vaelus slowly lowered his boots from the seat. "Okay, okay…"
The carriage rocked gently as it rolled over a patch of uneven stones. Iris steadied herself with a hand on the seat, her shoulder brushing Eiden's. She didn't move away.
Neither did he.
Selyndra watched them with a faint smile.
Dyuke noticed and pretended not to.
After a few minutes, Iris spoke.
"Eiden," she said quietly, "what do you think the Whitecrest Clan will say when they see you?"
Eiden didn't hesitate. "They'll know."
"Know what?" Dyuke asked.
"That I'm back."
Vaelus raised an eyebrow. "You think they'll just… accept that?"
"They don't have a choice."
Selyndra tilted her head. "You sound confident."
"I am."
The carriage hit another bump.
Eiden didn't move.
His voice remained steady.
"My swords are calling to me. My mana is still inside them. They will recognize me before anyone else does."
Iris looked down at her hands. "Do you think they'll be angry? That you died?"
Eiden blinked once. "I didn't die."
"You know what I mean."
Eiden leaned back, eyes drifting upward.
"They'll understand."
Vaelus stretched. "Man… I forgot how dramatic you are."
Eiden didn't respond.
Dyuke cleared his throat. "We should reach the village by tomorrow morning."
Selyndra nodded. "Good. The sooner Eiden gets his swords, the better."
Vaelus grinned. "Yeah, because then he can kill a god again."
Eiden blinked. "If necessary."
Vaelus groaned. "Stop saying that!"
Iris laughed softly.
The carriage continued down the winding road, deeper into the forest. The trees grew taller, older, their branches twisting like ancient hands reaching toward the sky.
The air grew colder.
The mana grew thicker.
Eiden closed his eyes.
He could feel it.
The pull.
The echo.
The faint heartbeat of his swords.
Tomorrow, he would reclaim them.
Tomorrow, he would reclaim everything.
Day 2 ended with the carriage rolling into the shadow of the ancient woods — the border of Whitecrest territory.
And the world held its breath.