As they reached the guards, a few of them stepped forward and stopped the group.
Elara stepped forward. The moment the guards recognized her, they immediately stepped aside and let them through.
The atmosphere fell silent. People on the streets watched as they walked by, whispering among themselves.
Alaric walked past Caelin and crouched in front of Anna.
He gently wiped away her tears.
"Anna... we're sorry we couldn't do much for you," he said softly.
Anna shook her head.
"No... we're really grateful that we met all of you. You, Big Brother Caelin... everyone helped us in your own way. I'm not even sure if we'll ever be able to repay you."
She bowed before everyone.
Alaric couldn't bear to watch. He looked away slightly, holding back his emotions.
Lalanat crouched beside Anna and gently brushed her hair.
"Anna," she said with a small smile, "since this is the last time we'll see each other, is there anything you want?"
Anna shook her head.
"Not really."
Behind them, Caelin stood beside Elara.
"So... why are you all here?" he asked.
"Hmm? Are you offended that we came?" Elara replied. "Besides, I thought you had something you wanted to tell Alaric."
"Of course not. I already asked you to pass the message to them."
The two of them fell silent for a moment.
"So, when are they leaving?" Elara asked, folding her arms as she looked toward Anna.
"The sooner, the better," Caelin replied. "I've already arranged for a few knights and warriors to escort them."
Anna looked at Alaric.
"Before we leave... I'd like to visit one place."
Alaric quickly asked,
"Where is it? Is it far?"
Before Anna could answer, Elara smacked him on the back of his head.
"Oi, idiot! Don't pressure her with so many questions. What are you, a dog waiting for someone to throw a stick?"
"Ouch! That hurt." Alaric rubbed the back of his head. "I just wanted to help."
Elara sighed.
"We know that. But let her answer before asking another question."
She turned toward Anna with a gentle smile.
"So, Anna... where is it?"
Alaric quietly muttered while rubbing his head,
"You just asked the same thing..."
"You say something?" Elara asked without looking back.
"Ah... no."
After a brief silence, Anna finally spoke.
"It's not far. We just need to leave the market and go outside the walls. My mom and dad are buried there."
Silence fell over everyone.
Elara gently took Anna's hand.
"Alright then. Let's go."
She climbed into the carriage with Anna, Hazel, and Tiana.
Alaric turned toward the other carriage and was about to climb inside when a voice stopped him.
"And where do you think you're going?"
He turned toward the voice.
"Ah... Miss Alice. I forgot you were here too."
Alice smiled.
"You were all so caught up in the moment that I didn't want to interrupt."
She waited for Lalanat and Heidi to climb inside.
Thud.
She closed the carriage door.
Both Caelin and Alaric watched quietly.
Alice opened the window and smiled at them.
"Since both of you are boys..."
She pointed toward the road.
"You can walk."
She closed the window, and the carriage slowly began to move.
After walking alongside the carriage and the knights escorting them from behind, Alaric continued complaining about having to walk.
Caelin quietly walked beside him in silence.
A minute later, after Alaric finally calmed down a little, Caelin spoke.
"It's been a while since we talked face to face."
Alaric straightened his posture.
"Yeah... you're right. How have you been?"
"I've been doing well. I assume you're doing okay too?" Caelin replied.
"Ah... well, so much has happened lately that I don't even know anymore," Alaric said with a helpless smile.
Caelin sighed.
"Yeah... same."
He lowered his gaze as they continued walking.
Silence was about to settle between them again.
"You know... can I ask you something?" Alaric said, scratching the back of his head.
Caelin looked at him in surprise.
"Ah... sure."
"Why did you suddenly leave Class Two and even change your residence? But what bothered me the most was that you never even tried to explain any of it to us."
His eyes remained fixed on the carriage ahead.
He let out a quiet chuckle before continuing.
"Did we really mean nothing to you?"
Caelin suddenly stopped walking.
Alaric turned and looked at him.
Caelin lowered his head without saying a word.
After a moment, he slowly raised his head and met Alaric's gaze.
The knights behind them couldn't help but glance at the two of them as they stood there in silence.
"I was trapped," Caelin whispered.
Alaric frowned.
"I'm sorry... I didn't quite catch that."
Caelin took a deep breath.
"I was trapped by the choices I had to make. No matter which one I chose, I would lose something. But... those were the only choices I had."
Alaric looked at him quietly.
"Was it because of your father?"
Caelin slowly nodded.
Guilt filled his eyes as he lowered his head once again.
Alaric turned around and resumed walking.
"You see? It wasn't that hard to explain."
He stopped after taking a few steps.
"I don't need to know what those choices were. That's all I wanted to hear."
He slowly turned back with a gentle smile.
"Because, Caelin... you were my best friend."
"I trust you enough to believe that, out of those choices... you chose the best one you could."
With that, he continued walking.
Caelin stood there, watching him from behind.
A small laugh escaped his lips.
The conversation he had with Alice earlier echoed in his mind.
"Ah... I hate that you're right."
He laughed quietly.
"Perhaps... it was my fault for assuming."
He slowly continued walking.
"Thank you, Miss Alice... for giving me the chance to explain myself."
He smiled faintly as he followed after Alaric.
After a while, they finally left the city of Valerith.
Soon, the carriages came to a stop.
Anna and Elara stepped out of the first carriage, while Alice, Heidi, and Lalanat stepped out of the second.
Anna walked toward the grassy field beside the road.
After walking for a while, they arrived at a graveyard.
She quietly walked past countless graves, and everyone silently followed behind her, while the knights remained behind to guard the carriages with Hazel and Tiana.
A few moments later, beyond the rows of graves, two graves stood side by side.
Anna stopped in front of them.
She remained silent for a moment before turning to the others.
"This is where poor people like us are buried..."
She looked back at the two graves.
"And... these are my mother and father's graves."
Everyone slowly walked closer.
Anna gently placed the flowers on both graves.
She knelt before them, clasping her hands together.
"Mom... Dad..."
"I miss you both so much."
"Especially when the sun sets."
"I miss hearing your laughter."
"I miss eating together."
"I miss sleeping beside you."
She tried her best to hold back her tears, but after a few moments, she could no longer continue.
Then, with a trembling voice, she spoke again.
"I think... you can see me from up there."
"We're leaving the city for now."
"But don't worry."
"I met people who helped me when I had nowhere else to go."
"Mom... Dad..."
"When I'm much older, I'll come back to visit you again."
She slowly opened her eyes.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
No matter how many times she wiped them away, they kept falling.
Elara and Lalanat gently embraced her.
The moment she felt their warmth, Anna finally broke down.
Her cries echoed throughout the quiet graveyard.
Neither Alaric nor Caelin could bear to watch.
Both silently turned away.
After a while, Anna remained kneeling quietly before the graves while everyone waited patiently.
The sun slowly began to set, with half of it disappearing behind the mountains.
A gentle breeze swept across the grass surrounding them.
Finally, Anna bowed one last time before standing up.
Without another word, everyone quietly made their way back toward the carriages.
As they reached the carriages, Anna turned around and saw Caelin.
Caelin slowly walked toward her and crouched down.
"Anna, once I finish my studies here, I'll come and see you. So don't worry, okay? I've already sent a letter ahead."
Anna nodded.
She gently reached out and touched Caelin's face, a soft smile forming on her lips.
"Big Brother Caelin... thank you for everything."
"I truly hope life becomes a little kinder to you."
Caelin was left speechless.
"Eh..."
"You know... to us, you're like the sun. You gave us hope simply by showing up every day."
"When I grow up, I'll become a great sea, so you can see just how beautiful and amazing you truly are."
She smiled warmly.
Caelin nodded, his eyes filling with tears.
"Really?"
"That's such a beautiful line."
"Thank you, Anna."
"I'm really glad I met you."
He tried to smile despite the tears gathering in his eyes.
Anna smiled.
"I read it in a book when I was little."
Caelin let out a tearful laugh.
"Haha... it's beautiful."
"And thank you so much."
"I'll come see you again soon."
"But don't spend your life trying to repay us."
"Like I told you before... stay by your brother and sisters' side, and live the life you've always dreamed of."
Caelin gently hugged her.
The two remained like that for a while.
Soon, the sun finally disappeared beyond the horizon, leaving only the fading light of dusk.
One by one, everyone said their final goodbyes to Anna.
She gave them one last bow before climbing into the carriage.
The knight in charge stepped forward.
"It'll take about a week to reach the Nation of Bane. Once we arrive safely, we'll send word to you."
Caelin nodded.
"Thank you."
The knight gave the order, and the carriages slowly began their journey toward the Nation of Bane.
Everyone stood there in silence, waving until the carriages disappeared into the distance.
Only then did they finally turn around and head back.