Chapter 51: Pursuit in the Forest

Lost in thought, I rode in silence, the rhythmic beat of my horse's hooves lulling me into a trance-like state. The tension within our group weighed heavily on my mind, gnawing at my thoughts like a persistent itch that refused to be scratched.

What would it take to bridge the rift Gwendolyn had formed? I had intended on letting time mend it, but it appeared she had hit a nerve deep in Ailende that resonated inside him. It was something i had to talk to Hana about, as she acted as the calmer of the two.

As we continued on our journey, the familiar surroundings of the forest seemed to blur into an indistinct haze, my focus consumed by the turmoil brewing within our ranks. Try as I might, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gripped me—a nagging sense of impending doom that hung heavy in the air.

Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed when Hana's voice cut through the silence like a knife, sharp and urgent.