บท 21: The Journey Begins
Lila nodded, sheathing her sword with a metallic ring that echoed through the yard. She followed him to a quieter corner, her gaze flicking over his new attire before settling on his face. "What's going on?"
„I have to make sure she's strong enough for the job..."
Aldwyn paused for a moment before saying, "Since it's your first proper contract, I have to ask. Do you belong to a path?"
Lila looked at him quizzically. "What do you mean by 'path'?"
„As expected... Hopefully her skills are good enough." Aldwyn was a little disappointed.
Aldwyn leaned against the cold stone wall, his eyes scanning the training yard. "It doesn't matter anymore, your answer was enough for me."
"What are you talking about?" Lila's voice was sharp with confusion.
Aldwyn took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving hers. "I just wanted to check if you are strong enough to accept this contract. In case of an unexpected situation." He paused, letting the gravity of the situation sink in. "Just make sure you are well prepared and have your equipment with you."
„It's still strange that she doesn't know anything about the pathways. Even the newspapers report about it... Maybe she just doesn't read the papers."
Lila nodded, her eyes now filled with a mix of excitement and determination. "I'm ready," she said, her voice steady. "What's the plan?"
Aldwyn relayed Lady Roxanne's words about the true nature of their mission, explaining the political implications of her marriage and the potential threats they might face. Lila's expression grew more serious with each word, her hand tightening around the hilt of her sword. "We'll need to be vigilant," she said, her eyes gleaming with the promise of a challenge. "But I trust in your skills, and I'm ready to face whatever comes our way."
The two of them spent the rest of the day preparing for the journey, reviewing maps of the Darkwood Forest and discussing possible routes and strategies. They checked and rechecked their gear, ensuring every weapon was honed to a razor's edge and every potion and scroll securely stowed. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the city in a deepening twilight, they met at the stables where their horses were waiting.
Lila's horse was a sleek black stallion with a fiery mane, a creature that matched her fiery spirit. It snorted and pawed at the ground, sensing the tension in the air. Aldwyn's steed was a stoic gray mare, her eyes wise and calm amidst the chaos of the bustling city.
....
They arrived at the Tremblay Manor just as the last vestiges of light disappeared, the manor's windows casting a warm glow into the night. The guards at the gate nodded in recognition as they passed, the sound of their hooves echoing through the cobblestone streets. The stables were well-kept, a testament to the wealth and status of House Tremblay. They dismounted, the sound of their boots on the stone floor a stark reminder of the gravity of the task ahead.
Inside, the manor was a whirlwind of activity. Servants rushed to and fro, preparing for Lady Roxanne's departure. They found her in a chamber laden with trunks and garments, her pink eyes scanning over a map laid out on a large wooden table.
"Ah, you're here," she said, without looking up. "Good, we leave at first light."
Her voice was firm, and there was an underlying urgency that sent a shiver down lila's spine. The room was filled with the scent of jasmine and vanilla, a stark contrast to the metallic scent of the Hall's training yard. It was a reminder of the different worlds they were about to cross paths with.
Aldwyn stepped closer to the map, his eyes scanning the dense forest of Darkwood. "We'll need to take the northern route," he said, tapping a finger on the parchment. "It's longer, but it's the safest."
Aldwyn's finger traced the path from Helgarde to the edge of the Darkwood Forest, and then further into the dense expanse of trees that stretched for miles, their shadows swallowing the light even on the brightest of days. "Our first stop will be at the Shrine of the Forgotten," he told Lila, his eyes flicking up to meet hers.
Lady Roxanne looked up from the map, her pink eyes assessing them both. "Very well," she said, her voice carrying the same firmness it had earlier. "A maid will show you to your rooms for the night. We leave at first light."
A young, timid maid with mousy brown hair and a pinched expression stepped forward, curtsying slightly. "This way, please," she murmured, leading them through the opulent halls. The walls were adorned with tapestries depicting scenes of battles and hunting parties, the floor beneath their boots a mosaic of gleaming marble. Each step they took seemed to echo through the vast space, a stark contrast to the quiet intensity of their conversation.
Their rooms were situated in a guest wing, far from the bustle of the manor's central chambers. The space was well-appointed, with plush beds and a roaring fireplace that cast flickering shadows on the walls. A large window offered a view of the moonlit gardens, the silhouettes of statues and topiaries standing sentinel over the well-manicured lawns.
The maid hovered in the doorway, her eyes darting between them nervously. "Is there anything else you require before I leave you to rest?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Aldwyn waved her off. "That will be all," he said. "We'll be ready when the time comes."
....
The first light of dawn painted the sky a soft pink as Aldwyn and Lila descended the grand staircase of the Tremblay Manor. The mansion was still, the only sounds being the crackling of the dying embers in the hearths and the distant call of a nightingale.
In the courtyard, Lady Roxanne awaited them, dressed in a riding outfit that managed to be both elegant and practical. Her white hair was pulled back into a tight bun, and she wore a fur-lined cloak over her shoulders. The crimson fabric was embroidered with the symbol of House Tremblay—a silver wolf howling at a moon.
„Even though she said we should be inconspicuous... These clothes are more than just conspicuous."
With a nod to Lady Roxanne, they mounted their horses and set off, the cobblestone streets of Helgarde giving way to the well-trodden dirt path that led to the Darkwood Forest. The early morning air was crisp and clean, the scent of dew-kissed leaves and distant woodsmoke a stark contrast to the stench of the city they had left behind.
The journey to the Shrine of the Forgotten was quiet, the three of them lost in their own thoughts. Lila, ever observant, noted the subtle shifts in their body language, the way Aldwyn's hand hovered near his sword hilt whenever they approached a bend in the road, and the way Lady Roxanne's eyes searched the shadows as if expecting an ambush at any moment.
It was only when they stopped to rest at midday that the tension between them broke. Lady Roxanne turned to Lila as they sat beside a gurgling stream, her pink eyes thoughtful. "How did you come to be at the Hall of the Sword?" she asked, her voice gentle.
Lila hesitated for a moment, her hand absently stroking the neck of her black stallion. "My path led me here," she said, her voice carefully neutral. "My family was lost to the wars, and I sought refuge and purpose."
Lady Roxanne's gaze grew more intense. "Which war?" she pressed, her curiosity piqued.
„Lady Roxanne really has no sense of manners... I think she wants to find out where Lila comes from, but you don't ask about the war in which her parents died..." Aldwyn shook his head, but listened with interest.
Lila took a deep breath, her hand tightening around the reins of her horse. "The Southern Conflicts," she replied, her voice laced with a hint of sadness. "My village was in the path of the fighting. I was just a girl when it was destroyed."
„Isn't the Empire of Kleratia in the south? The empire of the elves?" Aldwyn had no memory of his time before he "woke up" so he only knew a little about it.
Before Aldwyn could ask, Lady Roxanne speaks up. "There are many small conflicts and wars going on all over the world at this time, even Helgarde could fall victim to a civil war..."
Her eyes took a faraway look, reflecting on the horrors of war. "But the Southern Conflicts, yes, I know of them," she said. "My own family has been touched by the tragedies that unfolded there. The wars between humans and elves are ancient, rooted in a history of misunderstandings and power struggles."
Aldwyn listened intently, his curiosity growing. "What do you know of the elves?" he asked, his voice a whisper. "I've heard whispers of them, but never encountered one."
Lady Roxanne's gaze sharpened, and she leaned in closer. "The elves are a mysterious people," she began, her voice low. "Their lands are said to be ancient and magical, untouched by the ravages of time. They live in harmony with nature, and their cities are rumored to be works of art that could put our finest architects to shame."
Her voice took on a somber tone as she continued. "But make no mistake, they are not to be underestimated. Their warriors are swift and deadly, their magic powerful and ancient. They have long memories and even longer grudges. And their politics are as tangled as the roots of the world itself."
"But why the war?" Aldwyn pressed, his curiosity getting the better of him. "What could drive two races to such bitterness?"
Lady Roxanne's eyes grew distant, lost in the mists of history. "Greed," she said finally. "Greed and fear. The elves are guardians of ancient knowledge and powerful artifacts. Humans, ever eager to expand their own power, have often sought to claim these treasures for themselves."
Her gaze returned to the present, and she sighed. "But that is a tale for another time. We must focus on the journey ahead."
The trio continued through the day, the sun casting dappled shadows through the trees. The forest grew denser, the air thick with the scent of earth and moss. As the light began to fade, they approached the outskirts of the Darkwood Forest, the trees looming like sentinels around them.
"We're close to the shrine," Aldwyn murmured, his eyes scanning the shadows. The forest was eerily silent, as if even the creatures knew to stay away from the place where the forgotten were laid to rest.
The Shrine of the Forgotten emerged from the gloom like a ghostly apparition, its crumbling stones covered in vines that had grown thick and twisted over centuries. The moon cast a silvery glow upon the structure, the air grew colder, the sense of unease palpable as they approached.
Aldwyn dismounted, his eyes scanning the shrine's surroundings with the practiced gaze of a seasoned warrior. The silence was unnerving, the forest holding its breath as if waiting for an unspoken signal to unleash its hidden dangers. Lila and Lady Roxanne followed suit, their horses snorting and shying away from the ancient building.
Aldwyn, whose senses were extremely sharp thanks to his assassin abilities, could not recognize any danger from the building.
He led the way, his twin blades at the ready, his eyes adjusting to the gloom. The shrine was a small, square structure with a single, arched doorway that yawned like a hungry maw. The door was a heavy slab of wood, scarred with age and the claw marks of some unknown creature.
With a gentle push, it swung open with a mournful groan, revealing a space that was both serene and eerie. The air was still and cold, the only sound the occasional drip of water from a leak in the ceiling. The floor was a mosaic of cracked and broken stone, the pieces forming a pattern that had long since lost its meaning.
"Wait here," Aldwyn instructed Lila and Lady Roxanne, his voice a murmur in the hushed space. "I need to check the shrine for any... surprises."
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