CHAPTER 101: ROAD TO BOTA

One covered carriage rolled out of Falopo Town, followed by another right behind it.

The lead carriage was driven by a young man with a sharp, masculine face, brown hair, and a black Liner robe edged with purple.

Inside the first carriage sat two more young men, both wearing the same black robes though their hems were lined in white.

Each of them carried a tiny newborn in a sling. The babies were no older than three days. Beside them, a middle-aged woman cradled another baby.

The triplets had survived their first three days of life while being hunted. It wasn’t so different from what their father had once gone through.

Thus, it made everyone’s hearts ache.

The road outside was swallowed in darkness, nevertheless they had no choice but to leave tonight. The druids might arrive in Falopo Town by morning.

Madha gripped the reins tightly, trying his best to steer, yet in the dim light he could barely see the rocky road ahead.

Inside, Gara was struggling with motion sickness. He pressed a jar of cajuput extract close to his nose, hoping the sharp scent would help.

He had even drunk a cup of niskara tea before their departure, believing it would ease the nausea. Sadly, it hadn’t helped at all.

Still, he held his second child, Arion, close to his chest with gentle, steady arms. The thought that his fragile baby had to endure all of this so soon in life squeezed his heart, but Gara couldn’t let himself sink into sorrow for long.

The journey to Bota Village would take six hours, longer than the road from Falopo to Suruta. Once they had put enough distance behind them, they would camp until dawn before moving again.

But traveling by night was never easy. The roads between towns and villages had no lamps, and carriages were nothing like the brightly lit vehicles of another world. Their only guide was the pale light of the moon.

That made every jolt of the carriage worse. Gara could hardly keep his back straight anymore. I miss leaning against Madha’s shoulder, he thought.

Then an arm slid in front of him, firm across his chest like a bar holding him upright. It was Fian’s. Thanks to the baby sling across his torso, he could hold his child with one arm while using the other freely.

The slings were designed for infants at least three months old, leaving the wearer’s hands completely free. But Gara’s newborn was far too delicate to be strapped in so tightly, so he had to carry him differently.

With Fian’s steady arm bracing him, Gara finally had something to lean against, and the rocking of the carriage became bearable.

Hours passed. After three long hours, the carriages had left Falopo far behind, passing through several villages before finally slowing to a stop.

Gara stepped down first, slow and careful, his gaze bright with relief. He drew in a deep breath, savoring the smell of leaves, wood, and damp earth in the night air.

For a moment, he wished he could just lie down on the grass before him and rest.

"I’ll set up the tents," Madha said quickly. He was the only one not carrying a child, having already passed the reins of the horses to a guard driving the second carriage.

That second carriage was loaded with supplies and provisions—part of the cover story for Wina’s arrival in Bota Village.

According to the plan, she was a widow who had just lost her husband and had all her assets seized by his family. All she had left was a small sum of money enough to buy a field in another village.

That was why she came to Bota Village, where many farmlands were up for sale after most of the villagers had left. Water wouldn’t be a problem, since her son was a Liner with a water-based Talent.

The food supplies they carried would pass as a gift from their new neighbors, making it easier for them to be accepted without raising suspicion.

The fabricated tale held weight because Tristan had already ordered the guards stationed at Bota Village to spread it quietly among the locals.

Once the tent was set up, the triplets were laid inside on thick, soft blankets. Lavender was planted around the tent to ward off insects, and flower-infused water was sprinkled on the soil nearby.

Madha and Fian wasted no time building a makeshift stove, cooking with ease. Thanks to Hilda—who had purchased everything they might need for this new place—they wouldn’t have to run to town anytime soon. From now on, she would be the one sending them food supplies.

The triplets grew fussy, likely unsettled by the unfamiliar environment. But after drinking milk, changing diapers, and being cradled by both Wina and Gara, the babies finally drifted to sleep.

Wina stayed inside the tent to watch over them, while Gara stepped out to eat first.

Outside, dinner was ready—vegetables soup, rice, and fish. Simple fare, but almost luxurious considering they were deep in the forest.

The setting reminded Gara of his newly awakened Talent, Woodland Camouflage. He wanted to try it out. Once they reached Bota Village, who knew if he’d have another chance.

"I’ll head over behind that tree to relieve myself," Gara said casually, then turned to Fian. "If I don’t come back in ten minutes, come find me, alright?"

Fian nodded.

"Just Fian," Gara added firmly. "Madha, you stay here and keep watch."

In truth, what he intended to test was his Talent. He wanted to know if Fian—who had been able to catch his scent before—could still sense him after using the Talent.

Moving quietly, Gara walked away from the tent, the brightest source of light in this darkness. The moon barely pierced through the thick canopy above.

Not seeing the light from campfire, he chanted in his heart, I don’t want to be seen. I want to blend with the forest. I want to disappear.

He focused solely on the Talent and those words echoed nonstop in his mind.

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