The forest floor creaked beneath the group's rapid footsteps. Branches snapped, leaves rustled, and the sound of boots tearing the damp ground mingled with the irregular rhythm of their hurried breaths. The cold morning air bit at each of their faces, but no one slowed their pace.

Kael led the way, his gaze fixed between the trees. His body, now fully recovered, moved with an almost feline precision—every leap, every dodge, a calculated movement. Behind him, Sylphie ran lightly, her green robes blending into the surroundings. Amelia followed, clutching her grimoire to her chest to keep it from blowing open in the wind. Irelia brought up the rear, steadfast, the shaft of her spear glinting in the shafts of light that pierced the treetops.

And finally, the princess—a little further back, trying to keep pace with the group. Her breath was already starting to falter, and the dress, though designed for escape, wasn't the best for that kind of running. Even so, she didn't complain. The fear of being alone in there outweighed her fatigue.

The trees seemed to move around them, dense, ancient. It was easy to get lost—too easy. But Kael followed with the confidence of someone who already knew this path. The north. The route to Azalith.

"So…" The princess's voice came between shallow breaths. "What's it like… Azalith?"

Amelia glanced over her shoulder, not slowing her pace. "Azalith?" She took a deep breath before answering. "It's… a city built around the Azalith Academy. A place where scholars, mages, and alchemists gather to study, experiment, and destroy a few things in the process."

Kael let out a low grunt ahead. "Especially the last part."

Amelia ignored him and continued, "The academy is ancient. It was founded over three hundred years ago, when the four greatest empires were still at peace. They say even the eastern elves send their apprentices there."

The princess looked fascinated, despite her visible labored breathing. "So... it's a place of knowledge...?"

"Of knowledge and trouble," Irelia replied dryly, matching her pace to hers. "But compared to where you were, it's much safer."

"Safe is too strong a word." Kael slowed for a moment, just enough to glance back. His gaze met the princess's, and she felt an involuntary shiver. "I'd say it's... less troublesome."

"Less troublesome...?" she repeated, a little disconcerted.

"So you can die with a little more style," Amelia added with a tired smile.

Sylphie, who had been running silently until then, glanced at Kael and commented thoughtfully, "I imagine after... that attack, they beefed up security."

The unspoken name hung in the air. That attack. Neither of them needed to explain what it was.

Kael didn't answer right away. His gaze wandered off into the trees, his expression hardening.

When he finally spoke, his voice was low, too controlled:

"Boosted, maybe. But it's not enough while that idiot director is still in charge."

Sylphie glanced at him. There was something in his tone—something that made her stomach churn.

The wind blew, rustling the leaves around them. The pace of his footsteps slowed for a moment, and Sylphie's eyes lingered on his back.

"Kael..." she murmured, barely audible.

He didn't answer, just kept moving forward, dodging an exposed root. But she knew.

She remembered.

—

The smell of blood.

The roar of flames engulfing the stone corridors.

The suffocating sensation of corrupted mana spreading like poison.

Sylphie blinked, and for a brief moment, the forest seemed to dissolve. In its place, she saw the halls of Azalith Academy again—broken, stained, in ruins.

She remembered waking up.

The metallic taste in her mouth.

The pain in her chest.

And… him.

Kael was there, kneeling among the rubble, his eyes fixed on something she couldn't see. There was a terrible emptiness in his gaze. A cold, almost inhuman fury.

She never forgot it.

That expression wasn't that of a man… it was that of a beast trying to contain its own instinct to kill everything that breathed.

The look of someone who had lost too much.

Sylphie blinked again, and the vision faded. The trees returned, the wind returned, the sound of footsteps resumed its rhythm.

But her heart was racing.

"You still hold a grudge…" she murmured, more to herself than to him.

Kael seemed to hear, but didn't respond. His expression remained expressionless, but the air around him—the subtle flow of mana—stirred, as if reacting to the emotions he was trying to hide.

Amelia, sensing the tense atmosphere, decided to break the silence. "Well, if we're going to think practically…" She adjusted her grimoire. "Azalith is one of the few places where you can still rely on a minimally stable structure. Trade flows, there's protective magic on the walls, and most importantly, no one dares cause trouble near the Academy. So, yes, princess… it's the safest place you'll find for now."

The princess took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "So… could we blend in there? No one will recognize us?"

"If they don't do anything stupid, maybe," Irelia replied.

Kael let out a dry laugh. "In other words… unlikely."

Sylphie gave her a reprimanding look, but didn't press the point.

The forest began to change. The trees grew more spaced, the terrain more rugged. Moss-covered rocks and thick roots crisscrossed the path like sleeping snakes. The sound of rushing water reached their ears—a nearby river.

Kael paused for a moment, raising his hand. The group did the same.

"River just ahead. Let's cross it and head into the hills. Avoid leaving footprints."

"You sound like you've walked this path a thousand times," the princess commented, trying to sound casual, but there was curiosity in her voice.

Kael shot her a quick glance. "I have. And I survived. Which is more than I can say for most."

Amelia muttered something about "unnecessary ego," but the comment was lost in the sound of rushing water as they reached the bank.

The river wasn't wide, but the current was strong. Kael crossed first, leaping between the rocks as if it were natural. Irelia followed close behind, maintaining impeccable balance. Sylphie used magic to form small wind platforms beneath her feet, and Amelia, grumbling, followed suit.

The princess hesitated.

Kael glanced at her from the other side. "Are you going to stay there until the next kingdom falls?"

She blushed irritably. "I'm just... assessing the terrain."

"It's a river, not a dragon," he replied, extending his hand.

For a moment, she seemed to consider refusing. But his steady gaze made her relent. She took his hand and jumped onto the next rock. The touch was brief—firm, warm, and for a moment, she almost forgot to let go.

Kael pulled her easily to the bank. "There. See? No disaster."

She snorted, turning her face away. "I could have done it myself."

"Of course."

The group resumed their path. The terrain began to rise slightly—the slope that would lead to the Azalith fields.

But as they climbed, Sylphie couldn't shake the old image that still burned in her mind.

Kael's gaze that night.

The power she'd felt escaping him—something beyond anything a human should contain.

She knew there was something he'd never told her.

And as much as she trusted him, part of her feared what would happen if that hatred were reawakened.

Kael, for his part, walked in silence. Sylphie's words echoed in his mind, even though he pretended to ignore them.

"You still hold a grudge."

He wanted to deny it. He wanted to say that time had erased it.

But that would be a lie.

The headmaster's face still lingered in her dreams.

The man who'd told her there was nothing to be done.

The man who'd stopped him from saving the one he wanted.

And the blood, the smell of iron and smoke… all of it still accompanied him.

The wind changed direction, bringing the distant scent of wildflowers. The sun began to slowly sink through the leaves, painting the path gold.

Amelia broke the silence, looking at the horizon. "If we keep this pace, we'll reach Azalith in two days."

"Two days?" the princess repeated wearily.

"If no one faints before then," Kael replied, giving her an amused look.

She rolled her eyes, but to everyone's surprise, a small smile escaped.

Irelia watched the exchange with a curious expression, but said nothing. Sylphie, on the other hand, just sighed—a long, tired, resigned sigh.

The path would be long.

The path would be long.

And the forest, though more open, seemed to carry a silent presence that watched them with every step. The wind blew through the canopy, making the leaves whisper in ancient voices. The sound was almost hypnotic—as if the forest itself was studying them, judging whether they should be allowed to pass.

Kael was the first to notice.

The birds had stopped singing.

"Stop." His voice cut through the air like a blade.

The group immediately stopped. Amelia raised her grimoire, Irelia moved her spear to attack position, and Sylphie raised her hand, mana already flowing around her like pulsing green breezes. The princess, panting, just looked around, unsure of what was happening.

The silence was absolute. No sound of life, no rustle. Only the distant hum of the wind—and something else.

"Kael… what is it?" Sylphie asked, her voice low.

"I don't know." He frowned. "But something is wrong."

The air changed. Thick. Thick. Even the scent of the forest seemed different—too sweet, like rotting flowers.

Suddenly, the ground shook.

Thick roots began to move through the leaves, twisting, searching for something.

"Ah man… I just want to get this over with…" Kael muttered.