Starless Nights

Without wasting time admiring the scenery, they stepped inside.

The interior was as you'd expect: simple, but refined. There weren't any decorations, but the room was well garnished.

That's right. Room.

The whole "house" was in reality just one room.

In the corner of the room was a wooden desk, where an old man, around sixty years of age, was seated.

He looked like he was about ready to drop dead from exhaustion. His face was withered away by lack of sleep or overwork. Perhaps both.

However, as soon as he saw the new arrivals, his face lit up.

"Oh, fresh meat? Where did these two come from?" he asked.

"Captain, I present to you Vael and Kiera. They're the real deal." answered Linda.

"Oh, oh, I see…" replied the captain, sounding more like a jolly old man than the leader of a group of rebels. "Well, name's Thalor. What brings you fine young people to these parts?"

Vael and Kiera looked at each other, nodding.

They already thought this through.

"We escaped a lab up north," Vael began. "Spent a few months surviving in Mistwood. We're heading to the capital."

Thalor raised an eyebrow. "The capital, huh? You've got ambition. And what's waiting for you there? Trouble?"

"The Soummara Academy," Kiera answered. "We're not nobles, but we still plan to get in."

Thalor whistled softly. "That's bold. I like it."

He stood up, walked over to a nearby shelf, and poured himself a cup of steaming tea. He didn't offer them any. "As it happens," he continued, "we've got a small squad heading to the capital tomorrow. Officially, they've got business to handle. Unofficially…"

He shrugged. "Let's just say it wouldn't hurt to have a couple extra hands that don't ask too many questions."

Vael raised an eyebrow. "And in return?"

Thalor grinned. "Safe passage, company, and maybe a few answers, if you're looking for them."

Vael and Kiera exchanged one final glance.

"We're in," Vael said.

"Good," Thalor nodded. "Then rest up. The capital's a different beast. Forests don't lie — people do."

And with that, their path was set.

They had survived the wild.

Now, it was time to step into the fire.

At this point, night was falling.

So, instead of going back to the village, Vael and Kiera went a little deeper into the woods, found a quiet spot, and set up their tent.

They slipped into their familiar routine. Vael prepared the food, while Kiera arranged the tent and fetched water.

Tonight, on the menu, was third-stage Horned Druid. Truly, a delicacy for absolutely nobody.

It tasted nothing like regular deer, and its flesh was so tough that biting into it felt like a workout.

But you couldn't be picky when it came to survival.

The duo sat in complete silence. Or so it seemed.

In reality, they were deep in conversation through their mental link — a habit they'd grown used to.

Kiera: "So… what do you think of the captain?"

Vael: "Honestly? He's weirdly cheerful. Looks like he's two days away from keeling over, but still cracks jokes like it's his job."

Kiera: "I think that's what makes him likable. You need someone like that to hold people together."

Vael: "Maybe. I still don't know if we should trust them."

Kiera: "Same. But they seem better than most options out here. And if the academy is in the capital, we'll need allies."

Vael: "We'll keep watching. The moment something feels off, we're out."

Kiera: "Agreed. Oh—by the way. You should ask him tomorrow. About your siblings."

Vael: "…Yeah. I will."

With that settled, they disposed of the leftovers and crawled into the tent.

Before falling asleep, they each whispered a quiet "Good night" — out loud this time.

Old habits, after all, die hard.