As the wheels of her noble carriage rattled along the dirt path, Rin leaned against the plush cushions, her violet hair glistening in the sunlight that streamed through the forest trees.
Five days had gone by since her acerbic argument with Erin Dranemount, but the silver-haired girl's derisive chuckle was still echoing in Rin's mind, causing her to frown inwardly as a mixture of irritation and concern.
"Dear, what's bothering you?" Rin was drawn out of her reverie by her mother Johana's soft voice. Elgar and Johana, her parents, who were sitting across from her in their elegant travel attire, looked up into her worried eyes.
Rin forced a smile, waving a hand to dismiss it. "Nothing, Mother. Just thinking about the hunt."
Her parents' knowing looks showed they weren't convinced, and her words sounded hollow. Elgar's voice was cautious as his brow furrowed. "Rin, is everything at the Academy all right?"
