A Few days ago…
Halcyon and Asher were still in Ebonhaven, preparing for a journey they knew could take days… or longer. The relic's exact location was unknown, and all they had was a direction.
First, Halcyon needed rest, enough strength to move, enough time for her wounds to fully mend. And even before they could set off, they both sensed something that unsettled then, like eyes in the dark. But they couldn't pin point it.
Only thing they could speculate on. The Crimson Sanctum… Only group presence approaching, but neither of them realized how close they already were.
By the time they left the city on horseback, the Sanctum's members were already closing in.
…
The sun dipped low on the horizon, covering the sky in streaks of amber and gold. Horses' hooves struck the dirt path rhythmically, puffs of breath visible in the cold evening air.
Halcyon rode slightly ahead, on a red brown horse, glanced over at Asher, lips curled into a small, tired smile.
"Asher, can you tell how much farther the relic is? We've been riding for three days now and… we haven't encountered a damn thing."
"We're passed through. Slaesite Kingdom and Tarian Empire… I'm glad that the kingdoms no longer at war or our travel would be taking longer."
Asher on a pitch black horse, nodded, sensing the frustration beneath her calm exterior. She rarely showed it, but he knew her well enough to feel it… her disappointment, her worry. The relic was farther than expected. Gone, even.
Still, he kept his palm open, holding the Bloodlink Compass. Every second, he felt it pulse… drawing him forward like a silent heartbeat.
"Give or take… two, maybe three more days," he said certainly.
"Don't worry. I seen where we're heading. There shouldn't be any trouble, all Yeqo ghost I didn't encounter, last I passed. Nor is the asue my strenght, easily will manged to hold them back safely."
Halcyon sighed. Tired as she was, it helped knowing they were making progress.
"Do you have any theories?" she asked. "Why the Crown Relic just… disappeared?"
Asher looked down at his horse, eyes narrowing in thought. As he raised his gaze shifted to hers.
"No… but there is one possibility," he admitted. "If what you said about the relic being that powerful is true… it's not out of the realm of possibility the last wielder… or even its creator claimed it again."
Halcyon's brows furrowed as she considered it.
Shouldn't Lucian himself have a couple like that he made. He really just simple got rid of them, isn't he scared of the backlash? Or did it already happen?
There's a belief that relics reawaken when great suffering is near. Entire towns have disappeared after relics pulsed back to life.
"Hmm. I do remember Lazarus mention relics can bind themselves to powerful souls... but that kind of reawakening is rare. Still… maybe someone just got there before us."
The hopeful glint in her eyes dimmed slightly… She had wanted to believe this was her moment… the breakthrough they needed.
But now? Now she feared they were already too late again.
Would finding the relic save her life, or merely delay the reckoning she felt she deserved? Was she still fighting for the future… or simply to outrun the past?
Asher could see the storm of emotions brewing in Halcyon… sadness, frustration, hope, and quiet rage. A mixture potent enough to break even someone like her if it built up long enough.
He was about to offer her something… answers, maybe comfort when a sudden burst of shouting interrupted them.
"Quick, Aiden, stop him!"
"I'm trying! Cherry getting away too!"
Halcyon and Asher slowed their horses as they approached the source of the commotion. Up ahead, a few carts were overturned, crates and sacks scattered in the mud. Several men scrambled to calm down panicked horses that were threatening to bolt away.
At the center of the chaos was an older, dark skin broad-shouldered man with brown hair and a short gray beard. He hoisted a large rice sack onto his shoulder with ease.
"Hurry it up! If we lose even one crate, it's our head… and we won't see a damn coin!" he barked.
Behind him, a scrawny young man lugged an armful of tin cans, clearly struggling.
"Leader," the youth panted, "Once we finish this delivery, how much do you think The Black Swamp pay us?"
Another man… amber-skinned and sturdier than the first… finally managed to calm one of the wild horses. "This shipment has to be important. To head to the black swamp this time of the year. We better get a decent cut, right?"
The older man, Jackson, turned and grunted. "Why would the Black Swamp cheat us? Just wait and see. No need to panic."
The younger man gave a confident nod and patted his horse. "Right. If Leader says so, I'm good."
Back by the path, Asher leaned toward Halcyon.
"We should go. This has nothing to do with… "
However, he was cut short.
Her hand was already raised, palm glowing with a soft green light. Everyone felt a pulse of warm, soothing energy radiated outward like a calming breeze. Even the horses stopped panicking, exhaling in quiet relief as they allowed themselves to be led back to the carts.
"...Quiet Heart," she whispered.
Also, the men watched in awe.
The amber-skinned young man chuckled… then suddenly frowned, narrowing his eyes toward the path. "Leader… you see someone riding there?"
Jackson eyes squinted. "Could be a scout… Silver Bandits maybe. Mason, stay sharp."
Before Asher could intervene again… Halcyon was already guiding her horse forward.
She approached with a warm, friendly smile. "Looks like you're in a bit of trouble. Need a hand?"
Despite their suspicion, they had just witnessed her magic… simple, yet undeniable. None of them had any idea how to counter something like that.
Jackson approached her with cautious curiosity and extended a hand. "If you're offering, sure. I'm one of the continent's mighty couriers…Jackson. Delivery to Ebonhaven, West Laka through the deserts. North Frico through the ice plains."
He's a seasoned couriers leader known across multiple cities, his strength wasn't just in his bulk but in how efficiently he moved… a living machine. If his build didn't intimidate robbers, his fists would.
Still, he knew he had to be open, and give out his reputation so they won't attack him after he known, by all powerful families, kingdom, empire and clans.
Despite his intimidating build and sharp tone, Jackson was surprisingly easygoing. He was the kind of man who loved making friends, and everyone on the escort team praised him often. Not only did he look out for them, but he made sure they got their fair share of the profits. A leader like that was rare.
That's why this current mess… the overturned shipment scattered across the muddy road at night was a serious concern. Not just because the goods were valuable, but because the region had recently seen trouble. Specifically from a group known as the Silver Bandits, who had been raiding delivery lines in the area.
While Halcyon helped the men gather scattered crates, she casually asked one of them, "Where are you all headed?"
One of the younger men responded, "We're on our way to the Black Swamp…"
Another added, "Lot of strange deliveries go in and out of there lately. People too. Been more activity because the yearly hunt."
Halcyon blinked. "Really? We're heading that way too."
Before she could ask more, Asher suddenly shouted. "Halcyon!"
"Ah…"
Everyone turned to look… Asher mouth was half opened, his eyes narrowed, then flicked to her hair.
"I thought I saw something… in her. Hair!"
He let out a weak, awkward laugh. As heat rushed to his face.
The group looked at each other in confusion.
Halcyon immediately understood.
She'd been too open. Talking freely about their destination and purpose… dangerous in a world like this. Especially with unknown ears listening. Asher's odd interruption wasn't just clumsy… it was a cover.
The message was clear. Stop talking.
Everyone resumed gathering the packages in silence.
In the mist of help. Asher had found a coin he had Jackson explain, it and he said done worry about them. As he explained. He thought back to his first encounter. With the Silver Bandits used coins etched with silver spider emblems to mark their "protected" trade routes. Anyone ignoring the toll is marked for death, and he almost had it, passing through a desert, if not for a kingdom guards.
However, once the mess was under control, Jackson and his men began setting up camp. They'd been traveling for ten days straight… two of those spent on high alert, without proper rest. Now was the safest time to settle in, before exhaustion caught up with them or danger crept in during the night.
Halcyon and Asher decided to stay with them. Rest was important… but so was caution.
The closer they got to the Black Swamp, the more the Bloodlink Compass pulsed in Asher's palm. The tracker's signal pointed toward a location near the edge of the Swamp, just past the outer ring.
He remembered, he even once lost control of the Bloodlink Compass, and it led him into a sealed tomb where he nearly died. Since then, he treats the compass with both reverence and suspicion.
What did it mean if the compass betrayed them again? Would he follow it anyway? Did he trust the compass… or was he just addicted to its purpose?