Chapter 270: Five Days

The night passed in relative tranquility, a calm that contrasted sharply with the tension that had preceded the camp.

After the encounter with that colossal existence that had crossed the forest like a walking mountain, tranquility, perhaps, was not the word that best described the state of mind of all the travelers. It was more of a truce, a moment of rest between moments of apprehension.

The forest remained silent around the camp, its trees slowly swaying in the night wind, causing the leaves to produce a soft and continuous sound that resembled a constant whisper.

The campfire had been reduced to embers, casting only a reddish glow over the camp, dancing shadows that moved with the wind. From time to time, some nocturnal insect broke the silence with a sharp sound, but aside from that, everything seemed normal.

Too normal.

The four guards took turns throughout the night, maintaining a vigilance that was more intense than usual. Two remained awake while the other and the coachman rested, switching positions at predetermined intervals. Their eyes constantly scanned the darkness, sweeping over every shadow, every movement between the trees.

Any movement among the trees immediately drew their attention, and any unusual noise caused one of their hands to move toward their weapon with trained reflexes. None of them wanted to admit it aloud, but they were more nervous than on any other night of the journey.

That creature was still present in their minds, an image that refused to disappear. It did not matter how many times they tried to rationalize what had happened or explain it as an illusion or a mistake in perception.

They had seen a gigantic existence walking through the forest, a creature so large that the trees seemed tiny before it. An amount of mana so absurd that the very atmosphere seemed to have become heavy, as though the air itself had gained density.

And, worse still, no one knew what it was. There was no name for that creature, no reference to it in their knowledge, and no explanation for its existence.

Fortunately, it had simply continued on its way, indifferent to the travelers’ presence. It had shown no interest in the carriage, had not attacked them, and had not slowed its pace, nor had it even looked in their direction. It had simply passed by, as though those people did not even exist, as though they were ants in its path.

Perhaps that was the most frightening part, the aspect that disturbed the experienced guards the most. If that creature had shown hostility, at least they could have understood the danger and prepared for it. But it had not even needed to look at them, so far above their existence was it.

Lukas slept deeply despite everything, his body finally surrendering to exhaustion. The fatigue accumulated over the past few days, combined with the tension of the encounter, had finally taken its toll. As soon as he closed his eyes, his body simply gave up on staying awake, plunging into a deep and restorative sleep.

Judite also slept without interruption, her youth and resilience protecting her from the worries that tormented the adults.

Aurora, although it had taken her some time to fall asleep, was eventually overcome by exhaustion, her eyes finally closing.

Clavor, however, was not so fortunate. Lying inside the tent with his eyes closed, he remained for much of the night in a state of near-constant alertness.

Any noise made him open his eyes, any movement from the horses caught his attention, and any unusual sound put him into a combat stance.

At one point, he even left the tent simply to observe the forest, his eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of danger. Nothing. Only trees, moonlight, and the night wind. Even so, his hand remained close to his sword, ready to act.

The image of that creature remained engraved in his mind, a constant reminder that the world was larger and more dangerous than he could comprehend.

He had fought monsters, he had fought in wars, he had met extremely powerful warriors, and he had witnessed battles between beings that could destroy entire buildings with a few strikes. But that was different, very different.

Clavor could not even estimate that creature’s level, and that deeply troubled him. Over years of experience, he had learned to assess threats, and to measure danger based on signs and patterns. But that creature was beyond his ability to assess, a blind spot in his knowledge.

When the sky began to brighten on the horizon, the first shades of pink and orange painting the firmament, he finally realized that the night was ending. The relief was almost palpable, the tension decreasing slightly with the arrival of light.

Shortly before sunrise, however, a sound emerged in the distance.

‘Toc. Toc. Toc. Toc.’

Hooves, moving quickly, approaching with an urgency that cut through the silence of the morning.

Clavor opened his eyes immediately, his body moving before his mind had even finished processing the sound. He stood up, left the tent in a swift motion, and found the guards doing the same, each taking defensive positions.

The noise was rapidly approaching, the hooves striking the earth at an accelerated rhythm.

‘Toc-toc-toc-toc-toc!’

Then a horse emerged from among the trees, its form appearing from the darkness like a vision. The animal was covered in sweat, its dark coat glistening with the moisture of exertion. Its breathing was heavy, and foam had gathered around its mouth, indicating a long ride.

The man mounted on it appeared equally exhausted, his face marked by fatigue and tension. He was the guard Clavor had sent the previous afternoon, the messenger who was supposed to take news to Great Rock City.

He had ridden throughout the entire night to the city and returned immediately, without rest, without pause. As soon as he dismounted, he nearly lost his balance, his legs threatening to give way.

Clavor quickly approached him, his voice firm.

“Report.”

The guard took a deep breath, recovering his breath before speaking.

“I reached the castle during the early hours of the morning. I delivered your message directly to the officer responsible for the guard.” His voice was hoarse but clear.

Clavor nodded, his eyes fixed on the man.

“And the response?”

The guard pulled a small, carefully folded scroll from inside his tunic, his hands trembling from exhaustion.

“They asked that you continue your journey. Hark Castle will send additional information as soon as they can identify what was seen.”