Chapter 132: The Road Beyond House Valen

Rin didn’t sleep that night. He spent the remaining hours preparing everything he could think of.

Foodm water, a cloak for Eryndor, a small amount of gold, a map. Nothing more.

They couldn’t take too much. If they left House Valen carrying half the estate with them, they would be noticed before they even reached the gates.

Rin placed the map on the wooden table and studied it beneath the candlelight. Elyria was larger than he had expected.

House Valen stood near the capital, surrounded by several smaller villages and forests. Beyond the eastern forest was a mountain range, and beyond those mountains were territories Rin didn’t recognize.

He traced his finger along the road.

"We need somewhere nobody will look for us."

Eryndor stood across from him.

"You mean somewhere my lady won’t find us?"

"Exactly."

"You know she’ll send people."

"I know."

"And if the King discovers that you left?"

"I know."

"And if they discover that I went with you?"

Rin looked up.

"I know."

Eryndor sighed.

"Then why are we doing this?"

Rin folded the map.

"Because staying is worse."

Eryndor didn’t answer. He looked toward the window. The night outside was dark.

"I’ve never left the estate."

Rin looked at him.

"Never?"

Eryndor shook his head.

"No."

"Then you’re about to see a lot more of the world."

Eryndor smiled faintly.

"You sound excited."

"I’m terrified."

That made Eryndor laugh. For a moment, the tension disappeared. Then Rin heard Aelion’s voice.

You’re making the same mistake again.

Rin’s smile faded.

"What mistake?"

Eryndor looked at him.

"What?"

"Nothing."

You think running will save him.

Rin ignored him. He folded the map and placed it inside his bag.

"I’ll explain everything later."

Eryndor frowned.

"Everything?"

"Everything I can."

"You’ve been saying that for two days."

"I know."

"You’re hiding something?"

Rin looked at him.

"I am."

Eryndor stared at him.

"Does it involve me?"

Rin hesitated.

"Yes."

"Does it involve you?"

"Yes."

"Does it involve my future?"

Rin’s heart stopped. He slowly nodded.

"Yes."

Eryndor didn’t look surprised. Instead, he whispered,

"I knew it."

Rin frowned.

"What?"

"Ever since you woke up."

Eryndor stepped closer.

"You weren’t the same."

Rin remained silent.

"You knew things you shouldn’t know."

Eryndor looked directly into his eyes.

"You knew about my punishment before anyone told you."

Rin’s throat tightened.

"You looked at me like you were seeing someone else."

Rin looked away. Eryndor’s voice softened.

"Who do you see when you look at me?"

Rin couldn’t answer. Because the honest answer was impossible.

Kaelith.

The name remained trapped inside his heart. Eryndor watched him.

"Someone I know?"

Rin shook his head.

"Someone I lost."

Eryndor froze.

"Lost?"

Rin nodded.

"Long ago."

"But we’ve always been here."

"I know."

"Then how could you lose that person?"

Rin looked at him.

"That’s what I’m trying to understand."

Eryndor didn’t ask again. Instead, he reached for the map.

"Where are we going?"

"The eastern forest."

"Why?"

"It’s far enough from the capital."

"There’s nothing there."

"That’s the point."

Eryndor looked at the map.

"There’s an old village."

Rin nodded.

"Abandoned?"

"Almost."

"Then we’ll stay there."

Eryndor looked at him.

"You really thought this through."

"Not enough."

"Why?"

"Because we don’t know what happens after we leave."

Aelion’s voice whispered inside him.

Exactly.

Rin closed his eyes.

You cannot outrun the past.

"I know."

Eryndor looked at him.

"What?"

Rin opened his eyes.

"I was talking to myself."

Eryndor smiled.

"You do that often."

"You have no idea."

Before they could continue, three soft knocks came from the door. Rin immediately reached for the dagger hidden beneath his coat.

Eryndor froze.

"Who is it?"

The Crown Prince answered from outside.

"It’s me."

Rin opened the door. The prince stepped inside. He looked around before closing the door behind him.

"You really intend to leave?"

Rin nodded.

"Tonight."

The prince’s expression became serious.

"Then you need to know something."

"What?"

"The eastern road is being watched."

Rin frowned.

"By whom?"

"The King’s soldiers."

Rin’s expression darkened.

"Why?"

"They are looking for someone."

"Who?"

The prince looked at Eryndor. Rin immediately understood.

"Him."

"Yes."

Eryndor’s face went pale.

"Why would the King care about me?"

"I don’t know."

The Crown Prince looked toward Rin.

"But your mother’s message to the capital mentioned you."

Rin’s eyes narrowed.

"What did she tell them?"

"That you were refusing your engagement because of a servant."

Rin’s fists tightened.

"Of course."

The prince continued.

"But that wasn’t the important part."

"What was?"

"She mentioned the mark."

Silence. Rin’s heart dropped. Eryndor instinctively hid his hand behind his back. The prince noticed.

"I’ve seen that symbol before."

Rin looked at him.

"Where?"

"In the royal archives."

"Tell me."

The Crown Prince hesitated.

"The records are old."

"How old?"

"Older than the kingdom."

Rin’s expression changed.

"How old?"

"Almost a thousand years."

Eryndor stared.

"What does it mean?"

The prince shook his head.

"The records call it the Mark of Calamity."

Rin’s heart stopped. The same name. The same symbol. The same connection.

"What does it do?"

"No one knows."

"Then why is the King looking for Eryndor?"

The prince’s expression became grim.

"Because the last person recorded with that mark destroyed an entire kingdom."

Eryndor stepped backward.

"No."

The prince looked at him.

"I’m sorry."

"No."

Eryndor shook his head.

"I haven’t done anything."

"I know."

"But you’re talking about me as if I’m going to..."

His voice broke. Rin stepped toward him.

"Eryndor."

"What if it’s true?"

"It isn’t."

"What if it is?"

Rin grabbed his shoulders.

"Listen to me."

Eryndor looked at him.

"You haven’t done anything."

"But what if I do?"

"You won’t."

"How do you know?"

Rin froze. Because he knew. He knew exactly what Eryndor would become, but he couldn’t say it.

Instead, he answered,

"Because you have a choice."

Eryndor’s eyes filled with uncertainty.

"Do I?"

"Yes."

The Crown Prince watched them silently. Then he said,

"Perhaps that’s what the mark is testing."

Rin looked at him.

"What?"

"The old records say the Bearer of Calamity wasn’t born evil."

Rin’s eyes widened.

"What did they say?"

The prince thought for a moment.

"They said he was given power."

"By whom?"

"The records don’t say."

Rin’s heart began beating faster.

Aelion suddenly spoke.

I remember.

Rin froze.

"What?"

The story.

"What story?"

The first bearer.

Rin’s breathing became shallow.

"Who was he?"

Aelion didn’t answer.

"Who?"

I don’t remember his name.

Rin clenched his fists.

"But you remember something."

He wasn’t born with the mark.

Rin stared at Eryndor.

"Then how did he get it?"

Aelion’s voice became quiet.

Someone gave it to him.

Rin’s blood ran cold.

"Who?"

The Gods.

Silence. The Crown Prince noticed Rin’s expression.

"What happened?"

Rin looked at him.

"Nothing."

But everything had changed. If the Gods had created the first Bearer of Calamity... Then perhaps Eryndor wasn’t destined to become Kaelith.

Perhaps someone had made him into Kaelith. And if that was true...Rin could stop it.

The Crown Prince suddenly walked toward the window.

"We have to leave now."

Rin nodded.

"Why?"

"Because the guards are already searching the estate."

Eryndor looked toward the door.

"How do you know?"

"I saw them."

Rin immediately grabbed his bag.

"Then we’re leaving."

The three of them moved quickly through the servants’ corridor. Rin kept Eryndor between himself and the Crown Prince.

They reached the rear entrance. A horse waited there. Then another. The prince handed the reins to Rin.

"You take this one."

"What about you?"

"I’ll create a distraction."

Rin shook his head.

"No."

The prince frowned.

"You can’t come with us."

"Why?"

"Because if they find you with us, the entire kingdom will know."

The prince smiled.

"They already know."

Rin stared at him.

"Then why help us?"

The prince looked at Eryndor.

"Because nobody should have their future decided for them."

Rin understood.

"Thank you."

The prince nodded.

"Go."

Rin mounted the horse. Eryndor climbed behind him. The moment Rin took the reins, Eryndor’s arms wrapped around his waist to keep himself balanced.

Rin froze for half a second. Then he looked forward.

"Ready?"

Eryndor nodded.

"Yes."

The gates opened. Rin urged the horse forward. They disappeared into the darkness.

Behind them, the Crown Prince remained at the gate. Moments later, voices erupted across the estate.

"Search every room!"

"Find the servant!"

"The young master cannot have gone far!"

Rin heard the shouting fading behind them. He didn’t look back. The eastern road stretched ahead.

Trees surrounded them. The moon illuminated the path. For several minutes, neither spoke.

Then Eryndor whispered,

"Aelion."

"Yes?"

"Are you afraid?"

Rin smiled faintly.

"Very."

"Of what?"

Rin looked toward the dark forest.

"Of succeeding."

Eryndor didn’t understand.

"Why?"

"Because if I succeed..."

Rin tightened his grip on the reins.

"...I might change everything."

Eryndor was silent. Then he asked,

"Would that be bad?"

Rin looked at him.

"I don’t know."

The road continued into the darkness. Then the horse suddenly stopped. Rin pulled the reins.

"What happened?"

The animal refused to move. Eryndor looked ahead.

"What’s that?"

Rin raised his eyes. A figure stood in the middle of the road. A person dressed entirely in white.

They couldn’t see the face. Only two eyes. Silver, cold, ancient. Rin’s blood ran cold.

The figure spoke.

"Stop."

Rin reached for his dagger. The figure looked at him.

"No weapon will help you."

Rin’s heart began pounding.

"Who are you?"

The figure tilted its head.

"You came earlier than expected."

Rin froze.

"Earlier?"

The figure looked at Eryndor.

"No."

Its voice changed.

"You came exactly when you were supposed to."

Eryndor tightened his grip around Rin.

"Who are you?"

The figure smiled.

"I am the first person who tried to change his fate."

Rin stared.

"What happened?"

The figure’s smile disappeared.

"I failed."

The black mark on Eryndor’s hand suddenly burned. Eryndor cried out. Rin immediately turned toward him.

"Eryndor!"

The mark spread across his palm. Then up his wrist. The white figure watched silently.

Rin looked at it.

"Stop this!"

"I cannot."

"Why?"

"Because I did not give him the mark."

Rin’s heart stopped.

"Then who did?"

The figure looked toward the sky.

And whispered:

"The ones who created your destiny."

Rin felt a terrible chill. The figure looked directly at him.

"And if you truly intend to change the past..."

Its silver eyes seemed to see through Rin.

"...you will have to fight the Gods who wrote it."

The figure vanished. The horse suddenly moved again. Rin stared into the darkness where it had stood.

Behind him, Eryndor whispered,

"Aelion..."

Rin looked at him.

"What?"

Eryndor’s voice trembled.

"The mark..."

Rin looked down. The black symbol had changed.

It was no longer only on Eryndor’s palm.

A second symbol had appeared on Rin’s hand. Exactly the same.

And Aelion whispered inside his mind:

They’ve found us.