Chapter 44

We spent the rest of the day preparing. Selene came and went, but whenever I asked if she was okay, she only said yes. So I was sure something was going on.

By now, Aki had told everyone we were leaving tomorrow, and people kept coming to get a last glimpse of me. I tried to ignore their glances and instead focused on preparing, but their constant stares and the realisation that I was the reason we might soon find out what had happened in Marbug made it hard to concentrate. Only Aki seemed unbothered by the situation and spent most of the day chatting with whoever was willing to listen.

It was the first time we travelled somewhere where my companions were almost as clueless as I was. None of them had ever set foot in Doria, and all messengers trying to bring news had been turned away. All that was left was an old, mythical race and the hope that the presence of their Goddess would let us in.

That night, we lay long after darkness had set, listening to Aki as she excitedly told us what she had learned about our way from the old hunters she had spoken to. It must have been late when we finally fell asleep, but at least her presence prevented my thoughts from running wild or messing things up more with Selene.

We set out with the first light, and Aki gestured for us to follow her into the forest. It would take us many days to reach Doria, and even though I still wasn’t sure if her decision had been the right one, I was happy to have her company.

As the days passed, we soon fell into a rhythm. Each morning, we set out at sunrise, and after walking for a while, we had breakfast before we continued on our way. Despite where we were going, I enjoyed being out again and the simplicity and monotony of our journey. I didn’t need to be someone I wasn't or worry about how others would see my actions. Even Aki didn’t do anything strange, except glancing at me with admiration, but at least it was better than seeing her sad.

Only Selene remained strangely quiet and distant, but she didn’t push me away, so I took that as a good sign. Maybe she was just worrying about going to Doria? At least that’s what I tried to tell myself, but her silence slowly crept under my skin as the days passed. I tried to ask her a few times if she was okay, but she always said yes, so I knew it was no point asking her further. Not that I ever told her anything when she asked me, so I guess I understood her.

One evening, as we set camp, Aki announced that tomorrow, we would reach Doria’s border. We would normally have made plans and spent the evening discussing what to do as we arrived, but not even Karim could give any advice on our action. I sat staring into the darkness, wondering what I had to do for them to let us in, when Aki suddenly stood up and stared into the forest.

“What is it?”, Uruk asked.

She hesitantly peered into the darkness.

“It feels like someone… is watching us”

Karim frowned and put a hand on the hilt of his sword. I shivered, staring into the forest.

“Maybe it’s just a hunter, but I don’t feel anything out there. And we don't come this close to the borders…”, Aki ventured.

She sat down and shuffled closer to us, and I put my arm around her.

“I don’t like it,” Selene frowned, but Uruk said,

“An enemy would have struck already”

Karim relaxed his grip on his sword.

“Maybe it’s the Dorians, we are close to their land.”, Selene suggested.

“I should be able to feel it”

Aki sighed.

“Mai should have come with you, not me.. I am not like… Father.”

She stared at the ground, and Karim put a hand on her shoulder.

“You don’t need to be. You have your own path to walk”, he smiled and, glancing at me, added, “Like all of us.”

Aki curled up against him.

“I just wish I could help more.”

He ruffled her hair.

“That’s what everyone wishes for, no matter how good they already are”

She looked at him, surprised, and he nodded.

“Even Goddess doubted herself and wished she could have done more, but we still remember her for what she did”

Were those words meant for me?, I wondered. I glanced at him, but he was speaking quietly with Aki. I turned to Selene, instead, but she sat deep in her thoughts.

“Are you okay?”, I tried.

She looked up at me.

“Yeah... Tomorrow we’ll enter Doria…”

I waited for her to continue, but she fell silent.

“At least they aren’t our enemy, and the worst thing that could happen is they send us back…”, I commented.

I knew I was stating the obvious, but I couldn’t stand the silence that hung between us.

“You are right…”

She turned away her gaze, and I hesitated for a moment before I asked,

“Selene, did I mess up something…?”

She looked at me, surprised.

“Rina… No, of course not …”

There was honesty in her voice that pushed my anxiety away.

“Are you thinking about Doria…?”, I tried.

She shook her head but didn’t continue. I dared to put my arm around her, but she didn’t relax under my embrace, and I couldn’t hold back the fear that had crept up since we left.

“Selene… What’s wrong..?”

She stayed silent for a long while before answering.

“Rina, what if you really are Goddess…?”