The Weight of Silence.

The atmosphere in the caravan was so dense it felt like a physical, suffocating fog. The group's formation spoke for itself: they weren't a team; they were three strangers bound by a contract and a bad memory.

Noelia led the way, walking several meters ahead. Her back was rigid, and the sensation her presence gave off indicated her mana was still agitated by rage. In the center, Asimil advanced with his gaze fixed on his boots, his hands stroking Biteus's soft fur. The small animal emitted comforting vibrations, feeling the flow of sadness emanating from its owner. At the rear, closing the march like a shepherd watching over his flock, was Bodkin. His blue eyes missed no detail of the distance between the two youths; he was waiting for the exact moment to strike, not with a sword, but with words.

Taking advantage of Noelia having moved ahead to scout a bend in the path, Bodkin quickened his pace. He positioned himself next to Asimil, maintaining a distance that seemed respectful but felt invasive.

"It's been quite a while since that woman slapped you, hasn't it?" Bodkin remarked, keeping his gaze fixed on Noelia's back.

Asimil didn't lift his head. "Yes..." he replied in a thin voice, again feeling the heat of the blow on his cheek.

Bodkin leaned subtly towards him, lowering his tone to a whisper. "Listen, Asimil. I've seen many prodigies like her. The problem is, that girl no longer sees you as a human being with feelings. To her, you're a burden. An adventurer who needs to be corrected with blows or erased from the map."

Asimil clenched his teeth. Bodkin's words fit perfectly with his own insecurities, sinking into his mind like a silent virus.

"However," Bodkin continued, his voice becoming warm and tempting, "I see something different. I see potential that she's too proud to admit. How about, after this mission, you leave the Harmonia Clan? My guild is always looking for people with that... unique spark you have. There, no one would hit you for being afraid; we'd teach you how to use it."

Join another guild? The idea struck Asimil with the force of an impact spell. The temptation to get away from Noelia's coldness and be valued by someone like Bodkin was an emergency exit he didn't know he needed.

"Think about it, Asimil. Don't give me an answer now. I'll give you time to visualize your future," said Bodkin with a sly smile, slowly returning to his rearguard position.

Without further incidents or problems, the group reached their destination: a small frontier village where human wooden houses intertwined with arboreal structures of elven design. The air here felt cleaner and calmer.

The team was received by an elderly elven couple, their faces etched with wrinkles that seemed carved by real time. After unloading the supplies, the elders handed them a bag with the payment, but their eyes reflected genuine concern.

"Be careful on your return, young ones," the elder warned, lowering his voice. "Groups of bandits have been seen lurking at the sector's borders. They're not simple thieves; they seem to be looking for something... or someone."

Bodkin thanked them for the information with an impeccable bow, but Asimil felt the cold return to his bones. In his mind, the image of that hooded figure with the skeletal jaw projected with terrifying clarity. He knew the "bandits" they spoke of were no ordinary bandits.

The return journey began under a twilight light that tinted the forest in shades of violet and orange. To Asimil's surprise, Noelia didn't forge ahead this time. She walked almost beside him, though she kept her gaze fixed on the path. Her usual sullen expression had been replaced by a grimace of discomfort, as if words were trapped in her throat and her pride acted as a wall.

Just as Noelia seemed to take a breath to break the silence, the entire world seemed to shake.

A violent tremor, one that didn't seem to follow natural laws, forced them back. A few meters ahead, the mountainside appeared to detach on its own before collapsing. Tons of rock and earth fell onto the path, raising a dust cloud that completely obscured the road.

When the rumbling ceased and the dust settled, the reality was devastating: the main pass was sealed. The carriage couldn't get through; the area had been completely transformed.

Bodkin approached Noelia and Asimil to see if they were alright.

Asimil and Noelia nodded, and the carriage was intact, but there was one big problem left to solve.

Bodkin stepped forward, analyzing the disaster with a suspicious calm. "The earthquake has blocked this route... a landslide of this magnitude will take days for the cleanup crews to clear," he said, turning to look at the two youths. "We only have one option if we want to return to the Citadel before the gates close."

"Which is?" asked Noelia, one hand resting on the carriage.

Bodkin pointed toward an area of the forest where the vegetation was so thick that sunlight barely penetrated. "We'll take the long way. We'll cross the Sector of the Forgotten. It's dangerous, yes, but it's the only route left to us."

Asimil looked into the darkness of the forest. Biteus let out a small warning whimper. The long way didn't feel like an alternative; it felt like a trap they had just walked into.