Chapter 6

The forest slowly fell silent.

The last sound of the Morcant soldiers disappeared beyond the trees, leaving only the faint rustling of leaves and Milo's uneven breathing.

He remained standing for a moment, his hand still wrapped around the hilt of his sword.

Then he turned toward Selene.

She was still standing near the doorway of the apothecary, one hand resting against the wooden frame. Her lace blindfold covered her eyes, but Milo could tell from the slight tilt of her head that she was listening to everything around them.

Milo let out a long breath.

“I told you this travel isn't safe for you.”

Selene's lips curved faintly.

“You're the one who is trouble, by the way.”

Milo blinked.  Then his expression hardened again.

“They weren't ordinary travelers, and they were looking for something.”

Selene's smile disappeared. "They came here because of you.”

She stared at him for a moment.

“That is exactly why I'm telling you that you shouldn't be traveling with me.”

“They weren't interested in me.”

“They wanted you.”

“You think they'll come back?”

“I know they will.”

Selene remained quiet for a moment, her fingers still resting lightly against the edge of the doorway.

Then she turned toward Milo. “Who are they?”

Milo looked at her. “The Morcant Order.”

“The Morcant…”

Selene repeated the name slowly, as if testing how it sounded. “I've never heard of them.”

“Most people haven't.” Milo walked over and picked up the sword he had set aside.

“They're not exactly the kind of people who make themselves known.”

“Then how do you know about them?”

Milo hesitated. “I only learned about them recently.” he continued “ from Damar.”

Selene's expression changed slightly. “That old wizard?”

Milo nodded. “Damar told me about them.”

He slid the sword back into its sheath.

“He said very few people even know they exists. They don't operate like ordinary kingdoms or armies. They stay hidden, moving through different places and using others to do their work.”

Selene frowned. “And what do they want with you?”

“I don't know.”

Then another thought came to her. “Does Gideon know about them?”

Milo's expression changed. “I don't know.”

He looked toward the dark forest. “Maybe.”

Selene waited. Milo continued, his voice quieter this time.

“Gideon might know something about that Order. Or perhaps…” He paused. “Perhaps it has something to do with what he encountered before.”

Selene's brows furrowed. “You mean the Blackrot?”

Milo looked at her. The question brought back memories he had tried not to think about.

“Yes,” Milo finally answered.

“The Blackrot.”

Selene remained silent.

“I used to think it was just some rare disease,” Milo continued. “Something Gideon had encountered somewhere during his travels.”

He looked down at his hand.

Milo remained quiet for a moment, his eyes still fixed on the forest.

Then he turned to Selene.

“Do you still want to proceed to Eldermere?”

Selene didn't answer immediately.

She stood there, her fingers lightly gripping the edge of her lace blindfold.

Her silence made him think he already knew the answer.

Perhaps she had finally realized how dangerous the journey had become. Perhaps she wanted to turn back. And honestly, Milo couldn't blame her.

He lowered his gaze.

“We can go back,” he said quietly. “I'll take you safe there.”

Selene remained silent.

Milo looked toward the road behind them.

“I can return you to the village. Or even take you back to the apothe-.”

“Let's change route.”

Milo blinked. “What?”

“Eldermere is not safe anymore.”

He stared at her. “Then where?”

Selene turned her face toward the road. “North.”

“The North?” Milo's expression immediately changed. “You can't live there,” 

“I know.”

“It is isolated. The roads are difficult, the winters are harsh, and there are barely any people living that far north.”

Milo frowned. “why would you want to go there?”

Selene was silent for a moment. “Because Maura found me there.”

Milo's expression softened.

“Before everything happened… before I lost my memories, Maura found me in the North.”

She lightly touched the lace around her eyes.

“I lived there for some time. It isn't an easy place, but I know how to survive there.”

“You lived there alone?”

“Ye- yes.”

Milo studied her carefully.

“And you think it's safe?”

Selene nodded. Milo's brows drew together. “That doesn't exactly reassure me.”

She turned toward him.

“Trust me. No one could touch me there.”

Milo was quiet.

He knew she wasn't speaking with arrogance.

She genuinely believed it.

And somehow, that made him wonder what kind of life she must have lived in such a place.

“You know it's difficult to live there, right?”

“I know, I can manage.”

Milo sighed. He stared at her for another moment before finally giving up.

“Fine.”

Milo turned toward the carriage.

“We're going North.”

She nodded.

“But if you freeze to death, I'm blaming you.”

A small smile appeared on Selene's lips.

Milo climbed into the carriage and took the reins.

The road to Eldermere disappeared behind them.

Milo had imagined the North differently.

He had expected snow-covered roads, frozen rivers, and a village buried beneath a sheet of white.

Instead, when they finally arrived, he found himself staring at something far quieter.

The road narrowed as it climbed higher into the mountains. The trees became more scattered, growing between rocky slopes and patches of wild grass. Beyond them, small stone houses appeared in the distance, their roofs dark against the pale mountain landscape.

It wasn't a village in the way Milo had imagined.

There were only a few houses, separated by narrow paths and stretches of open land. Some were built against the mountain itself, while others stood farther apart, surrounded by small clusters of trees.

Nothing looked abandoned.

It was simply… remote.

Milo slowed the carriage. “So this is the North?”

Selene nodded.

“I can feel its wind.”

He looked around again. “It isn't as cold as I expected.”

Selene smiled faintly.

“Wait.” Almost as if answering her, a strong wind swept down from the mountains.

Milo immediately pulled his coat tighter around himself. “Ah.”

Selene laughed softly. “The cold comes with the wind.”

Milo looked toward the mountain peaks.

The air wasn't freezing, but there was something sharp about it. The wind carried the scent of stone, pine, and distant earth, slipping through his clothes whenever it passed.

He had never traveled this far north before.

Milo looked at the scattered houses again.

And for the first time since the Morcant Order had appeared, Milo felt as though they had truly left the danger behind.

He looked around.

There was only a small stone house farther up the slope, partly hidden behind several trees.

Milo frowned.

“This is where you lived?”

Selene smiled. “Before.”

She turned her face toward the house.

“And someone I know might still be here.”

Milo's hand tightened around the reins.

“Someone you know?”

Selene nodded.

“Who are you people?”

The voice came from somewhere beyond the trees.

Milo immediately straightened.

His hand instinctively moved toward his sword.

A woman emerged from the narrow path between the stone houses.

She appeared to be somewhere in her forties, perhaps older. Her dark hair was streaked with silver and loosely tied behind her head. She wore a thick wool coat over a simple dress, with a basket hanging from one arm.

She stopped when she saw the carriage.

Her eyes moved from Milo to Selene.

Then back to Selene.

The basket slipped slightly from her arm.

For several seconds, she said nothing.

Selene tilted her head.

“I'm sorry. We didn't mean to—”

The woman's eyes widened. “...Selene?”

A small smile touched Selene’s lips.

“It’s been a long time.”

The woman stared at her for a moment before rushing toward her.

“Selene!”

She pulled her into a tight embrace.

Milo stepped aside, watching quietly as Selene returned the hug. There was no hesitation between them, no awkwardness. They knew each other.

“You really came back,” the woman said, pulling away to look at her properly. “After all these years.”

Selene smiled faintly. “I needed somewhere safe.”

For the first time since they had left Eldermere, Milo noticed something different in her.

She looked comfortable here.

This place—the mountains, the stone houses, the cold wind—was not unfamiliar to her.

It was home.

The woman smiled and took Selene's hand.

“Come inside. You must be tired.”

Selene nodded.

As they walked toward the house, the woman glanced at her again.

“You've changed.”

Selene smiled. The woman chuckled.

“Maybe. But you're still the same girl who used to come home with muddy feet and pockets full of herbs.”

Selene laughed quietly.

“I was young.”

“You were troublesome.”

“I was learning.”

“You were stealing my herbs.”

“I was borrowing them.”

Milo couldn't help but smile.

Some things, apparently, had not changed at all.

The woman finally turned her attention to Milo.

She looked him over for a moment, noticing the tiredness in his face and the way his shoulders seemed heavier than they had been when they arrived.

“Oh, where are my manners?” she said with a small laugh.

She extended her hand toward him.

“My name is Merry. I'm Selene's godmother.”

Milo blinked, then quickly took her hand.

“Milo. It's nice to meet you.”

“Milo,” Merry repeated, giving him a warm smile. “So you're the one traveling with Selene.”

Selene glanced at her.

“Merry…”

Milo couldn't help but smile.

Selene sighed.

Some things really hadn't changed.

Merry looked at Milo again. This time, her expression softened.

“You look exhausted.”

Milo opened his mouth to deny it, but a tired sigh escaped instead.

“We've been traveling for quite some time.”

“I can see that.” Merry stepped aside and gestured toward the house. “You two should come inside. It's getting colder.”

Selene nodded and gently followed her.

Merry then looked back at Milo.

“You can stay here tonight.”

Milo hesitated. “I don't want to impose.”

“Nonsense.” She waved him off.

“You've traveled all the way up here with Selene. You need somewhere to rest.”

Milo glanced at Selene.

She simply gave him a small nod.

“Stay,” she said.

Milo finally sighed in defeat.

“Thank you, Merry.”

“Good. Then it's settled.”

Merry opened the door wider.

“Come inside. I'll prepare something warm to eat. You both look like you haven't had a proper rest in days.”

Milo stepped into the house behind Selene.

For the first time since their journey began, he felt his body finally begin to relax.

And Selene, walking beside him, seemed just as relieved to be home.