Chương 56: The Road to Velaris

The eastern road changed after the trading town. The land gradually rose, and the flat plains surrounding the capital gave way to rolling hills covered in dry grass. The farther east they traveled, the fewer farms they encountered. Villages became smaller, roads became less reliable, and the distance between settlements grew longer. Leo noticed the change immediately. The capital had been built around magic. The eastern territories had not.

Here, people relied more heavily on steel, trade, agriculture, and whatever knowledge could be passed from one generation to the next. It was quieter. Less impressive. And somehow more real. Serah rode several meters ahead with Rowan and Darin. Leo walked behind them. He had deliberately kept his distance. Not because he disliked them. He simply preferred observing people before becoming familiar with them. Rowan was the loudest of the three.

He complained about the weather, the road, the food, and occasionally his horse. Darin listened more than he spoke. Serah rarely wasted words. She was the one Leo found most difficult to understand. She noticed things. Not magical things. Human things. When someone lied. When a merchant was hiding something. When a village guard was nervous. When a traveler was pretending to be injured. She had no extraordinary ability that Leo could sense. Yet she survived because she paid attention. Leo respected that.

Around midday, they stopped beside a shallow river. Rowan immediately sat beneath a tree.

"My legs are finished." Serah looked at him.

"We've traveled for four hours."

"Exactly." Darin laughed. Leo knelt beside the river and filled his water container. The water was cold. He drank slowly. Serah sat on the opposite bank.

"You've been quiet." Leo looked at her.

"You've mentioned that before."

"And you haven't become more talkative."

"I didn't see a reason to." Serah smiled.

"Fair." She looked toward the mountains.

"We should reach Velaris in five days." Leo followed her gaze.

"How large is it?"

"Large enough."

"That isn't an answer."

"Then here's one. Bigger than this town, smaller than the Royal Capital. It's a trade city built between three mountain passes." This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Leo nodded.

"Which means merchants."

"And mercenaries."

"Criminals?"

"Some."

"Mages?"

"Some."

"Knights?"

"A few." Serah looked at him.

"You're asking about everything."

"I'm trying to know where I'm going."

"That is sensible." She folded the map.

"But Velaris has one problem." Leo waited.

"The city has been receiving refugees from the eastern mountain villages."

"Why?" Serah's expression became serious.

"Because caravans have disappeared." Leo's eyes narrowed.

"The same ones from the notice?"

"Yes."

"How long?"

"Almost two months."

"And the authorities?"

"They investigated."

"And?"

"They found nothing." Leo looked toward the road. That was unusual. Not impossible. But unusual. A missing caravan left tracks. Broken wheels. Blood. Bodies. Something. Unless whoever was responsible knew exactly what they were doing. Or there was nothing left to find. Serah stood.

"We should move." Leo rose as well. He did not mention the symbol. Not yet. They continued east. By the third evening, the terrain had changed again. The hills became steeper. Large cliffs rose on both sides of the road, forcing travelers through narrow passages. The forest here was dense. Ancient trees blocked most of the sunlight. Leo slowed. Something was wrong. He stopped walking. Serah noticed.

"What is it?" Leo looked at the trees.

"Someone passed through here." Rowan glanced around.

"I don't see anyone."

"Not recently." Leo walked toward the edge of the road. He crouched. A broken branch lay beneath the leaves. The wood was freshly damaged. He touched it. Still slightly wet.

"Three days." Darin looked confused.

"How can you tell?" Leo stood.

"The sap." Darin stared at the branch.

"You can determine that from sap?"

"Yes." It was not entirely true. Leo had noticed something else. A faint trace of mana. Someone had used magic here. Not enough to leave an obvious signature. But enough. He looked deeper into the forest. There were footprints. Several sets. Heavy boots. At least six people. Perhaps more. They had left the road and moved toward the mountains. Leo straightened.

"Bandits?" Serah shook her head.

"Bandits don't usually hide this carefully." Leo looked at her. She had noticed them too.

"Then who?"

"I don't know." The group continued. But Leo kept watching the forest. They camped before sunset. No one wanted to travel through the mountain pass in darkness. Serah took the first watch. Leo volunteered for the second. Rowan protested.

"You're injured." Leo looked at him.

"I can walk."

"That wasn't my point." Leo said nothing. Rowan sighed.

"Fine." The camp became quiet. The fire burned low. One by one, they fell asleep. Leo sat against a tree with his sword beside him. He closed his eyes. His Internal Energy moved slowly through his body. The damage from the capital was healing. Slowly. He could already feel the difference. His circulation was smoother. His breathing deeper. But he was still far from his previous condition. He needed time. And training. Not merely physical training.

His Internal Energy had changed after absorbing the enormous magical current beneath the capital. It was denser than before. Stronger. But less stable. Leo opened his eyes. He would have to understand the change before attempting to use it seriously. A sound came from the forest. Leo's hand moved toward his sword. He waited. Nothing. Then another sound. A stone rolling down a slope. Leo stood. He looked toward the sleeping travelers. None of them had awakened. He stepped away from the camp.

The forest was completely dark. Leo moved between the trees without making a sound. After several minutes, he found what he was looking for. A piece of black cloth caught on a branch. He pulled it free. There was a symbol embroidered into the fabric. A thin silver thread. Leo stared at it. The same organization. They had been here. Recently. He looked around. Then he heard footsteps. Not one person. Several. Leo extinguished the small lantern hanging from his belt. He remained in darkness.

Three figures moved between the trees. Then two more. Five. They were carrying weapons. One of them whispered:"The caravan is close." Another answered:"Wait until the pass." Leo's expression remained unchanged. They weren't searching for him. They were preparing an ambush. Leo returned silently toward the camp. He could leave. There was no reason to interfere. But Serah and the others would be walking directly into the trap tomorrow. Leo considered waking them. Then stopped. He looked toward the sleeping group.

They were temporary companions. Nothing more. But he had chosen to travel with them. That created a responsibility. At least for now. Leo returned to the camp. He sat down. He did not wake anyone. Instead, he waited for morning. The sun rose behind the mountains. Serah was the first to notice something was wrong. Leo was already awake.

"You knew." She looked toward the forest.

"Yes."

"How many?"

"Five that I saw."

"Bandits?"

"Probably." Serah studied his face.

"Probably?"

"They mentioned a caravan." Her expression hardened.

"They're waiting in the pass." Leo nodded. Rowan woke when he heard the conversation.

"What happened?" Serah explained. Darin immediately reached for his weapon. Rowan stood.

"So we turn around." Leo shook his head.

"They'll see us."

"Then what do you suggest?" Leo looked toward the mountain pass.

"We continue." Rowan stared at him.

"You want to walk into an ambush?"

"Yes."

"Why?" Leo picked up his sword.

"Because I want to know who they work for." Serah looked at him for several seconds. Then she understood.

"The missing caravans." Leo nodded.

"This might be connected." Rowan sighed.

"I knew traveling with a masked swordsman was going to cause trouble." Leo looked at him.

"You knew?"

"No."

"Then stop talking." Darin laughed despite himself. Serah shook her head.

"Enough." She mounted her horse.

"We go together." Leo walked beside them. The mountain pass waited ahead. None of them knew what they would find there. But somewhere beyond the trees, five men were preparing an ambush. And one of them carried a small silver-threaded emblem beneath his cloak. The same symbol that had appeared beneath the Royal Capital. The same symbol that had followed Leo into the eastern territories. For the first time since leaving the capital, Leo began to wonder whether his journey had truly begun by choice.

Or whether the road itself had already been leading him somewhere. End of Chapter 56.