After Kairo stepped out of the antique shop, the heavy wooden door closed behind him with a soft thud, leaving the dimly lit interior and its enigmatic proprietor behind. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the cobblestone street, its warm glow a stark contrast to the shop's eerie atmosphere. Liora and Vivy stood a few paces away, waiting for him. Liora's auburn hair caught the sunlight, creating a halo effect around her head, while Vivy's dark locks framed her serene expression.
Kairo approached them, noting Vivy's composed demeanor. Despite the unsettling conversation with Runda, she appeared unbothered, her gaze steady and unreadable. Deciding against probing her thoughts, he instead addressed both of them.
"Where exactly do you both want to go from here?" he asked, his voice calm yet inquisitive.
Liora's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I want to see every place in this world," she declared with a wide grin. "So, I'm fine with following you."
Vivy nodded thoughtfully. "I have many places in mind," she said softly. "I think we can come across them if we know where you want to go too, Kairo."
Kairo considered their responses before sharing his plan. "I plan to head to Crimson fort first," he stated. "It's located to the northwest. Are there any places you wish to visit along that route, Vivy?"
Vivy paused, her gaze distant as she mentally mapped the journey. After a moment, she spoke up. "Along the way, we can pass through Bleakroot fen and The silken hollow. Those are the only two that align with our path."
Liora tilted her head, curiosity evident in her expression. "Could you give us some details about these places?" she asked. "It would help us prepare."
Kairo nodded in agreement, turning his attention to Vivy.
Vivy took a slow breath before explaining. "Bleakroot fen is a vast swamp, notorious for being covered with creatures that have evolved, transformed, or grown due to the Blossoms' curse—the same flowers embedded in our bodies right now."
Liora's eyes widened slightly, a mixture of intrigue and apprehension flickering across her face.
Vivy continued, "The silken hollow, on the other hand, is a sprawling cave system inhabited by spiders and arachne. Rumors suggest that these arachne are more peaceful than they appear. Some even say there's a hidden village within the cave."
Liora stared at Vivy, her expression unreadable.
Vivy noticed the prolonged gaze and frowned slightly. "Is something wrong?" she asked, her voice tinged with confusion.
Meanwhile, Kairo reflected on the information. He had researched these locations before and was aware of their dangers. However, he couldn't fathom why Vivy was interested in visiting them. He decided to inquire further when they were closer to the destinations. For now, he sought to break the silence that had settled over them.
Observing Liora's reaction, Kairo noted that she did seem to harbor any fear or dislike toward spiders. And the way she kept staring at Vivy was oddly endearing. He cleared his throat, attempting to dispel his wandering thoughts.
"Is there anything you both need to do before we depart?" he asked, his tone light.
Both Liora and Vivy gasped softly, as if jolted from their thoughts, but then shook their heads.
"Then let's start moving, shall we?" Kairo suggested.
Liora's face lit up with excitement. "Of course! Let's go!" she exclaimed cheerfully.
Vivy offered a gentle nod, a warm smile gracing her lips as she met Kairo's gaze.
With their path set and spirits high, the trio began their journey toward Crimson Fort, ready to face whatever adventures lay ahead.
As the sun climbed higher into the pale blue sky, the city's silhouette slowly faded behind them, swallowed by the rolling hills and winding dirt paths that marked the beginning of their journey. The road stretched ahead, speckled with merchant wagons, stray travelers, and the occasional patrol of soldiers keeping peace along the borders. Trees leaned lazily over the path, their early autumn leaves rustling like whispers in the breeze.
Kairo, Liora, and Vivy walked with a steady pace until they reached the gathering point outside the city walls—a spot known by most travelers as the "Swaying tree rest," marked by an ancient tree that tilted almost horizontally over the road. Under its shade, several merchant wargons were parked in a loose formation, with traders barking orders, checking their cargo, or sharing mugs of bitterroot tea as they waited for more passengers to arrive.
It didn't take long for Kairo to spot a merchant who seemed open to conversation. His wargon was a large, wooden contraption with smooth, curved edges and runes etched into the frame for light enchantments. A pair of massive beasts—slow-eyed, fur-covered creatures with curling tusks and sleepy growls—were harnessed at the front. The merchant leaned casually against the side, sipping from a metal flask.
He was hard to miss—tall, lean, with dark skin and strikingly vivid blue hair that shimmered under the sun. His eyes were sharp, but not unfriendly.
"Excuse me," Kairo called out as the three of them approached. "Are you heading west?"
The man glanced up and grinned. His teeth were bright against his skin, and there was a calm ease in his posture. "Bleakroot fen? Crimson fort? Or further?" he asked, setting down his flask.
"Crimson fort," Kairo answered. "We're heading that way. We were hoping to travel with a merchant caravan for a while."
The man nodded. "Name's Luke. You're in luck. That's my route. I'm heading toward The silken hollow eventually, got a lot things to trade there. Can bring you along for a share of food and help with any trouble on the road."
Liora beamed. "That's more than fair."
"Appreciate it," Kairo said, and Vivy simply nodded in quiet agreement.
"Hop on then," Luke motioned to the back of the wargon. "You three don't look like the talky kind, but it gets boring on the road. Wouldn't mind some company."
The three climbed up the back. The inside was cozy—a few crates and barrels were strapped down tightly, and cushions were arranged along the sides for sitting or resting. It smelled faintly of dried herbs and something sweetly spiced.
As the wargon rolled into motion, the beasts grunting softly with each pull, conversation began to trickle naturally.
"So, you live in the city?" Luke asked, glancing back from the driver's seat.
"Born and raised," Liora replied, brushing wind-swept strands from her face. "Though this is the first time we're really leaving."
Vivy sat quietly, her eyes focused on the passing scenery. Kairo leaned forward a little, watching Luke as he guided the beasts expertly with light taps of the reins and soft-spoken words.
"You're… a Ruka, aren't you?" Kairo asked after a moment, squinting at Luke. "I mean, it didn't really occur to me at first."
Luke chuckled—a deep, relaxed sound that echoed under the canvas top. "That obvious, huh?"
"It's your hair," Liora said, half-apologetic. "It's rare to see that shade even in the city. We're taught that Ruka usually have... pale skin. Like, really pale."
"Some say we glow in the moonlight," Luke added with a grin, clearly amused.
"So… why—" Kairo hesitated, then continued, "—why are you different?"
Luke leaned back slightly, adjusting his posture without taking his eyes off the road. His tone shifted—still friendly, but now edged with something quieter. "Personal reasons," he said simply. "Let's just say I've spent a long time... not being where I'm supposed to be."
There was a pause. The wheels creaked beneath them. Birds called in the distance.
Liora looked like she wanted to ask more, but then caught Vivy's expression—still unreadable, but distant—and decided against it.
Kairo nodded, accepting the answer without pressing further. "Fair enough," he said.
Luke's grin returned. "But I'll tell you this. Not all Ruka stay in their spires and ivory halls. Some of us get curious. Or tired. Or bored. I've been on the road more years than I care to count."
"So… what's it like? Being Ruka?" Liora asked, curiosity getting the better of her.
Luke laughed again, this time with a tinge of melancholy. "Ah, the usual questions. We see farther than most, live longer than we should, and feel things a little too deeply sometimes. But mostly?" He glanced over his shoulder with a wink. "We're not so different. We get hungry, we trade, we sleep under the stars. We just shine a little brighter when we bleed."
Liora blinked. "That's… kind of poetic."
Luke laughed. "Don't be fooled. I stole that from a song."
Vivy finally spoke, her voice quiet but clear. "Did you ever go back?"
Luke didn't answer immediately. The beasts grunted again as the road curved through a narrow passage of flowering trees.
"No," he said eventually. "Not once. Some places change you. Some places don't let you change."
They rode in silence for a few minutes after that, each of them lost in their own thoughts.
Kairo leaned back, feeling the motion of the wargon rock him gently. He stared at the artifact he'd picked up earlier—the vein-covered dagger—now resting in the pack at his side. A weapon… and a medium to speak with flowers. Whatever that meant.
He glanced at Vivy, who still held her ancient book with the unknown language clutched close to her chest. Liora, beside him, was now humming to herself, gently spinning the red needle between her fingers like a charm.
They were three humans with strange artifacts, heading toward even stranger places. It felt almost absurd.
"Hey," Luke called back. "You three ever fought a swamp creature before?"
Kairo looked up, startled. "No."
"Good," Luke said. "Then I won't feel bad about scaring you later when we hit Bleakroot Fen."
Liora groaned dramatically. "Don't even joke about that!"
Vivy, to everyone's surprise, gave a faint laugh.
The air lightened. The trees opened wider, and the road carried them toward the horizon.
The wagon creaked gently with each movement, lined with crates and barrels containing his trade goods. Most were food-related—casks of pickled rootbeast, jars of fermented honey pods, salted spirefish sealed in clay, bundles of dried blossombread wrapped in waxed cloth—a surprisingly rare luxury in the region.
"So you're a food trader?" Liora asked, eyeing a neatly wrapped package beside her that smelled faintly of cinnamon and wild mint.
Luke glanced over his shoulder from the driver's seat and grinned. "Among other things. I go where bellies rumble and coin jingles. Soldiers, remote villages, wandering souls like yourselves. Food's always needed, especially when it tastes like home."
"I can't argue with that," Kairo murmured, pulling out a small bite of blossombread that Luke had offered earlier. It had a floral sweetness and a chew like soft bark.
Vivy sat a little straighter, her fingers absentmindedly brushing across the worn leather of the strange book she carried. Her gaze remained steady on the road ahead, though something in her expression had shifted—more focused, almost cautious.
"Luke," she began, her tone soft but deliberate, "you mentioned heading near The silken hollow. I've… heard rumors. Stories. About a village inside. About the arachne."
Luke gave a low whistle, tilting his head slightly. "Now that's a rare question. Most folks just want to know how to avoid the place."
"I don't want to avoid it," Vivy said, eyes narrowing. "I want to know if it's real."
Kairo looked toward her, curious. He hadn't expected Vivy to show such open interest. Even Liora blinked, visibly intrigued.
Luke scratched at his chin, letting out a breath. "Well, the Hollow's real. That much I can swear to. It's tucked deep in the whispering hills, behind a veil of mist and silk threads that stretch for miles. Most who try to enter without an invitation… don't come back out."
Liora shivered a little. "That's comforting."
"But," Luke continued, more seriously now, "there are people who claim to have been inside. Traders like me. And some of them… they've seen it. The village. Made of woven silk, glimmering with heat-light and spider lanterns. The arachne don't talk much, but they don't attack unless provoked."
"So the rumors about them being peaceful… might be true?" Vivy asked quietly.
Luke shrugged. "It's hard to know for sure. Arachne aren't like us. Their minds are… different. But they have rules. Structure. Maybe even culture. Some say they protect something at the heart of the Hollow. A queen, or a god, or some relic buried in their webbed temple. No one really knows."
Vivy lowered her gaze, thoughtful. "Then maybe it's worth the risk."
Liora frowned, leaning in. "You actually want to go there?"
"I do," Vivy said, her voice steady. "There's something about that place. Something I need to know, even if I've never seen it."
Kairo listened carefully, the flicker of concern barely showing in his otherwise neutral expression. He still didn't know exactly what Vivy was searching for. But her resolve wasn't something he could ignore.
Luke exhaled and chuckled softly. "Well, I'll say this—if anyone can make it through that cave, it's you three. You've got the look."
"The look?" Kairo raised a brow.
Luke shot him a smirk. "You look like people who don't know how deep the rabbit hole goes… but are already halfway in."
They all laughed at that, the tension lifting slightly.
Liora nudged Kairo with her elbow, grinning. "You hear that? We've got the look."
"Doesn't sound like a good thing," he muttered, but couldn't help smiling a little.
The wargon continued its gentle rocking motion as they rode deeper into the wildlands. The sky above grew tinged with orange as the sun began its descent, casting long shadows through the trees. The scent of pine and distant rain filled the air.
Luke pulled a cloth from one of his crates and began preparing a simple meal on a folding tray—dried meat glazed with honey pod syrup, crisped root slices, and pressed blossombread.
As they shared the meal, sitting around a small lantern in the back of the wargon, conversation continued in lighter tones—stories of past trades, unusual creatures Luke had seen, even a brief debate between Liora and Luke about whether spirefish soup was better than rootbeast stew.
But Kairo's thoughts wandered back to the dagger tucked inside his bag. To the veins that pulsed with unnatural color. To Ruden's cryptic words about magic. And now, to Vivy's insistence on entering a cave of ancient arachne.
Everything about this journey was shaping into something deeper, something far beyond coincidence.
As night fell, the wargon pulled to a stop near a moss-covered clearing. Luke began to set up camp, while the trio helped gather dry twigs and stones for a small fire.
And in the glow of the flames, beneath a sky littered with stars and secrets, the first night of their long journey began.
The road to Crimson fort lay ahead.
But in the shadows of the path, Bleakroot fen waited.
And beyond that—if the threads of fate allowed it—The silken hollow whispered their names.