The weariness in Liora’s eyes mirrored the endless miles. “How much longer?” she asked, her voice a small sound above the growing storm.

“Just a few more hours,” Finnian projected, though the darkening sky seemed to mock his optimism.

A deafening clap of thunder rattled the carriage, followed by a jagged streak of lightning that seared the suddenly ominous landscape onto our vision. The sky, once a gentle blue, was now a suffocating blanket of charcoal gray, unleashing a torrential downpour that hammered against the carriage roof. The wind howled, causing the vehicle to sway.

“We really can’t get there soon enough,” Liora breathed, her unease rising with the storm’s intensity.

Finnian’s expression softened with concern. “I know, Liora. We’re still making good progress, though. Try to rest a little.”

“Hopefully this storm passes quickly,” I ventured, my tone quieter than the others. “Traveling in this weather isn’t ideal for anyone.” I shifted, seeking a more stable position against the jostling.

“Lyra’s right,” Noctis’s voice, calm and steady as ever, cut through the apprehension. “It’s not ideal, but we’ll make it through just fine.” His reassuring glance swept over each of us.

“Agreed,” Finnian affirmed, his words bolstering confidence. “We’ve weathered worse than a bit of rain, haven’t we?” He offered Liora an encouraging nod. “We’ll be there before you know it.”

The carriage began to slow. This isn’t right, I registered, a knot of unease tightening in my stomach. This isn’t where we planned to stop. “I hope everything’s alright,” I murmured, rising from my seat. My hand hovered over the carriage door handle for a second before I pulled it open.

The downpour struck me immediately, cold and heavy. Stepping out, my boots sank into the thick mud. The air, though wet, carried a fresh, earthy scent. I made my way to the front of our carriage, my attention snagged by a scene on the side of the road.

An old, dilapidated wagon lay tilted, its weathered wood warped, its wheels looking as ancient as the surrounding trees. It was smaller, pulled by a solitary black horse that stood with its head bowed, one of the wagon’s wheels deeply mired.

My heart went out to the figure struggling beside it. A woman, caked in thick, brown ooze from the crown of her head to the hem of her soaked garments, pushed with all her might against the wagon’s side. She strained, her breath misting in the damp air, looking around as if searching for help that wasn’t there. She was clearly alone.

Adrix climbed down from the driver’s seat, his features reflecting my own concern. He waited for me, and together we trudged through the mire towards the woman and her stuck wagon.

She stopped pushing as we approached, her mud-streaked face turning towards us. “Do you want some help?” Adrix called out, his voice carrying over the diminishing patter of the rain.

Even coated in grime, her features were beautiful. Her eyes were a vibrant emerald green, and strands of warm honey-colored hair peeked out from beneath the muck, hinting at fair skin.

A flicker of relief animated her face. “Yes, I would appreciate it,” she said, her voice a little strained. “Let’s all push on the count of three… one… two… three!”

We braced ourselves, digging our feet into the slippery earth. I pushed with all my strength, my boots sinking deeper. The wagon remained stubbornly fixed. Then, as abruptly as it had begun, the deluge softened, the hammering on the roof easing to a gentle rhythm.

A fleeting thought crossed my mind – Adrix, with his capabilities, could likely dislodge the wagon with a mere flick of his wrist using magic. However, an instinct, a sense of caution I had learned, told me that might not be the most prudent course of action.

Just then, Noctis appeared, trudging through the mud towards us with a seemingly effortless stride. “That’s not going to work,” he stated, his gaze coolly assessing the situation. “Let me get one of our horses and attach it to the wagon. Two should be able to pull it out. As long as that’s okay with you,” he added, turning to the woman.

“Yes, that’s fine,” she replied, her exhaustion evident in her tone.

Noctis swiftly unhooked one of our strong horses and led it over to her smaller wagon, expertly attaching it to the front. “Okay, everyone stand back,” he instructed.

We all retreated a few steps. After a tense couple of seconds, the old wagon groaned and creaked. Then, with a wet, sucking sound, it lurched forward, pulling free from the tenacious mud. Noctis guided the horses a few feet ahead, maneuvering the smaller wagon back to the center of the road before unhooking our horse, leading it back to our carriage, and reattaching it to it.

“Thank you so much,” the woman said, her sincerity clear as she bowed her head.

“It was no problem at all,” I offered, managing a warm expression. “Glad we could help. Where are you heading?”

“I’m heading to Tirilla. How about you?”

Noctis rejoined us, taking a spot beside Adrix. “We are heading to the capital as well,” I responded.

“If that’s the case, do you have a place to stay?” she inquired, her emerald gaze curious.

“Yes, we do,” Noctis answered, his tone a little clipped, a subtle warning not to share too much.

“Oh… uh, well, can I offer to treat you all to a meal as a thank you for helping me?” she asked, a hopeful cast to her features.

We exchanged looks, a silent agreement passing between us. “Sure, that would be lovely,” I said warmly, perhaps a little too quickly, if Noctis’s slight tightening of the lips was any indication.

“I’m staying at the Sunset Inn. The owner makes wonderful food,” she said, her face brightening. “If a humble inn is okay with you all.”

“That sounds great,” Noctis conceded, the barest hint of a smile finally touching his lips. “Though I think we’ll need to stop and change before meeting you.”

“We have a few more hours of travel, so how about you all meet me there around six?” she suggested.

“Sounds good,” Noctis agreed.

“Thank you again,” she said, bowing her head once more. “I’ll see you at the Sunset Inn at six.” With a final grateful look, she turned and climbed back into her wagon, urging her horse forward down the muddy road.

“We should probably get going,” Adrix urged. I glanced at him; the usual easygoing light in his eyes was absent, replaced by a subtle tension etched around his mouth. He seemed keen to be away from the spot, and the woman, quickly.

“Yes, we should,” Noctis concurred, though his next words were laced with a hint of his usual dry wit. “Though I think it’s best you continue driving, Adrix. Since you are my butler, it would seem rather odd for me to be driving my servants.”

A collective chuckle rippled through us. Adrix, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips, climbed back up to the driver’s seat and took hold of the reins. “That certainly would look suspicious. Now, Duke,” he said, addressing Noctis with mock formality, “please climb back in.”

Noctis shook his head, a wry amusement in his eyes. He held the door open. “After you, Lyra,” he said, his gaze flicking to my mud-caked boots, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.

I scraped my boots as best I could on the metal footstep, leaving a trail of mud behind, and then settled back into my seat with a damp sigh. I was completely drenched, and the cool air inside the carriage sent a slight shiver down my spine.

Noctis stepped inside, shaking off some of the rain. “Lyra, do you mind standing up for a minute?”

“Sure,” I replied, rising from my seat, a little puzzled. What was he doing? I wondered, observing him.

He then proceeded to open the bench seat – something I hadn’t even realized was possible. Cleverly hidden, I mused, as he pulled out a folded blanket from the compartment within. He closed the seat back up with a soft click. “You can sit back down now,” he said.

I settled back into my spot, still damp and slightly shivering. Noctis unfolded the blanket.

“Here you go,” he said gently, draping it over my shoulders. “I don’t want you to get sick; your lips are looking a little purple.”

“Thank you,” I managed, my teeth still chattering slightly.

He offered a small, genuine upturn of his lips and then took his own seat. As I wrapped the warm blanket around myself, my gaze flickered to Liora, who was watching the exchange, her own lips curved in a distinctly mischievous line. What is going on in that head of hers now? I wondered, shaking my head slightly and pulling the blanket tighter.

A comfortable silence settled within the carriage, broken only by the soft rustle of turning pages. The rhythmic clatter of the horses’ hooves and the gentle sway of the carriage became a soothing backdrop. Wrapped in the warm blanket, the initial chill gradually faded, replaced by a drowsy contentment. The outside world, with its rain and mud, seemed distant now. The passing hours bled into one another, the journey becoming a hazy blur of motion and quiet contemplation.

Gazing out the window, the imposing silhouette of the city wall loomed into view, a stark reminder of the vastness within. Beyond it, towering buildings pierced the skyline, a sight that both thrilled and slightly unsettled me. My hands trembled almost imperceptibly. It’ll be okay, I silently repeated, a small mantra to quiet my nerves.

Beneath the carriage wheels, the rough dirt path transitioned smoothly to a paved road. The ride became noticeably less bumpy, a subtle shift that signaled our arrival at the edge of the capital.

The carriage glided to a smooth halt. An unnerving quietude hung in the air; I couldn’t hear the usual sounds of city life, nor the expected greetings of guards. Then, a curt voice from outside shattered the stillness. “Who do you serve?”

Adrix’s reply was immediate, his voice strikingly different – deeper, more formal, and devoid of its usual lightheartedness. “I serve Duke Theonor, sir.” He sounded almost… deferential, yet with an underlying steel I hadn’t often heard.

“Duke Theonor? Never heard of him,” another voice chimed in, heavy with suspicion.

“You guys stay here,” Noctis said in a low, urgent tone, his eyes flicking between Liora, Finnian, and me. “Don’t come out unless I say so.” My heart began to pound in my chest. 

Noctis opened the carriage door and stepped out, closing it firmly behind him. “I am Duke Theonor,” he stated, his voice now carrying a regal confidence that was commanding.

“Still never heard of such a Duke,” the first voice retorted, practically spitting out the words. Didn’t he believe him? My apprehension tightened its grip.

Looking up from the floor, I saw Liora’s face was a mask of worry. Finnian must have noticed too; he leaned in and whispered something in her ear. The strain in her brow eased, and she unclenched her tightly squeezed hands. However, a blush now crept up both her cheeks.

“This family crest seems real enough,” a different soldier conceded, his tone less aggressive. “Pull off to the side. We need to confirm that this is legitimate.”

“Very well,” Noctis replied, his authoritative manner unwavering. “Adrix, pull the carriage over.”

“Yes, Duke,” Adrix responded instantly. The carriage door creaked open as Adrix opened it for Noctis, who climbed back inside. Adrix offered a respectful bow to Noctis before returning to his seat at the front.

A sliver of relief cut through my anxiety; Adrix played his part convincingly, his formal bearing unshakeable.

“It’ll be okay, everyone,” Noctis assured us, his regard steady. “They’ll be back, but I’m sure they’ll have more questions. Just stay calm and let me handle it.” His newfound commanding presence was somewhat reassuring. Still, the uncertainty of the situation hung heavy in the air.

A sharp knock echoed on the carriage door.

“Duke Theonor, we’ve confirmed your identity. Please step back out.”

“Coming,” Noctis answered, opening the door. He took the family crest back from the soldier, his movements fluid and self-assured, and tucked it away. “Proceed,” he instructed.

“We need to know why you are visiting the capital,” the soldier stated, his stare direct.

“I’m here to check on a house that my parents owned here,” Noctis explained. “I was going through some documents and came across it on my expenses ledger.”

“Okay,” the soldier paused for a moment, his eyes scanning Noctis’s face. “And who do you have traveling with you? We need to meet them.”

“As you met before, my butler is driving,” Noctis gestured towards the front of the carriage. Adrix offered a polite inclination of his head. Noctis then reopened the carriage door wider. “Over there is my advisor,” he indicated Finnian, “next to him is my family doctor,” he nodded towards Liora, who managed a small, nervous upturn of her lips, “and on the other side, that’s my personal maid.” I offered a respectful bow, keeping my eyes downcast as befitted my station.

“Fine,” the soldier conceded, his scrutiny lingering on each of us for a moment. “And how long do you plan on staying?”

“I’m really not sure,” Noctis responded smoothly. “It just depends on how long it takes me to get the house organized and fixed back up.”

“Very well,” the soldier said, his tone matter-of-fact. “You will need to pay a higher tax once things are complete, along with proof of what you’ve done to your house.” That’s ridiculous, I thought indignantly, to make him pay even more money.

“That’s fine, I can do that,” Noctis agreed with composure.

“Also, curfew is at ten. You are not allowed in the streets after that… otherwise… even if you’re nobility, you will be held as an example. Understand?” The soldier’s pronouncement left no room for argument.

“Yes, that is fine. Thank you for letting me know,” Noctis replied, maintaining his composure.

“Now head in,” the guard instructed, gesturing towards the city gates that still remained closed.

Peeking out the window, I watched as faint, glowing runes along the towering city walls began to hum with energy. As they activated, the massive gates slowly creaked open. Adrix expertly guided the carriage forward, passing through the formidable entrance.

“So,” I said quietly, a slight frown creasing my brow as the sounds of the outer city began to filter in, muted and strange, “I know it’s a bit late to ask, but does Adrix even know where he’s going?”

“Yes,” Noctis replied nonchalantly, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “I may not know much about this particular property, but I do have its location noted in some old ledgers, and I passed that information along to Adrix to study before we arrived.”

The capital’s architecture, with its soaring spires and intricately carved facades, stood as a familiar yet unsettling monument. Even the subtle thrum of mana that usually vibrated through the city’s stones felt diminished, almost hesitant, like a heartbeat grown faint with worry. Gone was the lively cacophony of merchants hawking their wares, children chasing stray dogs, and the easy laughter that once echoed through the cobblestone streets. Now, a profound silence clung to the air, broken only by the hurried footsteps of individuals who kept their focus fixed on the ground, their shoulders hunched as if bracing against an unseen weight.

Faces that once held mirth were now etched with a weary resignation, their eyes darting nervously as if expecting some unseen threat. Even the atmosphere itself seemed thick with anxiety, a silent testament to a fear that permeated every corner.

My gaze drifted to the numerous posters that marred the once-grand walls and buildings. Each depicted a different face – young and old, male and female – their hopeful expressions now frozen in ink, a sharp contrast to the prevailing gloom. The sheer number of these missing person notices was staggering, a silent scream that reverberated with the dread in my own heart. Each poster was a story untold, a life abruptly vanished, leaving behind a chilling void that seemed to swallow the city’s light. The weight of their absence pressed down on me, a cold apprehension settling in my stomach. This was not the vibrant capital I remembered; a shadow had fallen, and its chilling presence was undeniable.