The sun-kissed farewell from Tirilla, a day and a half gone, now felt like a fading mirage. An acrid bite of smoke, the ghost of some unseen devastation, clung heavy in the air. The creatures, once distant shadows, now lurked with unnerving proximity to the roads. Pressing my face to the cool glass, I stared at what was once a small town, now a desolate expanse of skeletal ruins. Tendrils of smoke still curled from the charred remains of homes, a mournful incense. An attack, undoubtedly – a brutal testament to the creatures’ merciless wrath, leaving the town utterly erased.

I shifted, the carriage seat offering no comfort. My gaze drifted to Billy, his young brow furrowed, small fingers anxiously picking at a loose thread on his worn tunic as he stared out at the grim scene.

“Hey Billy,” I said softly, my voice a counterpoint to the landscape reflected in his wide eyes when he turned.

“You know you’re safe with us,” I reassured him. “I promise, we’ll get you to Riverwood, back to your parents.”

“I know,” he replied, his voice a fragile whisper. “It’s just… the creatures, and all this… it’s so sad. I don’t want this to keep happening.”

“None of us do, Billy,” I murmured, the sympathy in my voice echoing the ache in my own heart. I just hope we can find a way to stop this encroaching darkness, I thought, a silent plea against the dark horizon.

My gaze softened as it fell on Liora, asleep, her breathing a soft, even rhythm. Beside her, Finnian was lost to another world, his brow furrowed in the familiar landscape of a book. Turning back, my eyes met Noctis’s. A warm, reassuring smile spread across his face.

“Why don’t we do something to pass the time?” Noctis suggested, his voice a gentle murmur, careful not to disturb the others.

Billy’s face brightened, the worry lines around his eyes easing. “Like what?” he asked, a hesitant flicker of curiosity in his tone.

Noctis glanced my way, a playful helplessness in his expression. He suggests it, then needs rescuing, I thought, a small smile tugging at my lips.

“How about a game of ‘would you rather’?” I offered. Both Billy and Noctis looked at me, a touch of uncertainty in their eyes. “Okay, would you rather only be able to eat breakfast foods or only dinner foods for every meal?” Silly, yes, but anything to chase the shadows from his eyes, I reasoned.

“Ooh, that’s a tough one,” Billy mused. “But I think I’d rather eat dinner for every meal.”

“Definitely dinner,” Noctis agreed with a decisive nod. “Imagine only having eggs and toast! The horror!” He shuddered dramatically, earning a small, genuine giggle from Billy.

“Okay, my turn!” Billy exclaimed, the earlier fear momentarily eclipsed by playful energy. “Would you rather fly like a bird or swim like a fish?”

“Ooh, good one,” I mused. “Hmmm. I think I’d like to fly. Imagine soaring above everything, the wind beneath your wings, free to go anywhere.” I turned to Noctis. He was deep in thought, brow slightly furrowed.

“I would rather be a fish,” he said finally, a wistful gleam in his eyes as he made gentle swimming motions with his hands. “To explore the silent world beneath the waves, the hidden cities of coral, the sun-dappled depths.”

The carriage lurched, then screamed to a halt, the sudden deceleration flinging us forward. Liora jolted awake with a sharp gasp, her hand instinctively darting to the daggers at her hip. Our eyes snapped to the windows, scanning the familiar dirt path border by silent, unmoving trees. Then, just ahead, a shimmering, blue barrier, undeniably Adrix’s handiwork, pulsed into existence with an ethereal light. Noctis didn’t hesitate; the carriage door groaned open as he stepped out into the tense stillness. “I’m going with him,” I declared, already on his heels.

“Stay safe,” Liora replied, her voice firm despite her rude awakening, already drawing her weapons. “I’ll stay with them.”

My eyes frantically searched the deceptively peaceful surroundings – the dusty path, the large trees, the swaying bushes. Adrix stood rigid on the coachman’s seat, gaze darting nervously, a faint shimmer of mana dancing around his hands. He hopped down, the small, carriage-sized barrier still shimmering around us.

“Adrix, what is it?” Noctis asked, his voice tight with concern.

“Something in the trees… movement… unnatural,” Adrix replied, his eyes still raking the treeline. I squinted, but the foliage seemed still, undisturbed. He’d seen something I’d missed.

Suddenly, a deafening thud slammed into the barrier inches from Noctis and me, the impact vibrating through the ground. Adrix reacted instantly, leaping towards the point of impact. We watched as the trees thrashed violently, the unseen force momentarily retreating. Adrix stepped through the shimmering shield, bolts of crackling electricity snaking from his outstretched hands, grounding themselves in the undergrowth. A sharp, guttural scream ripped through the air. A hulking silhouette emerged, slightly larger than Adrix, a grotesque parody of a man, its elongated limbs ending in oversized hands like gnarled roots, its mouth bristling with needle-like teeth. Adrix darted back within the barrier’s sanctuary as the creature’s form flickered, distorting with impossible speed, becoming a disorienting blur as it moved.

“The same kind… from Elderain…” Noctis murmured, his eyes wide, fixed on the monstrous figure.

The creature vanished, swallowed by the dense foliage, but the rustling of leaves and snapping twigs betrayed its rapid circling just beyond Adrix’s shimmering defense. Why is it circling? I wondered, a knot of unease tightening in my stomach. Testing the barrier’s limits? Or merely savoring the anticipation, a predator relishing the fear of its cornered prey?

“Alright, let’s finish this,” Adrix declared, his voice a low growl. He stepped out again, electricity crackling around him, illuminating the creature’s shifting form in the undergrowth. With a sharp gesture, he unleashed a large ball of incandescent fire. The creature, unnervingly agile, dodged. Adrix didn’t relent, conjuring three more fireballs that streaked through the air. The first two missed, but the third slammed into its flank, engulfing its massive form in searing flames. A high-pitched, agonizing screech tore through the air as it thrashed.

In that instant of vulnerability, Noctis was a blur of motion. He exploded from the barrier, his blade a silver song in the dim light, and with a swift, decisive strike, he near-silently sliced the burning creature. Its distorted form flickered violently, then dissolved like mist in sunlight, leaving only the acrid stench of burnt flesh and ozone.

“We stop at the next town,” Noctis said, his gaze shifting to Billy, who watched the spot where the creature had vanished, his eyes wide and haunted. “Traveling at night, especially with him, after this… it’s not wise.”

“Agreed,” I said, nodding. The image of that monstrous thing, burning was seared into my mind. “Adrix, how far to the next settlement?”

“A few miles, I believe. Saw a signpost a while back,” Adrix replied, already turning to the coachman’s seat. “I’ll head there directly.”

“Good,” Noctis said, a hint of relief softening his tone. “We’ll find an inn.”

A wave of unease washed over me. “I just hope the town is still standing,” I murmured, the ravaged settlements vivid in my memory. The creatures’ escalating aggression was a grim portent; no place felt truly safe.

My gaze rested on Adrix as he settled into the coachman’s seat, his capable hands taking the reins. He glanced over his shoulder, our eyes meeting. A warm, roguish glint lit his eyes, a playful smile touching his lips. “Something on your mind, Lyra?” he asked, the flirtatious undertone unmistakable.

A warmth crept up my neck. “Oh, you noticed me staring?” I managed a small, nervous laugh. “Just admiring your… formidable magical prowess, of course,” I added, a playful roll of my eyes belying the sincerity.

“Is that all?” Adrix teased, one eyebrow arched. “I was hoping my rugged good looks might have earned at least a passing glance.”

“Lyra,” Noctis called, his voice clipped, sharper than usual, instantly pulling my attention. A subtle tension hardened his jaw. “Come back inside. We should be moving.”

I climbed back into the carriage, settling beside Noctis. He seemed intent on the passing scenery, but I caught his gaze flicking to me, a furrow in his brow he likely thought I hadn’t noticed.

Ignoring Noctis’s subtle brooding, my attention shifted to Billy. He was unnaturally quiet, his eyes clouded, fixed on some point beyond the carriage wall. I studied him, a knot of concern tightening in my chest, then glanced at Liora. She offered a small, troubled shake of her head, her expression mirroring my own. The encounter had clearly burrowed deep.

I leaned closer to Billy, gently placing a hand on his small shoulder. He flinched, a tiny, almost unnoticeable tremor, and I quickly withdrew my hand. “I’m sorry, Billy,” I said softly, regret lacing my voice. “Didn’t mean to startle you.” He offered a fragile smile that didn’t reach his eyes, still shadowed by the horror he’d witnessed. “I just wanted to say… we’ll be at the next town soon. Warm food, a comfy bed. You can rest properly.” I hoped the promise of simple comforts might offer him some peace.

“Look…” Billy whispered, his voice still shaky. He leaned forward hesitantly, eyes wide, fixed on a soft glow of lights in the

distance, flickering like distant, hopeful stars. “We’re almost there.” He didn’t sound excited, more like he was stating a fact, his gaze clinging to the town as if it were a fragile hope he dared not fully embrace. Thankfully, it looks intact, I thought, relief a quiet sigh within me.

The sight of the small town was a comfort. We found a spot for the carriage near a modest inn, its warm light spilling onto the dusty road like a welcome. Once rooms were secured, a cautious curiosity drew us to explore. The town unfolded along simple dirt paths, lined with small, sturdy stone homes that breathed an air of weary resilience. Here and there, glimpses of everyday life peeked out – twine fences enclosing backyards where chickens clucked contentedly, a mundane counterpoint to the fear that clung to the air like the smoke we’d left behind.

As we strolled, hushed conversations drifted towards us. “These attacks… are more frequent,” a man muttered, his voice laced with worry. “Not safe to even leave town anymore.”

“Not safe in town, neither,” another replied, his tone grim. “Seen what happened west of here? Wiped clean. What in the blazes is the King doing? Polishing his crown while the world burns?” Fear and simmering anger warred in his voice. The relief I’d felt upon arrival began to fray.

I glanced down at Billy, who now clutched my hand tightly as shadows lengthened. His small face, though still etched with a lingering fear, seemed to absorb some of the town’s quiet endurance. Perhaps, just for tonight, this fragile sanctuary would hold.