The sun was yet to reach its zenith over the precipitous peaks of Silent Heights. Corvus and the siblings had finished their breakfast and were left with enough time to plan the next course of action. So, they decided to survey their next destination, Bleakmoor Hearth.

  However, a question persisted: which road to take?

  Corvus suggested the first option, "I saw a passage right next to this mountain; I say we use it."

  Elsyn countered, "No, we can't. Enslavers were searching for us, when I fled here. They might still be there. We can't be certain."

  "How about we take the road that Corvus used to come here?" Lea asked.

  "Yes, it might be far away, but it's the safest option," Elsyn affirmed.

  "No. Those who attacked me might still be there. We can't go there."

  Elsyn thought for a second before speaking, "But you hadn't achieved Unity or that Mundukar thing then. Surely, you can handle them this time—I saw you fight, no human can match that."

  Corvus silently shook his head, and replied, "Ordinarily, you would be right. But my condition is far from ideal, and we can't wait for my body to fully recover. Also, the Unity is not an invincible power, I can still be killed; I've killed a Mundukar myself to know this."

  "You have? How?" Elsyn asked in surprise.

  Corvus leaned back: "Well, it was not just me, my entire squad worked together. But yes I have. The principle is the same as with any fight against a superior enemy: strike when they're not looking and strike hard."

  A grim silence settled inside the cave, as an impasse loomed.

  Suddenly, Corvus rose, and said, "I'm going first. I'll take the nearby road; those enslavers don't know me. I'll scout the area, then we'll at least have some information."

  "Sounds like a good plan, but there is one issue," Elsyn said.

  "What is it?" He asked.

  "It's you, Corvus; you are the issue," Elsyn voiced her concern. "You lack even the basic people skills, I'm also not a paragon of a sociable person, but you're in a league of your own—I can't even compare."

  Hearing her rant, Corvus had a strong feeling of déjà vu. She and that geezer would go along pretty well.

  "Fine. I will carry you," he proposed. "But if there is any sign of the enslavers' patrol, then you're coming back, and I'll take over."

  Elsyn nodded: "Let's go."

  There was not much to prepare, so they were both ready to leave right then. Their only concern was the safety of Lea in the meantime. Elsyn had found a narrow crevice inside the cave and Corvus had widened it enough to fit a small person like Lea, lest trouble came knocking.

  Further, they covered the blanket on the cave's entrance thoroughly with snow to mask it from any preying eyes. Having taken sufficient measures to ensure Lea's safety, they departed from the cave.

  "Presently, they watched the road from a narrow mountain passage—and, with luck on their side, were yet to notice any sign of the enslavers."

  "Do you think they're hiding?" Elsyn asked.

  "No. They're searching for two fatigued and scared girls, not some vicious criminal. They won’t try something complex to catch you guys," Corvus said. "If they were still searching, I’d have seen signs of them by now. I bet they’ve left—probably thinking you both dead. That’s what I’d have thought myself, had I been in their position."

  "Then we should move."

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  "Yes, we should—or, precisely I should. You climb on my back... c'mon we don't have all day," Corvus spoke as he lowered himself and gestured for Elsyn to climb on his back.

  "Are you sure about this? Your body's still injured and all."

  "Don't worry. My bleeding has stopped, plus it's already begun to heal; Unity's amazing. Now, just hold on tight, this is my first time doing this, so be ready to jump off the moment I tell you to."

  "Wait—"

  Not listening to her, Corvus leapt off the mountain and landed several meters below with a loud thud. Soon, he entered the road, scanning it again for any enemies, Corvus sprinted ahead when he was satisfied that no one was there.

  Running down the sloping road, his speed intensified—becoming almost uncontrollable. Only when he reached the slope's end was he finally able to stop.

  "Tell me..." Elsyn caught her breath, and continued, "that was under your control, Corvus." Her hair was sticking back and her eyes were watery from the sudden assault of the cold wind.

  "...Totally."

  She was not convinced. Getting off him, she said, "Bleakmoor Hearth is close now, we'll walk from here; you need to conserve your strength."

  "Also, we have to search for clothes—I can't go there looking like this," Corvus added while pointing to his shredded and bloodstained clothes.

  Elsyn glanced at her dirt-stained clothes and said quietly, "You're right. We look more like slaves than the real ones."

  Looming a few kilometers ahead of them, the vast settlement of Bleakmoor Hearth appeared to engulf all of the horizon. It seemed as if civilization had swallowed the wilderness that prevailed everywhere.

  However, if the claimed civilization was truly civil, or just another wilderness harboring beasts, was yet to be seen.

  Before long, Corvus and Elsyn arrived in Bleakmoor Hearth. They wore matching green jackets that they had stolen along the way.

  Walking along the brick pavement, they observed the myriad houses scattered across the ground, arranged without any apparent pattern. The place might have been called a slum, if not for the old, rustic buildings which despite the wear of time and scars of damage still stood grand and imposing.

  The newer structures, though small and poorly designed, were less damaged and more vibrant than the ancient ones.

  In places, huge columns rose; most had been cracked and defaced over time. Yet the people of the Hearth had found ways to use them for all manner of things: hanging fruits, swords, animals, slaves, and décor. At first glance, the place seemed utterly chaotic—and not at all for the faint-hearted.

  Yet, for all its chaos, life bustled in the Hearth.

  "What are we looking for, Corvus?" Elsyn asked.

  "Ask about the road ahead and any danger that we may face on it. Also, keep your ears open for anything about the Covenant."

  "Shouldn't you know? You were literally on your way there."

  "The people who knew, tried to kill me. So sorry, Miss Elsyn, I forgot to ask them about it. If that's alright with you."

  Wow, why's he being so formal and nice? Is this his attempt at sarcasm? Elsyn thought and pointed a thumbs-up at him.

  They roamed the streets for hours, crossing paths with hostile gazes and hollow, hopeless eyes alike, all the while gathering what information they could. Most of the talking fell to Elsyn, who dealt with the shopkeepers and passersby while carefully masking her disdain for them.

  Corvus, meanwhile, played the part of an escort—a mean-looking bodyguard—which he performed surprisingly well despite his lack of an intimidating build.

  "We've gained some intel about the road ahead, but there's yet to be a single whisper on the Covenant," Corvus said.

  "Why do you think everyone is so wary, or spiteful, about Eldara," Elsyn asked.

  "I can't say for sure; politics and history have never been my strong suit—"

  Interrupting him, Elsyn remarked, "Is anything apart from fighting your strong suit?"

  Corvus gave her an angry look then continued, "All I know is that they're Shardmarch's most important ally. So in a manner of speaking, their enemies are my enemies."

  "Let's search some more; we'll leave, before sunset."

  "Not before buying something good to eat—it's been a while since I ate something delicious," Corvus said while rubbing his stomach.

  "Do you have money?"

  "I'm the Vice-Captain of an elite military unit, of course," He reached for his pocket confidently, "... of course I have..." Upon searching his pockets thoroughly, he said, "I don't have any money. Looks like I left all of it in the stagecoach I was travelling in."

  "Well, I cook pretty good, so don't worry," Elsyn assured him.

  Corvus moved while complaining, "Usually we'd assign things like managing money to Cedric, so I never concerned myself with it. Who knew money mattered so much?"

  Literally everyone with any sense. Elsyn, not wanting to punch Corvus while he was down, kept her thoughts to herself.

  "Say, Corvus, how come you never knew about your cooking? You must've at least tasted it, right... Right?"

  "Everyone praised my cooking too much—especially those two rascals, Lucien and Soraya—so I let them have all of it. In hindsight, that might not have been my best idea."

  Elsyn broke into a soft giggle. Hearing her laugh, Corvus opened his mouth to protest, but before he knew it, he too—caught up in her rhythm—was smiling.

  Soon, their laughter died out as the moment passed. Corvus noticed several bands of soldiers ahead along with mundane people surrounding something.

  "Elsyn, I see soldiers ahead, perhaps we can learn something there."

  They walked toward the gathering as the sun reached its zenith, casting every shape in sharp, vivid focus.

  Noon's light would soon render every sight before them graphic and unforgettable.