He woke from his slumber and gazed at the rising sun nestled between two mountains.
For a quiet moment, he let its warmth settle in his chest before rising to prepare for his journey to the southern town. Just as he was about to step outside, his wife gently pulled him back and pressed a soft kiss against his cheek.
"Be safe on your journey today, Elian," she said quietly. "And take this with you. You may grow tired from pushing the cart along the road under the scorching heat."
Mira handed him a small but sufficient bag of rice along with a few eggs. As Elian finished preparing, she suddenly rushed back inside and returned with his fishing rod, just in case he ran out of food along the way. She did not want her husband growing hungry or exhausted during the long walk.
"You don't have to worry so much, Mira," Elian say with a gentle smile. "The other farmers will be coming too. They're heading there to sell their crops. I'll return safely."
His words faded when Mira took his hand in hers. Worry lingered in her eyes, a fear she tried to hide. She slowly let go when she noticed the other farmers and the lone knight assigned to guard them waving, signaling they were ready to depart.
"Just make sure you come back safe and sound," she said softly. "Ruby and I will be waiting for you."
Elian nodded and moved toward the wooden cart filled with crops bound for the southern town, with a few extra supplies added so the journey would not go to waste. He began pushing as the journey finally began.
The farmers chatted among themselves, some laughing while others walked in silence. The knight remained alert, watching the forest for any signs of danger. Suddenly, Orin bumped his shoulder against Elian, drawing a confused glance
"Sorry if I maybe worried you with those stories from the elders," Orin said with a weak laugh. "My mind's probably cooked from the heat."
It's alright," Elian replied. "I know they're just stories, but the chance of them being true is never zero. That's what troubles me. Nothing is ever truly impossible."
Orin placed a firm hand on Elian's shoulder, pulling him out of his thoughts. He did not want him wearing himself out before they had gone far. The forest was usually calm, but there were moments when it turned cruel to those who wandered without care.
"May I ask how many days we will have to walk before reaching the southern town?" one of the farmers asked. It had been a long while since they last traveled to another town on foot.
"Approximately four to five days," the knight answered. "We will need time to rest, eat, and hunt if our supplies run low. Stay alert. Carelessness gets people killed."
After hours of walking, they decided to settle down as the sun began to sink. Traveling at night was far more dangerous, as predators were more active than in the morning. The knight instructed Orin and Elian to gather wood for the campfire so they could prepare their evening meal.
While picking up sticks and fallen logs, Elian noticed something strange. A red glow rose in the distance, shaped like a tower emerging from the ground. His heart raced as he hurried over to Orin.
"Orin, come here. I need to show you something," Elian said in a rushed voice.
Orin glanced back at the knight before following him. When they reached the spot Elian had pointed to, there was nothing there. Only empty forest.
"Huh? Elian, what are you talking about?" Orin said, calm but clearly irritated. "A glowing red tower? There's nothing here. We're far from the others. If something attacked us, no one would hear us."
Realizing his mistake, Elian quickly apologized. Exhaustion weighed heavily on him.
"I'm sorry, Orin," he said quietly. "Maybe I'm just seeing things after such a long day. Let's head back before we get ourselves killed out here."
Orin sighed deeply, patting Elian on the back before turning then leading him back to camp.