The night deepened, and the stars overhead twinkled coldly in the inky sky. The horse's breath came in harsh, labored bursts, and its pace slowed as fatigue set in.

Despite their relentless pursuit, the rider remained a distant figure, barely a speck on the horizon.

As the moon reached its peak, Lilith noticed the horse beginning to falter, its steps uneven. She tightened her grip around Adrian's waist and leaned in to speak softly into his ear. "Adrian, the horse is exhausted. We need to rest."

Adrian shook his head in the negative. "We can't stop now. We're so close."

Lilith could hear the desperation in his voice, but she knew better. "And what happens if the horse collapses from exhaustion?" she asked gently. "Or worse, if it dies? We'll be stranded in the middle of nowhere."

Adrian's jaw tightened, the reality of their situation sinking in.

He glanced down at the map, noticing for the first time that the yellow dot—indicating their target—had stopped moving. It was stationary now, a small, unmoving light on the parchment.

He hesitated, his mind racing.

They were close, and the opportunity to catch up was right before them. But Lilith's words echoed in his mind, a sobering reminder of their risks.

After a long moment, Adrian exhaled sharply and nodded. "Alright," he agreed reluctantly. "We'll rest for a couple of hours. But no longer."

Lilith smiled softly, relieved that he was listening to reason. "That's all we need," she assured him. "Just enough time for the horse to regain its strength."

They guided the horse off the main path and into a small grove of trees, finding a spot to remain hidden from passing travelers. Adrian dismounted first, then helped Lilith carefully.

The night air was cool, a light breeze rustling the leaves overhead. The forest's silence starkly contrasted with the adrenaline-fueled chase they had just endured. Lilith found a patch of soft grass and sat down, stretching her tired legs.

Adrian tended to the horse, checking its hooves and ensuring it was comfortable before joining her.

They sat side by side, their backs against the trunk of a sturdy oak tree. The tension of the chase began to ebb away, replaced by a quiet stillness. Lilith leaned her head back, gazing up at the stars, her breathing gradually slowing to a relaxed rhythm.

Adrian, however, was still on edge. His thoughts raced with the possibilities of what awaited them when they caught up with their target. Would it lead to answers? To justice? Or perhaps to more questions?

Lilith sensed his unease and reached out, touching his arm. "We'll get him," she said softly, her voice carrying a quiet confidence. "We've come this far, and we're not giving up now."

The cool night wrapped around them, and soon Lilith's breathing gradually slowed, her chest rising and falling in deep, steady breaths. She shifted slightly, then laid her head on Adrian's lap, seeking a more comfortable resting position.

Adrian glanced down at her, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

Her eyes fluttered shut, and within moments, her breathing became even and soft, signaling that she had drifted into sleep—or so it seemed.

Adrian, however, couldn't bring himself to relax. His mind buzzed with anticipation and unease, his thoughts fixed on the target they had been chasing.

Every few minutes, his hand would instinctively reach for the map tucked in his pouch, his eyes scanning for any movement. The yellow dot remained stationary each time, but the tension in his chest refused to ease.

After what felt like hours of restless waiting, Adrian decided to pass the time by examining the second map—the one that Lilith had hidden from him earlier. Carefully, he unrolled the parchment, the faint glow of the marked locations catching his attention.

He studied it intently, tracing the paths that connected the positions of the other six goddesses.

As he was about to roll the map back into a scroll, something caught his eye: an indicating light marking near their current location, slightly off the path they had been following but not too far off.

Adrian's eyes narrowed as he cross-referenced it with the first map. His breath caught in his throat as the realization dawned on him.

One of the goddess's mortal prisons was nearby, just a day's ride from their position, closer to where their target seemed to be heading.

His mind began forming a plan involving more than just capturing their target. If they could catch him and then make their way to the goddess's location, they could accomplish both goals in one fell swoop.

He rolled up both scrolls, waiting as far as his patience could.

As the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, Adrian gently shook Lilith's shoulder. "Lilith," he called softly.

Her response was immediate, her eyes fluttering open as she sat up, alert. "I'm awake," she said, stretching her arms above her head.

Adrian raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. "Were you awake the whole time?"

Lilith smirked, a playful glint in her eyes. "Resting, but still aware of what's going on around us," she replied. "I can't let you handle all the worrying."

Adrian chuckled, shaking his head as he stood. "Let's get moving," he said, helping her to her feet.

They quickly mounted their horse and set off again, the fresh morning air filling their lungs as they rode through the dense forest. As they neared the open plains, Adrian's eyes caught movement in the distance.

Their target was already on the move, the figure barely visible against the rising sun.

"Go, go, go," Lilith urged, and Adrian spurred the horse into a faster pace.

They pushed forward, but the distance between them and their target remained frustratingly consistent. The single rider moved purposefully, maintaining his lead despite their best efforts.

Seeing that they weren't making much progress, Adrian came up with an idea. "Lilith, take the reins," he ordered, shifting slightly on the horse's back.

With a quick, agile movement, he stood up, balancing on the horse's back as it galloped at full speed. Doing a mind countdown, he did a back flip, landing behind Lilith on the horse's back. The world rushed past him in a blur, but Adrian's focus was laser-sharp.

"What are you planning?" Lilith asked curiously.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.