Dawn broke over Elden Hollow in soft gold and rose, painting the thatched roofs and waking the village with gentle warmth. Smoke curled lazily from chimneys. Roosters crowed. Somewhere a dog barked once, then fell silent.

Inside Philip and Aish's cottage, the small group gathered around the kitchen table one last time. The smell of fresh bread, porridge, and herbal tea filled the air—simple, comforting, the same as yesterday morning, yet heavier now with the knowledge of departure.

Aish fussed over plates, piling extra portions onto everyone's bowls despite their protests.

"You'll need your strength," she insisted, pressing a warm loaf wrapped in cloth into Ignis's hands. "And take this too. For the road."

Philip stood by the door, arms crossed, watching them.

"You sure about this?" he asked Adam for the third time that morning. "Taking the princess and her knight east… into the frontier? That lich won't forget last night."

Adam met his gaze steadily.

"We're not taking them. They're coming with us. And if the lich comes back…" He let the sentence trail off, a faint, dangerous smile touching his lips. "We'll remind him why he should stay sealed."

Philip exhaled, then clapped Adam on the shoulder—firm, grateful.

"You've given us more than you know, lad. This village will remember you."

Aish stepped forward, eyes shining as she hugged Ignis (who squeaked in surprise), then Lilith (who accepted it with quiet grace), then finally Adam. She held on a moment longer.

"Come back someday," she whispered. "When the road lets you. This door will always be open."

Adam returned the embrace—awkward at first, then genuine.

"We will," he promised. "Thank you—for everything."

Outside, the village had begun to stir. A few early risers waved from doorways. Children peeked from behind skirts, wide-eyed at the sight of the strangers who had fought monsters in the dark.

Seraphina waited by the gate, armor polished as best she could manage overnight, leading two sturdy horses saddled with what remained of their supplies. Elise sat sidesaddle on the second mount—pale but upright, wrapped in a borrowed cloak. The curse-veins had faded to faint shadows beneath her skin, held at bay for now by Adam's lingering presence nearby.

She met Adam's eyes as he approached.

"Good morning," she said simply.

"Morning," he replied. "You're sure you can ride?"

"I've ridden through worse," she answered with a small, determined smile. "And I won't slow you down."

Seraphina handed Adam the reins of a third horse—borrowed from the village stable.

"Philip insisted," she said gruffly. "Said you'd need it."

Adam staring down at the animal like it had personally offended him.

He sighed, long and dramatic.

"We're walking."

Seraphina blinked, reins still in hand. "Walking? All the way to the border? It's three days on horseback—twice that on foot."

Adam tried to mount his horse awkwardly, like someone who had never ridden an animal larger than a dungeon rat."We don't know how to ride these things. I've never touched a horse in my life. Neither have these two."

He jerked a thumb toward Ignis and Lilith, who were eyeing their mounts with matching expressions of suspicion and mild horror.

Ignis poked her horse's flank experimentally. It snorted and shifted away. She jumped back like it had tried to bite her.

"Yeah, no thanks," she muttered. "This thing looks like it's judging me."

Lilith, ever composed, simply stepped down without comment, though her crimson eyes narrowed at the saddle as though it might attack.

Seraphina stared at them, then at Elise—who was already sliding off her own horse with practiced ease despite her lingering weakness.

The knight rubbed her temple. "I… hadn't considered that. You really never learned to ride?"

Adam shrugged. "No."

Seraphina opened her mouth, closed it, then sighed in the way of someone who had just realized her entire worldview needed recalibrating.

"Fine. We walk. But the princess—"

"I can walk," Elise interrupted gently, though she leaned slightly on Seraphina's arm for support. "For short stretches, at least. We'll manage."

Ignis perked up immediately, eyes lighting with mischief.

"Hey! If you guys don't want to ride the horses… you can ride me!" She grinned wide, flames flickering playfully around her fingertips. "I'm bigger, faster, and way more fun. Hop on!"

Adam pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Ignis. No."

"But—"

"No."

Ignis pouted dramatically. "Why not? I can carry all three of you easy! And I'm warm! Like a living campfire!"

Adam turned to her, deadpan.

"Because the moment a dragon the size of a wagon starts galloping through the countryside with three people on her back, every farmer, merchant, and patrol from here to the capital will lose their minds. We're trying to not start a holy war."

Ignis crossed her arms. "You're no fun."

Seraphina stared at Ignis like she'd grown a second head.

"Wait. You're… you can turn into a dragon?"

Ignis puffed out her chest proudly. "Blazeheart Dragon, at your service! Well… mostly Adam's service. But yeah!"

Elise actually laughed—a soft, surprised sound that made Seraphina's eyes widen even further.

"I… see," Seraphina managed weakly. "This journey is going to be… educational."

Adam shook his head, already leading his horse by the reins like one might lead an unruly dog.

"Come on. Walking. Now. Before Ignis decides to 'demonstrate'."

Ignis grumbled but fell into step beside him, still eyeing the horses with vague resentment.

Lilith walked on Adam's other side, voice low and amused.

"At least the scenery will be lovely while we're being absurdly conspicuous."

Elise and Seraphina exchanged a look—half-exasperated, half-amused—before falling in behind them.

The group walked in loose formation along the dusty trade road—Adam at the front, Ignis bouncing along beside him like an over-enthusiastic puppy, Lilith gliding silently on his other side. Elise and Seraphina brought up the rear, leading the now riderless horses by their reins. The morning sun climbed higher, warming the air and turning the mist into soft golden haze.

For the first half-hour, no one spoke much. The only sounds were boots on dirt, the occasional snort from the horses, and Ignis humming a tuneless melody she'd picked up from somewhere in the dungeon depths.

Eventually, Seraphina cleared her throat.

"So… you really never rode before?" she asked, glancing at Adam. "Not even once?"

Adam shrugged without breaking stride.

"Never needed to. Legs worked fine. Wings worked better when I had them."

Seraphina blinked.

"Wings?"

"Long story," Adam said flatly.

Ignis grinned over her shoulder.

"He had really cool ones! Purple feathers and everything. Super majestic."

Elise, walking with careful but steady steps, let out a soft laugh.

"I can imagine."

Seraphina shot her princess a look—half-exasperated, half-bewildered.

"Your Highness, you're taking this far too calmly."

Elise tilted her head, gray eyes sparkling with faint amusement.

"After years of being hunted by an immortal lich who wants my soul as a trophy… three people who can sprout wings and fire seem almost ordinary."

She paused, then added more quietly, "Besides. They saved us. And the village. That counts for something."

Adam glanced back briefly.

"We didn't do it for thanks."

"I know," Elise replied. "That's why it matters more."

A comfortable silence settled again—broken only when Ignis suddenly stopped, sniffed the air dramatically, and pointed ahead.

"Hey! I smell something good. Like… bread? And meat? Is there a village coming up?"

Seraphina shook her head.

"Not for another few hours. Probably just someone's breakfast smoke from a farmhouse off the road."

Ignis pouted.

"Tease."

Lilith's voice cut in smoothly, calm and observant.

"You're adapting quickly, Princess. Most humans in your position would still be demanding explanations. Or guards. Or at least a proper carriage."

Elise smiled faintly.

"I've spent too many years being carried—literally and figuratively. I'm tired of it. If I'm going to reach the Archivist, I'll do it on my own feet… or at least try."

Seraphina frowned, protective instinct flaring.

"You're still weak, Highness. If the curse flares again—"

"Then Adam will handle it," Elise said simply, glancing toward the front of the group. "Won't you?"

Adam didn't turn, but his voice carried back clearly.

"If I can. No promises."

Elise nodded, as though that was exactly the answer she expected—and wanted.

Seraphina muttered under her breath.

"This is madness."

Elise reached over and squeezed her knight's arm gently.

"Madness got us this far, Sera. Sanity was trying to hide in castles while the lich picked us off one by one. I'd rather be mad and moving."

Seraphina exhaled sharply but didn't argue further.

Ignis, overhearing, spun around to walk backward—grinning at the two women.

"You know, you two are kinda fun. Way less stabby than most humans we've met."

Seraphina raised an eyebrow.

"Most?"

"Oh yeah," Ignis said cheerfully. "Back in the dungeon? Everyone wanted us dead. Swords, arrows, fireballs—the works. You're the first ones who actually talked first."

Elise's expression softened.

"I'm sorry you had to endure that."

Ignis shrugged, turning forward again.

"S'okay. Made us stronger. And now we're walking with a princess! Life's weird."

Lilith chuckled quietly—rare sound from her.

"Indeed."

Adam glanced over his shoulder, voice dry.

"Keep it down. We're trying to look like normal travelers. Not a circus."

Ignis stuck out her tongue.

"Too late for that, boss."

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