The road narrowed as it approached the border, flanked by low stone walls and watchtowers every few miles. The air grew thicker with the scent of pine and distant smoke.

By late afternoon, the first checkpoint came into view—a sturdy timber gatehouse straddling the road, flanked by two tall watchtowers. Solaria's banner snapped in the wind above the gate: golden sun on blue field. Six armored guards stood at attention, two mages in gray robes beside them, staffs glowing faintly with ward runes.

Adam slowed his pace, raising a hand to signal the others.

"Stay calm," he murmured. "We're just travelers."

Seraphina nodded tightly, adjusting her cloak to better conceal her battered armor. Elise pulled her hood lower, though her posture remained regal despite the exhaustion etched into her face. Ignis bounced once on her toes, then forced herself to walk with exaggerated slowness. Lilith simply glided forward, expression serene.

Inside Adam's head, thoughts churned.

*Veil better work. If it fails here, we're surrounded by six knights, two battle-mages, and gods-know-what reinforcements in those towers. One wrong aura reading and this turns into a bloodbath.*

His pulse stayed steady, but a faint pressure built behind his eyes—the same tension he'd felt every time he'd faced a checkpoint in the dungeon depths, only now the stakes were higher. An entire fragile alliance could shatter in seconds.

*Stay sharp. Watch the mages. If they raise their staffs—*

He cut the thought off as they reached the queue. Only three groups ahead of them: a merchant caravan with laden mules, a family of farmers with a cart of vegetables, and a lone traveler on foot.

The guards worked methodically. Papers checked. Questions asked. A mage passed a glowing crystal over each person—quick, clinical scans.

Adam's group moved forward one step at a time.

Ignis whispered behind him, voice barely audible.

"My heart's pounding like I ate too much fire-root."

Lilith's reply was calm. "Breathe. You're human. Remember that."

Seraphina gripped the reins tighter, eyes flicking between the guards and Elise.

Elise herself looked serene—almost detached—but Adam could see the faint tremor in her fingers. She was betting her life on a spell she hadn't cast in months.

The merchant caravan cleared. The farmers next.

Then the lone traveler—a nervous-looking man in patched cloak, carrying a large satchel.

The lead guard—a grizzled sergeant—held out his hand.

"Papers."

The man fumbled them out. The mage stepped forward, crystal glowing.

The crystal flared red.

"Contraband," the mage said flatly.

The sergeant's hand went to his sword.

"Open the bag."

The traveler's eyes widened. Panic flashed across his face.

In one desperate motion, he shoved the satchel into the nearest guard's chest and bolted—straight toward the treeline beyond the checkpoint.

Shouts erupted.

"Stop him!"

"Crossbow!"

The man sprinted, cloak flapping.

Adam reacted before conscious thought finished forming.

He moved—fast, but not too fast. A blur of motion that looked human to the untrained eye. In three strides he closed the distance, grabbed the man's collar, and yanked him off his feet. The fugitive hit the ground hard, wind knocked out of him.

Adam pinned him with one knee on his back, voice low and calm.

"Running makes you look guilty."

The guards rushed over, swords drawn. The sergeant arrived first, breathing hard.

"Well done, traveler. You just saved us a chase."

Adam stood, hauling the man up by his collar like he weighed nothing.

"Didn't want him causing trouble for everyone else," he said simply, handing the squirming fugitive to the sergeant.

The sergeant clapped Adam on the shoulder.

"You've got quick hands. Appreciate it."

Behind Adam, Ignis let out a low whistle.

"Nice catch, boss."

Lilith's lips curved faintly.

"Efficient."

Elise watched the scene with quiet intensity, gray eyes unreadable. Seraphina exhaled slowly, tension easing from her shoulders.

The sergeant turned back to the line.

"Right—next group."

Adam's group stepped forward.

The mage raised his crystal again.

Adam felt the faint brush of magic against his skin—like cool water sliding over stone. The veil shimmered once—barely perceptible—then settled.

The crystal stayed blue.

The mage nodded.

"Travel papers."

Elise stepped forward smoothly, handing over the forged documents she'd prepared earlier that morning.

"Five travelers from Melium," she said, voice calm and practiced. "Myself, my companions, and our escort. Heading to Red Hollow Pass for family business."

The sergeant scanned the papers, then glanced up at Elise.

"Royal seal?"

Elise inclined her head slightly.

"Temporary travel authorization. Issued under my authority."

The sergeant's eyes widened fractionally as he recognized the seal.

"Princess…?"

Elise's smile was small, tired, but genuine.

"Just Elise now. But yes."

The sergeant straightened, suddenly formal.

"Pass through, Your Highness. Safe travels."

He waved them forward.

The group moved past the gate—slowly, deliberately, as though nothing unusual had happened.

Once they were out of earshot, Ignis let out a breath she'd been holding.

"That… was way too close."

Lilith's voice was soft.

"But it worked."

Adam glanced back at Elise.

"You okay?"

Elise nodded, though her hand trembled slightly.

"The veil held. And you… you just caught a smuggler like it was nothing."

Adam shrugged.

"Old habit. Trouble runs, you catch it before it makes more trouble."

The group had only just passed through the checkpoint and walked a few dozen paces down the road when Ignis suddenly stopped, spun on her heel, and glared back toward the gatehouse with exaggerated indignation.

"Hey!" she called out, loud enough for the guards to hear but not quite shouting. "That's it? No 'thank you, brave traveler'? No 'you're a hero, sir'? Adam just saved your lazy butts from chasing that smuggler, and all you do is wave us through like we're selling vegetables!"

The sergeant at the gate turned, eyebrows raised, then chuckled despite himself.

"Easy there, miss. We're grateful—truly. But we've got a job to do, not a festival to run. Besides," he added with a grin, "if we started handing out medals to every quick-handed stranger, we'd run out of metal in a week."

One of the younger guards laughed, and even the mage cracked a small smile.

Ignis crossed her arms, still pouting dramatically.

"Hmph. Ungrateful. Next time I'll let the smuggler run circles around you!"

Adam sighed and tugged her sleeve.

"Ignis. Come on. We're trying to stay low-profile."

Ignis grumbled but fell back into step, muttering under her breath.

"They could've at least clapped or something…"

Seraphina, walking beside Elise, shook her head with a faint, reluctant smile.

"She's got spirit, I'll give her that."

But the smile faded quickly as Seraphina's gaze shifted to Elise. The princess had kept her hood down the entire time at the checkpoint—her golden hair and delicate features fully visible under the afternoon sun. No disguise. No attempt to hide her identity.

Seraphina's voice dropped to a tense whisper.

"Highness… you didn't even try to conceal yourself back there. The sergeant recognized the seal—and your face. Word will spread. If Cassian or Liora have spies in Arkwright's territory, they'll know exactly where we crossed. And who we're traveling with."

Elise didn't slow her pace, but her expression tightened.

"I know."

Seraphina pressed, voice low and urgent.

"Then why? You could've pulled the hood lower. Used an illusion charm. Anything. If they start hunting us in earnest—"

"Because hiding only works if you're not already marked," Elise interrupted gently. "The border guards log every royal seal they see. If I'd tried to pass anonymously, they'd have flagged it as suspicious—possible forgery, possible impostor. That would've drawn more attention than simply being honest."

She glanced sideways at Seraphina, eyes softening.

"But more than that… I'm tired of hiding who I am. I've spent years pretending to be less than I am—less visible, less dangerous, less of a threat. I won't do it anymore. Not even for a day."

Seraphina's jaw clenched.

"You're putting a target on your back. On all our backs."

Elise reached over and touched her knight's arm—light, reassuring.

"I'm putting a target on the curse, Sera. Not on us. If Cassian or Liora want to come for me, let them. I'm not running anymore. I'm walking forward."

Seraphina exhaled sharply, frustration warring with loyalty.

"You're impossible."

Elise's smile was small but genuine.

"You've known that since we were children."

Ahead of them, Ignis had caught up to the conversation and turned, walking backward again with a grin.

"So you're basically saying 'come and get me' to your evil siblings? That's kinda badass."

Seraphina shot her a look.

"It's reckless."

Ignis shrugged.

"Reckless got us out of the dungeon. Sometimes it works."

Adam slowed his pace until he walked beside Elise and Seraphina. His voice was low but firm, carrying just enough for the others to hear.

"We got lucky back there," he said. "The guards were distracted. The smuggler gave us an opening. But we can't count on luck every time."

He glanced at Elise, then Seraphina.

"From now on, be more careful. Don't act rashly. We don't know when—or how—misfortune might hit us. One wrong word, one careless move, and everything unravels. We're not invincible. None of us."

Seraphina nodded immediately, her expression grim but approving.

"He's right, Highness. We've been running on desperation and adrenaline too long. We need to think before we move."

Elise looked at Adam for a long moment, gray eyes thoughtful. Then she gave a small, genuine nod.

"I accept your advice," she said quietly.

She exhaled slowly, a faint smile touching her lips.

"Thank you for reminding me. Sometimes… I forget how fragile this all is."

Adam gave a short nod.

"Good. Let's keep it that way."

Ignis, who had been listening while kicking a pebble along the road, piped up cheerfully.

"So no more 'I'm a princess, bow down' energy?"

Elise actually laughed—soft, tired, but real.

"No more of that. At least not until we reach the Archivist."

Lilith's quiet voice came from beside Adam.

"Prudent. We survive longer when we move like shadows, not torches."

The conversation shifted as the road crested a gentle rise. Below them lay the first proper town since Elden Hollow: a medium-sized settlement called Oakrest, nestled in a shallow valley where two rivers met. Stone walls encircled it, not high but solid. Smoke rose from dozens of chimneys. The market square was visible even from here—colorful awnings, the glint of goods, the murmur of voices carrying on the wind.

Seraphina pointed toward the town.

"That's Oakrest. Last major stop before Duke Arkwright's inner lands. We should resupply here—food, water, maybe new cloaks. And rest properly tonight. We've been pushing too hard."

Elise nodded, already calculating.

"We need dried meat, hard bread, cheese—things that travel well. Healing herbs if we can find them. And…" She glanced at Adam's group. "Clothing that makes us look less… conspicuous. Simple traveler garb."

Ignis perked up immediately.

"Market! Yes! I want to see everything! Spices, sweets, shiny stuff—maybe they have fire-roasted nuts!"

Lilith's lips curved faintly.

"And perhaps a quiet inn. I would like to sit still for once without something trying to kill us."

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