The rain slowed, becoming drops of mist.

Gabriel didn't sheath his sword. He stood there staring into the treeline, long after the Direwolf's corpse fell still.

Tess followed his gaze, swallowing hard. "What does that mean? Was she here? Just now?"

Gabriel nodded.

"Is she still here?" Tess's voice was trembling at the thought.

He didn't answer.

The truth was he didn't know. He couldn't sense her, not by smell, not by sight, not by sound.

He hadn't felt her power since before the Direwolf attacked.

Tess put her hand on his shoulder, shaking it gently.

"Gabriel… is she still here?" Her eyes flitted from left to right.

"I don't know." He paused for a second, "I can't sense her." The words hurt as they left his lips.

"What do you mean you can't sense her? You just said she was watching?"

Gabriel glanced over his shoulder to the trembling adventurer. "It's hard to explain, she let me feel her presence. She wanted us to know she was watching."

He had felt the woman staring from the treeline, it felt like a cold fingertip running down his spine.

A low rumble of thunder rolled through the clouds, carrying with it the heavy scent of rotten flesh and blood.

Gabriel finally tore his eyes away.

"We need to get back to Eldenreach?"

Tess stepped closer, almost unconsciously drifting towards the spot, as if she was being reeled in.

Gabriel put his hand on her shoulder, over the burn marks he inflicted when he 'healed' her, stopping her from moving closer.

"We need to move."

…

They walked the rest of the day and through the night, saying nothing.

The forest stayed quiet. Every snapped twig beneath their boots, every shift in the weather made Tess flinch.

She kept flinging her head left and right, whispering prayers to the Creator with every step.

Gabriel's eyes never rested, his fingers never loosened around the hilt of his blade.

He couldn't sense the woman.

He couldn't rely on what kept him alive all these years

That only made it worse.

There were fleeting moments when the hair on his arms stood up, or a chill slid down his back like a dagger of ice was tracing his spine. But he couldn't trust his senses.

The woman let him feel her presence. She had been following them since they left Eldenreach days ago, and he hadn't sensed her once. Not until she let him.

The thought kept running through his head.

By sunrise, the night sky had thinned. A pale streak of light broke over the horizon, revealing the wooden walls of Eldenreach.

Exhausted, starving, and aching from the endless march, they still quickened their pace the moment the town came into view.

A soldier stood atop the gate, guarding the lever.

"Who are you? Declare yourself."

Tess raised her head, looking upwards at the guard.

Gabriel kept his head down. His hood covering his face.

"We're from the guild," Tess called up, her voice thin with exhaustion. "Open the gate."

"Opening the gate." The guard bellowed as he walked to the lever.

The creak from the gate echoed around as the gap began to widen. Neither of them was breathing sighs of relief. Not until they stepped through the threshold.

The moment the wooden barrier shut behind them, the stillness of Eldenreach settled in. Early morning frost clung to the dirt roads, and the torches littered throughout the town flickered weakly against each gust of wind. The peasants had begun setting up their stalls as the rest of the town slept.

Tess wrapped her arms around herself subtly, letting the feeling of safety wash over her.

Gabriel didn't stop, he turned left, towards the guildhall. His boots dragged slightly through the market square, but his pace never slowed.

Tess jogged to keep up.

"Slow down… Hanitz isn't even awake yet."

He didn't respond.

They crossed the square, passing the row of wooden houses. Clouds of smoke emanated from the chimneys, thickening in the air, as the townsfolk tried to shake the Northern morning chill.

The guildhall loomed ahead, a broad, wooden frame built with a giant's size in mind. The embers on the torches outside were fighting for survival. One more strong gust and they would lose.

Gabriel approached the thick redwood door and reached for the knocker.

Bang, bang, bang.

The sound tore through the guild.

Shuffling noises came from behind the door. Followed by a quiet, trembling voice

"The guild doesn't open for a couple of hours… Master says not to wake him unless a dragon's attacking the town."

Tess stepped forward "Get Hanitz out of bed now. It's Tess."

"L-Lady Tess, you weren't meant to return for three more days."

"Open the door, Ennu."

A flurry of hurried footsteps retreated into the guildhall.

Tess began pacing.

Gabriel stayed still, staring at the door.

"Don't mention what we found in the temple."

His voice made Tess flinch. He hadn't spoken a single word since the Direwolf.

Tess stopped, drawing in a slow breath.

"I won't… but we need to talk about it when everything settles."

Gabriel nodded once, his eyes locked on the door.

Thud, thud, thud.

The ground trembled beneath them.

Tess whispered, "Hanitz…"

Another heavy step landed behind the door.

The latch clanked.

The hinges groaned as it swung open.

"Why are you two back already?" a deep voice rumbled through the gap.

Tess didn't wait for him to finish. She pushed the door wider and stepped past the giant, her boots dragging across the floor.

"We need food and water," she said, breath strained. "Then we'll tell you everything."

Hanitz blinked once, confusion settling across his face.

He looked at Gabriel, "Well, get in then, lad. You'll let the heat out."

He stepped aside, giving the former Paladin room to pass.

Hanitz closed the door behind them, sealing out the morning wind.

Warmth from the hearth rolled across the hall.

Tess dropped into the nearest chair. Gabriel followed, sitting stiffly, hood still shadowing his face. Ennu hurried over with food and water, setting the plates down with trembling hands. Her eyes lingered on Gabriel a little too long before scurrying off.

Gabriel didn't speak.

He tore into the bread like a predator finally catching its prey. Keeping one hand free, ready to reach for his blade anytime.

Hanitz pulled up a chair opposite them, folding his massive arms.

"Go on then, girl" he grumbled. "Start talking."

Tess rubbed her eyes and swallowed what was left of her bread, her breath unsteady as she began.

She recounted everything: the abandoned village, the nest hidden beneath it, the Voludvare that nearly tore them apart.

The mage ruling Blackhaven.

Their long walk back. The tavern worker's death.

The Direwolf turning up, killing their horses. The woman, hunting them with a purpose Tess couldn't understand.

She spoke quickly, voice cracking with exhaustion, skipping details only Gabriel had seen and carefully avoiding anything to do with the temple.

Sweat began dripping from her forehead as she finished reliving what they had been through

Gabriel remained silent the entire time, eating without tasting, staring at nothing. When Tess faltered or hesitated, he didn't fill the silence. He simply sat there, a presence more than a participant.

When she finally finished, Hanitz leaned back slowly, expression darkening.

"Creator's bones." He let out a low laugh. "No wonder you look half dead."

"You pair took on a Voludvare and a Direwolf."Another rough chuckle. "That's thanks to my training, lad."

Gabriel's head lifted from the food, eyes narrowing.

"You didn't train me."

Hanitz smirked, waving a hand. "Ha… you really think you learnt to fight like a beast from those stuffy Palad-"

He froze, hand snapping to his mouth as if he could drag the words back in.

Silence collapsed over the table.

Tess's spine straightened.

Gabriel didn't blink.

Hanitz swallowed hard, lowering his hand slowly.

"Right," he muttered. "Forget I said that."

But Gabriel's stare didn't shift.

Not even a fraction.

Hanitz opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Tess looked between them, breath held.

No one spoke.

No one moved.

The weight of what Hanitz almost said was thicker than the morning fog outside.

Gabriel, still stone-faced, finally lowered his gaze to the table, but only to whisper,

"We have bigger problems than who trained me. That women followed us from Eldenreach"

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