Preparations

Aria exhaled sharply as she opened the door of her grandmother’s bedroom and stepped inside the room.

The last time she had stepped in there was when Rayan had been injured. Except that, after her grandmother’s death, she didn’t dare to come here.

She had been scared that the memories of her grandmother would flood her like anything. Though every part of the hut and hill reminded her of her grandmother, the room was most important.

It had her scent, the bed where she sometimes used to cuddle with her grandmother and fall asleep.

Aria’s eyes couldn’t help but fill up with tears as she stepped forward and caressed the bedsheet.

Then she walked to the shelf where several things made by her grandmother were kept. Some medicinal potions, alcohol, and… a box.

Aria frowned as she saw the box for the first time. She tried to remember if she had seen it the last time when she had stepped in here but she didn’t have any such memory. After all, she had been in such a great hurry at that time.

Did her grandmother put it here the night before she passed away?

Aria thought in confusion and picked the box.

She tried to open it but frowned when it didn’t open.

A knock diverted Aria’s attention and she looked towards the door.

Rayan was standing there and looking at her. Aria looked at him. He was wearing the clothes in which she had found him on the hill. She had washed and sewn the clothes. In between, he had been just wearing long robes that she had found in the extra clothes collected by her grandmother.

Aria had been surprised to find such clothes in her hut because they didn’t seem to belong to her or her grandmother, but she felt happy too.

Fortunately, she was able to give some clothes to Rayan.

Though he looked good in them, she had to agree he looked more beautiful today.

“My Lord, we are ready to leave!”

It was Maxim who had walked to Rayan and said these words, and Aria came out of her thoughts.

She looked away immediately, feeling embarrassed.

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Rayan nodded his head at Maxim’s words and looked at Aria as he said,

“Aria?!”

Aria could understand that they needed to leave. She could see that all of them were ready to leave. She had also packed her important clothes and some food.

She glanced at the box in her hands. It was slightly heavy and she couldn’t open it.

In the end, she decided to take it with herself.

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.

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Approximately fifteen minutes later, seven figures could be seen climbing the hill with gradual steps.

Before leaving, all of them ensured that they covered their faces and bodies completely. Rayan had himself helped Aria, who had been confused but couldn’t ask the questions inside her heart.

Did people not like to see each other’s faces on the other side of the hill? Aria had silently wondered inside her heart.

As they started their journey, the sun had already set. When they reached a specific part of the hill, Aria suddenly held Rayan’s sleeve, who immediately stopped walking and turned to look at her.

Everyone stopped, and Aria then walked to a tree.

She stared at the plant she had planted only three months ago. It had started growing. This was where she had buried her grandmother, and this was the place she had avoided most in the past three months after her grandmother’s room.

Her grandmother wanted her to stay happy, and Aria was not really sure whether she would be able to stop herself from grieving if she came here.

However, today Aria realized that she was not crying.

The feeling of loss was there, but she had learned to live with it. It amazed her because she had never thought that she would be able to do so.

The knights stood there silently as they saw her bowing her head and then kneeling down in front of the plant.

The knights had been surprised when they had come to know that Aria would be accompanying them, but none of them questioned their master’s order.

It was only Tristan who didn’t look particularly happy with this decision, but he was also wise enough not to go against Rayan.

They looked at each other, except Rayan, who was silently observing Aria.

A few moments later, Aria walked back to them.

Rayan didn’t say anything. He just fixed her robes so that she wouldn’t catch cold, and then they resumed their journey.

In less than an hour, they had climbed down the hill.

Beyond the hill, there was a large forest. After crossing the forest, they had to find Linus and other soldiers as well.

Rayan looked at Aria, who didn’t look tired, and sighed in relief.

Aria observed the forest with curiosity-filled eyes. Her eyes were wide and filled with surprise on seeing the huge difference on both sides of the hills.

The other side was so beautiful, but this side was eerily silent and flowerless.

The land looked infertile and deserted.

There were only dried leaves and plants, and since it was dark, the forest looked more scary.

She almost screamed when a bat flew towards her. Fortunately, Rayan, who had been walking behind her, immediately covered her under his red cape.

Aria stayed still for the next few moments. Breathing heavily, she suddenly wondered if her decision was really correct.

Amidst her thoughts, a gentle voice called her out.

“Aria.”

And she finally raised her head.

As she looked at the familiar blue eyes, she felt all her worries going away.

Seeing her so distraught, Rayan frowned and ordered,

“Let’s cross the forest fast and then rest for some time.”

The knights were surprised. According to them, they had just started. How could they think of resting so soon?

But again, none of them questioned.

Soon, they continued their journey again.