CHAPTER 216: CHAPTER 216 –THE RIVERSIDE

Their footsteps echoed against the wooden stairs of the inn as the afternoon sun tilted westward. Sylvia walked in front, her black hair flowing over a thick cloak, while Alicia and Stacia followed behind with slower steps. Though their wounds had healed greatly thanks to the healing potions, both still carried remnants of weakness.

The moment they stepped outside the main door, dim evening light greeted them. The town’s cobbled streets bustled with merchants packing up their stalls or dragging carts toward warehouses. Waiting at the front of the inn was a luxurious black carriage with silver trim, its steel wheels glinting in the last rays of sun.

A single old brown horse stood calmly at the front, its body rigid, its pale gray eyes vacant lifeless, yet utterly obedient.

Alicia halted for a moment, staring at the beast with mixed feelings. "I still can’t believe you actually... turned a horse just for this carriage," she muttered.

Sylvia glanced back, a faint smile curling her lips. "You’ll thank me later when we don’t have to stop every few hours to feed or rest."

Stacia raised a tired but sharp brow. "But aren’t you worried the townsfolk will notice?"

"No." Sylvia stepped forward and opened the carriage door. "As long as I don’t command it to attack or reveal its true nature, no one will suspect a thing. They’ll just see a well-trained horse that never tires."

Alicia clicked her tongue but climbed in first. The interior met her with awe plush woolen seats and black velvet curtains over the windows. Stacia followed slowly, sinking into the opposite seat with a sigh.

Sylvia entered last. Once the door shut, she shifted her awareness to the horse outside. No reins, no driver, only her whispered will.

Move.

The horse obeyed at once. Steel wheels ground against stone, the carriage rumbling with a steady rhythm. Through the curtains, the last of the daylight faded, replaced by long shadows stretched by dusk.

Though the zombie horse was tireless, it was still no match for Sylvia’s own running speed. On foot, she could have crossed forests and valleys within hours. But a carriage, even a luxurious one, was still a carriage. Night fell when they were only halfway back to the castle.

Stars faintly scattered the sky. A pale moon hung behind drifting mist. The night wind howled sharper than morning, biting cold against skin.

Sylvia closed her eyes for a moment, sensing the soul-link of her sisters. Their pulses remained steady, stronger than before, yet still fragile. Pushing them further through the night would only worsen their state.

Finding safety, she commanded the horse.

It halted, lifting its head toward the left. Sylvia drew back the curtain and saw a path leading down to a riverside. The moon’s reflection shimmered across the water’s surface, and trees clustered close enough to offer cover.

"Good enough," Sylvia whispered. She tapped the seat and stood. "We’ll stop here."

The carriage rolled to a halt beside the riverbank. Sylvia disembarked first, her black cloak flaring in the cold breeze. She glanced inside Alicia and Stacia were already asleep, their faces pale but peaceful.

"Rest," she murmured, closing the door gently.

She turned to the horse, unfastening the reins with a flick of her hand. "Guard them. If anything approaches, destroy it."

The horse bowed its head faintly and stood still, its pale eyes fixed toward the treeline.

Sylvia strode off, boots crunching frozen soil as she walked along the riverside woods. She gathered fallen branches, prying them from roots or kicking loose stones away. Soon her arms were full. She returned to the river’s edge, piling them neatly.

She raised her palm. At her fingertip, a violet-black flame flickered to life, Nether Flame. It slipped into the pile, devouring even damp twigs.

Fwoosh.

The fire leapt high, a purple glow burning against the night. Smoke coiled into the sky, quickly torn apart by wind.

Sylvia sat cross-legged beside the flame. She pulled a small pot from her dimensional storage, filled it with river water, and set it over the fire. Into it went dried vegetables, salted meat she’d bought in town, and simple herbs. Slowly, the aroma of soup spread, warm and comforting against the chill.

When it was ready, she ladled it into three wooden bowls. Steam curled into the carriage as she opened the door quietly.

Inside, dim light from a mana-crystal lantern glowed against velvet curtains. Alicia stirred first, half-opening her eyes. "Mm... what’s that smell...?"

"Wake up," Sylvia said softly, though her tone carried warmth. "Eat first."

Alicia pushed herself up, blinking as Sylvia handed her a steaming bowl. Her eyes lit faintly. "Soup...? You cooked for us?"

"Not as good as a chef. But enough to fill your stomachs."

Stacia sat up, her blonde hair tousled. She accepted her bowl, blowing on it before sipping. Her eyes widened faintly. "It’s so warm... Simple, but... comforting."

Sylvia sat opposite them, sipping her own. "You need strength for tomorrow. We don’t know what the road holds."

Alicia gave a weak laugh. "I don’t care. Hot soup on a cold night like this... it makes me feel human again."

Stacia watched Sylvia quietly, then smiled faintly. "Thank you. You always protect us."

Sylvia dipped her head briefly, hiding a small smile. "That’s my duty."

They ate in silence, the only sounds the crackle of firewood outside and the river’s murmur. The world beyond was in danger, yet inside the carriage there was a fragile peace.

Sylvia leaned back as Alicia and Stacia lay down again, warmed by the simple meal. Outside, the purple flame burned steadily, casting its glow against the carriage wall.

"Mm..." Alicia murmured, eyes half-shut. "I almost forgot what it’s like to sleep somewhere comfortable. After yesterday... it feels like the world is being kind to us for once."

Sylvia glanced at her, voice low. "It’s not kindness. It’s because we keep forcing ourselves to live."

Alicia chuckled, eyelids drooping. "Then I’ll keep forcing myself... as long as there’s hot soup like this."

From the other side, Stacia whispered, "So we can still feel moments like this... even if the world despises us."

Sylvia gave no reply. She only looked at them, then drew the curtains to dim the firelight. "Sleep. I’ll keep watch tonight."

Their breathing soon slowed, steady and calming. Sylvia remained seated, not closing her eyes fully. She listened to the outside: wind through branches, faint insect chirps defying the cold, the soft shuffle of the zombie horse.

She cracked the window slightly. Frosty air nipped at her skin, but she ignored it. Her crimson gaze lingered on the fire outside, its violet flames dancing. It reminded her of nights back in Nocture, when Sofia would insist, "You look too pale, you need the warmth."

A faint smile ghosted across Sylvia’s lips. She drew a deep breath.

"If only you were here, Sofia..." she whispered, her words lost to the night breeze.

She closed the window again, leaning back. Her eyes dimmed, heavy with drowsiness. Though she meant to keep watch, the rare calm finally pulled her into slumber.

Hours passed. Night deepened, stars glittered, and the moon sank lower. Outside, the campfire dwindled, branches crackling faintly.

Suddenly, a twig snapped in the woods. The zombie horse lifted its head, pale eyes glinting. It did not move, but the aura of death it radiated spread outward, enough to drive lesser creatures away.

A white wolf emerged at the treeline, golden eyes fixed on the fire. But as it stepped closer, the deathly presence froze its fur upright. The wolf whimpered low, turned, and vanished back into the forest.

The carriage remained silent.

Inside, Sylvia’s eyes fluttered briefly. She had never truly slept fully. The faint tremor in her soul-link with the horse told her something had come near. But once the threat receded, she let her eyes fall shut again.

"I’ll entrust you with them tonight..." she murmured, whether to the horse or to herself, unclear.

By dawn’s edge, frost had etched patterns on the carriage windows. Alicia shifted in her sleep, curling deeper into her blanket. Stacia slept peacefully, her face serene like an ordinary girl untouched by swords or sorcery.

Sylvia looked at them one last time, ensuring their safety. She pulled an extra blanket over Alicia’s shoulder, tucked Stacia’s cover back in place.

Only then did she let herself rest again, eyes closing fully.

That night, by the riverside, the three sisters slept together in one grand carriage, guarded by a dead horse that stood vigilant beneath the moon. The world outside remained perilous, the Church still a looming threat, and their journey far from over.

The next morning, the first light of the sun pierced through the thin mist hanging above the river. Sylvia slowly opened the carriage door and stepped outside. The morning air rushed at her, stabbing against her skin like needles of frost. She drew in a deep breath and exhaled in a thin veil of white mist.

Beside her, the river still flowed, though its surface was already glazed with a thin layer of ice, glimmering pale beneath the touch of sunlight. The trees along the bank stood rigid, their branches heavy with frozen dew.

Sylvia’s gaze fell on the horse, still standing firm, unmoving even after keeping watch all night. Its pale gray eyes stared blankly, yet brimmed with obedience. With a subtle command, the zombie horse lowered its head, ready to accept the reins.

The leather straps slid back into place with the faint rasp of hide against metal. Once everything was fastened tightly, Sylvia patted the horse’s shoulder once, then turned back toward the carriage. Her cloak fluttered lightly in the wind as she stepped inside.

The door closed behind her. Sylvia seated herself at the front, shutting her eyes briefly. In a low, firm voice, she sent the command through her will.

"Move."

The carriage jolted softly as the steel wheels began to turn once more, leaving behind the frozen riverside and setting out on the long road that awaited them.